IT was fitting that fashion designer Betty Jackson was accompanied by fellow designer Wendy Dagworthy when she collected an honorary doctorate at Huddersfield University this week.
When a young Betty Jackson embarked on her career, Wendy was her own mentor – and now Betty Jackson’s new role will see her provide some inspiration to a new generation of designers.
She worked as Wendy’s design assistant in the early 70s before she went on to form her own company in 1981.
Fast forward through a successful career and the 62-year-old is using some of her experience to help others as they embark on their own journeys.
Lancashire-born Betty saw Huddersfield students working in the university’s fashion studios and passed on a few tips and shared some anecdotes.
And she took some time out to talk to the Examiner about her own career and inspiration.
Wearing a black suit from her own autumn/winter 2011 collection, Betty recalled a time when a top designer visited her as she learnt her trade at the Birmingham College of Fashion under designer Zandra Rhodes.
“I remember Zandra Rhodes first coming in, she was very inspirational and she had her own business too, so we knew she was someone to listen to.
“It was very exciting and she was, of course, unbelievably glamorous.
“I remember the first project she gave us to do was an outfit for Julie Driscoll’s stage show. It was an exciting time.”
From there she went to work with Wendy Dagworthy, once described as the “high priestess of British fashion”. In 1981 she went on to launch her own company, Betty Jackson Ltd, with her husband and business partner David Cohen.
It was, perhaps, a little easier then.
Betty explained: “I think it is much more difficult now, especially in these times and climate, but I was passionate about it and worked very hard.
“I am quite sure that coming from an area like this gives design students the best start, they have to know about the process of creativity – it’s a vacuum of education, experiments and experiences.
“You can be a great designer, but you can’t do it on your own, you have to be creative and learn from textile designers, pattern cutters and seamstresses.
“I don’t believe colleges should just turn out designers when there is so much more to learn.”