In Conversation: Simone Rocha & Sophie Barber

Continuing our series bringing together a fashion designer in conversation with an artist, we hear from Simone Rocha and Sophie Barber. Simone is the London-based designer known for romantic silhouettes offset by gritty contemporary accents. Hailing from Ireland with roots tracing back to Hong Kong, she has become a star of the London fashion scene since launching her label in 2010. When we made this recording, over the internet, it was barely a week since she’d staged her highly personal SS22 collection inspired by the experience of having her second child. Sophie dialled in from her home in Hastings on the south-east coast of England. The 25-year-old first came to Rocha’s attention when she visited her solo show in London in 2020. Enchanted by the artist’s playful, sense-tingling work, she finally had the chance to meet her in real life at Alison Jacques Gallery in London, which represents Sophie and where, at the time of recording , she has a solo exhibition of new paintings. Simone in turn invited Sophie and her boyfriend Ben to sit front row at her show. Listen as the pair get to know each other, discovering the parallels and differences in their respective practices.