Mr Deryck Walker, Fashion Designer and mentor
Deryck Walker was born in Scotland and studied fashion at Cardonald College Glasgow where he is well remembered for his technical and creative abilities.
On graduating from Cardonald, he immediately moved to London, gained invaluable experience working with the design duo Boudicca, as the assistant to Robert Carey Williams and then spending a year in Milan at Versace. He remembers telephoning his mother on hearing that he had a contract at Versace – but he could only say ‘help ma boab oh help ma boab’ or words to that effect!
After Milan, Deryck moved back to London to establish and focus on his debut collection, which launched in Autumn/Winter 2005 as an exclusive line of menswear for Dover Street Market. Deryck continued with his menswear collections showing at Topman’s Man show during London Fashion week in Spring/Summer 2007 and Autumn/Winter 2007. For Spring/Summer 2008 Deryck launched his debut womenswear collection alongside his menswear, a decision which evolved due to a growing customer base of women that made up 40% of his sales, in fact Deryck’s first customer at Dover Street was A list designer Phoebe Philo at Chloe.
In November 2007, Deryck unveiled his first solo exhibition ‘The Spell of Information’ at Glasgow’s SWG3 art space. Drawing on themes and elements that have become synonymous with his fashion label, Deryck created a sweeping installation using his trademark windmill symbol. The Spell of Information follows the success of his famous ‘Spell’ sculpture, a windmill inspired take on the traditional Christmas tree at London’s infamous Reindeer pop-up restaurant, commissioned in 2006 by Pablo Flack, owner of the London eatery Bistrotheque.
The windmill has become an on-going theme that runs through Deryck’s fashion collections and installations. Walker’s preoccupation with the shape stems from its ability to be a symbol of power and movement, as well as being a simple shape with associations of childhood.
Deryck has worked with a selection of exclusive textile companies to produce the finest quality garments. These include the cotton specialists ‘Cotton USA’, to produce an iconic shirting range and British knitwear specialists John Smedley for micro knitwear ranges. Last winter he was nominated to take part in the ‘Untitled’ project, joining forces with the UK's largest online fashion and beauty store, ASOS.com, designing an exclusive shirt to be sold online
But Glasgow always beckoned, and Deryck moved back to his roots, established a workshop and outlet in the Argyll Arcade and built relationships with renowned Scottish textile companies, creating his own exclusive fabrics with Holland & Sherry, Calzeat and most recently and most famously with Harris Tweed Hebrides.
In October 2008 and uniquely again on the 1st November 2009 Deryck was awarded the prestigious title of ‘Fashion Designer of the Year’ at the Scottish Style Awards. (Making it 4 in a row for Cardonald College Glasgow students).
Deryck, who now gives his time to mentor our current fashion and textile students, truly represents the aspirational future of Cardonald College Glasgow.
