VOGUE PARTNERSHIPRICHARD MALONE
If sustainability was once considered a
byword for hemp-hewn bohemia, then
Richard Malone has helped revolutionise
its identity. Embracing eco-dyed lurid
colours and unexpected textures formed
from recycled ocean waste, offcut
materials and repurposed dog beds (that
red, white and blue stole draped over
Barbie’s arm), he is besotted by the fine
line between good and bad taste – as are
the wealth of private clients he’s amassed
over the course of his career. Those
women – who comprise a sizeable
proportion of his business – equally
provide some of his most formative
inspirations, informing the resolute
practicality stitched into his designs
(even the most sculptural showpieces
come with pockets and are machine-
washable) as well as, now, his Barbie.
“Barbie is a businesswoman – and a lot of
the women I work with are too, but
they don’t dress like men in suits; fashion
is a part of their identity. I wanted to
show that Barbie could wear a runway
look but still live her everyday life and
remain the boss that she truly is.”09-19Barbie.indd 209 04/07/19 1:29 PM