16 Facts About Wendy Dagworthy

Wendy Ann Dagworthy was born in 1950 in Gravesend, Kent, the daughter of Jean A and Arthur Sidney Dagworthy.

Wendy Dagworthy was a pupil at Northfleet School for Girls, later attending Medway College of Art.

Wendy Dagworthy studied fashion at Hornsey College of Art, where her degree show attracted attention.

Wendy Dagworthy was creating her own designs and, at 22, she had her first collection to sell to London stores.

Wendy Dagworthy designed some of Roxy Music's stage costumes and made Ferry a pair of monogrammed black silk pyjamas to wear in hospital while he was having his tonsils out.

Wendy Dagworthy employed Betty Jackson as her fashion assistant as the business continued to grow, and she was able to take on a studio in Berwick Street, Soho, a short walk from Carnaby Street.

Exports proved a particularly strong market for the label, and during the early 1980s almost half of Wendy Dagworthy output went to Italy.

The label exhibited in Paris, Milan and New York and Wendy Dagworthy was among the guests at the Downing Street fashion industry reception in 1984 where Katharine Hamnett wore a Pershing protest T-shirt.

However, by 1988 and in the midst of a recession, Wendy Dagworthy's company went into voluntary liquidation.

Wendy Dagworthy continued to work in the industry, acting as a design consultant for brands such as Laura Ashley, Betty Jackson and Liberty.

Wendy Dagworthy worked to promote the UK fashion industry, both as a judge of numerous fashion awards and as an organiser of the forerunner of London Fashion Week.

Wendy Dagworthy became a member of the British Fashion Council in 1996.

Wendy Dagworthy joined the RCA in 1998 as course director and professor, teaching MA students.

In January 2014, Wendy Dagworthy announced that she would be retiring from the RCA at the end of the academic year.

Wendy Dagworthy is married to the photographer Jonathan W Prew.

Wendy Dagworthy is the mother-in-law of Prew's husband, actor Jeffery Self.