At 25, Simone Rocha is pretty young to be three collections into such a buzzed-about brand. But then she's a pretty special lady. Part Portuguese, part Irish, and part Chinese (her father is British fashion designer John Rocha), Simone grew up in Dublin, graduated from the competitve MA program at Central Saint Martins in London, and is now based in the city's East End.
But here's why you should really be excited about Simone: Her clothes are delicate and grungy at the same time; she uses colors like bubblegum pink and highlighter green; for Spring/Summer 2012 she trapped pieces of lace between layers of mesh and PVC; and she makes vinyl brogues that float on transparent perspex heels—coming soon to OC!
See behind-the-scenes shots from Simone's Spring/Summer 2012 show in London, and find out what she steals from her mother's wardrobe in our interview below.
Shop all Simone Rocha here.
Alice Newell-Hanson: Let's start with the collection that just arrived at OC—what were your references for Spring/Summer 2012?
Simone Rocha: I was inspired by the artist Louise Bourgeois. There’s a quote of hers that references the sheen of a shiny surface, and you can see that in the plastics of the spring collection. I was also referencing her Cells series. She made these big metal cages that look like rooms, and she suspended her own garments—old silk slips and lace shorts—from the ceilings.
ANH: What was it about lace you wanted to get across?
SR: For me, lace is really traditional, and I loved it in Louise Bourgeois’ work. It was about taking that and making it modern. We used Swiss and English lace, and trapped it between tulle in the T-shirts, and between plastic in the skirts and dresses. What’s really exciting for me is the fabrication, the process of mixing fabrics together and cross-referencing them with real people.
ANH: Who do you have in mind when you're designing?
SR: I like to wear the collection myself, and really embody it. But it’s also Celestine Cooney, the stylist whom I work with, and my friends Lucy and Claire. So it’s a young, grungy girl. But I also want the pieces to be able to stand alone and to integrate into other people’s wardrobes. My mother wears the collection and I’d love people like Patti Smith to wear it too. I couldn’t pick one woman!
ANH: How do you wear your pieces?
SR: I’m quite scruffy as a person! I always wear my pieces but I mix them with a lot of vintage slips, and wear them with either the brogues from the collection or Adidas sneakers, so it’s a bit more relaxed.
ANH: Do you have one most treasured piece in your wardrobe?
SR: I have a really beautiful Balenciaga jacket from the floral neoprene collection, which is a really special and inspiring piece. It’s so different from what I do, so I really respect it.
ANH: What other designers do you admire?
SR: Nicolas Ghesquière, definitely. I think what he does with an old house is so exciting; it still references the franchise but it’s so modern. And I absolutely love Comme des Garçons, Watanabe, and the whole Comme family. It’s really innovative, and I love their girl.
ANH: This is your third collection now. What have been the most surreal moments so far?
SR: Showing on-schedule at London Fashion Week is really exciting. Then I was in the window of Colette during couture week last
But here's why you should really be excited about Simone: Her clothes are delicate and grungy at the same time; she uses colors like bubblegum pink and highlighter green; for Spring/Summer 2012 she trapped pieces of lace between layers of mesh and PVC; and she makes vinyl brogues that float on transparent perspex heels—coming soon to OC!
See behind-the-scenes shots from Simone's Spring/Summer 2012 show in London, and find out what she steals from her mother's wardrobe in our interview below.
Shop all Simone Rocha here.
Alice Newell-Hanson: Let's start with the collection that just arrived at OC—what were your references for Spring/Summer 2012?
Simone Rocha: I was inspired by the artist Louise Bourgeois. There’s a quote of hers that references the sheen of a shiny surface, and you can see that in the plastics of the spring collection. I was also referencing her Cells series. She made these big metal cages that look like rooms, and she suspended her own garments—old silk slips and lace shorts—from the ceilings.
ANH: What was it about lace you wanted to get across?
SR: For me, lace is really traditional, and I loved it in Louise Bourgeois’ work. It was about taking that and making it modern. We used Swiss and English lace, and trapped it between tulle in the T-shirts, and between plastic in the skirts and dresses. What’s really exciting for me is the fabrication, the process of mixing fabrics together and cross-referencing them with real people.
ANH: Who do you have in mind when you're designing?
SR: I like to wear the collection myself, and really embody it. But it’s also Celestine Cooney, the stylist whom I work with, and my friends Lucy and Claire. So it’s a young, grungy girl. But I also want the pieces to be able to stand alone and to integrate into other people’s wardrobes. My mother wears the collection and I’d love people like Patti Smith to wear it too. I couldn’t pick one woman!
ANH: How do you wear your pieces?
SR: I’m quite scruffy as a person! I always wear my pieces but I mix them with a lot of vintage slips, and wear them with either the brogues from the collection or Adidas sneakers, so it’s a bit more relaxed.
ANH: Do you have one most treasured piece in your wardrobe?
SR: I have a really beautiful Balenciaga jacket from the floral neoprene collection, which is a really special and inspiring piece. It’s so different from what I do, so I really respect it.
ANH: What other designers do you admire?
SR: Nicolas Ghesquière, definitely. I think what he does with an old house is so exciting; it still references the franchise but it’s so modern. And I absolutely love Comme des Garçons, Watanabe, and the whole Comme family. It’s really innovative, and I love their girl.
ANH: This is your third collection now. What have been the most surreal moments so far?
SR: Showing on-schedule at London Fashion Week is really exciting. Then I was in the window of Colette during couture week last