Osman

Designer name: Osman Yousefzada

Origin: Birmingham, UK

Design background: British born Osman Yousefzada was making clothes from a young age. His mother ran a couture dress making business in Birmingham, where Osman cemented his love for cloth and its workmanship.
He went on to study Fashion Design at Central Saint Martins before launching his own label in September 2005. He received NEWGEN sponsorship for three seasons (SS07 – SS08).
Osman was nominated for the annual Designs of Year 2007 award at the Design Museum, which features the best 100 designs internationally, selected from all design disciplines. In addition, 2008 was the launch of one of the most successful, and critically acclaimed high street collaborations of the year - Osman Yousefzada's Little Black Dress collection for Mango, which was sold in over 203 stores, and in 35 countries worldwide. 2009 saw the renowned authority on haute couture and vintage fashion, Didier Ludot, showcasing Osman's work in the windows of his venerated Palais Royal boutique in Paris.
He was shortlisted for the 2011 BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund.

Design signatures: Simple yet highly intelligent and directional pieces. The clothes are exceptionally precise, well-tailored and finished but are softened with sensuous draping that is inspired by Osman's interest in ethnicity and the costume of ancient cultures.

Career highlight: “My dress sitting in between designs by John Galliano and Zaha Hadid at the Design Museum’s ‘Designs of the Year’ exhibition.”

Who is your ideal customer? “Probably Cate Blanchett. As a student, I was an usher at the Albery Theatre where she starred in David Hare’s Plenty. She left a huge impression on me: I watched her every night for six months whilst peddling my ice-creams.”

Three spring/summer 2012 inspirations: “Japan, pink and Gloria Swanson.”
 
Who are your design heroes? “Poiret, Charles James and Claire McCardell.”

What’s your favourite cultural hotspot in the capital? “Just around my studio – the Portman Village.”