Director and Designer Benny Castles from WORLD. Image supplied.
Benny Castles’ first role at vibrant local fashion brand WORLD was as a retail assistant in his late teens, fast forward 18 years and he’s now designer and director. It’s a role that he loves and allows him to express his creativity alongside developing his business sensibilities. Benny got the nation’s attention on the first season of Project Runway New Zealand late last year with the designer’s honest and often amusing critiques finding favour with the competing designers and viewers alike. Although he enjoyed his foray into television Benny is usually found designing bold new collections for WORLD, sourcing incredible products for WORLD Beauty and making business decisions with the brand’s co-founders Dame Denise L’Estrange-Corbet and Francis Hooper.
We caught up with Benny to find out more about WORLD’s latest range, what inspires him and what you would never catch him wearing!
Tell us about your latest collection?
TWO WRONGS DON’T MAKE A RIGHT
(Or do they…) A clash of pattern, texture and formality. This collection is play on bold and curious patterns mixing, melting and misshaping the silhouette. With a nod to the 60’s the prints and textures combine across effortlessly elegant essentials to build a dress-up wardrobe that is with ease and comfortability.
What made you become a designer?
WORLD. I started as a retail assistant and worked my way through the business into a design apprentice. I’m fortunate that Francis and Denise saw potential and were able to offer me the opportunity to grow and develop.
What inspires you?
A lot of things – but mostly the people around me – especially our team, the retail team inspire customers daily and they do the same for me!
Look from WORLD’s TWO WRONGS DON’T MAKE A RIGHT collection.
Describe your personal style and how it influences your designs?
I like to think my style continues to change all the time but the constant is colour and personality. My personal style and that of the brand are inextricably entwined, I’m a money where my mouth is type designer, the clothes are for me as much as anyone else.
What is your all-time favourite purchase?
Glasses – lots of glasses. But possibly one particular pair bought almost 15 years ago at the Cutler & Gross Vintage boutique in Knightsbridge in London. People change their clothes every day but we tend to look at each other in the face and so I believe we should change our glasses every day.
What wardrobe item should everyone invest in?
Imagination. It’s not the clothes that matter, its how they make you feel.
Do you have a style rule you always obey?
Absolutely not. Fashion is supposed to be fun, why have rules?
Look from WORLD’s TWO WRONGS DON’T MAKE A RIGHT collection.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Tomorrow. Whilst we have been fortunate to be involved in many extraordinary moments at retail or in fashion weeks locally and globally, as well as working with unusual and exciting people for 30 years now (me for 18), fashion is about change and evolution – so it is tomorrow that is consistently the highlight.
What can’t you live without?
Perspective.
Finish this sentence – You would never catch me wearing…
Nothing. ‘Clothes maketh the man, naked people have little or no influence on society’ – Mark Twain.
Images supplied.