Simone Rocha

Rocha was born in Dublin, Ireland on 11 September 1986, making her Zodiac sign a Virgo.{{Cite web |last=pooja |date=2024-02-09 |title=Simone Rocha Net Worth, Age, Family, Husband, Wiki, Biography, & More |url=https://marathibio.com/simone-rocha/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Marathibio |language=en-US}} Her father, John Rocha,{{cite news |last1=Drohan |first1=Freya |date=5 November 2014 |title=Simone Rocha named 'Young Designer of the Year' at Harper's Bazaar bash |url=http://www.independent.ie/style/fashion/fashion-news/simone-rocha-named-young-designer-of-the-year-at-harpers-bazaar-bash-30720429.html |access-date=11 November 2017 |work=Independent.ie}}{{cite web |date=11 May 2017 |title=Simone Rocha Designing a Career |url=https://www.52-insights.com/simone-rocha-designing-a-career-fashion-interview-style-runway-irish/ |access-date=11 November 2017 |publisher=52 Insights}} is a fashion designer. Her mother, Odette, born in Dublin, where Simone also grew up, has been pivotal as a business partner first to her husband and now her daughter.{{Cite magazine |title=Fashion Awards 2016: The full winners list revealed |url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/fashion-news/news/a38829/fashion-awards-2016-the-full-winners-list-revealed/ |access-date=26 March 2024 |magazine=Harper's Bazaar}} Simone attended her first fashion show when she was the age of 0 with her mother and father, and has been attended one no less often than every six months since then.{{Cite web |last=Schneier |first=Matthew |date=12 September 2014 |title=Simone Rocha, Born to Fashion, Makes Her Own Mark |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/14/fashion/london-fashion-week-simone-rocha-born-to-fashion-makes-her-own-mark.html |access-date=26 November 2024}} She later felt that it was "inevitable" that she would follow in her father's career, adding that fashion was "100% part of [her] life.

Rocha worked at her father John Rocha's studio between the ages of 13 and 18.{{cite news|last1=Paton|first1=Elizabeth|title=Simone Rocha on the Importance of Comfortable Shoes|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/16/fashion/simone-rocha-london-fashion-week.html|access-date=11 November 2017|work=The New York Times|date=16 September 2017}} She trained at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, Ireland. National College of Art and Design offered her a unique position in art and design education, they also offer the widest range of art & design degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate level in Ireland.{{Cite web |title=National College of Art and Design |url=https://www.ncad.ie/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=www.ncad.ie |language=en}} Before applying at the National College of Art and Design, she says, ''when I was in school I was a really bad student, I was dyslexic so I found it challenging. The only place I felt really good was in art class.”Seeing how she thrived in more practical subjects, she was inspired to go to art college.{{Cite web |last=Cooper Hedges |first=Honor |date=2021-10-20 |title=Simone Rocha on building a world-renowned fashion brand |url=https://1granary.com/designers-3/simone-rocha-on-building-a-world-renowned-fashion-brand/ |access-date=2024-11-26}}

She then studied under the late Louise Wilson, who ran the fashion department at Central Saint Martins in London.{{Cite web |last=Street |first=Chloe |date=2021-09-16 |title=Simone Rocha on London Fashion Week and the city where "anything is possible" |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/fashion/simone-rocha-interview-london-fashion-week-b955449.html |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=The Standard |language=en}} She mentioned that “I hadn't had a huge amount of respect for authority before, but with Louise, I was so engaged, so in awe and scared of her but I wanted to impress her. So I was lucky I got accepted.” Rocha showed her graduate collection at the Tate Modern gallery,{{cite news|last1=Fisher|first1=Alice|title=Simone Rocha: 'With every show I'm telling a story'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2017/sep/24/simone-rocha-fashion-designer-with-every-show-im-telling-a-story|access-date=11 November 2017|work=The Guardian|date=24 September 2017}} and in London Fashion Week for the first time in 2010.{{cite news|last1=Long|first1=Carola|title=Welcome to the dollhouse: Simone Rocha, Molly Goddard and Gareth Pugh get playful for SS18|url=https://www.ft.com/content/6684487a-9b6e-11e7-8cd4-932067fbf946|access-date=11 November 2017|work=The Financial Times|date=17 September 2017}} Her first fashion installation was in the window of Dover Street Market in London, with the company the first to stock Rocha's designs.

