Pretty Green was founded in 2009 by Liam Gallagher, one of the most iconic front men in music and the brand is well known for uniting people through a love of music and obviously fashion. Since the day it was launched, Pretty Green has become an icon in British culture and is today worn by the current bands and style leaders of the decade. In 2010, just a year after it was created, Pretty Green was crowned 'Menswear Brand of The Year'at the 20th Anniversary Drapers Awards; a ceremony which celebrates fashion's finest.
Music and fashion are intrinsically linked and Pretty Green is one of the finest brands around, so it is a pleasure to be doing this interview this time with Pat Salter; the head designer for Pretty Green; one of my favourite brands for sure not just because of its designs but also because of its high quality products.
KB: Hi Pat! Thank you for doing this interview. Why don't you tell kulbritania followers a bit about you Pat. Where did you grow up? and How important was music and fashion when you were growing up?
Pat Salter: I grew up in Bexley in Kent and still I’m still there just in a different house, with a bigger more considered collection of coats and a few Sonos speakers dotted about rather than a Walkman. I think music and fashion did play a big part in life, it’s just integral to most of the things that have filled my time. Going out with mates; its always been and still is imperative to look and feel good and of course listen to cool music.
KB: In an interview with Pretty Green, Paul Weller said 'For me, if you were into the music of a band, you were into the way they looked as well'. Do you subscribe to that? And who were you into when you were little?
P: Yes 100%. Music and fashion go hand in hand. If you idolise a musician or band, you’re likely to be influenced by their style too. My dad is an old rock and roller so whatever was on in the car definitely had an influence Cream, The Who, The Stones etc.
KB: It’s been almost 10 years since PG was launched, were you there from day 1? And In a scale of 1 to 10, How would you rate these 10 years?
P: Not day 1 but almost. Genuinely loved it all.
KB: Liam Gallagher once said:'My style comes from football and all that casual thing' How important is football in your life? and how important is football when it comes to PG designs. (Who do you support Pat?)
P: I’ll try and watch as many games as I can get away with at home. I don’t specifically think about football when I’m designing, I’m more focused on looking good for all occasions, which going to the match will be part of. When you’re there supporting your team with your mates you definitely want to be looking and feeling good and standing a bit taller.
KB: What role do you think social media (FB, IG) plays in fashion today? (What’s your favourite social media and how much do you use it personally?)
P: Social media is great. It is so much easier to engage with the labels you love constantly and see what’s going on and also view other people’s spin on what you’re doing. That said I’m also a traditionalist so the going to the store on a weekend and taking in the brand experience and talking to the people working there I also really enjoy. I’m a pictures person so Insta.
KB: At times, there’s quite a lot of pressure for designers to come out with their greatest collection season after season, do you feel under that sort of pressure?
P: There are always periods of pressure for everyone across a brand but for me and everyone at PG you get a huge buzz when you see someone wearing the clothes. If feels like there part of what we’re about and have bought into this likeminded view of life. We’re lucky to have a really great group of customers and a great team so if you add loving what you do to that it’s hard to go wrong.
KB: Pretty Green is very passionate about subcultures; the brand takes in and absorbs from many different British subcultures. How does a particular subculture influence your creative process?
P: Similar to the way football influences. The focus is how do we make people look and feel good and bought into a lifestyle and passion.
KB: I just came across the other day on youtube the fashion film for the S/S 15 and that collection still looks cool today, is that what you intend to do at Pretty Green I mean create classic designs that can stand the test of time?
P: Thanks. SS15 was a great season to work on and the runway we did as part of that season was intense at the time but something that I’m proud of when I look back. With a starting point of wanting the wearer to look cool by definition you end up with a certain amount of classic designs. PG as a brand and a collection has always been about being real, being wearable.
KB: Going back to one of your latest collections, let’s chat about your S/S 18 by Katie Eary which was amazing really. Heavily influenced by acid house and the 90s . How did that collab come about and what feedback did you get guys to the new collection?
P: The beauty of collabs is they take you on a different journey. Katie has been a friend of PG for a number of years and we’d been talking on and off about doing something together. She is super talented and great to work with and bought something different. Really pleased with the direction, how it came out and the commentary and response from the customers.
KB: What's your favourite piece off the collection?
P: I would say this collection is about the prints for me. With Katie’s reputation for amazing prints we always thought it would be cool to combine her ideas with our paisley and see where it went.
KB: Let me ask you about Liam's role these days, does he get involved as much as he used to? Do you meet him on a regular basis to discuss new designs etc?
P: Its pretty much the same as its always been. We’ll meet up periodically and in between kick some ideas back for forth. Its good.
KB: We live in a global world and people are just a click away these days and obviously you ship worldwide but regarding PG outlets, do you have plans to open a flagship store in the States or plans to expand and open stores around the world soon? (I know you’ve opened stores in Japan)
P: We’re always looking at opportunities and have a lot of exciting things on the go at any one time. We’ve just launched as part of a pop-up presentation at 6 Peek and Cloppenburg stores in Germany for instance. Lots of cool stuff to come on a lot of fronts.
KB: Music plays a very important role in my life and it is also very important at Pretty Green , can you tell me your top 10 UK tracks of the past 40 years?
P: This ebbs and flows depending on where I am, what’s going on and where my head is but today:
Can’t Explain - The Who.
Badge - Cream
Tin Soldier - The Small Faces
Love will tear us apart - Joy Division
I wanna be adored - The Stone Roses
Rockin’ Chair - Oasis
Shudder / King Of Snake - Underworld
Fuck the people - The Kills
Help Me Loose My Mind - Larry Hear Remix - Disclosure
Energy flash - Joey Beltram
KB: Pretty Green recently launched their new collection PG xThe Beatles (Shop the collection HERE)? Can you tell us what you are working on these days?
P: We’re always working a long way ahead and there’s some exciting stuff but you’ll have to wait for this one I’m afraid.
KB: Finally Pat, there’s usually a question I ask my guests ... If you bumped into little Pat down the streets of Bexley, what advice would you give him?
P: Look up and smile and be real and true to yourself.
K: Nice one Pat! Thanks a million for your time!
