Jasper Conran's guest appearances

Jasper Conran

Desert Island Discs

Desert Island Discs: Archive 1991-1996

Private Passions

Beautiful Misfits

TheIndustry.fashion & TheIndustry.beauty Podcast

Steven Berkoff

George Steiner

Isaiah Berlin

Jancis Robinson

Lewis Wolpert

Isabel Allende

Oliver Sacks

Tim Harford

Tommy Hilfiger

Sugata Mitra

Richard James

Andy McNab

Paul Smith

Philippa Perry

Katy Brand

OwlTail

From fashion to interiors and retail, Jasper Conran has tapped into his creativity across a range of disciplines to build a glittering career. But his journey to get there has taken many stages of transformation and resistance. We talk about the legacy of coming from a family that ‘has it all’, the loneliness of his childhood, the eating disorder and self-esteem problems Jasper suffered as a teenager – and how he had to carve out his own path by defying expectations of his father (Sir Terence Conran), of himself, and of the industry. He’s a gentle soul, wonderfully funny and, after knowing him for many years, I loved sitting down with him to talk.Follow Mary Portas on: Instagram: @maryportasofficial  Facebook: Mary Portas  And to get in touch with team Portas, email us at: beautifulmisfits@portasagency.com and you can subscribe to the Portas POV Newsletter for musings, provocation insights and inspiration.

From fashion to interiors and retail, Jasper Conran has tapped into his creativity across a range of disciplines to build a glittering career. But his journey to get there has taken many stages of transformation and resistance. We talk about the legacy of coming from a family that ‘has it all’, the loneliness of his childhood, the eating disorder and self-esteem problems Jasper suffered as a teenager – and how he had to carve out his own path by defying expectations of his father (Sir Terence Conran), of himself, and of the industry. He’s a gentle soul, wonderfully funny and, after knowing him for many years, I loved sitting down with him to talk. Follow Mary Portas on: <ul> <li>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/maryportasofficial/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@maryportasofficial</a> </li> <li>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/maryportas" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mary Portas</a> </li> </ul> And to get in touch with team Portas, email us at: <a href="mailto:beautifulmisfits@portasagency.com">beautifulmisfits@portasagency.com</a> and you can <a href="http://weareportas.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">subscribe to the Portas POV Newsletter</a> for musings, provocation insights and inspiration.

“Then something marvellous happened” with Jasper Conran 

Jasper Conran is quite simply fashion royalty and a prominent member of a design dynasty that had brought good taste and understated chic to British wardrobes and lifestyles during the latter half of the 20th century to the present day.  Jasper’s extraordinary career in fashion began when he landed a place at the prestigious Parson’s School of Design at the age of just 15. He then went on to work for a number of legendary designers before going to become one in his own right, producing a collection under his own name for the first time at the age of just 19. In the early 1980s, he was among the first group of designers to form what was to become London Fashion Week and in the 90s he became part of what was then a pioneering project to bring designer fashion and lifestyle products to the high street, Designers at Debenhams. Jasper created a hugely successful line but when the department store changed hands to becoming an online only entity during the pandemic, he seized the opportunity to take control of his brand and last year launched a range of affordable luxury handbags under his own name.  This week, he has unveiled his first dress line with a range of timeless styles with considered details and quality fabrics, which have been designed to act as the “best friends” in a woman’s wardrobes. Next, Jasper intends to tackle other key categories including coats. We recorded this episode of the In Conversation podcast while Lauretta Roberts, Editor in chief of TheIndustry.fashion was lucky enough to be invited for a sneak peek of the new collection at Jasper’s South West London studio. Jasper talks Lauretta through his extraordinary fashion career and why he has no intention of slowing down. Get breaking news as it happens and be the first to know when our podcasts go live by following:  INSTAGRAM  ***  LINKEDIN  ***  TWITTER  ***  FACEBOOKGet breaking news, big name interviews &amp; insights delivered to your inbox daily HERE