Following her success from her graduate collection in London Fashion Week in 2010, Rocha has been able to establish a distinctive presence in the fashion industry with her innovative designs. Rocha had an outlet within the Dover Street Market store, which was located on Dover Street, and continues to have one within their new store in Haymarket. In the early days, her lines were also stocked by Paris-based boutique Colette.{{cite news|title=Simone Rocha's future: 'The sky is the limit'|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/fashion/simone-rocha-s-future-the-sky-is-the-limit-1.3196054|access-date=11 November 2017|work=Irish Times|date=2 September 2017}} In August 2015, she opened her first standalone store on London's Mount Street, alongside Marc Jacobs, Roksanda and Céline{{Cite web |last=Mower |first=Sarah |date=2015-08-24 |title=Simone Rocha Gives Us a Personal Tour of Her New London Store |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/simone-rocha-london-store-mount-street |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}} Since then, Rocha has four stores in locations such as New York, London and Taiwan.{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://simonerocha.com/pages/about?srsltid=AfmBOooG4MqGc5-mz4ad-YbnFIKLJbaiX-AV1aQ_pdblQO0MBNYX_mpS |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Simone Rocha |language=en}} More recently, Rocha has opened independent stores of her own in both London and New York. In 2017, in her native Ireland, her only stockist is Havana in Dublin. Now she is stocked in multiple boutiques across Ireland, such as Samui Cork.{{Cite web |title=Simone Rocha |url=https://samuicork.com/collections/simone-rocha |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Samui Cork |language=en}} In 2023, she designed the met gala look for Billie Eilish, honouring the late designer, Karl Lagerfeld.

Rocha has been able to modernise Elizabethan and Victorian silhouettes as she uses traditional decorative feminine accoutrements of pearls, lace, patchwork and handwork along with pink neoprene. She has been able to take from her Irish and Chinese roots into her designs as shown in her Autumn/Winter 2017 Catwalk.{{Cite web |title=Simone Rocha’s future: ‘The sky is the limit’ |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/Fashion/simone-rocha-s-future-the-sky-is-the-limit-1.3196054 |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}

Due to her huge success in womenswear, Simone then expanded her line to menswear. When asked We know that women of all ages and styles wear and treasure your clothes – but who is the Simone Rocha man?,{{Cite web |last=Connolly |first=Siomha |date=2023-11-21 |title=Simone Rocha Talks Inspiration, Irishness, Motherhood and Seeing Her Dreams Come True |url=https://thegloss.ie/simone-rocha-talks-inspiration-irishness-motherhood-and-seeing-her-dreams-come-true/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=The Gloss Magazine |language=en-US}} she proceeded to answer with, ...even with my womenswear I’ve never really had one muse. I’ve always been exploring femininity and that’s why as you say it’s all different types of women. It’s the same with the menswear, it’s about exploring masculinity and the sensitivity that can come with that and the complexity of that. It’s hard to say “one man” if I’m being honest but it’s very much a partner to the women’s. Since I introduced the menswear, I still look at the collection as one collection, it’s about the role of the woman and the role of the man, and how that influences womenswear and the menswear, but then there is also a crossover between them.

