Visionaries: interviews with fashion designers - Tapa dura

This collection brings together a series of in-depth profiles of leading fashion designers written between 1996 and 2001 by the fashion editor Susannah Frankel. Originally featured in "The Independent", "The Guardian" and "Dazed and Confused", these interviews cover the work of the most influential designers of the 1990s, including successful British designers: Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith and Hussein Chalayan - as well as big international names from Japan, Italy, France and the USA: Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons, Yohji Yamamoto, Issey Miyake, Tom Ford, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, Dolce and Gabbana, Donatella Versace, Sonia Rykiel and more. The interviews provide an insight into the designers' lives, comprehensive biographical detail and in-depth analysis into the way they think and work as well as documenting the cultural climate at the time. The book is illustrated with portraits and shoots by some of the best fashion photographers - both more established and up-and-coming - working today, among them Robert Wyatt, Juergen Teller, Donald Christie, Julie Sleaford, Mark Aleski, Justin Smith and Jane McLeish.

Susannah Frankel is fashion editor of The Independent newspaper. She is also a regular contributor to Dazed and Confused magazine. After studying English at Goldsmiths College, she became deputy-editor of Blitz magazine which closed in 1991. Following a period writing for publications as varied as Time Out, Tatler and The Daily Telegraph, she became fashion editor of the Guardian, following which she joined The Independent.