From the runway to the great outdoors

Headhunted to work for Tom Ford's eponymous label just as it was getting off the ground was like watching history in the making, according to designer Quentin Hart who worked with Ford for 3 years until he decided to break away from the fashion bubble he was living in. Today, he couldn't be happier as the designer for iconic Kiwi brand Swanndri, transitioning from the high fashion runway to designing for the great outdoors.

Before he arrived in New Zealand, fashion designer Quentin Hart came from the prestige of working at the luxury end of the international market where resources were unlimited, and it was a space where ideas on paper could easily be realised into fully-fledged garments with no expense spared.

Quentin joined Tom Ford in 2006, just as the designer was launching his eponymous label. During this time, Quentin was based between the design office in London and Milan, where the garments were made.

Not long out of studying a four year Bachelor of Fashion Design at the University of West of England, Quentin was picked up as a design assistant for esteemed womenswear designer, Jasper Conran, before being headhunted by Ford.

Being part of this new creative venture was an exciting time not just for Quentin, but everyone involved. Quentin recalls his first day as he stepped into his new workplace with naive eyes.

"I turned up there expecting to see a big flash building and it hadn't been fitted out. I walked into the room and there was the design director - who I reported to - and Tom, sitting around a table with a series of ideas. I just sort of realised that this was history in the making in the fashion industry," says Quentin.

Working with Tom allowed the young designer to stretch his creativity and there were no limits as to what could be achieved. But with a huge workload and short lead times, plus travel to Italy for collection launches and working 14-hour days for seven day periods, the mandatory hours and high pressure left him with no time to pursue outside interests.

"I worked quite closely with and he had high expectations of all of his staff," Quentin says of the designer who liked a dynamic environment, and much like other industries, the team would socialise with Friday drinks.

But the reality of working from one season's collection to the next was gruelling at the best of times. Quentin says there were no defined work hours, which meant all hands on deck and not getting the job done was not an option.

Working for Ford was surreal for the young designer who has plenty of fond memories of the three years he spent working there, including the exclusive launch of the Tom Ford label (2007), which was celebrated with a lavish party, replete with a celebrity guest list…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details