Spotlight On CCG Members - Wayne Hemingway
Sep, 7 2017
~~This month’s ‘Spotlight on CCG Members’ is literally a rags to riches tale of how an ordinary young man fulfilled an extraordinary dream and creative ambition, Greater London based Wayne Hemingway.
Wayne was brought up in Morecombe throughout the 1960’s. As a youngster he was always fascinated with fashion and business. By 1979 he completed a Degree in Geography and Town Planning at University College London, and subsequently completed an MA in Fashion at the University of Surrey.
Following his degree he started his fashion career by selling items from his wardrobe, and that of his childhood sweetheart (now wife) Geraldine, in Camden Market.
By 1983, they had opened a shop in fashionable Kensington, London. Selling Geraldine's self-made clothes. That same year, the first Red or Dead collection was also created, inspired by Russian peasant clothing.
Having won numerous awards throughout the 90’s, including Designer of the Year for both 1996 and 1997, Wayne decided to sell up and by 1999, Red or Dead was no more. His previous experience with Red or Dead gave Wayne the confidence, knowledge and awareness to re-imagine his next business venture. ‘Hemingway Design’ was born. It specialised in affordable and social design.
By 2010, Wayne and his team of creative and innovative thinkers conspired to launch several cultural events. These included, the annual Vintage Festival, Classic Car Boot sale, The Festival of Thrift, The National Festival of Making and last years (2016) Urban Village Fete which had a collective audience of 250,000.
Other off-shoots include ‘Hemingway Digital’ a team of highly skilled web consultants, advertising executives and creative designers fused together. It’s this melting pot of creativity that enables success stories to be connected to the very people Hemingway Design has been marketing for several years.
Wayne’s other work is a creative practice based in Morecombe, the very town he grew up in. ‘Deco Publique’ has been designed to produce both cultural festivals and creative projects. These are mainly art driven concepts which have been specifically tailored for a culturally appreciative audience.
Wayne’s experience has led him to write several books including, The Vintage Fashion Bible: The Complete Guide to Buying and Styling Vintage Fashion from the 1920s to 1990s, Mass Market Classics: A Celebration of Everyday Design, and Just above the Mantelpiece: Mass-Market Masterpieces
Following over thirty years in the industry, by 2012 Hemingway received an honorary degree ('Doctor of Arts') from Leeds Metropolitan University. By April of the same year the CCG was launched here is what Wayne believes the CCG represents,
“Creative Communities like this are vital to support our bourgeoning creative industries. Modern technology is increasingly allowing creative businesses to be based anywhere so having communities based around and supported by regional universities can help to provide mutual support and help to share knowledge and opportunities".
By 2015 Wayne was made patron of The Unite Foundation, a charity providing free university accommodation to young people in the UK from challenging backgrounds.
Now in 2017 we have the absolute privilege of welcoming Wayne Hemingway to the CCG. May his kind philanthropic endeavors continue and may he be always considered a creative individual as he continually strives to think ‘out of the box’.
Welcome.
^Alex Ashworth.
