The iconic British designer Dame Zandra Rhodes who launched her eponymous fashion brand 55 years ago, is known for her bold prints and vibrant technicolour designs.

Nicknamed ‘The Princess of Punk’, Rhodes became an influential designer on the 1970s fashion scene, with clients including Princess Diana, Freddie Mercury, Bianca Jagger, Debbie Harry and the legendary Divine. With her own distinctive look of theatrical make-up and trademark bob, dyed hot pink since the 80s, she is the embodiment of her label’s designs – larger than life and impossible to ignore. 

Originally coined for having ‘too extreme’ designs, in the early 70’s Zandra left England to try and break America. Within a few weeks of being in New York she had met Diana Vreeland of Vogue who had her debut ‘Knitted Circle’ collection photographed on Natalie Wood. The rest is history.. 

Zandra founded London’s Fashion and Textile Museum in the early 2000’s to promote the British contemporary fashion industries. To this day the museum showcases some of the best in textile and fashion design such as Anna Sui, Kaffe Fassett and Andy Warhol. 

An eponymous pioneer of the British and international fashion scene since the late 60’s, Zandra’s career has seen her produce over five decades of fashion collections and more recently focus on strategic collaborations with luxury fashion and lifestyle brands such as IKEA of Sweden, Happy Socks and Poppy Lissiman.

Zandra’s notoriety as a print designer combined with an affinity of colour and fine fabrics has resulted in a signature aesthetic that will continue to stand the test of time.

Zandra continues to work full-time out of her Bermondsey studio in London.