Matthew Williamson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Matthew Williamson
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Williamson in 2007
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| Born | 23 October 1971 Manchester, England
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| Education | Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design |
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Matthew Williamson (born 23 October 1971) is a famous British designer. He is known for his amazing use of bright colours and detailed patterns. He designs everything from clothes to furniture and even entire rooms!
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Early Life and School
Matthew Williamson was born in Manchester, England. He went to Loreto College until he was 17. After that, he moved to London to study at a famous art school called Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design. He finished his studies there in 1994.
His Design Career
Starting in Fashion
In 1997, Matthew Williamson started his own fashion company with Joseph Velosa. He showed his first collection, called 'Electric Angels', at London Fashion Week that same year. His designs were also shown at New York Fashion week in 2002. In 2004, he opened his own store in London.
Matthew also launched his own perfume line in 2005.
From 2006 to 2008, he worked as the main designer for another well-known fashion brand called Pucci. He took over from a designer named Christian Lacroix.
In 2007, some of his fashion designs were even featured in a music video! They appeared in the video for Prince's song "Chelsea Rodgers."
In 2008, Matthew decided to focus completely on his own brand again. In 2010, his company launched its first small collection for men.
A book about Matthew's work was published in 2010. It featured words from famous people like Sienna Miller and Anna Wintour. An exhibition of his photos was held to celebrate the book.
In 2011, Matthew launched a more affordable clothing line called MW by Matthew Williamson.
In September 2012, Matthew celebrated 15 years in fashion! To mark this special occasion, a short film called XV was made. It starred some of his friends, including Sienna Miller. The film was shown online, along with a special collection of crystal dresses.
By 2015, Matthew decided to sell his fashion collections mainly online. He also closed his main store in London.
Designing for Homes and Lifestyles
After focusing on online sales, Matthew started designing for homes and everyday life. In 2013, he began working with Osborne & Little to create beautiful fabrics and wallpapers for homes. He released new collections with them in 2014 and 2015.
In 2016, Matthew launched his first furniture collection with Duresta. He also designed cards, stationery, and a fun colouring book with his famous prints. Later that year, he worked with a US home brand called CB2.
Matthew has also designed sunglasses for Linda Farrow and rugs for The Rug Company.
In 2022, he launched a big homeware collection for John Lewis. This collection included his signature colourful wallpapers, bedding, cushions, and towels. It also had mirrors, lights, and candles. This was one of the biggest collaborations for John Lewis.
Also in 2022, Matthew designed the inside of a new bar in Birmingham called The Cocktail Club. He used his unique style with leopard print sofas and gold decorations.
In 2023, Matthew designed a dining area at the Design Museum in London. He worked with UK artists to create a green lounge with soft leather.
Also in 2023, he teamed up with a British footwear brand, Kurt Geiger. They launched a special summer collection. It included handbags, shoes, swimwear, and jewellery with Matthew's unique prints.
Other Fun Projects
In 2010, Matthew appeared as a guest on the TV show Project Runway. He helped judge the designers.
In 2019, he was a guest judge on the first season of Interior Design Masters on BBC Two. He returned to help judge the final episode. Matthew continues to be a guest judge on this show, giving advice to new designers.
In 2023, Matthew released a new book called Living Bright: Fashioning Colourful Interiors. It's a guide to help people make their homes more colourful and exciting.
Awards and Recognition
Exhibitions
In 2007, the Design Museum in London held a special show about Matthew's work. It was called "Matthew Williamson – 10 years in Fashion."
Awards
In 2008, Matthew Williamson won the "Red Carpet Designer" award at the British Fashion Awards. He has also been nominated three times for Designer of the Year at these awards.
