Nicole Farhi

Designer name: Nicole Farhi

Origin: Nice, France

Design background: Nicole studied fashion design in Paris and then moved to London in the seventies.

Design signatures: “The contrast of gentle femininity in chiffon and prints, set against minimal shapes with a masculine edge.”

How would you describe the Nicole Farhi woman? “Someone who can express themselves and does not like to be dictated to in their day-to-day life in what they wear.”
 
Three spring/summer 2012 inspirations: “Flowers, ice cream and lightness.”
 
What’s next for your brand? “Developing the brand in the Middle East: we are opening shops next year in Dubai, Quatar, China, and possibly Russia and India will follow. We are launching optics this AW11, a new men’s sunglasses range for SS12 and more importantly, celebrating our 30th Anniversary in 2012.”

Who are your design heroes? “Yohji Yamamoto, Yves St Laurent and Cristobal Balenciaga.”

What are your favourite cultural hotspots in the capital? “Both the National Theatre and Tate Modern.”
 
In five years’ time I will be… “Sculpting more than one day a week…”