Marion Foale
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Marion Foale (Born London on March 13, 1939) artist and fashion designer.
Foale attended Ilford County High School, where she entered (and won) several painting contests. After school she attended Walthamstow School of Art. Two years later, she realized that her love of art would never translate into a career that would sustain her, and decided to attend fashion school.
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[edit] Early years
In 1959, she was one of the privileged few chosen from all the fashion design courses throughout the country to take a three year degree course at the Royal College of Art under Professor Janey Ironside. Foale studied the three dimensional construction of garments and how differing fabrics behave by working freely on the tailor’s dummy, making a toile (mock up in calico). In 1960, during her second year at the Royal College, Foale was asked to submit designs for the Queen’s mantle, worn for the Order of the British Empire dedication ceremony; previously a man had always performed this ceremony but, as Her Majesty didn’t wear trousers, a feminine ensemble was required. Marion’s design was chosen and it is still worn to this day.
[edit] Foale & Tuffin
Foale and Sally Tuffin were both at the Royal College of art and, together became part of the start of the Sixties revolution. Foale and Tuffin left the Royal College of Art in 1961 and "Foale and Tuffin" was born after they made an appointment to show the buyer at Woollands 21 shop, next door to Harvey Nichols, two dresses and found she was desperate for merchandise from young designers. Foale and Tuffin took 3 floors of a narrow house and shop front in Carnaby Street. They shunned Paris fashion and turned to ‘fun’ clothes.
By 1963 they fulfilled their ambitions of running a successful business without the help of a man. Their garments were displayed in the shop window, and Vogue magazine had seen and loved them and picked one to be photographed. David Bailey took the shot and their first picture appeared in Vogue in 1962. Vogue introduced their ‘Young Ideas’ section and put many other young designers on the map at the same time such as John Bates, Bill Gibb, Gerald McCann and Jean Muir. Foale and Tuffin became a part of swinging London and by 1963, they realised that they had to find new premises. In a little walkway called Malborough Court, off Carnaby St, they found their first real premises. The business grew so rapidly that that they soon realised that they needed to open this as a shop. The Americans became aware of the upsurge of the ‘Youth Quake’ happening in London and wanted to be part of it. Together with Mary Quant and Betsy Johnson, Foale and Tuffin were licensed to Puritan Fashion Corporation under a label called Paraphernalia. They embarked on whistle stop tours around America, including Breakfast TV.
[edit] Family breaks and then Foale Ltd
In the 1970's after both marrying and having children the business eventually declined. After a child break and the growing need to earn some money, Foale decided to move into knitwear. This was not her area and Foale knew practically nothing about it. Hand knit was important at this time and everybody was knitting sweaters with pictures on them, or Arran and Fairisle styles. These garments were two dimensional, flat shapes, more or less like a “T” shape. Foale's aim was to create timeless designs with the emphasis on perfect detail and she soon realised that there was a market for the designs she was creating and so was launched Foale Ltd. In 1985 Marion Foale produced a knitting pattern book which was designed to be simple, with the most desirable, easy patterns for people to knit at home, using four ply and double knitting. She then moved into knitting three dimensionally, making garments that were tailored and shaped just like a jacket. In 1987, Foale opened a shop in Hinde Street, near Marylebone High Street.
