Susan Collier facts for kids

Susan Jane Collier (born October 12, 1938 – died May 18, 2011) was a talented English textile designer. A textile designer creates patterns and designs for fabrics. Susan started her career working for herself, selling her drawings to scarf companies like Richard Allan and Jacqmar.

In 1961, she joined Liberty, a famous store, where she became known for her beautiful floral print designs for dresses. Later, her sister, Sarah Campbell, joined her in 1968. Together, they started their own design studio called Collier Campbell Ltd in 1979.

Susan's Early Life

Susan Collier was born in Manchester, England, on October 12, 1938. Her mother, Patience Collier, was an actress, and her father, Harry Collier, was a pharmacologist who cared a lot about helping people.

Susan had two siblings: a sister named Sarah and a brother named Joe. Her father helped her love poetry and the natural world, like animals and plants.

Discovering Her Creative Side

From a young age, Susan learned the importance of working hard and thinking creatively. Her parents loved to paint flowers, which inspired Susan. They even gave her special paper and paints to practice her drawing skills.

Her father often took her for walks, teaching her to notice small details, like the patterns on a butterfly's wings. This helped her develop a keen eye for design.

Susan left school at 15 with three O Level qualifications. She then went to catering college. She didn't go to art school, so she learned her design skills on her own. At 18, Susan moved to London and worked part-time helping out in theaters.

Designing a Career

Susan began her career as a freelance textile designer from a small studio in a spare bedroom at her home in South London. She loved the area because it had many different cultures and people.

She sold her design sketches to scarf companies. But Susan felt frustrated when others used her work without giving her credit. So, she went to Liberty, a well-known London company.

Working with Liberty

Susan told Liberty that if she was to continue designing, they would need to buy at least two of her designs. Liberty was impressed and bought six of her designs in 1961, asking for even more!

She first worked on their Tana Lawn cotton range, creating beautiful floral prints for dresses. She also designed patterns for Liberty scarves. In 1968, her younger sister, Sarah Campbell, started helping her.

By 1971, Susan became Liberty's main design and color consultant for their fabrics and products. She was in charge of designs for clothes, home fabrics, and accessories. Eventually, she became the design director.

Starting Collier Campbell Studio

Susan wanted to create designs for large clothing brands and home furnishings. In 1979, she and Sarah decided to start their own independent studio, Collier Campbell Ltd. They no longer wanted to work for others.

Collier Campbell designed for famous fashion brands like Yves Saint Laurent, Bill Gibb, Cacharel, and Daniel Hechter Paris. They also worked with many shopping companies.

Susan left Liberty in 1977, which meant she could keep the rights to her own designs. She believed that good designs should be available to everyone. In 1974, the company Habitat asked them to design their textile collection. By 1980, Collier Campbell was Habitat's main textile designer.

In 1984, Collier Campbell won the Duke of Edinburgh's designer prize for a fabric collection called "six views." Four years later, they designed the carpets for Gatwick Airport's North Terminal.

Personal Life

Susan Collier was married twice. She had two children, Charlotte and Sophie, with her first husband, Andrew Herxheimer. Later, she married broadcaster Frank Delany.

Susan Collier passed away in London on May 18, 2011, after battling cancer.