GLOBE TROTTER

HE’S CONQUERED LONDON, AND NOW HE’S GOING GLOBAL WITH TEAM PHILLIPART – RICHARD PHILLIPART TAKES US ON A TOUR OF THE FASHION CAPITALS

KIDSUPER STUDIOS

“I DID MY FIRST LONDON FASHION WEEK SHOW WITH RICHARD 14 YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE BOTH ASSISTANTS, AND I KNEW INSTANTLY THAT THIS WAS HIS DREAM.”

It’s early doors in New York as an upbeat Richard Phillipart begins our telephone conversation, during a gap in between preparations for New York Fashion Week. Never one to shy away from a challenge, he’s visiting New York, London and Paris for the S/S25 season – having also ventured to Milan for Men’s Fashion Week in the summer. A veteran behind the scenes at London Fashion Week as a hair lead, it’s no surprise he was itching to take his hair team on tour to the other iconic capitals, but it was his work at Erdem last year which meant international designers came knocking. “It catapulted me and the team into another area of consciousness in the fashion industry,” he explains. Off the back of working with one of LFW’s best-known designers, Richard was requested to go to Paris to design the hair for Abra, and from there Richard’s international success has grown and grown. “I’ve worked in all these cities as an assistant for others, but being in them as Richard Phillipart with my team makes it feel really special, and it’s something that I’m really proud of,” he shares. It’s no easy feat to take your work global, but doing so without an agent is even more impressive. While it’s made his career more lucrative, Richard isn’t shy in admitting it takes a lot of effort and admin to manage it all solo. As the global brand ambassador for MY. ORGANICS, the brand always supports his runway endeavours, but managing ongoing discussions with designers is all in a day’s work for Richard. “That side of it is intense. There’s a lot of negotiating with brands, sponsors and with the designer or fashion house. It’s a lot of work, I can’t sugarcoat it,” he says.

HELEN ANTHONY

PUPPETS AND PUPPETS

“ERDEM CATAPULTED ME AND THE TEAM INTO ANOTHER AREA OF CONSCIOUSNESS IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY.”

KIDSUPER STUDIOS

ABRA

As we chat on the phone that morning, he shares that he’d already been doing work for five hours – answering emails, sending call sheets and confirmations. There’s SO much which goes on behind the scenes (or in hotel rooms!) that few would often consider as the responsibility of a hairdresser.

“It’s busy, but the rewards are fantastic,” he adds, laughing, and you can hear through the phone he is genuinely loving every second of it. “Since I’ve gone independent, it’s gone through the stratosphere. By me being in control, I feel I’ve been able to push it in the right direction.”

In addition to managing his session calendar, Richard is still heavily involved with his Cheshire salon, The Boutique Atelier, though he commends his husband and salon team for keeping everything running smoothly. “I’m very lucky that I have a good team there. My husband helps me with that, and we have a great manager in place,” he comments. It’s fair to say the Fashion Week admin is a labour of love, with Richard utilising his evenings to keep up to date with communications.

Managing two very busy aspects of his career isn’t an easy juggle, but Richard’s success is proof that you get out what you put in, having recently scooped the 2024 Most Wanted Creative Talent trophy. However, Richard also has clear boundaries between work and personal life, mentioning that he only allows one hour for emails each night to avoid it becoming all-consuming. He’s also incredible at embroidery and uses that to switch off and cut down on screen time, while also being creative.

GENARO RIVAS

To help keep all plates spinning, Team Phillipart is also an integral part of Richard’s world – be it in the salon or with him on his travels. As we talk, long-time team member Jody Toner listens in, praising the experiences he’s had along the way. “I did my first London Fashion Week show with Richard 14 years ago when we were both assistants, and I knew instantly that this was his dream,” Jody shares. “I’m 100 per cent grateful to be here with him in New York and help him however I can.”

Like any well-oiled machine, the more the core members work together, the better they become. “Everyone works together so regularly now that they understand my aesthetic and what we’re trying to achieve. It means that I can have multiple projects happening at once – like at London Fashion Week – and not be at every show,” Richard explains. That sense of camaraderie is noticeable in even the smallest behind-the-scenes glimpses of the team on their travels, like when posing for a snap by the Eiffel Tower. They are a unit in every sense, and that’s a credit to the family feel Richard has created since day one.

When asked what his career highlight has been, Richard is quick to confirm that it’s finding Team Phillipart. “Getting to share this experience with people I have known for 15 years, like Jody and Cheryl Munoz, is super important,” he adds. A man of his word, the experience they are all a part of is something many could only dream of, with shows for S/S25 including Helen Anthony, Karoline Vitto and KidSuper. Over 15 years since his first forays into the world of fashion as an assistant, it would seem Richard is only just getting started. What’s next on the cards for the creative talent? World domination, of course.