Desert Island Discs

Barbara Hulanicki


Listen Later

Kirsty Young's castaway is Barbara Hulanicki, designer and creator of Biba.

Today her creativity spans fashion, illustration, interior design and architecture but it was the success of the label Biba that first made her name; launching a high street revolution with its opulent-looking but entirely affordable high fashion. According to Twiggy, "she changed fashion in England singlehandedly".

A newspaper advert for a £3 pink gingham dress in 1963 kicked things off and by the seventies her London department store was a throbbing temple to all things skinny-fitted in plum, mulberry, green, brown and black. Romantic, mysterious, nostalgic and very profitable. But when it all turned sour with her business partners, she and her husband Fitz walked away, leaving behind the hugely popular creation that had made her name.

The fantasy and perfection of her creations were a far cry from the harsh reality of her childhood; born in Poland just before the Second World War, the air of privilege that surrounded her family was traumatically punctured when her father, a diplomat, was assassinated.

She says "Now whenever I finish something I take some photographs and say 'goodbye'. When you lose everything, you realise that the only thing you have is what's in your head."

Producer: Cathy Drysdale.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Desert Island DiscsBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

1,471 ratings


More shows like Desert Island Discs

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,856 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,077 Listeners

Woman's Hour by BBC Radio 4

Woman's Hour

402 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,496 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,816 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,851 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,062 Listeners

Desert Island Discs: Archive 2005-2010 by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs: Archive 2005-2010

150 Listeners

THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST by ADAM BUXTON

THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST

1,138 Listeners

Desert Island Discs: Archive 2011-2015 by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs: Archive 2011-2015

60 Listeners

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day by Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

1,173 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,221 Listeners

The Missing Cryptoqueen by BBC Sounds

The Missing Cryptoqueen

1,049 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

777 Listeners

The Bomb by BBC World Service

The Bomb

1,043 Listeners

Life Changing by BBC Radio 4

Life Changing

93 Listeners

This Cultural Life by BBC Radio 4

This Cultural Life

121 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics

3,345 Listeners

Dish by Cold Glass Productions

Dish

770 Listeners

The Rest Is Entertainment by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Entertainment

930 Listeners

The Louis Theroux Podcast by Spotify Studios

The Louis Theroux Podcast

305 Listeners

Young Again by BBC Radio 4

Young Again

51 Listeners

Off Air with Jane & Fi by The Times

Off Air with Jane & Fi

169 Listeners

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth by Gyles Brandreth / Plain Jaine Media

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

511 Listeners

Desert Island Discs: Archive: 2016-2018 by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs: Archive: 2016-2018

27 Listeners