Creative Conversations with Suzy Menkes

For her first episode of 2022, Suzy talks to fashion designer Simone Rocha about her ten years in the fashion industry, and winning the award for Independent British Brand at the 2021 Fashion Awards.Produced by Natasha Cowan@tashonfashEdited by Tim Thornton@timwthorntonMusic by@joergzuberGraphics by Paul WallisTo find Suzy's articles visithttps://suzymenkes.com...find Suzy on Instagram@suzymenkesand Twitter@thesuzymenkes

This week, Suzy celebrates the career of Manolo Blahnik, who speaks to Suzy from his home in Bath, England. They discuss his life, his parents, his factory and his archive collection, currently viewable at https://thearchives.manoloblahnik.com. Produced by Natasha Cowan@tashonfash Edited by Tim Thornton@timwthornton Music by@joergzuber Graphics by Paul WallisTo find Suzy's articles visithttps://suzymenkes.com...find Suzy on Instagram@suzymenkesand Twitter@thesuzymenkes

This week, Suzy celebrates the career of Tommy Hilfiger, who speaks to Suzy directly before receiving an Outstanding Achievement award at The Fashion Awards. Produced by Natasha Cowan@tashonfash Edited by Tim Thornton@timwthornton Music by@joergzuber Graphics by Paul WallisTo find Suzy's articles visithttps://suzymenkes.com...find Suzy on Instagram@suzymenkesand Twitter@thesuzymenkes

For this special episode, Suzy is taken on an exclusive tour of Raeburn's shop, archive and lab in Hackney, London, guided by Christopher Raeburn himself. Along the way, Suzy catches up with the designer about his company's visionary stance on sustainability. Produced by Natasha Cowan@tashonfash Edited by Tim Thornton@timwthornton Music by@joergzuber Graphics by Paul WallisTo find Suzy's articles visithttps://suzymenkes.com...find Suzy on Instagram@suzymenkesand Twitter@thesuzymenkes

For her second episode of season five, Suzy talks to Pierre Rainero, Director of Image, Style and Heritage for Cartier, about the centenary of of English Art Works, the Maison’s historic London workshop. Produced by Natasha Cowan@tashonfash Edited by Tim Thornton@timwthornton Music by@joergzuber Graphics by Paul WallisTo find Suzy's articles visithttps://suzymenkes.com...find Suzy on Instagram@suzymenkesand Twitter@thesuzymenkes

Suzy talks to Kaat Debo, director of the MoMu (fashion museum) in Antwerp, about the reopening programme of the museum, Fashion 2.021 Antwerp – Fashion/Conscious, and about Antwerp's crucial place in fashion history. Produced by Natasha Cowan@tashonfash Edited by Tim Thornton@timwthornton Music by@joergzuber Graphics by Paul WallisTo find Suzy's articles visithttps://suzymenkes.com...find Suzy on Instagram@suzymenkesand Twitter@thesuzymenkes

For episode 8 of season 4, Suzy brings you a Couture special.Demna Gvasalia, the creative director of Balenciaga, discusses his first Couture collection for the house and the revival of Balenciaga Haute Couture. In fact it’s the 50th couture collection for the brand, because Cristóbal Balenciaga’s final show was his 49th. Fifty-three years after the originalBalenciaga salon was closed, the company’s haute couture has been revived for Autumn Winter 2021/22. The show was presented in Avenue George V with a famous modern audience, with François-Henri Pinault of the Kering luxury group, and hats by Philip Treacy. Produced by Natasha Cowan@tashonfashEdited by Tim Thornton@timwthorntonMusic by@joergzuberGraphics by Paul WallisTo find Suzy's articles visithttps://suzymenkes.com...find Suzy on Instagram@suzymenkesand Twitter@thesuzymenkes

For episode 7 of season 4, Suzy talks to Raffaello Napoleone about celebrating the 100th edition of Pitti Uomo, the world renowned menswear trade fairof whichhe is CEO.Have you ever wondered how your clothes end up in the shops? Buyers descend on trade fairs once or twice a year to purchase stock to fill their shelves.It may come as a surprise that not all clothes come from the runways of Paris and Milan.As the premier men’s trade fair gets back into post-Covid action it has been decided that Pitti will be ‘double-track’ with a digital week as well as a physical week. And, in parallel form, there is a growth of thedigital platform - Pitti Connect -which the visionary CEO founded 12 years ago.Watching the line-up of peacock males displaying their latest looks in Florence’s historic Fortezza da Basso - the location of the trade fair -underscores that powerful Italian spirit of past/present, seen also in the historic city itself.As well as his role asCEO Pitti Immagine - a non- profit Italian organisation to promote the fashion industry and Made in Italy - Raffaello Napoleone heads up Pitti Bimbo for children and Pitti Filati for yarns, while current powerful changes to sustainability are also transforming Italy’s attitudes.Can the physical format of a trade fair and - above all - its interaction with people, really be revived? The dynamic director has stretched his wings to include trade fairs of artisan perfumes, food with its flavours and tastes, and home wear. They all prove, post Covid, that growth can start at home.Raffaello is also one of the founders of the Polimoda fashion school set up with Linda Loppa to help preserve the Italian fashion industry. In teaching and in fashion, he looks always to the future. Produced by Natasha Cowan@tashonfash Edited by Tim Thornton@timwthornton Music by@joergzuber Graphics by Paul WallisTo find Suzy's articles visithttps://suzymenkes.com...find Suzy on Instagram@suzymenkesand Twitter@thesuzymenkes

For episode 6 of season 4, Suzy talks to Diane von Fürstenberg, wrap dress innovator, DvF founder, New York City philanthropist and supporter of the arts, about her life, work and current activities, including her latest book, Own It: the Secret to Life. Produced by Natasha Cowan@tashonfash Edited by Tim Thornton@timwthornton Music by@joergzuber Graphics by Paul WallisTo find Suzy's articles visithttps://suzymenkes.com...find Suzy on Instagram@suzymenkesand Twitter@thesuzymenkes