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Celia BirtwellEnglish textile designer
Country:
 Great Britain |
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Biography of Celia Birtwell
Celia Birtwell is an English textile designer who gained recognition for her prints featuring animals from the 16th century. She named this series of prints 'Animal Solo', which later became popular on white veils and muslins.
Early Life and Career
Born in 1941, Celia Birtwell studied textile design in Manchester. It was in 1959 that she met fashion designer Ossie Clark, whom she later married in 1969. Their partnership became the epitome of a unique fashion style, marking the beginning of a new era.
In 1966, Birtwell and Clark collaborated on a collection for the London boutique 'Quorum' owned by Alice Pollock. Clark and his team revolutionized fashion shows by incorporating music and turning them into grand spectacles attended by London's elite. Birtwell worked from home, creating textile designs for Clark's unconventional clothing creations, combining her knowledge of fabrics with Clark's talent for cutting and shaping garments. Together, they designed couture clothing for the emerging 1960s culture.
Birtwell and Clark's designs were worn by iconic figures such as the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Pattie Boyd, Marianne Faithfull, Bianca Jagger, Veruschka, Paloma Picasso, and many others. The couple had two children, Albert (born in 1969) and George (born in 1972). However, their successful professional partnership could not sustain their troubled personal relationship. They divorced in 1974 due to Clark's infidelity and involvement in homosexual relationships.
In 1996, Clark was tragically killed by his former lover, Diego Cogolato, in an unintentional act of insanity. After the turmoil in her personal life, Birtwell continued working in the fashion industry, designing clothing for the label 'Radley'. In 1984, she opened her own shop on Westbourne Park Road in Bayswater, Central London, where she sold home fabrics. Once again, she established herself as a witty and innovative designer.
Later Career and Achievements
Birtwell's first major success without external support came from her animal print designs inspired by the 16th century. These prints, known as the 'Animal Solo' series, were widely copied on white veils and muslins. In 2005, she collaborated with the renowned retailer 'Topshop' to design a collection. The collection included vintage-inspired dresses and blouses, which became incredibly successful. As a result, Birtwell continued her collaboration with 'Topshop' the following year. For the Autumn-Winter 2006 collection, she designed dresses reminiscent of Ossie Clark's models, along with handbags, umbrellas, and lingerie.
Birtwell also served as a muse for English artist David Hockney, starting in 1968. One of Hockney's most famous paintings, 'Mr. and Mrs. Clark and Percy' in 1970, was heavily influenced by Birtwell. This painting has become incredibly popular and is displayed in the Tate Gallery.
In recognition of her contributions to the fashion industry, Celia Birtwell was appointed as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2011.