Jasper Conran is quite simply fashion royalty and a prominent member of a design dynasty that had brought good taste and understated chic to British wardrobes and lifestyles during the latter half of the 20th century to the present day.  Jasper’s extraordinary career in fashion began when he landed a place at the prestigious Parson’s School of Design at the age of just 15. He then went on to work for a number of legendary designers before going to become one in his own right, producing a collection under his own name for the first time at the age of just 19. In the early 1980s, he was among the first group of designers to form what was to become London Fashion Week and in the 90s he became part of what was then a pioneering project to bring designer fashion and lifestyle products to the high street, Designers at Debenhams. Jasper created a hugely successful line but when the department store changed hands to becoming an online only entity during the pandemic, he seized the opportunity to take control of his brand and last year launched a range of affordable luxury handbags under his own name.  This week, he has unveiled his first dress line with a range of timeless styles with considered details and quality fabrics, which have been designed to act as the “best friends” in a woman’s wardrobes. Next, Jasper intends to tackle other key categories including coats. We recorded this episode of the In Conversation podcast while Lauretta Roberts, Editor in chief of TheIndustry.fashion was lucky enough to be invited for a sneak peek of the new collection at Jasper’s South West London studio. Jasper talks Lauretta through his extraordinary fashion career and why he has no intention of slowing down. Get breaking news as it happens and be the first to know when our podcasts go live by following:  <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theindustryfashion/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">INSTAGRAM</a>  ***  <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/10970016/admin/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">LINKEDIN</a>  ***  <a href="https://twitter.com/theindustryfash" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TWITTER</a>  ***  <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theindustryfashion/?fref=ts" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FACEBOOK</a> Get breaking news, big name interviews &amp; insights delivered to your inbox daily<a href="https://www.theindustry.fashion/subscribe/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> HERE</a>

In Conversation with Jasper Conran

Michael Berkeley's guests is Jasper Conran, one of Britain's best-known fashion designers. In 1978, Conran began producing women's clothing, and has since concentrated on such diverse fields as home furnishings, crystal and china, as well as designing costumes and sets for ballets, plays and opera.His musical choices encompass singers such as Kathleen Ferrier, Ella Fitzgerald, Bessie Smith and Cat Stevens, as well as works by Mozart, Schubert, Chopin, and his favourite composer, Handel.M Berkeley: The Wakeful Poet (Music from Chaucer) (pub OUP)Beaux-Arts Brass QuintetBBQ BBQ 003, Tr 10Duration: 25sTrad: Blow the Wind SoutherlyKathleen Ferrier (contralto)Kathleen Ferrier DECCA 417 192-2, Tr 3Duration: 2m20sSchubert: Impromptu No 4 in A flat, D899Melvyn Tan (fortepiano)Schubert EMI CDC 7 49102-2, Tr 4Duration: 6m48s	 Elizabeth Welch: Stormy Weather (Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler)LP Elizabeth Welch WORLD RECORDS SH 233 S1 B6Duration: 3m23sHandel: Where'er you Walk (Semele - Act 2, Sc 3)Anthony Rolfe-Johson (tenor)English Baroque SoloistsJohn Eliot Gardiner (conductor)Handel Semele ERATO 4509-99759-2 CD1, Tr 2Duration: 4m58sBessie Smith: You Gotta Give Me Some (Spencer Williams)Clarence Williams (piano)Eddie Lang (guitar)Bessie Smith BBC BBCCD602 8Duration: 2m45sMozart: Laudate Dominum (Vesperae solennes de Confessore, K339)Carolyn Samson (soprano)Choir of the King's ConsortThe King's ConsortRobert King (conductor)Mozart HYPERION CDA 67560, Tr 5Duration: 4m16sElla Fitzgerald: Undecided (Charles Shavers and Sid Robin)Chick Webb and his orchestraCDR The Very Best of Ella Fitzgerald  STARDUST B001GIILLA, Tr 1Duration: 3m17sChopin: Waltz in G flat, Op 70 No 1Dinu Lipatti (piano)Chopin EMI 566904-2, Tr 6Duration: 1m53sHandel: Comfort Ye My People (Messiah)Mark Padmore (tenor)The SixteenHarry Christophers (conductor)Handel Messiah CORO COR 1606-2 CD1, Tr 2Duration: 3m11sCat Stevens: Morning has broken (words Eleanor Farjeon; music arr Cat Stevens)Teaser and the Firecat ISLAND IMCD269, Tr 7Duration: 3m16s.

