William Tempest
We earmarked William Tempest as a talent to watch for the year ahead back in December, following the premiere of one of his pieces on the stylish young actress, Emma Watson and we're very pleased to see that he's planning to kick off 2009 with a bang too.
At only 22 years of age, Tempest already has a wealth of experience behind him, having worked for Giles Deacon and designed pieces for Madonna while he was in Paris working for Jean Charles de Castelbajac.
As part of our new designer's to watch for 2009 feature, we spoke to the talented young designer about his hopes and ambitions for the year ahead, his work for Giles Deacon and most importantly how he came up with THAT dress for Emma Watson...
Hi William, how are you?
I'm good thanks.
I've seen some of the collection on the Internet, it's great!
Thank you very much. Some of the pieces are on my website now, but the full collection is going to be on around mid-January, when everything comes to a head, I think.
What have you been up to recently?
Well, Emma Watson wore a dress as her premiere in LA, so I've been doing that and doing fittings with her and I've made her a few dresses for different things and hopefully she will wear some of them to other events.
The design of the dress is really nice, how did you come up with it?
That garment was for my Spring/Summer 09 collection and that was based on art deco, but I went to Mauritius because I kind of mix art deco with a tropical feeling, like the idea of going somewhere hot and exotic and so all the lines are based on art deco shapes and objects that I've seen. Emma's dress, well you know she's only 18, but she's quite classic isn't she? but still she wants to be young and edgy as well, so it's quite good the things I've chosen for her.
How did Emma Watson come to wear one of your designs?
Well, she was at the Fashion Fringe show and I just thought Oh My God, can't believe Emma Watson is here, and you know I just wanted to dress her and then she really liked me too. I actually got in touch with her, and spoke to her and her assistant and they were so glad because they wanted to get in touch with me anyway. So then she had loads of garments that she took to Paris with her, but the only one she's really been photographed in is that one. It's been in everything too, so I'm happy.
Who would be your dream to dress?
I guess I've already had the dream! I mean it was good to dress Emma because she's the kind of person I'd love my label to be worn by, but other people that I really like Dita Von Teese, actually, I think she might look really hot in my designs, because I really like that whole burlesque and glamour thing. 50s glamour is great, but I also really like Cate Blanchett, someone like that. But you know if someone wants to wear something then I'm going to make it. You know I read this thing that Karl Lagerfeld said and it was like 'Oh I'm not going to say who should wear my clothes, it's just inspired by the individual' and I kind of go along with that as well.
Which designers do you look up to within the industry?
Well, I worked for 18 months with Giles Deacon, so I learnt a lot from working in his studio, so I guess I'd say he has been one of the biggest influences in the things I do now. But in terms of other people I like, I love Lanvin and I also really like Gabrielle Chanel. I know she's not alive anymore, but she was so mysterious and she created this big image about and around her and I think that's what you need to do, to get your brand to grow as big as Chanel did.
Where do you get your inspiration from for SS09 and AW09?
Well, both are very similar, because I was working on both at the same time, but that's more kind of based on the art deco, but what I'm looking into now is the Elizabethan England, and my next collection, you know it's all the same style like nipped in waists and concentrating on shape and creating interesting silhouettes and things but it's going to have that like Tudor twist to it, you know jewel colours and corseted styles, really sexed up and high-fashion.
Are you planning to show in London Fashion Week next month?
Yes, I'll definitely be doing a show, I have actually been to a meeting about that on Monday, so I'm not going to say too much more, because I need to sign this piece of paper first! but yes there's definitely going to be a show.
What's going to be the big trends for AW09 do you think?
Well, I don't know, really. There seems to be a lot of, and I think it's because of the recession, but there seems to be a lot of black around and dark colours, so that's not really a good thing is it? It gives me quite a good chance to stand out though, so it should be good for me!
You mentioned working for Giles Deacon before, what was that like?
It was really amazing because I was still studying at the London College of Fashion, and one of my tutors works for him as one of his designers and basically she kind of roped me in to helping out there a little bit and then basically, I said to them 'I'm going to go' because obviously I needed a job to stay in London for the summer, so then they said 'we'll just start paying you then' so I stayed for 18 months. It's quite unheard of getting that kind of job, so I was very happy and I could stay in London too.
Then you went to Paris for a while didn't you...?
Yes, after I graduated I went to Castelbajac, who Giles actually works for as well and I did a project for Madonna and that was really great, but really hard work. I really like Madonna, you know she's always interesting and she does something new each time. I wouldn't say she always gets it right, but I definitely like her.
Tell me all about your Fashion Fringe At Covent Garden experience, why did you decide to go for it?
