Designer name: Matthew Miller
Origin: Stoke-on-Trent, England.
Design background: Matthew studied at the Royal College of Art. Before setting up his own label, he interned and worked for Brioni and Umbro, amongst others.
Design signatures: “The brand’s strong signature style will continue to evolve and grow. It is formed from an investigation into the technological versus the traditional; performance fabrics, tailoring and sportswear detailing form the basis of the Mr. Matthew Miller look.”
Career highlight: “There's been a few highlights so far, including being labelled by Vogue as one to watch, winning the MacArthur Glen Spirit of Fashion Award and being picked up by Selfridges after my second presentation as part of London Fashion Week. This second collection will be in store soon.”
Trademark piece: “It evolves from season to season. For autumn/winter 2011, we have chosen to focus upon the humble yet classic duffle coat.”
Name three autumn/winter 2012 inspirations: "The communication of surfaces that we see everyday but are forgotten beauties; the 1940s; commandos and survival on the streets of London.”
What does 2012 hold for your brand? “As well as showing the new collection in a salon show at London Fashion Week, it feels like next year will be a world tour! I’ll be talking around the world about the philosophies and ethos upon which the brand is based. I’ll continue to develop the Matthew Miller man's aesthetic and how the label communicates to the world, its customer and potential new customers. I have an exciting footwear collaboration, which will be presented at LFW autumn/winter 2012 – it’s going to be massive.
Also, I will be navigating London in the build up to the Olympics! I think it will have an impact on London and those who work here in a way that is impossible to imagine, but extremely exciting nonetheless.”
What is your favourite decade in fashion? “The decade in which we live now. I am a fan of the nineties - the decade of my teenage self. For me, the last decade was one of education. And now this decade feels like the time I can put all of the experience to use.”
Where do you go in London to seek artistic inspiration? “The answer to this question will be revealed at my autumn/winter 2012 salon show… But words and observations are always a mainstay, and my first point of call when finding inspiration for the new season.”