Wendy Dagworthy

4 Extra Debut. From Bob Marley to Van Morrison. Fashion designer Wendy Dagworthy makes her castaway choices. with Kirsty Young. From 2014.

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Kirsty Young’s castaway this week is the fashion designer, Professor Wendy Dagworthy.

During her time as Head of Fashion at both Central St Martins and The Royal College of Art she has taught students who’ve gone on to great success – Stella McCartney, Erdem and Antonio Berardi among them. Her skill lies partly in understanding the significance of a well cut pattern or a nicely turned seam, but also the warp and weft of a notoriously fickle industry.

At just 23, she was the toast of the catwalks with her own label selling round the world and worn by the likes of Bryan Ferry, Boy George and Mick Jagger. Dubbed ‘the high priestess of fashion’, her creative talent, however, wasn’t recession-proof and her business went under in the late 80’s. Given that reinvention is the lifeblood of fashion it seems she was tailor made for a new direction; collecting her O.B.E. in 2011 for services to the fashion industry, she wore a Perspex hat designed by a former pupil.

She says, “we want students to take risks – like we did when we were younger. There were no set rules, there was no one to follow – you just did it yourself.”

DISC ONE: Virginia Plain – Roxy MusicDISC TWO: Days Like This – Van MorrisonDISC THREE: Save The Last Dance For Me – The DriftersDISC FOUR: Do You Really Want To Hurt Me – Culture ClubDISK FIVE: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart – Al GreenDISC SIX: Handle With Care – Traveling WilburysDISC SEVEN: No Woman,No Cry – Bob Marley & The WailersDISC EIGHT: La Vie En Rose – Grace Jones

BOOK CHOICE – Raj Quartet by Paul ScottLUXURY ITEM – A case of red lipstick and a fridge to keep it coolCASTAWAY’S FAVOURITE – No Woman,No Cry – Bob Marley & The Wailers

Producer: Cathy Drysdale

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2014.

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