Giles Deacon Biography

Giles Deacon

Giles Deacon was born in Darlington, County Durham and grew up near Ullswater in the Lake District. He is the youngest of two. His dad David is an agricultural salesman and his mother Judith, a housewife. While attending the Bernard Castle School in County Durham, he’s hopes were to become a marine biologist. It wasn’t after joining the Harrotage College of Arts and completing a foundation course, were he discovered his passion and went on to study at the Central St. Martins College of Art and Design.

Before creating his own line, Deacon decided to travel and gain experience at different fashion houses. In Paris he worked with fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac and learned how to use a brand name commercially. After two years working for Castelbajac, deacon returned to London to work with High Street fashion houses. He then was hired by Italian luxury goods house, Bottega Veneta and became the head designer debuting a collection in 2000. Only after a year was he terminated when the Gucci group bought the company. But Tom Ford immediately hired him to assist with Gucci womenswear which he then fell ill and was forced to leave after only one season.

After recovering, Giles decided to start his own label. He took out a loan and launched GILES in 2003. He’s first collection debuted at London Fashion Week in February 2004. He’s launch was a success. He received international acclaim and became popular among London fashion. He is a regular at London Fashion Week and sells his collection to over thirty retail stores including Barneys, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges. He has famous clients like Princess Beatrice and Scarlett Johansson. Over the years he has seen an increase in the sales of his label and in April 2010, he was appointed creative director for French Fashion House Ungaro. After showing his collection in Paris for two years he returned to London Fashion Week on September 19, 2010 and premiered his first collection for Ungaro in...