It’s not everyday that you are invited to interview style queen and fashion legend Zandra Rhodes! La Luminata jumped at the chance to talk to her about camping at Glastonbury, her views on sustainability and how everyone can embrace a unique style…
After fifty years in fashion, Zandra still has an abundance of passion for design. Zandra’s latest venture sees a somewhat unlikely collaboration with Millets and the launch of a bright and funky camping range. Zandra’s signature graphic prints and bold use of colour feature throughout the range, from a teepee tent, a lightweight rain jacket to funky wellies.
La Luminata: We love your new range for Millets. How did this collaboration come about?
Zandra: Oh I know, haven’t they done a good job with it! They saw an embroidered beach tent on my website which I designed years ago. Then they contacted me and I just jumped at the idea because I just think that in the world we’re living in today one should get back more to reality and not all that travel.
La Luminata: Do you see yourself using the range?
Zandra: Well I intend to try and go to the one where it always rains… (La Luminata: Glastonbury?) Yes Glastonbury! And then I can wear the wellies, and the turquoise rain jacket and be dry in my tent. I think the range could look summery or cheer the winter up!
Zandra started her career as a printed textile designer; creating the bold graphic prints that have become her signature. Zandra soon turned her hand to fashion design and became the forefront of the international fashion scene in the 1970’s, designing dresses for Kate Moss, Princess Diana and outfits for Freddie Mercury.
La Luminata: How did you have to adapt your design approach from designing dresses for the likes of Kate Moss to designing Teepee Tents?
Zandra: Well the Millets team were fantastic they had already seen my work and they were quite clear they liked the idea of using bright prints. So then together with my design team we worked on making it happen.
La Luminata: How do you think the traditional Millets customer will view your bright and funky designs?
Zandra: Well I hope they will love it! I’m hoping that it will bring another angle to Millets and not just your brown camping gear. You know they’ve been going for enough years put it that way!
Zandra has supported the Environmental Justice Foundation’s (EJF) Pick Your Cotton Carefully campaign by designing a T-shirt to raise awareness of the use of forced child labour and the ecological devastation associated with cotton production. We were keen to find out if Zandra adopts a sustainable and ethical approach to her work…
La Luminata: How important is it for you as a designer to support sustainability and ethical campaigns such as the EJF Pick Your Cotton Carefully campaign?
Zandra: Well I think this is how the whole thing works out with Millets; it puts you much more in touch with reality and life. Wherever we can we do our best to try not to do landfill and we try to live in a sustainable way and make sure that life continues as it were.
We were very eco with the marketing of the Millets range. Instead of flying to South Africa to photograph the tent in the sunshine, we went to Sunningdale in the snow. We had to roll back giant snow balls and melt the snow in order to even do the photograph!
Zandra is known for her distinct image; with bright pink hair, electric blue eye shadow and boldly coloured outfits. We asked her if she had any tips for the La Luminata readers of how to be individual and unique…
La Luminata: Here at La Luminata we believe in creating your own unique style. You have such a distinctive image; can you give any tips to our readers of how to be individual?
Zandra: I think everyone stands a chance of being individual. I’m quite sure when we all get to wear my turquoise wellies there are going to be people that wear them very straight with a pair of black jeans or there’s going to be people that wear a floaty dress and have the wellies at the bottom hippy style. I think that everyone has their own unique way of looking at things and really you shouldn’t be nervous to have that unique way to do things.
La Luminata: Just embrace it!?
Zandra: Yeah I think embrace it and see what happens!
La Luminata: We love the idea of your turquoise wellies and rain jacket teamed with a bohemian summer dress!
Zandra: Don’t you think!? You could tuck it up and particularly if you’re a long legged girl it would look great. These days you know I wouldn’t be seen dead in shorts but I bet you there will also be people looking glamorous in shorts with their legs on show teamed with the range.
I’m going to have to plan some special outfits one assuming it is going to be wet and cold, what will be alright wet and cold tucked into my wellies? Or how will I look slightly chic if I’m walking around in mud! (Laughs)
We’re sure Zandra will look uniquely chic whatever the outfit! The team at La Luminata can’t wait to try out the range at this year's festivals. Bring on the summer…
Carly Gordon
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