This is the short profile I did on the designer, David Longshaw for a university project. It's in the style of Elle magazine. Here it is...
IN IT FOR
THE LONG HAUL
He’s a fashion DESIGNER, an ILLUSTRATOR, a WRITER and a Diet Coke ADDICT – want to know more? ELLE’S Maddison Barrett talks to David Longshaw to find out what’s inside the mind of a character so compelling.
'You can’t polish a turd’ declares David Longshaw, his dark shaggy hair cutting just above his eye line. A photograph shows him wearing a T-shirt from his first label, which he created whilst studying Fashion Design at the prestigious Central Saint Martin’s. Bearing the words Crucified Angel the T-shirt’s paradoxical slogan perhaps sums up the way this unique designer thinks. Take for instance the reasons why he loves fashion: ‘because it’s relentless, fast paced and creative,’ yet he dislikes the industry for these same reasons.
Manchester born, twenty eight year old Longshaw was snapped up by Alberta Ferretti before his final graduate collection was even shown and has worked for fashion houses such as Max Mara since his graduation in 2007. As well as completing an MA at the Royal College of Art, he was the winner of the BFC/ELLE Talent Launch Pad which gained him valuable recognition and which left him ‘relieved and wanting more.’ If that wasn’t enough, Longshaw doesn’t just design; he’s also an illustrator and writer, winning the Colin Barnes Drawing Prize in 2005 and recently contributing to publications such as THE END magazine, The Daily and Fashion156.
Alongside designing, he created Maude; a fabric fashion mouse (made from 100% Cashmere,), whose voice transcends through to his work, giving him a creative outlet and enabling him to create Maudezine, an online fashion magazine. Counting this creation among one of his proudest and most life changing achievements, he admits that she’s ‘a pain in the arse, but very inspiring.’ Granted, an imaginary fashion mouse called Maude isn’t your typical designers’ muse, but then again, Longshaw isn’t your typical designer.
It isn’t just the mouse Maude that inspires him. When asked about his favourite designers, he mentions the talented Kirsty Ward who collaborated with him on jewellery for his latest collection and added half jokingly: ‘Well, she’s my girlfriend so I’m too scared to say anyone else.’ It’s lucky that she’s talented as there’s nothing that Longshaw hates more than ‘awful designs offending my eyes in magazines.’ Every season he creates an elaborate story, his collections being an extension of his whimsical and eclectic tales, enabling him to bring a specific vibe and individuality to each piece that he creates. Take his Spring/Summer 11’ collection which is based on the concept of ‘chav dogs, feathers, a ruffle or two and a story I wrote.’ The story centres around a group of hoodies, breaking into a stately home and dressing up in the costumes on display. The result is trousers, skirts and shift dresses, mainly in rich regal and powder blues; covered in his signature illustrative prints, the ‘Chav bull dog’ taking centre-stage. There’s even a hooded cropped jacket, and the collection oozes the essence of Longshaw’s story. This unique and captivating aesthetic makes him an innovator in his field. The combination of design, illustration and story writing really gives his designs that something extraordinary.
Although fully committed to his work, family is also extremely significant to him, with his most treasured memories being from his childhood of ‘playing rugby and going on family trips to Wales.’ Like Karl Lagerfeld, he has a soft spot for Diet Coke and admits that ‘where I’m going to get my next Diet Coke and if it’s going to be cold enough’ is pretty high up on his priorities.
So, what’s in store for this quirky, extremely talented individual? Well, Vauxhall Fashion Scout labelled him as a One To Watch in 2010 and if you haven’t guessed already, they weren’t wrong. Longshaw isn’t picky though, as long as he’s ‘designing, writing, illustrating and being as creative as possible aged ninety’ then he’ll be living the life he’s always wanted. Well, with a little help along the way from Maude of course.
'You can’t polish a turd’ declares David Longshaw, his dark shaggy hair cutting just above his eye line. A photograph shows him wearing a T-shirt from his first label, which he created whilst studying Fashion Design at the prestigious Central Saint Martin’s. Bearing the words Crucified Angel the T-shirt’s paradoxical slogan perhaps sums up the way this unique designer thinks. Take for instance the reasons why he loves fashion: ‘because it’s relentless, fast paced and creative,’ yet he dislikes the industry for these same reasons.
Manchester born, twenty eight year old Longshaw was snapped up by Alberta Ferretti before his final graduate collection was even shown and has worked for fashion houses such as Max Mara since his graduation in 2007. As well as completing an MA at the Royal College of Art, he was the winner of the BFC/ELLE Talent Launch Pad which gained him valuable recognition and which left him ‘relieved and wanting more.’ If that wasn’t enough, Longshaw doesn’t just design; he’s also an illustrator and writer, winning the Colin Barnes Drawing Prize in 2005 and recently contributing to publications such as THE END magazine, The Daily and Fashion156.
Alongside designing, he created Maude; a fabric fashion mouse (made from 100% Cashmere,), whose voice transcends through to his work, giving him a creative outlet and enabling him to create Maudezine, an online fashion magazine. Counting this creation among one of his proudest and most life changing achievements, he admits that she’s ‘a pain in the arse, but very inspiring.’ Granted, an imaginary fashion mouse called Maude isn’t your typical designers’ muse, but then again, Longshaw isn’t your typical designer.
It isn’t just the mouse Maude that inspires him. When asked about his favourite designers, he mentions the talented Kirsty Ward who collaborated with him on jewellery for his latest collection and added half jokingly: ‘Well, she’s my girlfriend so I’m too scared to say anyone else.’ It’s lucky that she’s talented as there’s nothing that Longshaw hates more than ‘awful designs offending my eyes in magazines.’ Every season he creates an elaborate story, his collections being an extension of his whimsical and eclectic tales, enabling him to bring a specific vibe and individuality to each piece that he creates. Take his Spring/Summer 11’ collection which is based on the concept of ‘chav dogs, feathers, a ruffle or two and a story I wrote.’ The story centres around a group of hoodies, breaking into a stately home and dressing up in the costumes on display. The result is trousers, skirts and shift dresses, mainly in rich regal and powder blues; covered in his signature illustrative prints, the ‘Chav bull dog’ taking centre-stage. There’s even a hooded cropped jacket, and the collection oozes the essence of Longshaw’s story. This unique and captivating aesthetic makes him an innovator in his field. The combination of design, illustration and story writing really gives his designs that something extraordinary.
Although fully committed to his work, family is also extremely significant to him, with his most treasured memories being from his childhood of ‘playing rugby and going on family trips to Wales.’ Like Karl Lagerfeld, he has a soft spot for Diet Coke and admits that ‘where I’m going to get my next Diet Coke and if it’s going to be cold enough’ is pretty high up on his priorities.
So, what’s in store for this quirky, extremely talented individual? Well, Vauxhall Fashion Scout labelled him as a One To Watch in 2010 and if you haven’t guessed already, they weren’t wrong. Longshaw isn’t picky though, as long as he’s ‘designing, writing, illustrating and being as creative as possible aged ninety’ then he’ll be living the life he’s always wanted. Well, with a little help along the way from Maude of course.
Below is one of Longshaw's illustrations, 'complicated and feminine', just like his garments.
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