While she was studying for an MA at the Royal College Of Art, Anna Mason won a competition set by Karl Lagerfeld. He was so impressed, she was given an internship, which then led to a job with the designer when she graduated in 1995. She later worked for Max Mara, Valentino and Amanda Wakeley, but always planned on heading up her own brand. In 2012, at the age of 40, when she realised she hadn’t achieved her ambition, she launched Anna Mason. It works on the idea of wardrobe-building, classic, timeless and luxurious forever pieces – always with a 70s or early-80s spin. She recently opened an atelier and showroom in Knightsbridge.
How did you go about launching your own label?
It started as a very small cottage industry, as I didn’t have any budget to do it any other way. I sold direct to customers at parties in my house and other people’s houses. It was a fun way to start, but I always had an ambition to make it bigger and it has grown from there.
Who is the Anna Mason woman?
Our customer is a woman from 30 to 65, although we do have some older! She is stylish, social and loves to travel and wants great clothes for every day as well as for parties and social
