Damaris Evans

Damaris Evans
Born 18 March 1975
London, UK
Nationality British
Education Central St Martins College of Art and Design
Occupation Fashion designer
Parent(s)

Writer, James Martin Evans

Artist, Frances Rachel Evans (Holiday)
Awards Young Enterprise of The Year at Elle Style Awards
Labels Damaris and Mimi Holliday

Damaris Alice Turle Evans (born 18 March 1975) is a British fashion designer and creative director and owner of demi-couture lingerie labels Damaris and Mimi Holliday.

Background

Evans is the daughter of writer, James Martin Evans (Born 1933) who graduated from Peterhouse, University of Cambridge. Her mother the artist, Frances Rachel Evans (Holiday) (Born 1939, granddaughter of Sir William Rothenstein) who graduated from Chelsea College of Art and Design. Evans is sister to Dr. Chloe Evans, half sister to Juliet Evans and step sister to journalist, Rosie Mellor.

She is the great granddaughter of Sir William Rothenstein, who was Principal of The Royal College of Art from 1920 to 1935. Her great uncles were Sir John Rothenstein, the director of The Tate Gallery from 1938 to 1964 and the English printmaker Michael Rothenstein.

Evans is the niece to sculptor, Ros Newman [1] whose father, Dr. Ensor Holiday, writer, scientist, mathematician and psychologist invented Altair Designs.[2] Holiday worked alongside Roger Burrows in the 1970s and was acquainted with Albert Einstein. His wife, Betty Holiday who studied at The Royal College of Art, was a sculptor and a contemporary of Henry Spencer Moore and Dame Barbara Hepworth.

Evans is the niece to Television Executive, Nick Elliott and painter, Gillian Elliot who both graduated from the University of Oxford. Nick Elliot's career in television spanned from 1966- 2007.[3] Elliot was the Director of Drama for ITV from 1994 to 2007 and the creator of many award winning dramas, including The South Bank Show.

Career

Damaris Evans studied Fashion Design with Print Making at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. In 2001, she started the business with a £5,000 loan from The Prince's Trust.[4] The designer is best known for creating the original trademark design of the back bow knicker, which 'instantly sparked a craze of copies'. 'Likeness of the bow knicker were spotted in New Look, River Island, La Perla and up-market underwear brand Myla' whom the company has successfully settled out of court with.[5]

Damaris' first collection showcased at London Fashion Week September 2001[6] and was sponsored by The Prince's Trust.

Damaris was showcased at London Fashion Week's New Generation,[7] Sponsored by The British Fashion Council in September 2003 and February 2004.

The diffusion line Mimi Holliday was then founded in 2004[8] which went on to introduce Mimi Holliday Beachwear in 2008.[9]

Damaris' received the 'Young Enterprise of the Year' award for the Spring/Summer 2003 collection at Elle Style Awards . In 2005 she was invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen for a Celebration of British Design.

References

  1. ↑ "Ros Newman".
  2. ↑ "The History of Altair".
  3. ↑ Maggie Brown (15 June 2007). "Farewell, Nick Elliott". London: The Guardian.
  4. ↑ Cummings, Laura (14 November 2002). "Making Money from Lingerie, BBC News, Thursday 14th November 2002".
  5. ↑ Gunn, Molly, Knickers to them, The Evening Standard, 25 June 2004.
  6. ↑ "Swinging Pants, vogue.co.uk, 6th September 2001".
  7. ↑ "BFC's Previous NEWGEN Recipients".
  8. ↑ "Knicker's You Can't Refuse, Evening Standard, 9th August 2004".
  9. ↑ "Damaris goes Swimming vogue.co.uk, 18th April 2008".

External links