Matthew Williamson

“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.”

“No woman can wear prints all the time.”

“My clothes and my interiors are about making people smile.”

“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.”

“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.”

“Leather has a real durability and functionality.”

“Debenhams has a strong track record for developing exclusive designer brands.”

“People think of me and think, 'Ibiza and hippy look.' I'm trying to expand.”

“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.”

“My design philosophy is to make women feel like peacocks.”

“Everything I've designed is intended not to match perfectly but to sit together in harmony, to add flair and personality to any room.”

“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.”

“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 grew up in the dark ages, pre-digital, when everyone would wait for a magazine each month to see these models who became legendary and iconic, like Kate Moss.”

“Developing a new designer colouring book with Laurence King has been a real passion project of mine.”

“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.”

“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'm an independent fashion house.”

“I think Galliano returning to London Fashion Week at some point would be hugely well received by the industry.”

“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.”