I wanted to start a menswear line of slim-fitting, luxury cashmere jumpers in a range of great colours.
— Matthew Williamson
The V&A is an amazing museum, and the collections have always been a great inspiration to me.
I don't usually Skype. I've used it once, but my boyfriend had to leave instructions: 'This is how you Skype me.' We do it for the business, of course - we have the site and trade online - but, personally, I'm not passionate about it.
We know what the customer wants, and so we're buying in a totally different way.
You can't deny the experience of a store. It's fantastic if you're a global brand and you've got the power or the funds to support that bricks-and-mortar space, but we certainly weren't and aren't.
Leather has a real durability and functionality.
I approach any collaboration I do differently.
I wasn't inspired by lunatic asylums or anything like that.
It was a privilege to work with Ballantyne, an iconic brand possessing such a rich British heritage. Ballantyne has a great appreciation of style and craftsmanship which truly complements the Matthew Williamson brand.
It's always better when travelling to be in a place where your friends know the area well.
The peacock has become one of my regular sources of inspiration from nature.
In England, it's always raining, and I feel like I'm expert in that field.
London Fashion Week has always been very special to me.
I'm an independent fashion house.
Madonna is untouchable. She is absolutely lovely. On a personal level, she's everything you would expect. She's so down to earth.
I did candles because I wanted a candle to put in my home. I couldn't find one I liked.
No woman can wear prints all the time.
People think of me and think, 'Ibiza and hippy look.' I'm trying to expand.
A catwalk show is just how it's done; it's just what you do - it's central to the presentation of a collection. It will be a very brave designer who gives up the catwalk entirely in favour of a digital show.
I'm a bit of a digital imbecile.
The last thing I want to appear is remotely jaded or bitter, which it could come across the wrong way.
My mum has always been a huge inspiration for me and my work. She loves fashion and has always been so supportive.
I wanted to create a collection of leather handbags which would not only reflect the brand's DNA but also appeal to a busy cosmopolitan woman.
Creating a bridalwear collection was a natural progression from my evening wear collections, which are well known for their softly draped and diaphanous silk gowns.
I'm curious about the mix of the effortless bohemian thing with the very modern.
I try to go to Marrakesh if there's a Bank Holiday weekend.
I've been to most parts of India over the years, but Jaipur is my favourite city. Inspiration can be found at every turn.
I guess I will always be known as a designer who references Ibiza, even though I've only been to the island a couple of times in my early twenties.
I'm drawn to the way Havaianas capture playfulness and light-heartedness in their products - there is clearly an element of fun.
I got my fair share of stick. But I surrounded myself with fabulous girls, and they all loved me because I made them clothes. I remember making them all leopard print tops and tartan skirts for a party we went to once. It's scary to think about it now, actually.
I am shocked and deeply saddened by McQueen's death. He was a genius, and his talent was second to none. Like many others, I always cited him as a hugely inspirational leader of world fashion. He will be greatly missed.
Debenhams has a strong track record for developing exclusive designer brands.
I've only dealt with fabulous brides!
I always wanted to be a designer and always felt surprised as a child when my sister used to deliberate about whether to be a nurse or a teacher.
My collections are full of adaptable pieces: within the energetic lifestyle of L.A., they are able to take you from the beach in Malibu to the red carpet in Hollywood.
I'm a natural technophobe, but I can see the importance of the digital role, and you have to celebrate it - our site is obviously an incredibly important part of our business now.
I have always been clear about what I wanted to do and who I wanted to dress. However, you need that business sense to help direct your talent. Because at the end of the day, you are selling clothes, and that is the reality which we live in.
We're not waiting for the fashion cycle to have 180 buyers come in and see the collection and go, 'We like it, we'll buy it, and we'll have it in June.' The only one we're selling to is Net-A-Porter, and the rest is through our site.
My womenswear line would translate well into childrenswear.
Confidence and belief in yourself and your vision is absolutely paramount. The fashion industry is tough - be prepared to take advice and criticism along the way, but have unwavering belief in your vision.
Of course I owe so much of my success to my parents.
I wanted to explore the Seventies idea of the ideal futuristic woman. So I watched cheesy films like 'Weird Science' and more dodgy things like 'Star Trek,' 'Barbarella' and 'Logan's Run.'
I had a whistle-stop tour of Havana in a horse and carriage and couldn't stop taking photographs of the decaying yet enchanting buildings and people.
I love taking elements and colours from nature and then distorting them somehow.
As the label has developed over the years, more and more structure and tailored pieces have been added, and so, whilst the core values of the brand have remained, I feel it's important to try new things and add more layers and dimensions to a collection every season.
My design philosophy is to make women feel like peacocks.
My parents knew there was no point in pushing the football thing. I hated the boots.
London has a very specific kind of style; it's very different to Milan, Paris, and New York. It's nice having that personality that we haven't lost. It's the English quirky style that people like to see when they come to Fashion Week.
I wanted to create a bridal collection that is both a natural extension of the mainline eveningwear but, at the same time, reflects the opulence of such an important celebratory event.
Never shop alone for your bridal dress. Take a friend and bring a camera to take a picture of you. Make sure to get a picture of the back view: that's the part of the dress most people are going to see for the longest time.
