the wellington college year book 2010/2011
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m: It wouldn’t really have been possible
in England. There’s a garment district here
which makes anything possible, a definite
attitude towards people trying new things in
ny which does not exist in London.
London semi-consciously tries to contain
people and keep them on a career path, that
is expected of them.
It’s so multicultural here? the American
—?
spirit (it sounds really cheesy) but the
American dream thing is a real attitude here
in ny.
j: The phrase Rag and Bone is a British phrase
meaning junk dealer? supporting recycling and
—?
reusing clothes. Are there any elements of that
in your label??
d: In the way that you’re always referencing
the past and recycling ideas, yes. A lot of our
fabrics use traditional old British fabrics as
reference points, like tartan.
There’s a certain irony in the name. I think
it’s great.
j: Is the phrase known in America??
m: No not at all.
d: r & b is really a reflection of our heritage.
Plus it’s a cool name? Better than Wainright
!
and Neville?!
j: Can you tell me a little about the
Waterbury buttons you have on your
garments, wasn’t this factory used to supply
the army with buttons during the war?
?
m: It’s important to us that all our finishings
are the best quality, the best linings, the best
zips. And then we found the Waterbury
button company? it’s been there since
—?
1812? and we use all metal buttons. The
—?
story was the English stopped selling buttons
to the Americans. So the factory was set up
to supply buttons for the us army and they
still supply the American military today. The
guy who carves them is 84 years old?! So it’s
old school, its nice to be able to have that.
j: Were you interested in the military aspect of
Wellington when you were there??
m: We definitely detested ccf on a
Wednesday afternoon? It’s funny how things
!
come about. I used to joke with my dad over
what he wore and I feel really guilty about
that now because a lot of what we’ve done
has been inspired by him. He was in the
army. He was also at Wellington as was my
grandfather and his brother?—?everyone went
to Wellington. But some things stick and to be
fair to the ccf we’ve had putties in the show?!
It’s interesting that I used to hate them with
such a passion but I still know how to tie them
and did it for the show?! I think the fact that
I was in a House named after a general, and
you’re sitting in the dining hall surrounded by
generals everywhere has an influence. I think