Wayne: My earliest memories are of my mum and Nan dressing me up as Elvis, a Beatle or Tarzan and being paraded up and down Morecambe pier. After spending most of my childhood being “dragged” up in Blackburn, I left school with 10 ‘O’ Levels and 4 ‘A’ Levels, and went on to gain a Degree in Geography and Town Planning at University College, London. One day I decided to empty my wardrobe and that of my girlfriend (now my wife, Gerardine) and took the contents to sell on Camden Market. The realisation that money could be made from fashion suddenly dawned on both of us. Together we built Red or Dead into a label that received global acclaim and in 1999, having sold Red or Dead, we set up Hemingway Design, which specialises in affordable and social design.
Gerardine: I grew up in Padiham, Lancashire and, like most teenagers in the 70’s, I took part in the heady cycle that progressed from Disco to New Romantic. Throughout this constant style re-invention I made clothes for myself… not having any idea what these early stages of clothes design would lead to! I met Wayne in Angels Disco in Burnley in 1981, and after moving to London a year later the rest is history, as they say…
Do you have a link with the Hospice?
Gerardine: My father died in a hospice earlier in the year. The care and support that the whole family received was incredible so it seemed fitting for us to accept the invitation from St Wilfrid’s to become Patrons during their 25th Anniversary year.
And why patronage of a local charity?
Wayne: It’s a great privilege for both of us to get behind a local charity that supports the wider community in such a unique way. We have both admired the way in which St Wilfrid’s has adapted with the times and modified its messages in the community. The Hospice markets itself very well and its brand presence locally is very strong. We are delighted to be associated with the Hospice and are keen to support it in whatever way that we can.
