John Rocha

“I'm like a conductor. I come up with ideas, and I get all these people to make great music together. I have a team of really talented assistant designers. I have architects in my office. People I trained from the beginning in menswear, womenswear, and home. I have a great team who know what I want and feel and translate that into beautiful results.”

“I used to play football, and then my wife bought me a fishing rod.”

“I never set out to do interior design; I just do what I do, and some people come along and want me to work with them.”

“It is hard to have a fashion business in any country, but even more difficult in Ireland.”

“My heritage is a huge part of everything I do; it is, after all, part of what has made me who I am.”

“When I left college, nobody expected much of me - and nor did I.”

“During fashion week, I dream about fashion; afterwards, I dream about fishing. After fashion week, I always go fishing to wind down.”

“Guys want to be cool without appearing to be bothered about trends.”

“The most important part of my work on The Orion Building was the creation within the apartments of living space which inspires people and the way they live their lives, whether they have bought a one-bedroom apartment or the penthouse. This building is beautiful to see, sense, and experience.”

“My homes are similar in style because the same design principles run through all areas of my work.”

“I think, as a designer, what you have to do is challenge yourself to do what you do, but better.”

“I can tell you every element of every single look from each collection - one to 30 - without looking at a picture: my label is all done by me.”

“I turned my hand to costume design a few years ago when I created the outfits for 'This Is the Sea,' with Richard Harris and Samantha Morton. It's a very different discipline to being a fashion designer, though - you have to rein in your own vision and work to a tight brief.”

“Just because something is trendy doesn't mean it will suit you.”

“The day I feel my clothes are no longer relevant, I will be happy to step down.”

“Chinese people have that superstitious fix - people always do feng shui when they are opening a shop; even the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank pays people to do feng shui for them.”

“I love white walls because white reflects the light and is a great backdrop for art.”

“One thing I learned from all my years in business is you really have to work with the experts: you can launch something yourself, but unless you have the expertise and the marketing strategies and machinery behind you, you'll never be successful.”

“I want romance; I want people to be happy in their relationships.”

“My life is about family and friends as well as work.”