Photographs courtesy of Ignatious Joseph and Orion Dahlmann
Ignatious Joseph a leading luminary in the European fashion circuit speaks to Deputy Editor Tina Edward Gunawardhana on his penchant for red shoes to his career as a designer
Ignatious Joseph is a name we may not be familiar with. However, in the fashion capitals of Europe, Ignatious is a leading luminary. In an exclusive interview with Hi!! Magazine he speaks on his career as a noteworthy menswear designer and his predilection for red shoes.
In Florence Italy, regular visitors to the Pitti Uomo, a famous menswear exhibition recognise Ignatius Joseph as the “man with the red shoes” in lieu of his penchant for wearing red shoes which stems from a childhood desire. A dapper gentleman who takes dressing up very seriously, Ignatius left the shores of Sri Lanka to work in the international luxury hotel industry. After decades of observing the mannerism of dressing by the rich and famous, Ignatious was moved to launch his own brand of shirts called IGN Joseph.
When Ignatious established his brand in the German city of Düsseldorf in 1997 he made a decision to use only sewn collars which remain a hallmark of his unique shirts and why he made that decision is revealed later on.
Ignatius acknowledges that his partiality for style stemmed from the influence of British sartorial traditions as witnessed with his father and grandfather’s linen suits made from cloth imported from England. Ignatius also credits the cricket grounds for his inspiration. A passionate cricketer, Ignatius appreciated the blazers, Panama hats, and sunglasses that were worn by the denizens of the time.
His shirts are all made in Italy and bear the classic finesse of Italian produced garments. The world’s press have defined him as a dandy, a debonair gentleman and even described him as flamboyant. Truth be told, they are not too far off the mark when one flicks through his Instagram account, for it is full of photos of Joseph looking crisp in his range of outfits with the non negotiable red shoes. In this exclusive interview, the flamboyant dandy from Kandy shares his epic journey from the central highlands of Sri Lanka to Europe where he gads about selling his brand to stores such as Harrods, Selfridges in London, Barneys and Bergdorf Goodman in New York and many international haberdasheries in other parts of the world.
When did you leave Ceylon and what prompted your departure?
I left Ceylon more than 30 years ago. At the time I sought a career in the international hotel and hospitality industry. I studied in Switzerland and then began work in the business.
What did you do and where did you work as a hotelier?
I worked in all the classical stations of international hotel business, guest management, food and beverage, housekeeping. My posts were throughout the so-called EMEA region.
Almost 20 years ago you changed careers from hospitality to design. What prompted this?
I spent a lot of time observing guests from around the world. In particular, I paid a lot of attention to gentlemen’s attire. What I saw made me think I could do something to add more colour and panache to the generally drab and unimaginative clothing international business travellers were wearing.
How was the transition from hotelier to designer?
I imagine some people find transitions between professions difficult. That is often because they are involuntary or sudden. I spent considerable time formulating my business model and defining the niche I wanted to enter. Starting any new business requires time and hasits “pains”. There was nothing unusual except perhaps the success.
What were the early days as a designer like?
The early days were filled with basic business issues: what kind of fabrics? Who supplies them? Who manufactures for me? And ultimately where is mycore market?
What were some of the challenges you faced?
The main challenges were finding reliable manufacturers of artisan quality that understood how to make what I wanted AND overcoming the prejudices in the market.
What is the ethos of your brand?
I do not have a “brand ethos”. My ambition is to offer shirting and accessories that express effortless elegance.
Has your upbringing in Ceylon influenced your designs?
My upbringing has influenced me in many ways. I grew up in Ceylon with a tropical interpretation of British sartorial style. Had I been born in the North of England I would be making an entirely different product. It is that simple.