Michael Berkeley's guests is Jasper Conran, one of Britain's best-known fashion designers. In 1978, Conran began producing women's clothing, and has since concentrated on such diverse fields as home furnishings, crystal and china, as well as designing costumes and sets for ballets, plays and opera. His musical choices encompass singers such as Kathleen Ferrier, Ella Fitzgerald, Bessie Smith and Cat Stevens, as well as works by Mozart, Schubert, Chopin, and his favourite composer, Handel. M Berkeley: The Wakeful Poet (Music from Chaucer) (pub OUP) Beaux-Arts Brass Quintet BBQ BBQ 003, Tr 10 Duration: 25s Trad: Blow the Wind Southerly Kathleen Ferrier (contralto) Kathleen Ferrier DECCA 417 192-2, Tr 3 Duration: 2m20s Schubert: Impromptu No 4 in A flat, D899 Melvyn Tan (fortepiano) Schubert EMI CDC 7 49102-2, Tr 4 Duration: 6m48s	 Elizabeth Welch: Stormy Weather (Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler) LP Elizabeth Welch WORLD RECORDS SH 233 S1 B6 Duration: 3m23s Handel: Where'er you Walk (Semele - Act 2, Sc 3) Anthony Rolfe-Johson (tenor) English Baroque Soloists John Eliot Gardiner (conductor) Handel Semele ERATO 4509-99759-2 CD1, Tr 2 Duration: 4m58s Bessie Smith: You Gotta Give Me Some (Spencer Williams) Clarence Williams (piano) Eddie Lang (guitar) Bessie Smith BBC BBCCD602 8 Duration: 2m45s Mozart: Laudate Dominum (Vesperae solennes de Confessore, K339) Carolyn Samson (soprano) Choir of the King's Consort The King's Consort Robert King (conductor) Mozart HYPERION CDA 67560, Tr 5 Duration: 4m16s Ella Fitzgerald: Undecided (Charles Shavers and Sid Robin) Chick Webb and his orchestra CDR The Very Best of Ella Fitzgerald STARDUST B001GIILLA, Tr 1 Duration: 3m17s Chopin: Waltz in G flat, Op 70 No 1 Dinu Lipatti (piano) Chopin EMI 566904-2, Tr 6 Duration: 1m53s Handel: Comfort Ye My People (Messiah) Mark Padmore (tenor) The Sixteen Harry Christophers (conductor) Handel Messiah CORO COR 1606-2 CD1, Tr 2 Duration: 3m11s Cat Stevens: Morning has broken (words Eleanor Farjeon; music arr Cat Stevens) Teaser and the Firecat ISLAND IMCD269, Tr 7 Duration: 3m16s.

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is clothes designer Jasper Conran. Son of Sir Terence Conran and Shirley Conran, he has art, design and business in his blood and was always determined to make his own way in the world of fashion without parental influence. He has said, "in a family like mine, if you're not successful, you drown".He'll be telling Sue Lawley about his difficult childhood of nannies and his public school where he was bullied for being overweight, all of which he overcame to win a scholarship to the prestigious Parsons School of Art in New York. After that, his career took off and, at the age of 27, he was named Designer of the Year. By the late 1980s he was almost bankrupt and had to re-invent his business to a 1990s-type smaller and more manageable outfit.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Tosca Vissi D' Arte by Giacomo PucciniBook: Tales by HoffmanLuxury: Vintage Krug Champagne (endless supply)

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is clothes designer Jasper Conran. Son of Sir Terence Conran and Shirley Conran, he has art, design and business in his blood and was always determined to make his own way in the world of fashion without parental influence. He has said, "in a family like mine, if you're not successful, you drown". He'll be telling Sue Lawley about his difficult childhood of nannies and his public school where he was bullied for being overweight, all of which he overcame to win a scholarship to the prestigious Parsons School of Art in New York. After that, his career took off and, at the age of 27, he was named Designer of the Year. By the late 1980s he was almost bankrupt and had to re-invent his business to a 1990s-type smaller and more manageable outfit. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Tosca Vissi D' Arte by Giacomo Puccini Book: Tales by Hoffman Luxury: Vintage Krug Champagne (endless supply)