Designer Keanan Duffty; Fashion meets Music, David Bowie, Sex Pistols; The University of Failure

What was David Bowie like to collaborate with? Fashion designer and musician Keanan Duffty shares the story behind their collection for Target — from their first meeting to Bowie’s detailed involvement in the designs.

In this conversation with Steve Blame for POP The History Makers, Keanan traces his journey from Doncaster to St Martins, London’s club scene and New York. He recalls how punk gave him permission to create, how John Lydon called about his clothes, and how he came to dress members of the Sex Pistols.

We also discuss Slinky Vagabond, recording with Earl Slick, Glen Matlock and Clem Burke, the connections between music and fashion, and the creative thinking behind a runway show featuring Barbie dolls.

Along the way, Keanan reflects on boarding school, finding his community, learning through failure and passing his experience on to the next generation.

00:00 Introducing Keanan Duffty
01:11 Childhood and supportive parents
02:45 Glam rock, Tommy and The Rocky Horror Picture Show
04:47 Fashion as storytelling
06:18 Learning entrepreneurship from his parents
08:52 How punk reached Doncaster
12:19 Boarding school, isolation and resilience
14:17 His first band and discovering performance
17:24 Moving to London and choosing St Martins
18:53 Cha Cha’s, Camden Palace and the club scene
22:00 Textile design, music and getting a manager
23:48 Pursuing fashion and music together
26:22 Art education, grants and expectations
29:12 Creativity and competition in the 1980s
31:41 Finding his community
34:36 Building a fashion career and moving to New York
37:43 Starting again in New York
39:57 The Bowie connection behind Slinky Vagabond
42:05 Earl Slick, Glen Matlock and Clem Burke
44:39 St Martins and punk connections
46:05 John Lydon’s phone call and dressing the Sex Pistols
50:32 Rebel Rebel: Anti-Style and fashion history
53:39 Clothing, identity and self-expression
54:58 Teaching and the next chapter of Slinky Vagabond
56:27 Approaching David Bowie
58:12 Meeting Bowie and building trust
59:37 Developing the Bowie collection for Target
1:01:08 Keeping the music and fashion projects separate
1:03:06 The Barbie-doll runway show
1:06:42 Creativity, failure and leaving your comfort zone
1:08:16 The Bowie shirt that didn’t sell
1:09:56 Why the 1980s still matter
1:14:40 Passing creative experience on

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