John Rocha (fashion designer)
Encyclopedia
John Rocha CBE, is a Hong Kong
born fashion designer of Chinese
and Portuguese
descent who is based in Ireland.
with his wife Odette (née Gleeson), who is a key member of his design team, and their two children, Simone and Max. Rocha has a second, older daughter, Zoe, from his first marriage to another Irish woman, Eily Doolan. The Rocha family keep a second home in the South of France, at St Jean Cap-Ferrat, in an area popular with other wealthy Irish friends, including Bono, the lead singer of Dublin rock band, U2.
after graduating from the Croydon School of Art
, London
. Known for his hand-crafting, beading and appliquée to garments, Rocha first established a name for himself with his Chinatown label in Dublin in the 1980s and later designing clothing for both men and women in the Irish high street stores A Wear
and their luxury stores Brown Thomas
. He has designed a range of cut crystal stemware and vases for Waterford Crystal until that firm's closure in 2008. The brand is being relaunched in 2010 and a John Rocha crystal product range will be relaunched Waterford Crystal
.
By 1993, he was named Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards
. Rocha runs his own "John Rocha", "John Rocha Jeans", "Rocha John Rocha
" and "John Rocha Jewellery" labels alongside a diffusion clothing, homewear and accessories label for the department store Debenhams
. Rocha has also designed the interiors of the Morrison Hotel in Dublin and the Orion Building
in Birmingham
.
He was awarded the 'Special Award' at the Ernst and Young Irish Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2008 which took place in the City West Hotel in Dublin on the 23rd October 2008.
Rocha continues to produce a 'pret-a-porter' womenswear and menswear range which he showcases twice annually at the British Fashion Council sponsored London Fashion Week (February & September). His John Rocha lifestyle boutique opened at 15a Dover Street, London, W1, in 2006. His design business, operating as Three Moon Design, is located at Dublin's Ely Place with a turnover of €200 million per year
Rocha was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2002 for his contributions to the fashion industry.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
born fashion designer of Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
and Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
descent who is based in Ireland.
Personal life
Rocha resides in Dublin, IrelandRepublic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
with his wife Odette (née Gleeson), who is a key member of his design team, and their two children, Simone and Max. Rocha has a second, older daughter, Zoe, from his first marriage to another Irish woman, Eily Doolan. The Rocha family keep a second home in the South of France, at St Jean Cap-Ferrat, in an area popular with other wealthy Irish friends, including Bono, the lead singer of Dublin rock band, U2.
Career
He moved to IrelandRepublic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
after graduating from the Croydon School of Art
Croydon College
Croydon College, established in 1895, is a Further Education and Higher Education institution in the London Borough of Croydon.Located in East Croydon, it is made up of a Further Education College and a Higher Education College.- Further Education :...
, London
London Borough of Croydon
The London Borough of Croydon is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the largest London borough by population. It is the southernmost borough of London. At its centre is the historic town of Croydon from which the borough takes its name...
. Known for his hand-crafting, beading and appliquée to garments, Rocha first established a name for himself with his Chinatown label in Dublin in the 1980s and later designing clothing for both men and women in the Irish high street stores A Wear
A Wear
A|Wear is an Irish chain of clothing stores that operates in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and more recently in the United Kingdom.-History:...
and their luxury stores Brown Thomas
Brown Thomas
Brown Thomas & Company Limited is a chain of four Irish department stores, located in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick. Owned by Wittington Investments, Brown Thomas is an upmarket chain, akin to Canada's Holt Renfrew chain and Britain's Selfridges stores, which are also controlled by the Weston...
. He has designed a range of cut crystal stemware and vases for Waterford Crystal until that firm's closure in 2008. The brand is being relaunched in 2010 and a John Rocha crystal product range will be relaunched Waterford Crystal
Waterford Crystal
Waterford Crystal is a trademark brand of crystal glassware, previously produced in Waterford, Ireland, though the factory there was shut down after the receivership of Waterford Wedgwood plc in early 2009...
.
By 1993, he was named Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards
British Fashion Awards
The British Fashion Awards is a ceremony held annually in the United Kingdom to present awards to those who have made the most outstanding contributions to British clothing design during the year. The awards include that of British Designer of the Year, and Outstanding Contribution as well as...
. Rocha runs his own "John Rocha", "John Rocha Jeans", "Rocha John Rocha
Rocha John Rocha
Rocha John Rocha is a clothing and homewares brand designed by the fashion designer, John Rocha. The ranges are sold exclusively at British department store Debenhams.Rocha John Rocha has his clothes nearly in every shop...
" and "John Rocha Jewellery" labels alongside a diffusion clothing, homewear and accessories label for the department store Debenhams
Debenhams
Debenhams plc is a British retailer operating under a department store format in the UK, Ireland and Denmark, and franchise stores in other countries. The Company was founded in the eighteenth century as a single store in London and has now grown to around 160 shops...
. Rocha has also designed the interiors of the Morrison Hotel in Dublin and the Orion Building
Orion Building
The Orion Building is a tall high rise residential building on Navigation Street, Birmingham 5, England. Construction of the tower began in 2004 with demolition of the previous building on the site, and was completed in 2007. As part of the development, the original façades of some of the previous...
in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
.
He was awarded the 'Special Award' at the Ernst and Young Irish Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2008 which took place in the City West Hotel in Dublin on the 23rd October 2008.
Rocha continues to produce a 'pret-a-porter' womenswear and menswear range which he showcases twice annually at the British Fashion Council sponsored London Fashion Week (February & September). His John Rocha lifestyle boutique opened at 15a Dover Street, London, W1, in 2006. His design business, operating as Three Moon Design, is located at Dublin's Ely Place with a turnover of €200 million per year
Rocha was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2002 for his contributions to the fashion industry.