A few weeks back, we asked fashion judge Wayne Hemingway why awards such as the Best of Manchester matter.
‘The good thing about awards is that they force you to articulate what you stand for,’ said one-half of the design duo behind international fashion brand, Red or Dead.
‘They push you to be better and show you that you can get to the top.’
‘If you’re lucky enough to be earning a living from working in the creative industries,’ he went on, ‘if you’re earning a living by being able to use your brain in a creative way, then you should make the most of that. If you’re not driven to work hard and push yourself, then you shouldn’t be working in this industry.’
Hemingway is one of the hardest working men in design. After he sold Red or Dead in the late 90s, in a multi-million pound deal, did he put his feet up and go in for a bit of early retirement? Did he heck. With his wife and business partner, Gerardine, he went on to set up HemingwayDesign, a design practice that has produced everything from bathroom tiles to wallpaper, and garden furniture to a social housing schemes.
That’s one impressive work ethic. So, for anyone thinking about entering their work into the fashion category, think on. Do you have the drive, motivation and gumption to impress Mr. Hemingway? Course you do…
Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway
