50 Years of Fabulous for Gray’s students

Dame Zandra Rhodes invited the group from Gray's School of Art, for a special tour of the exhibition which is dedicated to her career and is being held outside London for the first-time.

The group were enthralled by the design icon as she told them about the inspiration behind her bold prints and theatrical colour palettes.

She sat down with the students to talk about her creative work and to tell them stories from her celebrity-studded career, which spans five decades and includes designing gowns for Princess Diana and Barbara Streisand.

One of the students, Gray’s Fashion and Textile design student, Carys Hodgton, from Dunfermline, Fife said: “Meeting Zandra Rhodes was a dream come true. I have seen her work over the years, so I couldn't get my head around the fact I was going to meet her. She was so kind and friendly. Walking around I could tell how much she loved what she does and how she enjoyed strolling back down memory lane. 

“This event was a once in a lifetime experience. I feel inspired by her as she told us, that when she first started out as a designer, she was turned away by a lot of British manufactures. It inspires me not to give up, even when it's not easy. Visits like this, organised by Grays, help new and upcoming designers get a first-hand, inside look at the fashion world and helps us ask questions directly to the designer, on a more personal level.”

Graduate in Residence from RGU’s Fashion and Textile department, Kirsty Robertson, added: “Meeting Zandra has made me more motivated to continue with my own design work. Her personal advice was very encouraging, in terms of developing my professional practice, and she placed great emphasis on being confident in your design work, even if others aren’t!

“Opportunities like this from Gray's are so important as they really support my understanding and visualisation of what my career could be. They also give me a professional insight from the creative industry that I otherwise wouldn’t gain through general coursework. The ability to form connections, not only with guest speakers, but with the other students and professionals attending, is invaluable for my career progression."

Dame Zandra Rhodes even recorded a dedicated video for the students saying: “The most important thing is to try and cultivate belief in yourself and not to give up, even if people laugh or be discouraging. The only thing that will lead you to the next stage is strength of will, surround yourself with people that believe in you and never give up.”

Head of Gray’s School of Art, Libby Curtis said: “It was an absolute privilege for our students to meet Dame Zandra Rhodes. They relished the opportunity to hear her experiences and I really appreciate her taking time to meet them. I’d also like to thank Aberdeen Art Gallery for hosting our visit.

“As one of Scotland’s oldest fine art institutions, Gray’s School of Art offers a vibrant mix of Fine Art and Design. We have a long-established history, being rated number one in Scotland for Fashion and Textiles employment, and work hard to inspire our students with visits from leading designers and those in the creative sector.

“As a small art school, we have a real sense of community and experiences like this really encourage our young artists and designers to grow as individuals.”

The must-see exhibition, which is a the largest ever devoted to the British artist, celebrates 50 years of a fascinatingly varied career, in which the now 81 years of age fashion designer, presents influential looks, original textiles and archive material.  Dame Zandra Rhodes continues to influence fashion and textiles having recently designed a limited collection for Ikea.

’50 Years of Fabulous’ first opened in November at Aberdeen Art Gallery and runs until 20 March.

To find out more about the exhibition visit: