A NEW HOMME: DIOR THE NEXT GENERATION
After months of rumours circulating the fashion circuits, it has finally been announced from well sourced fashionistas that Gareth Pugh will replace Kris Van Assche as head designer of popular fashion label Dior Homme. Speculation that Pugh might take the reins from Van Assche reached a fever pitch when LVMH chief Bernard Arnault’s daughter Delphine Arnault sat front-row at his very first menswear show at Paris Men’s Fashion week, where she called his collection ‘beautiful’ and ‘amazing’. Even Critics called the collection flawless, so this can only mean exciting news for the world of menswear.
Pugh’s career started at the early age of 14 as he began working as a fashion designer for the English National Youth Theatre and years later he completed a Fashion Design degree at Central Saint Martins in 2003. It was his final collection at St. Martins, which used balloons to accentuate models’ joints and limbs, a technique that later became his trademark, attracted the attention of senior fashion editor of Dazed & Confused magazine, who placed one of his designs on the magazine’s cover shortly thereafter. Pugh was later selected to participate in British realty show The Fashion House, which he called ‘horrible’ and his ‘only other option to being on the dole’.
Later, the rise of !WOWOW!, a feature in Dazed & Confused and a debut show at London club, Kashpoint’s Alternative Fashion Week brought Pugh to the attention of Fashion East, London’s breeding ground for cutting-edge new talent, leading them to invite Pugh to participate in its Autumn 2005 group show. Pugh had only four weeks, with no studio, no assistants and little money to create the collection. His collection ended up a critical success and attracted significant attention to his design, and ever since Pugh has grown in popularity and as a designer.
Pugh’s shows have continued to draw critical praise as he showcased at London’s Autumn 2006 and Spring and Autumn 2007’s Fashion Weeks. Fashion Royalty, Anna Wintour is a notable supporter of Pugh’s designs and British Vogue labeled him as an undeniable genius. Kylie Minogue has used many of his designs over recent years, most famously in her Showgirl – The Greatest Hits Tour and recently Beyonce has been seen wearing some of Pugh’s designs on stage.
Finally, it looks like Gareth Pugh is on his way to being crowned fashion royalty after spending time working in Paris with Rick Owens, he has been snapped up by Dior Homme. It has often been said that Van Assche never quite lived up to Hedi Slimane, who left Dior almost two years ago. But if anyone can reinvigorate a label, it’s Pugh and I am particularly excited.
The British boy definitely tells the story of rags to riches. He started off with just hard work, imagination and passion and now I think it is fair to say that he has made it. This boy done good!
Words: Stephen Bailey
