Zandra Rhodes (English, b. 1940)
Dame Rhodes has been in the UK fashion world for five decades. She has had a distinct aesthetic as a pioneer in fashion since the late 1960s. Coming from a supportive mother in the fashion industry, Rhodes studied printed textile design at Medway College of Art and then attended the Royal College of Art. Initially inspired by Pop Art, she made her biggest mark in helping define the look of punk in the late 1970s, which she called “Conceptual Chic,” and later designed costumes for operas. In Rhode’s career, she has collaborated with Valentino, Topshop, Mac, IKEA, and Free People, among many others. She has designed garments for Diana Princess of Wales, Freddie Mercury, and Marc Bolan. In 2019, a book and exhibition Zandra Rhodes: 50 Years of Fabulous was published by Yale and held at the Fashion and Textile Museum, London.