I did Fashion Fringe really to get the exposure and you get to meet so many big names too, because they run like a mentoring programme as well, so just by being part of it I met all these buyers from Selfridges and they gave us so much mentoring and help in the six months we were doing it, so it's been really good. And even though I didn't win, it's had such a great effect on where I am and what I'm up to now. Meeting Donatella was really really great too, I mean she was a bit scary when I met her, but she's really good and what I like about her is that she is Versace and she's the complete Versace image. She said a quote which I really like: 'It's better that you get a reaction to your work, even if they hate it or they love it, rather than not saying anything at all and thinking it's just alright.'
How long have you wanted to be a designer?
Well, ever since I can remember really. I wanted to be an interior designer and an architect and do something creative and when I was 16, I just remember really not wanting to do my A Levels so I went and did fashion at Cheshire College in Northwich.
You are one of FemaleFirst's One's To Watch for 2009, so what can we expect from you?
Well, my show will hopefully be great, and then I'll be in Paris and I'm going to try and build things up very slowly, you know and focus on what's really right for the brand and so I've got quite a good bit of time to get established. I've had a few more celeb clients that I might be doing some things for, so that's very exciting.
There's a bit of a rumour about your Vauxhall Fashion Scout Grant, can you tell us a little bit about that?
Well, it's basically about Vauxhall who sponsored Christopher Kane and Giles Deacon when they started their businesses and then they set up Vauxhall fashion scout, which is something like London Fashion Week and it's all about new talent and they just created this new award, which I've been offered, so basically it's over three seasons of support and they offer mentoring etc. and the help that they give is absolutely amazing and they just help you with the show, your business, making and sampling the collection and it's really good and a bit like Fashion Fringe in a way, so I'm really lucky.
Well, FemaleFirst wish you lots of luck this year, and don't forget us once you're rich and famous!
No, I won't. Thanks Laura, bye!
FemaleFirst- Laura Terry
We earmarked William Tempest as a talent to watch for the year ahead back in December, following the premiere of one of his pieces on the stylish young actress, Emma Watson and we're very pleased to see that he's planning to kick off 2009 with a bang too.
At only 22 years of age, Tempest already has a wealth of experience behind him, having worked for Giles Deacon and designed pieces for Madonna while he was in Paris working for Jean Charles de Castelbajac.
As part of our new designer's to watch for 2009 feature, we spoke to the talented young designer about his hopes and ambitions for the year ahead, his work for Giles Deacon and most importantly how he came up with THAT dress for Emma Watson...
Hi William, how are you?
I'm good thanks.
I've seen some of the collection on the Internet, it's great!
Thank you very much. Some of the pieces are on my website now, but the full collection is going to be on around mid-January, when everything comes to a head, I think.
What have you been up to recently?
Well, Emma Watson wore a dress as her premiere in LA, so I've been doing that and doing fittings with her and I've made her a few dresses for different things and hopefully she will wear some of them to other events.
The design of the dress is really nice, how did you come up with it?
That garment was for my Spring/Summer 09 collection and that was based on art deco, but I went to Mauritius because I kind of mix art deco with a tropical feeling, like the idea of going somewhere hot and exotic and so all the lines are based on art deco shapes and objects that I've seen. Emma's dress, well you know she's only 18, but she's quite classic isn't she? but still she wants to be young and edgy as well, so it's quite good the things I've chosen for her.
How did Emma Watson come to wear one of your designs?
Well, she was at the Fashion Fringe show and I just thought Oh My God, can't believe Emma Watson is here, and you know I just wanted to dress her and then she really liked me too. I actually got in touch with her, and spoke to her and her assistant and they were so glad because they wanted to get in touch with me anyway. So then she had loads of garments that she took to Paris with her, but the only one she's really been photographed in is that one. It's been in everything too, so I'm happy.
Who would be your dream to dress?
I guess I've already had the dream! I mean it was good to dress Emma because she's the kind of person I'd love my label to be worn by, but other people that I really like Dita Von Teese, actually, I think she might look really hot in my designs, because I really like that whole burlesque and glamour thing. 50s glamour is great, but I also really like Cate Blanchett, someone like that. But you know if someone wants to wear something then I'm going to make it. You know I read this thing that Karl Lagerfeld said and it was like 'Oh I'm not going to say who should wear my clothes, it's just inspired by the individual' and I kind of go along with that as well.
Which designers do you look up to within the industry?
Well, I worked for 18 months with Giles Deacon, so I learnt a lot from working in his studio, so I guess I'd say he has been one of the biggest influences in the things I do now. But in terms of other people I like, I love Lanvin and I also really like Gabrielle Chanel. I know she's not alive anymore, but she was so mysterious and she created this big image about and around her and I think that's what you need to do, to get your brand to grow as big as Chanel did.