English_Eccentrics

Helen David

Helen David

British fashion designer

"English Eccentrics" redirects here. For the 1964 opera by Malcolm Williamson, see English Eccentrics (opera).

Helen David is an English fashion designer and artist based in London, England.

Quick Facts Born, Nationality ...

Early life and education

Helen David was born in Brighton,[1] East Sussex, and moved to London shortly after completing her A-levels. She gained a first-class honours degree at Camberwell College of Arts,[1] where she studied textiles and fine art print-making. She studied fashion as a post-graduate at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. During this time, became involved with the London Underground culture of the '80s and frequented places such as the Blitz Club, where the New Romantic styling that she is well known for was born.[3]

Career

In 1983, David founded the design label English Eccentrics along with her sister, Judy Purbeck, and fellow designer, Claire Angel.[4] The label specialized in hand-printed and hand-embroidered evening wear and scarves. She participated in the "London Goes to Tokyo" event organized by Susanne Bartsch, a show intended to broaden the reach of British designers.[5] She also designed hosiery for Sophie Mirman's "Sock Shop", under the English Eccentrics name.[6]

In 2001 she took time away from the business to concentrate on art. "Friends and Icons"[7] was her one-woman art exhibition, curated by Laura Parker-Bowles. David's fashion and textile work is part of permanent collections in the Victoria and Albert Museum,[8][9] the Museum of London[10][11][12][13] and the Art Institute of Chicago.[14]

Books

  • McDermott, Catherine & David, Helen, (1994), "English Eccentrics The Textile Designs of Helen Littman", Phaidon, ISBN 1-85454-205-2
  • Ed. by Breward, Christopher and Wood, Ghislaine, (2012) "British Design from 1948: Innovation in the Modern Age", V and A books, ISBN 978-1-85177-674-0
  • Marnie Fogg, (2009), "1980s Fashion Print", Batsford, ISBN 978-1-906388-41-6
  • John Sorrell, (2009) "Creative Island 2", Laurence King Publishing Ltd, ISBN 978-1-85669-626-5
  • Richard Martin, (1989), "Fashion and Surrealism", Thames and Hudson, ISBN 0-500-27550-5
  • Ed. by Sonnet Stanfill, (2013), "From Club to Catwalk – 80's Fashion", V&A Publishing, ISBN 978-1-851-77725-9

References

  1. [1]
    McDermott, Catherine & David, Helen, (1994), "English Eccentrics The Textile Designs of Helen Littman", Phaidon, ISBN 1-85454-205-2, p. 7
  2. [2]
    "Biography". Helenandcolindavid.com. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  3. [3]
    Marnie Fogg, (2009), "1980s Fashion Print", Batsford, ISBN 978-1-906388-41-6, p. 9
  4. [4]
    McDermott, Catherine & David, Helen, (1994), "English Eccentrics The Textile Designs of Helen Littman", Phaidon, ISBN 1-85454-205-2, p. 8
  5. [5]
    Ed. by Sonnet Stanfill, (2013), "From Club to Catwalk – 80's Fashion", V&A Publishing, ISBN 978-1-851-77725-9, p12
  6. [6]
    Ed. by Sonnet Stanfill, (2013), "From Club to Catwalk – 80's Fashion", V&A Publishing, ISBN 978-1-851-77725-9, p. 29
  7. [7]
    "Exhibitions". Helenandcolindavid.com. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  8. [8]
    "Ensemble | Helen David English Eccentrics | V&A Search the Collections". Collections.vam.ac.uk. 27 July 1997. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  9. [9]
    "Cosmetic packaging | Helen David English Eccentrics | V&A Search the Collections". Collections.vam.ac.uk. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  10. [10]
    "Blouse | Museum of London". Collections.museumoflondon.org.uk. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  11. [11]
    "Shirt | Museum of London". Collections.museumoflondon.org.uk. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  12. [12]
    "Waistcoat | Museum of London". Collections.museumoflondon.org.uk. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  13. [13]
    "Scarf | Museum of London". Collections.museumoflondon.org.uk. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  14. [14]
    "Littman, Helen | The Art Institute of Chicago". Artic.edu. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
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