Simone Rocha on the Power of Women Designers, Chloë Sevigny, Art and Fashion | Fashion Neurosis

Simone Rocha is an Irish designer. Born in Dublin, the daughter of designer John Rocha, she graduated with a BA in Fashion from The National College of Art and Design in Dublin in 2008, continuing in 2010 to graduate from the acclaimed Fashion MA at Central Saint Martin’s College, London. Simone debuted at London Fashion Week in September 2010, and has shown at every season since, in some of London’s most historically significant buildings such as Tate Modern, The Royal Academy of Art, Southwark Cathedral, The Old Bailey, and Alexandra Palace. In October 2024 Simone Rocha released her monograph published by Rizzoli, a survey of the last decade of her brand. Simone curated an exhibition titled “Girls, Girls, Girls” at Lismore Castle Arts in 2022 featuring the work of female artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Cindy Sherman, Harley Weir, Dorothy Cross and Sophie Barber. Rocha has collaborated with world-renowned brands, including Adidas, J Brand, Moncler, Crocs and H&M, infusing them with the signature Simone Rocha aesthetic. In 2024, Simone was the guest designer for Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture. Simone Rocha has been awarded the Harper’s Bazaar Designer of Year Award (2016) as well as Fashion Awards for ‘Emerging Talent, Ready-to-Wear’ (2013), ‘The New Establishment Award’ (2014), “British Womenswear Designer Award” (2016), “Independent British Brand” in 2021 and most recently “British Womenswear Designer Award” (2024). In this episode of Fashion Neurosis, Bella Freud and Simone Rocha discuss loving school uniforms, Chloë Sevigny, and radical femininity. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Chapters: 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:21 What are you wearing today? 00:01:23 Success 00:03:36 Simone’s designs 00:08:51 School uniform 00:10:37 Art and fashion 00:13:35 Louise Wilson 00:18:17 Shame 00:19:55 Bodies 00:21:56 Childhood clothing 00:24:54 Male v Female Womenswear Designers 00:31:40 Chloë Sevigny 00:34:55 Designing for Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture 00:40:10 Short film with Petra Collins 00:43:00 Designing menswear 00:45:24 If you fancy someone… 00:48:00 Art inspiring fashion and Goya 00:52:44 Collaborating with Adidas and Justine Kurland 01:01:33 Outro