Known for her daring and individuality Dame Zandra Rhodes is one of the most significant figures in British fashion. She talks to Julia Wheeler about her insightful memoir, Iconic, in which she shares her life story for the first time: her life spent among rockstars and royalty – designing for everyone from Freddie Mercury to Diana Ross, from Princess Diana to Barbra Streisand; her life-changing friendships; and the highs and lows that come with being an era-defining designer.

Dame Zandra Rhodes grew up in Kent. She studied print design at the Medway College of Art, then graduated from the Royal College of Art with a first-class honours degree in printed textile design. She has won an Emmy Award and appeared in multiple TV shows, from the cult series Absolutely Fabulous  to The Great British Bake Off and The Real Marigold Hotel. In 2015, she was made a Dame in recognition of her contribution to fashion and textiles. In 2024 she was awarded an honorary doctorate from Canterbury Christ Church University in celebration of her pioneering fashion and textile career.