Established in 2018, Patrick McDowell is rapidly emerging and challenging the traditional paradigms of the fashion industry. With a firm commitment to creating sustainable luxury fashion that is customer- and production-centric, McDowell has navigated the complexities of building and sustaining an independent brand with admirable tenacity and vision. .
In this exclusive conversation, DSCENE Magazineeditor of Pavle Banovicwe sit down with visionary designer Patrick McDowell to share the ethos behind his brand, highlighting its deep-rooted commitment to resilience, innovation, and sustainability.
As an independent brand established in 2018, could you tell us about the challenges and efforts you have faced in building and maintaining it? – I always wanted to do something different with Patrick McDowell. He wanted to create a sustainable luxury brand centered around clients and craftsmanship. Doing something different is both challenging and rewarding. To really value clothes and create things that can be worn for a lifetime. I believe in this way of working and am happy to have lived up to those values over the past five years.
Your brand is proud to be contributing to the circular economy in fashion, especially with your latest collection made exclusively from sustainable fabrics. How is this achieved, and how can the use of such materials foster innovation? – We create our collections using a myriad of different materials, from the finest vintage silks to new fabric innovations that push the boundaries of material innovation. We use materials that can be returned to the earth. Working with materials like this fosters innovation by challenging traditional design methods, encouraging experimentation with new techniques, and pushing the boundaries of sustainable and circular fashion.
Your commitment to providing parts redesign, repair, and restoration services is noteworthy. Why is this aspect important and how does it contribute to the sustainability of the fashion industry as a whole? – Our commitment to providing redesign, repair and restoration services helps extend the life of clothing, reduce waste and encourage more responsible consumption. It speaks to our commitment to clothing that lasts a lifetime, so when your body changes or you decide to pass on your creations to future generations, we’re here to help. I’m here.
SS24 collection with Lambert Dance Company, which focuses on dance. How has dance and working with dancers influenced the design and creative process of these collaborations? – We were originally inspired by Marie Lambert’s life, her tenacity and drive to move the world of dance forward. Working with dancers influences our design and creative process by introducing movement, fluidity and expression into our collections. This collaboration promotes a unique synergy between her art of fashion and performance, celebrating the beauty of movement.
After all, that’s my favorite feeling. My goal is to create work that helps my clients feel more confident and beautiful. That’s why I do this.
Inclusion and support for the queer community is an important aspect of my personal life as well as my brand. Can you shed light on the importance of these values and share your insights on how to truly and effectively incorporate them? – Inclusivity and support for the queer community are values that are integral to the brand ethos and my personal life, as we promote diversity, representation, and acceptance in the fashion industry and society at large. To truly and effectively include them, we need to ensure diversity in casting, representation in marketing campaigns, and active support of LGBTQ+ organizations and initiatives. For me, this is part of our sustainability story.
You’ve dressed several celebrities, but is there anyone you’d like to highlight as particularly special or memorable in some way? – Dressing Nicole Scherzinger at the British Fashion Awards was amazing. We’re committed to creating stunning gowns made from biodegradable materials, and we’ve made them here in London to reduce the carbon footprint of our dresses. Nicole just finished playing Norma in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard. She was great on stage. She was so happy that in this new chapter of her life, she was able to create something that fascinated her. After all, that’s my favorite feeling. My goal is to create work that helps my clients feel more confident and beautiful. That’s why I do this.
My collection is like writing a book and telling a story through clothes. I am inspired by people who push boundaries and do things differently.
Is there something (book, person, place) that has been a consistent source of inspiration for you over the past few years? – I am inspired by stories, people, places and the lives they lived. My collection is like writing a book, telling a story through clothes. I’m inspired by people like Marie Lambert who pushed the boundaries and did things differently.
What do you want to see more of in the world of fashion this year, and what do you want to see less of? – We are in an interesting time in fashion. I would like to see more creative expression and marry it with sustainable innovation. I want to see people try new things and demonstrate their abilities.
Can you tell us about any exciting upcoming developments or projects for the brand? – Our latest client-focused collection has released “Eurydice”. This is a selection made to order and limited edition, meaning it’s a perfect fit for you. And his runway collection Orpheus’ Ball will be unveiled on Saturday, February 17th.
Keep up with Patrick McDowell on Instagram – @patrick__mcdowell.