Romantic revolt to change our lives: George Cox catwalk show and in-conversation celebrating 70 years of creepin’ at Port Eliot next week
// In George Cox creepers: Malcolm McLaren, 430 King’s Road, January 1972. Photo: David Parkinson / Slowthai, Northampton, 2018. Photo: Ewen Spencer for Arena Homme + //
“Those blue suede shoes had a magical association that seemed authentic. They represented an age of desperate romantic revolt to change your life.”
Malcolm McLaren, notes on his life in fashion, 1997
I’m celebrating the 70th anniversary of the introduction of George Cox & Co’s first creeper at the Port Eliot Festival next week with Adam Waterfield, the fourth generation owner of the great independent British brand, and his son Alistair, a Central Saint Martins student and model who is very much involved in the family business.
//Casuals, ties, crepes and thickies: Early 50s styles. Courtesy George Cox//
//Adam Waterfield talks through creeper styles in the 80s. Courtesy AW//
//Foreground: Alistair Waterfield. Photo: Jonathan Baron, stylist Elie Grace Cumming. Courtesy George Cox//
We’ll be talking through the history of the creeper from the late 40s through the Teddy Boy era and its revival by such fashion pioneers as Tommy Roberts and Malcolm McLaren in the early 70s to its current day status as a key collaboration focus for the likes of Le Kilt, Fred Perry and Comme des Garçons, as well as a design worn by such contemporary performers as Slowthai and Olly Alexander.
///Design entrepreneur Tommy Roberts revived the shoe in unusual colourways for his store Mr Freedom. here is the legendary sales assistant Harold The Ted wearing a pair at Mr Freedom Kensington Church Street in 1971. Photo courtesy Andrew Greaves//
//Model in Le Kilt x George Cox shoe, 2018. Photo: Sam Rock//
Since this is the last Port Eliot for the foreseeable, all participants this year are really pushing the boat out and we’re no exceptions. Our catwalk show will not only feature very special models and a variety of George Cox styles but also original clothing from our archives and loans from our friends at CdG and Lewis Leathers.
//A selection of my Cox’s creepers with top right the GC x Comme des Garçons A/W 19//
//Olly Alexander performing with Years And Years at this year’s Glastonbury Festival. Photo: Rex Features//
Our event kicks off at 10.30am next Sunday (July 28) at the Fashion Foundation, Port Eliot.
More details here.