William Tempest

Tempest studied for a National Diploma in Fashion Design at Mid Cheshire College and then moved to London at the age of 18 to study at the London College of Fashion where he gained a first class honours degree in womenswear design.

From a creative family, his grandfather Len was a painter, his grandmother a professional 'knitter tricoteuse', and his sister is a florist.[1]

He has worked for designers Giles Deacon in London and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac in Paris. In 2009, Donatella Versace selected Tempest to show his first collection at London Fashion Week through the Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden initiative.. After sitting front row at the show, Emma Watson went backstage to congratulate him and immediately asked him to design an outfit for the premiere of her new movie, The Despereaux, in Los Angeles, a few days ago. The outfit, which consisted of an intricately corseted bodysuit dress in navy silk and tulle became one of the most iconic looks of that year. The two subsequently became close friends and regularly holiday together at Tempest's second home in Ravello, on Italy's Amalfi Coast.[2]

In 2010, New York Fashion Week showed Tempest's work, and he was presented by Fern Mallis with a WGSN Global Fashion Award for Best Emerging Brand & Retailer. His collection was immediately picked up by retailers, Barney's New York, Jeffrey, Harrods, Selfridges, Browns, Liberty and Pollyanna, Barnsley.[3]

In 2014, Tempest moved to New York, to focus on developing a couture-inspired business, working solely on bespoke collections with private clients all over the world. He now splits his time between New York and Boston, and Dubai and Kuwait, where he has a large client base.[4]

Tempest's collection for autumn/winter 2010, "Under the Abaya", inspired by Islamic architecture and the legend of the Queen of Sheba's journey to Israel, was shown at London Fashion Week in February 2010.[5] Tempest's collection for autumn/winter 2011/12, "Dia Anna" was inspired by witchcraft, the occult, and the macabre in the Middle Ages and featured sculptural coats, crinolines and washed silk dresses in cherry, blood red, nudes, and black. The collection was showcased in a fashion film made in collaboration with Harper's Bazaar and model Amber Le Bon.[6]

His creations have been worn by Kate Moss, Rihanna,[7] Leona Lewis,[8] Lily Allen, Alexa Chung, Emma Watson,[9] and Victoria Beckham.[10] Tempest has been featured in publications such as Vogue, Tatler, i:D, The Wall Street Journal, and WWD, and was featured in The Sunday Times Power List as one of the most influential ʻ25 under 26ʼ.

Tempest has collaborated with River Island[11] on a high-street collection, created an art installation in Queen Victoria's bedroom for the Enchanted Palace[12] exhibition at Kensington Palace in London alongside designers Vivienne Westwood and Stephen Jones, appeared as a judge on Britain's Next Top Model,[13] curated an exhibition on sustainable urban design with Mercedes Benz Smart Urban Stage,[14] and has designed and worked with other brands including SonyVAIO, Disney, Toni & Guy,[15] label.m Haircare, The BodyShop, Olay,[16] and W Hotels.[17]

• Official website