Artist Info
Esme Young
Esme Young was born in February 1949
Esme Young, after graduating from St Martins School of Art, started a London based shop and label called ‘Swanky Modes’ in 1972, together with three friends (Willie Walters, Melanie Langer, Judy Dewsbery) . Their clothes appeared in magazines and newspapers including Vogue, Nova, Honey, 19, ID, The Face, Boulevard, Interview, The Sunday Times, Express, Mail, and the V&A Little Black Dress Book. Swanky Modes’s clothing was photographed by renowned photographers such as Helmut Newton, David Bailey, Nick Knight, John Swannell, Neil Kirk.
In the mid 1980’s Esme started doing work with independent stylists and costume designers which led her to opening her own studio. She began working with various talent on films, adverts, pop videos and made bespoke clothes.
Some of the high profile campaigns Young has worked for include: Tia Maria (with Iman), Levi’s, Boots No 7, Marlborough, De Beers, Pretty Polly tights, Max Factor, Yardley and Rimmel.
Film costumes include:
Dale Winton’s pink lurex suit and his assistant’s dress in Trainspotting (Danny Boyle) 1996
Leonardo DiCaprio and Tilda Swinton cliothes in The Beach (Danny Boyle) 2000
Renee Zellweger’s bunny costume, the skirt at the fire station and Honor Blackman’s outfit in Bridget Jones’ Diary (Sharon Maguire) 2001
Steve Coogan clothes in 24 Hour Party People (Michael Winterbottom) 2002
Juliette Binoche clothes in Breaking and Entering (Anthony Mingella) 2006
Emma Thompson clothes in Last Chance Harvey (Joel Hopkins) 2008
Carey Mulligan and Charlotte Rampling clothes in Never Let Me Go (Mark Romanek) 2010
Lindsey Duncan clothes in Le Weekend (Roger Michell) 2013
Kirsten Dunst’s clothes in Two Faces of January (Hossein Amini) 2014
Felicity Jones and Sigourney Weaver clothes in A Monster Calls (JA Bayona) 2016
She teaches Innovative Pattern Cutting for graduates and professionals students at Central Saint Martin’s College.
Esme is one part of BBC 2’s ‘Great British Sewing Bee’ judging duo, joining the show in 2016.