Neil Barrett (fashion designer)
Encyclopedia
Neil Barrett is an English
fashion designer, based in Milan, Italy. He gained his reputation and built his business around minimalist menswear.
in London
. His designs caught the attention Gucci
, where he began his professional career.
Working in Florence for Gucci in the early 1990s, Barrett gained commercial and industrial experience and was quickly promoted to senior menswear designer. After five successful years, he presented a project to Prada
, proposing the launch of the company's first designer menswear collection. Under Barrett's direction, Prada
became renowned among fashion insiders as the forerunner of "minimalist" menswear.
Also in 2002, Neil joined forces with the mega-brand Puma
, co-branding a collection of athletic shoes, Puma
by Neil Barrett, available mostly in clothing stores rather than the traditional network of sports stores. The following year, Puma named Neil Barrett Creative Director for a series of technical collections starting with Italy’s National Football Team. Team Italia wore Neil Barrett’s “on pitch kit” training and formal wear exclusively, ultimately winning the 2006 World Cup title. Barrett became the first fashion designer ever to have exclusively dressed a national football team.
In February 2006, the Neil Barrett women’s collection made its debut during New York Fashion Week
.
Following sales—50 million euros in 2007—Barrett opened a third mono-brand store and first shop mall in Seoul, Korea.
In 2007, Neil began working with artist-architect Zaha Hadid
on a concept store that opened in September 2008 in Aoyama, Tokyo. The store concept revolved around a large sculpture, 28 metres long and three metres high, in the central area. The first Zaha Hadid
shop-in-shop will open in Joyce Central in Hong Kong in January 2010.
After ten years of production by the Prada Group and Allegri, in its eleventh year Barrett moved production to Tuscany. Factory srl dedicates 90 percent of its production to the Neil Barrett collection.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
fashion designer, based in Milan, Italy. He gained his reputation and built his business around minimalist menswear.
Biography
Both Barrett's grandfather and great grandfather were master tailors, inciting an early interest in tailoring. Following his graduation from the Central Saint Martin's School of Art and Design, Barrett earned his Master’s degree in men's fashion design at the Royal College of ArtRoyal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. His designs caught the attention Gucci
Gucci
The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
, where he began his professional career.
Working in Florence for Gucci in the early 1990s, Barrett gained commercial and industrial experience and was quickly promoted to senior menswear designer. After five successful years, he presented a project to Prada
Prada
Prada S.p.A. is an Italian fashion label specializing in luxury goods for men and women , founded by Mario Prada.-Foundations:...
, proposing the launch of the company's first designer menswear collection. Under Barrett's direction, Prada
Prada
Prada S.p.A. is an Italian fashion label specializing in luxury goods for men and women , founded by Mario Prada.-Foundations:...
became renowned among fashion insiders as the forerunner of "minimalist" menswear.
Neil Barrett (Men's-Women's Accessories)
In 1999, Barrett launched the Neil Barrett brand with his men’s collection. The first, free-standing Neil Barrett brand store opened in the central Tokyo Aoyama shopping district in 2001. Barrett joined the Milan Fashion calendar featuring his men’s collection in January 2002.Also in 2002, Neil joined forces with the mega-brand Puma
PUMA AG
Puma SE, officially branded as PUMA, is a major German multinational company that produces high-end athletic shoes, lifestyle footwear and other sportswear. Formed in 1924 as Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik by Adolf and Rudolf Dassler, relationships between the two brothers deteriorated until the two...
, co-branding a collection of athletic shoes, Puma
PUMA AG
Puma SE, officially branded as PUMA, is a major German multinational company that produces high-end athletic shoes, lifestyle footwear and other sportswear. Formed in 1924 as Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik by Adolf and Rudolf Dassler, relationships between the two brothers deteriorated until the two...
by Neil Barrett, available mostly in clothing stores rather than the traditional network of sports stores. The following year, Puma named Neil Barrett Creative Director for a series of technical collections starting with Italy’s National Football Team. Team Italia wore Neil Barrett’s “on pitch kit” training and formal wear exclusively, ultimately winning the 2006 World Cup title. Barrett became the first fashion designer ever to have exclusively dressed a national football team.
In February 2006, the Neil Barrett women’s collection made its debut during New York Fashion Week
New York Fashion Week
The semi-annual New York Fashion Week, branded Mercedes-Benz FashionWeek in 2009, is held in February and September of each year in New York City. It is one of four major fashion weeks held around the world .-History:The first New York Fashion Week, then called Press Week, was the world's first...
.
Following sales—50 million euros in 2007—Barrett opened a third mono-brand store and first shop mall in Seoul, Korea.
In 2007, Neil began working with artist-architect Zaha Hadid
Zaha Hadid
Zaha Hadid, CBE is an Iraqi-British architect.-Life and career:Hadid was born in 1950 in Baghdad, Iraq. She received a degree in mathematics from the American University of Beirut before moving to study at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London.After graduating she worked...
on a concept store that opened in September 2008 in Aoyama, Tokyo. The store concept revolved around a large sculpture, 28 metres long and three metres high, in the central area. The first Zaha Hadid
Zaha Hadid
Zaha Hadid, CBE is an Iraqi-British architect.-Life and career:Hadid was born in 1950 in Baghdad, Iraq. She received a degree in mathematics from the American University of Beirut before moving to study at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London.After graduating she worked...
shop-in-shop will open in Joyce Central in Hong Kong in January 2010.
After ten years of production by the Prada Group and Allegri, in its eleventh year Barrett moved production to Tuscany. Factory srl dedicates 90 percent of its production to the Neil Barrett collection.
External links
- http://www.neilbarrett.com/ Company website