WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.108 --> 00:00:02.775 line:15% (calming music) 2 00:00:05.971 --> 00:00:08.950 line:15% Italy's a very beautiful country then I remember being 3 00:00:08.950 --> 00:00:13.680 in this church and gazing at the ceiling and the frescoes. 4 00:00:13.680 --> 00:00:16.890 line:15% And being wondrous about the wonderful draping 5 00:00:16.890 --> 00:00:18.770 line:15% on the saints. 6 00:00:18.770 --> 00:00:23.150 And I think that's where my first idea of maybe, 7 00:00:23.150 --> 00:00:26.930 first connection with texture, a textile. 8 00:00:26.930 --> 00:00:29.310 But then my mother took me to a dressmaker 9 00:00:29.310 --> 00:00:33.020 and I discovered what I wanted to do in life 10 00:00:33.020 --> 00:00:34.550 at the age of six. 11 00:00:34.550 --> 00:00:37.520 I decided I wanted to be a fashion designer. 12 00:00:37.520 --> 00:00:39.870 I wanted to create beautiful fashion. 13 00:00:39.870 --> 00:00:42.770 I think if you have something in mind that you really love 14 00:00:42.770 --> 00:00:46.363 that you know you will love, eventually, you find a way. 15 00:00:48.440 --> 00:00:52.200 Women's role in society has changed enormously. 16 00:00:52.200 --> 00:00:54.770 It was unusual for a woman to want 17 00:00:54.770 --> 00:00:56.300 to start her own business. 18 00:00:56.300 --> 00:00:59.860 In fact, in the public sector if you got married, 19 00:00:59.860 --> 00:01:01.180 you had to leave your job. 20 00:01:01.180 --> 00:01:05.120 Things changed dramatically from mid 60s, 21 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:09.160 which is when I started, and I kind of was really fortunate 22 00:01:09.160 --> 00:01:13.360 because I was on the crest of that change the whole time. 23 00:01:13.360 --> 00:01:15.490 I was part of that change. 24 00:01:15.490 --> 00:01:18.890 I was one of the many women who wanted to have a job, 25 00:01:18.890 --> 00:01:21.930 wanted to have a career, wanted to be in charge 26 00:01:21.930 --> 00:01:24.320 of their existence, their life. 27 00:01:24.320 --> 00:01:27.469 Wanted to really take hold of their life. 28 00:01:27.469 --> 00:01:29.730 And so, that was important. 29 00:01:29.730 --> 00:01:31.380 So it was really wonderful. 30 00:01:31.380 --> 00:01:34.880 And throughout my career, I have seen the evolution 31 00:01:34.880 --> 00:01:37.343 of women in the workforce. 32 00:01:40.350 --> 00:01:42.980 I get a lot of emails from my clients, 33 00:01:42.980 --> 00:01:46.730 and they'll tell me that my product gives them confidence, 34 00:01:46.730 --> 00:01:48.530 makes them look beautiful. 35 00:01:48.530 --> 00:01:52.050 Discover something in their souls that they didn't know. 36 00:01:52.050 --> 00:01:54.600 And that is what I always wanted to do. 37 00:01:54.600 --> 00:01:56.580 I really believe that women make 38 00:01:56.580 --> 00:01:59.380 a wonderful contribution in society. 39 00:01:59.380 --> 00:02:01.660 And it's very important for them 40 00:02:01.660 --> 00:02:03.420 to feel good about themselves. 41 00:02:03.420 --> 00:02:06.040 If you're wearing something that you really like 42 00:02:06.040 --> 00:02:09.610 and that you know is bringing out the best in you, 43 00:02:09.610 --> 00:02:13.170 you can forget about that item and just get on with life. 44 00:02:13.170 --> 00:02:17.000 And that's what I try and do and I'm told by my clients 45 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:19.890 that is what, in fact, my product does. 46 00:02:19.890 --> 00:02:23.610 So that is why I'm still working at this very late point 47 00:02:23.610 --> 00:02:24.443 of my life. 48 00:02:28.290 --> 00:02:31.400 I've learned to value my own taste. 49 00:02:31.400 --> 00:02:34.560 It's a skill that when you've been practising 50 00:02:34.560 --> 00:02:39.560 as long as I have, you develop and you rely upon it. 51 00:02:39.760 --> 00:02:43.893 But the skill, really believing in what you do, 52 00:02:44.736 --> 00:02:46.830 and the fact that you're good at what you do, 53 00:02:46.830 --> 00:02:49.710 is something that doesn't happen immediately. 54 00:02:49.710 --> 00:02:54.530 It takes years and years of practice to become confident. 55 00:02:54.530 --> 00:02:56.510 But I'm not over confident. 56 00:02:56.510 --> 00:02:59.860 Each collection that I launch I think, oh my God, 57 00:02:59.860 --> 00:03:01.410 what if they hate this one? 58 00:03:01.410 --> 00:03:03.590 What if they pan me? 59 00:03:03.590 --> 00:03:07.580 And that kind of nervousness is really good 60 00:03:07.580 --> 00:03:09.360 because it makes you try hard. 61 00:03:09.360 --> 00:03:13.280 And I actually believe competition is excellent. 62 00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:14.750 That's stimulating. 63 00:03:14.750 --> 00:03:16.340 You know you have to try hard. 64 00:03:16.340 --> 00:03:18.260 You know you have to be good, 65 00:03:18.260 --> 00:03:21.563 otherwise why would your client come to you? 66 00:03:24.210 --> 00:03:27.130 I actually think women have inspired me. 67 00:03:27.130 --> 00:03:30.820 I think their drive, their will to achieve, 68 00:03:30.820 --> 00:03:34.180 Dame Quentin Bryce for instance, is inspirational. 69 00:03:34.180 --> 00:03:36.250 She's also a friend. 70 00:03:36.250 --> 00:03:41.250 And I just think women who have the courage to pursue 71 00:03:41.690 --> 00:03:46.690 what they want to pursue and manage so well, 72 00:03:48.839 --> 00:03:50.993 they are inspiring. 73 00:03:54.100 --> 00:03:58.240 In fashion, you become synonymous with your brand. 74 00:03:58.240 --> 00:04:01.040 So that portrait was in fact taken 75 00:04:01.040 --> 00:04:05.560 line:15% for the Harper's Bazaar Woman of the Year Award. 76 00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:10.040 line:15% And when I was asked would I mind if they created that 77 00:04:10.040 --> 00:04:12.680 line:15% into a portrait, I was very honoured. 78 00:04:12.680 --> 00:04:14.750 Because I think there's something magical 79 00:04:14.750 --> 00:04:17.560 about portraits, about people. 80 00:04:17.560 --> 00:04:18.690 I love portraits. 81 00:04:18.690 --> 00:04:20.020 They are my favourite. 82 00:04:20.020 --> 00:04:21.960 Portraits of people, 83 00:04:21.960 --> 00:04:24.140 particularly people that have done something, 84 00:04:24.140 --> 00:04:25.470 are very interesting. 85 00:04:25.470 --> 00:04:29.120 And this is where it's landed which is fabulous. 86 00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:30.660 It's a great honour. 87 00:04:30.660 --> 00:04:32.253 I'm delighted, thank you.