Over the more-than-four years of Riccardo Tisci’s tenure as the creative head of Burberry, the Italian designer has placed music — and the cultures that naturally coalesce around it — at the core of his proposal for the brand. Whether enlisting experimental musicians like Anne Imhof and Eliza Douglas to play at his shows, bringing on board grime megastar Stormzy as a brand ambassador, or, as was the case yesterday’s SS23 show in London, inviting the London Contemporary Orchestra and soprano opera singer Nadine Sierra to perform.
If you needed any further proof of the deep, diverse connections between Riccardo’s Burberry and the music world, look no further than the A-list roster that rocked up to the front row. From Bree Runway to Fireboy DML, Erykah Badu to none other than Kanye West, yesterday some of the brightest and best musical talents turn up to celebrate his latest offering for the house. Among them was Headie One, the 27-year-old drill artist from north London. After yesterday’s blockbuster show, we caught up with the Brit-nominated musician to discuss his longstanding love for Burberry, and his admiration for Riccardo’s vision for the house.
Tell us a bit about your relationship with Burberry. When did you first start getting into the brand?
Well, I was speaking with someone before about when I first started wearing the traditional Burberry check scarves and the little side bags — I loved it all. So it’s obviously great to see it elevated by Riccardo, and I’m still here rocking it now!
Talk us through today’s look!
Well, I wanted to go a bit smart with it, and do something a bit different to what I usually do day-to-day — which is why I picked out these trousers and the polo — but I’ve still got on my trainers, my side bag and the shades! It’s a nice little balance.
What does Burberry represent to you? What does the house embody?
It’s just so British. Old school. It just has such a classic feel to it — it really speaks for itself.
And what is it about Riccardo’s vision for Burberry that you find yourself drawn to?
Well, I’m someone who really likes a sporty look — I like my trainers and my tracksuits. So seeing Riccardo bring a lot of that into the mix, and merging it with the house’s heritage, has been really great to see. It’s really made me grow into it more as I’ve gotten older.
What are the common values between what you see Riccardo doing for Burberry and what you do as an artist?
Well, I think that we’re both creatives in the truest sense, even if our output is in different fields. It’s all about being an artist — art really is a universal language that everyone can speak and understand.
What is it about this show that you think really speaks to what Riccardo is about?
I think this show, just like his last one, proved that he really loves music. You can see that from the fact that he had the orchestra here playing today — it was such an incredible, out-there production. And what he does is always so different each time. His creativity is definitely fully on display here.
What would you say is so unique about Riccardo and Burberry’s relationship with musicians that’s so unique?
It all comes to own art. How our creativity manifests may be different, but we speak the same universal language. Riccardo’s really someone who involves everyone and offers his support — it’s a great thing for someone to do, and long may it continue.
Credits
Photography Dave Bennett. Images courtesy of Burberry