Wendy Dagworthy
About
Wendy Dagworthy was born in Gravesend, Kent, England, in 1950. She attended Medway College of Art from 1966 to 1968. She studied art and design at the Middlesex Polytechnic from 1968 to 1971.
After graduating, she joined a wholesale manufacturer called Radley, before opening her own business in London in 1972.
Italy, in particular, proved a lucrative outlet for her very English look and during the early 1980's she was exporting nearly halfof her total output to Italy. She had a huge success in selling in the interantional market, in London, Milan, New York and Paris.
The Look
Wendy Dagworthy specialized in loose, easy, ready-to-wear shapes in natural fibres, employing resourceful features such as double pockets and detachable hood. There was an immediate consumer demand for Dagworthy designs and prestigious stores placed orders. Her clothes for both men and women were practical and flexible, embracing all occasions and seasons. She enjoyed mixing patterns, textures and colours in a spirited youthful style. Wendy's vibrant colours and prints, embroidered Caribbean style Batiks and swirling floral designs were all very popular. Dagworthy loved to use vibrant colours and prints, embroidered Caribbean style batiks, mixed with stripes or swirling floral designs in fuchsia, scarlet, and orange. Favourite fabrics were mohairs, strongly textured woven wools, and wool baratheas. Her most popular, signature garments were oversize wool coats, back buttoning smocks, circular skirts, and gathered skirts with boldly tied waists, teamed with easy cardigans or wide-cropped jackets. The menswear collections, introduced in the early 1980s adhered to the same lively, colourful themes and quickly emulated the success of the womenswear, being comfortable and easy to wear.