Simone Rocha was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1986. In 2008 she graduated with a BA in Fashion from The National College of Art and Design in Dublin continuing in 2010 to graduate from the acclaimed Fashion MA at Central Saint Martin’s College, London. Simone debuted at London Fashion Week in September 2010.
Simone now has three stand-alone stores in London, New York and Hong Kong. Each of these stores feature Simone’s signature furniture and hand-made sculptures. The interiors change seasonally with new displays and installations, notably for SS16 the store window featured an installation titled Flowers and Cars. It was a car reconstructed in the window filled with dried flowers – representing the man-made and natural elements that form part of the brand aesthetic. Each of the stores also explore the communication between fashion and art through pieces on display with artwork by Ren Ri, Robert Rauschenberg and Louise Bourgeois. The interiors reflect the continued inspirations of art, nature, family, Ireland, Asia as well as working with collaborators and artists.
As well as her own stores, Simone has shop-in-shops in Dover Street Market Worldwide as well as working with some of the most prestigious stockists in the world including I.T, Matchesfashion, Harrods, Mytheresa, Bergdorf Goodman and Nordstrom.
Simone Rocha has evolved into an internationally renowned and award-winning brand. In the past, accolades have included British Fashion Awards for ‘Emerging Talent, Ready-to-Wear’ (2013) and ‘The New Establishment Award’ (2014). Most recently at the 2016 Fashion Awards Simone received the “British Womenswear Designer Award” as well as the 2016 Harper’s Bazaar Designer of Year Award.
Simone works on seasonal imagery and self-publishes limited edition printed books featuring this and the works of collaborators and inspirations. Simone has worked with Jacob Lillis, Eoin McLoughlin, Colin Dodgson, Harley Weir, Ben Toms, Louise Bourgeois Foundation, Perry Ogden, Niall O’Brien, Roni Horn and Jackie Nickerson for these books.
In 2018 Simone curated Issue 18 of A Magazine Curated By. The issue explored the Simone aesthetic and world through the themes of Ireland, Hong Kong, China and family. The issue featured newly commissioned and existing work by artists and collaborators as well as cultural figures like Mary Robinson, Hans-Ulrich Obrist and Chimamanda Adichie.
Simone has collaborated with diverse and world-renowned brands to explore different product and customer groups within the Simone Rocha aesthetic. Previously working with J Brand, Moncler and most recently being the Designer Collaborator for H&M for 2021. The collection offered Womens, Mens and Kidswear whilst exploring Simone’s archive of collections of the past 10 years.
Simone has shown her collections as part of London Fashion Week since 2010 and has shown in some of the most historical and culturally relevant buildings such as Tate Modern, Lancaster House, The Royal Academy of Art, Southwark Cathedral, Alexandra Palace and recently for SS21 the Hauser & Wirth Gallery on Savile Row.