Former Burgh Island owner, Tony Porter, shares his unique memoir of a life spent at the forefront of the fashion industry
During his glittering career, Tony, who now resides in Kingsbridge, was one of the people who spearheaded British Fashion Week - now London Fashion Week - and rubbed shoulders with the likes of Twiggy, Cilla Black and other stars along the way.
As one of the people who spearheaded the idea of British Fashion Week 40 years ago, Tony Porter has seen the event grow and grow with the
support of Zandra Rhodes, Jean Muir and others, on the way changing its name to London Fashion Week. "Mixing, as I do, with so many ages and careers, I found that people could not believe how many things I had done," observes Tony Porter.
Following medical problems early in his life, Tony certainly made up for it. He started his career selling paint for ICI, who then sent him to Nigeria. Brought home 8 years later following the outbreak of the Biafran war, he left ICI and immersed himself in the swinging sixties in London - selling high fashion for the Kensington store BIBA, founded by his sister-in-law Barbara Hulanicki.
"Biba's fame grew and grew on an international basis, and brought famous stars of the sixties into the shop. Twiggy, a close friend of Barbara and her husband Fitz, was often around. During my time there, Marianne Faithful, Mia Farrow, Cilla Black and Yoko Ono all came in. On one occasion, word went round that Brigitte Bardot was in the shop, and I couldn't resist going in to goggle at my favourite star!"
Subsequently, Tony left Biba to start his own fashion PR business in the West End of London. With the help of his wife Beatrice their PR company prospered, allowing them to buy a yacht, and in due course, even beautiful Burgh Island off the south coast of Devon. Having restored its Art Deco hotel, they sold the island and Tony, who is available for interview, is now concentrating on his new career as a writer.
Copies of Whatever Next?, Tony's gripping fashion memoir, are now available on request from Matador.
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