Simone Rocha's designs have had a cultural impact as they have become a staple on red carpets. As seen on influential figures such as:

• Billie Eilish at the Met Gala in 2023 wore a custom made dress by Rocha.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-19 |title=A History of Simone Rocha's Dreamiest Red Carpet Moments |url=https://www.wmagazine.com/fashion/simone-rocha-celebrity-fashion-red-carpet |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=W Magazine |language=en}}
• Kate Middleton, The Duchess Of Cambridge, wearing a pair Simone Rocha's faux-pearl curb-chain earrings in 2020.{{Cite web |last=Devaney |first=Susan |date=2020-12-08 |title=The Duchess Of Cambridge’s Simone Rocha Pearl Earrings Look Undeniably Festive |url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/news/article/kate-middleton-fair-isle-jumper |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=British Vogue |language=en-GB}}
• Paul Mescal wearing Simone Rocha on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Kallon |first=Catherine |date=2024-11-21 |title=Paul Mescal blossoms on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert |url=https://www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com/2024/11/21/paul-mescal-wore-simone-rocha-on-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Red Carpet Fashion Awards |language=en-US}}
• Michelle Obama in 2017 wearing Simone Rocha earrings onstage in Denver at the Women's Foundation of Colorado's TogetHER.{{Cite web |last=Okwodu |first=Janelle |date=2017-07-26 |title=Michelle Obama Continues to Inspire Women—In Fashion and Beyond |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/michelle-obama-tanya-taylor-together-womens-foundation-colorado |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}}
• Catherine O'Hara wearing Simone Rocha's design at the 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' London Premiere in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Kallon |first=Catherine |date=2024-08-30 |title=Catherine O'Hara Wore Simone Rocha To The ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ London Premiere |url=https://www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com/2024/08/30/catherine-ohara-wore-simone-rocha-to-the-beetlejuice-beetlejuice-london-premiere/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Red Carpet Fashion Awards |language=en-US}}
• Sarah Jessica Parker Wore Simone Rocha On The Set Of ‘And Just Like That...’ in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Kallon |first=Catherine |date=2024-05-21 |title=Sarah Jessica Parker Wore Simone Rocha On The Set Of 'And Just Like That...' |url=https://www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com/2024/05/21/sarah-jessica-parker-wore-simone-rocha-on-the-set-of-and-just-like-that/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Red Carpet Fashion Awards |language=en-US}}

Rocha has had a fashion show every Fall and Spring since 2012, as seen on Vogue.{{Cite web |title=Simone Rocha News, Collections, Fashion Shows, Fashion Week Reviews, and More |url=https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/designer/simone-rocha |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}}

1. Emerging Talent, Ready-to-Wear at the British Fashion Awards in 2013.{{Cite web |title=Kate Moss, J.W. Anderson, and Harry Styles Win British Fashion Awards |url=https://www.thecut.com/2013/12/moss-harry-styles-win-british-fashion-awards.html |access-date=27 March 2024 |website=The Cut}}
2. The New Establishment Award at the British Fashion Awards in 2014.{{Cite web |title=London Fashion Week - Simone Rocha |url=https://londonfashionweek.co.uk/designers/simone-rocha |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=London Fashion Week |language=en}}
3. Young Designer of the Year by Harper's Bazaar in 2014.
4. British Womenswear Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards.{{Cite web |title=Simone Rocha wins designer of the year at British fashion awards |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/Fashion/simone-rocha-wins-designer-of-the-year-at-british-fashion-awards-1.2895035 |access-date=26 March 2024 |website=Irish Times}}
5. Designer of the Year at the [https://www.stylist.co.uk/series/remarkable-women Stylist's Remarkable Women Awards] in 2022.{{Cite web |title=Remarkable Women Awards: Simone Rocha wins Designer of the Year |url=https://www.stylist.co.uk/entertainment/simone-rocha-remarkable-women-awards/634350 |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=www.stylist.co.uk}}
6. Independent British Brand at the Fashion Awards in 2021.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-29 |title=Here Are All the Winners of the 2021 Fashion Awards |url=https://hypebae.com/2021/11/british-fashion-awards-council-winners-full-list-kim-jones-fendi-nensi-dojaka-simone-rocha |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Hypebae}}

