Photograph © Luke Hayes

Matthew Williamson 10 years in Fashion, Urbis, Manchester until September 21 2008.

A new exhibition at Urbis in Manchester is celebrating Matthew Williamson’s ten years in the fashion industry.

Known for his fascination with patterns and cutting edge designs, the exhibition centres on four themes: Colour and Psychedelia, Hyper-nature, Global extravaganza and Lifestyle.

Williamson has designed dresses for celebrities including Sienna Miller and Kylie Minogue and these are just some of the iconic pieces available to see at the exhibition running this spring.

Photo © Luke Hayes

A behind-the-scenes film focusing on how a new collection is created and launched is also on show.

His colourful and intricately detailed collections are widely known throughout the fashion industry and anyone wearing his pieces instantly feels special.

Since his days as a fashion student, Williamson has used sketchbooks to chronicle a product from the inspiration of pattern, texture and colour to the finished piece worn on the catwalk. These facinating insights into his craft are also on display.

Born in Chorley, Manchester, Williamson lived there up until he was 17 when he moved to London to study at Central Saint Martins.

Matthew Williamson. Photo © Neil Gavin

A pioneer in the British fashion industry, in 1997 he launched his own fashion label with no financial backing. He now has his own store in Mayfair, London.

A cold call to Vogue magazine in summer 1997 led him to meeting the then fashion assistant Plum Sykes. Inspired by her warm feedback Williamson created a women’s wear collection, which was shown during London Fashion Week in September. The collection was called Electric Angels and was modelled by Kate Moss, Jade Jagger and Helena Christensen. It was an immediate success.

Williamson also designs collections for Debenhams department stores and won Elle Designer of the Year 2004. In 2005 he was awarded with the Moet and Chandon Fashion Award.

Williamson became Creative Director at Emilio Pucci in 2005. He has always admired Pucci’s designs from afar so this achievement was a dream come true.

Photo © Luke Hayes

Sarah Deaves, Chief Executive of Coutts and Co, who are sponsoring the show, said she was thrilled to be celebrating Williamson’s first ten years in fashion, “his work remains at the forefront of the industry with his cutting edge colour and print designs," she said.