Dear Rob

Time to Read : About the time to sew on one button
Time to Listen : 1 min 9 secs

Thank you for inviting me to your debut catwalk show in London.

As you know, my knowledge of costumes, fashion and clothes amounts to just one thing – black is cool – so I was not quite sure what to expect.

And I never expected that.

Your first ever show, aged 24, and you imagined, designed and made every one of the 14 costumes, completing the last at 3am on the morning of the show!

The way your friends, family and Facebook friends rallied round, volunteering their time and expertise to make it happen, with models paying their own way from Sheffield, Wales and The Isle of Wight to support you.

Rob; remember the day it all ended, and the day it all began – Monday 21 October 2013, in New Zealand House, London.

The end of years of dreaming, of dedication and perseverance, and the beginning of a successful career as, amongst many other things, an entrepreneur.

I know that a lot of people doubted you would do this – the very same people who are now saying they always knew you would.

Rob, you are an inspiration to everyone who has a dream.

If I owned a hat, I would take it off to you.

See below for Robs biography, pictures and please comment.

With love and best wishes

David
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Rob Ivory – Biography

Born in Surrey in 1989, Rob Ivory has always been interested in clothing, though it was music which earned him his scholarship to Frensham Heights School. He went on to study pattern cutting at The London College of Fashion.

From an early age he was captivated by haute couture and was inspired by the creations of Charles Frederick Worth, Christian Dior, Azzedine Alaia, John Galliano and Alexander McQueen.

Having served internships with Ben Sholten and Zandra Rhodes, yet never having lost his love for music and performance, he decided to fuse the three elements. His first opportunity to do so came courtesy of burlesque artiste Vicky Butterfly, for whom he constructed costumes for The Black Cat Cabaret at the Café de Paris.

The Shadow of the Guillotine is Rob’s debut show, and has been made possible by the kindness, support, generosity and talent of many people too numerous to mention who are all artists in their respective fields. This collaboration has been the catalyst, not only for Rob but for all involved, for each of them to express and demonstrate their creativity.