Jonathan Saunders

Jonathan Saunders is a Scottish fashion designer recognized for his use of traditional silk screening processes and his work with prints. The Scottish Style Awards named him Scottish Fashion Designer of the Year in 2005. He won Designer of the Year for the second time in 2006. In 2008, Saunders was named British Designer of the Year at the Elle Style Awards. Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Sienna Miller, and Michelle Obama are among the celebrities who have worn his dazzling creations.

Saunders earned a BA in printed textiles from Glasgow School of Art in 1999 and an MA in the subject from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in 2002. He earned the Lancome Colour Award in 2002 for his graduating collection, which featured a set of vividly patterned chiffon kaftans inspired by the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine album cover. Saunders was commissioned to develop prints for world-renowned designer Alexander McQueen just two days after his graduation exhibition and produced a bird-of-paradise print for McQueen’s 2003 collection. Under the guidance of Christian Lacroix, Saunders was also hired as a consultant for fashion labels Chloé and Pucci. In September 2003, Saunders made his runway debut at London Fashion Week. Saunders’ designs were featured on the cover of British Vogue in January 2004, and his designs were ordered by Harrods and Harvey Nichols.

Saunders continued to present in London Fashion Week until 2008 when he decided to transfer his collection to New York Fashion Week as a “logical evolution,” as he put it. In 2010, he returned to London Fashion Week. Saunders was previously the creative director of Pollini, a Milanese fashion brand. Today fans can keep up with Saunders via his personal site or through Instagram where he boasts over 80.8 thousand followers.