M&S X Vogue: Out of the Archives

To celebrate a hundred years of fashion at Marks & Spencer, we're showing for the first-ever time at London Fashion today with a xxx collection that's been inspired by iconic pieces from our vast design archives.

Vogue's shopping editor, Naomi Smart, joins M&S's head of womenswear design, Lisa Illis to discover how designs from the archive have shaped the collection, and how the creative process worked.

“I’m so interested in the process from the archive to the final garment,” Naomi Smart

Lisa talks Naomi the process of taking garments from the archive and using elements to inform the design of the new collection, creating a modern interpretation of classic St. Michael pieces.

A case in point is this shearling jacket, a St. Michael original, bought in by one of the designers to inspire the team, which has been reworked for the new collection.

“ It’s not about retelling old stories, it’s about using them to inspire and inform the next year’s range.” Lisa Illis

“ Every part of a women’s wardrobe you guys have thought about, it’s really special. Ultimately, we want to be able to reflect and also influence what our readers and what our friends are buying and what’s going to suit them in their everyday life and you guys have really hit the nail on the head.”  Naomi Smart