• H&M: In March 2021, Rocha collaborated with H&M, a Swedish fast fashion company, to create a collection featuring her signature designs across womenswear, menswear and childrenswear.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-10 |title=Simone Rocha's H&M Collaboration Is Dropping Tomorrow - Here's What ELLE's Buying |url=https://www.elle.com/uk/fashion/a35212776/h-and-m-simone-rocha-collaboration/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=ELLE |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Parker |first=Alexis Bennett |date=2021-03-11 |title=The Simone Rocha x H&M Collection Has Arrived! Shop the Delightful Collection Here |url=https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/shop-simone-rocha-hm-collaboration |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}}
• Moncler: In 2018, Rocha collaborated with Moncler, an Italian luxury fashion company, as part of their Genius Collection series. She brought her unique aesthetic to the brand's outwear.{{Cite web |title=Moncler Continues Genius Series With Simone Rocha |url=https://www.asifmag.com/story/moncler-simone-rocha |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=www.asifmag.com |language=en}}
• Crocs: For Rocha's Fall/Winter 2024 show during London Fashion Week, she collaborated with Crocs. This brought a unique touch to her collection by blending her distinctive style with Crocs' iconic footwear.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-18 |title=Simone Rocha and Crocs Reunite on the Runway |url=https://hypebae.com/2024/2/simone-rocha-crocs-collaboration-london-fashion-week-release-date |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Hypebae}}
• Jean Paul Gaultier: In January 2024, Rocha was invited as a guest designer to present Haute Couture collection for Jean Paul Gaultier, allowing her to showcase her interpretation of the brand's legacy.{{Cite web |last=Freeman |first=Liam |date=2024-01-24 |title="To Be A Guest Is A Real Gift": Simone Rocha And Jean Paul Gaultier On Their Haute Couture Collection |url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/simone-rocha-jean-paul-gaultier-couture-show-ss24 |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=British Vogue |language=en-GB}}

Simone is married to cinematographer and photographer{{Cite web |title=Simone Rocha’s future: ‘The sky is the limit’ |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/Fashion/simone-rocha-s-future-the-sky-is-the-limit-1.3196054 |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}} [https://www.eoinmcl.com/ Eoin McLoughlin]. The couple work very closely together professionally and creatively as seen on projects such as 'Simone Rocha x H&M' and 'Simone Rocha X Moncler SS19'.{{Cite web |title=Fashion |url=https://www.eoinmcl.com/fashion |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=eoinmcloughlin |language=en}} McLoughlin has also directed a documentary-style film for her Fall 2021 Ready-to-Wear collection.{{Cite web |last=Mower |first=Sarah |date=2021-02-23 |title=Simone Rocha Fall 2021 Ready-to-Wear Collection |url=https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/fall-2021-ready-to-wear/simone-rocha |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}}

Simone and her partner, Eoin, also have two children together. Their first child was born on November 18, 2015.{{Cite web |date=2015-12-22 |title=New mum Simone Rocha shares adorable snaps of baby daughter Valentine |url=https://www.independent.ie/style/celebrity/celebrity-news/new-mum-simone-rocha-shares-adorable-snaps-of-baby-daughter-valentine/34307364.html |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}} She mentioned her second child who was 16-weeks-old and how her latest collection was ''influenced by the idea of mother and child when designing the upcoming collection, "and the kind of procession and ceremony, and the physicality of that... that and the sleepless nights!".

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{official website|http://www.simonerocha.com}}
• [https://www.fashionsauce.com/brands/simone-rocha-stockists Simone Rocha Stockists]
• [https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/designer/simone-rocha Archive of Simone Rocha's Runway Shows]

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Category:Living people

Category:1986 births

Category:Irish fashion designers

Category:Irish women fashion designers

Category:People from Ranelagh

Category:Alumni of the National College of Art and Design

Category:Artists from County Dublin

Category:Alumni of Central Saint Martins