Fashion watch: Introducing Simone Rocha
Hot out of the Central St Martins MA fashion oven like a freshly baked monochrome cupcake, young Simone Rocha is a star of the future. We love her.
How old are you?
I am 23.
What’s the inspiration behind your MA collection?
Irish travellers, the mourning traditions of the Aran islands in the West of Ireland and masculine tailoring.
If you could do a collaboration with anyone, who would it be?
The artist Louise Bourgeois.
How was it doing an MA at St Martins?
Its reputation for ‘tough love’ is legendary. It was tough but fair, hardcore but worth it.
What has been your career high to date?
Showing at Somerset House during London Fashion Week as part of the CSM MA fashion show.
Being Irish, does the mighty little Green Island itself influence your work?
Yes.
Why?????
It’s everything from the people to the places…I’m inspired by my grandmother’s graveyard in Birr Co.Offaly and Meath Street in Dublin. To me Ireland is home, and home is where the heart is and if you put your heart into something it’s going to make much better work.
Who would you most like to see wearing your clothes?
Me, my mates, Chloe Sevigny.
Where would you like to show London, Paris, Milan or New York? Why?
Right now London, I think it’s the best place for a young designer to show at the moment. It’s the best starting platform.
What is your ideal outfit on a man?
Depends on the man.
What music are you listening to at the minute?
Hank Williams,The Slits,The XX.
Who or what is your greatest inspiration in your work?
Art and family.
What’s your favourite word?
SCUM
Favourite books?
Pony Kids by Perry Ogden, 20 Fragments of a Ravenous Youth by Xiaolu Guo and The Barrytown Trilogy by Roddy Doyle.
Favourite film?
In the Mood for Love.
Death row meal – starter, main, desert and drinks?
My mother’s roast dinner, champagne and Jamesons whiskey for desert.
If you had to be on a desert Island for the rest of your life, and you could bring seven things what would they be?
Book,pencil, pen, paper, discman, cds, batteries(for the discman) and Jamesons.
Your six dream dinner party guests – alive or dead?
Dad, mum, Max, Caireban, Celo and Fayzer.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Most likely still living in London, summers in France, my own label, designing, showing, selling, wearing beautiful clothes, hanging out with my dachshund Rufus…
Fabulous clothes. Love it.