Phoebe Philo

Phoebe Philo TIME 100
Andrea Spotorno

Céline’s fashion powerhouse

Phoebe and I met in 1994 at Central Saint Martins in London. From then on, we were inseparable. She and I worked side by side in Paris, the naughty kids from London coming to the house of Chloé. Phoebe stayed when I decided to start my own label and touched the house with her magic spell, a British talent taking over the world of French fashion.

One of the few female designers, she celebrates the simple and champions the quality and reality of a woman’s wardrobe. When people invest in her work, they have it for life. One of the things we share is the reality that the clothes we design are actually worn.

She is a mother too, and holds her family close; she has a protective shield that the women who wear her clothes feel. Phoebe has so much more to offer, and I think everyone is just waiting for her next move. She has been my friend for 20 years and knew my mum, which means a lot to me. She makes me proud, and I know she will always deliver on the expectations because she has it and ain’t gonna lose it.

McCartney launched her namesake label in 2001

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