Lesley Mobo's Diary
May 03, 2005
18 July 2004
11 am
I’m packing my luggage inside my room….. this beautiful hotel called "Hotel Riviera"…it’s a room with a view.
I told my friend Steven Hoffman it was a cool experience and we thought it was a good treat for us.
Since the stressful final months at Saint Martins we’re talking about the people we’ve met… it’s just amazing… EVE managed to pull all the respectable journalist/press around the globe to sit and look at our works: that’s absolutely fab!!!!
12 noon
We are starting to miss each other already - I mean all the young designers started to give their e-mail and telephone numbers - I was holding my award with and I’m not sure whether I’ll put it inside my luggage or whether I’ll hand carry it - anyway I’ve just promised (last night) to see/speak with Wilbert today for the lunch EVE organized in the countryside but Soraya told me I can’t be able to make it to the farewell lunch because the location is too far away from the airport….somewhere in the countryside I’ve heard….so I went home happily with my award……oooops I even told the immigration controller in the airport in London that I won the Diesel Award and she too was pleased for me….
19 July 2004
My parents are here in London for holiday to attend my graduation. I told them I won the award - everyone’s happy….my mother asked me why the award has the shape of a pink heart…I told her it’s probably about passion for fashion….but she thought it was kitchy….nevermind.
20 July 2004
Already….. I have an interview deadline to be submitted to Lidia —- it’s for a Dutch magazine who wanted to write an article
21 July 2004
I took a day off at work in Harrods to attend my MA graduation with my parents - it was picture perfect because I’ve finished my MA studies with distinction….I had it on a paper with the college stamp!!!!! My mother was so excited about it because she will have another diploma to hang in our wall back home…. to show off to her friends! Ha ha ha! My parents gave me a beautiful gift…a diamond ring and my first diesel t-shirt.
22 July 2004
I am panicking and same with Michela, the person organizing the Diesel Collection project: I have to go to Italy, but the Italian embassy needs a week to process my visa, and I am also busy at work in London. I don’t know where to bang my head (that’s around 9 am here in London, 10 am in Italy).
23 July 2004
Somehow I’ve made it to Italy (don’t know how, but in the end we solved the visa problem!) I’ve checked out of the hotel, Michela picked me up in the hotel and brought me to Diesel Headquarters in Molvena. Michela introduced me to everyone: receptionist, marketing, production, designers, accountant, cleaner, visual merchandiser etc. etc.
Around 11 in the morning she drove me to the hills where the Diesel
Villa is located…this is where the designers are based! I started doing my presentation to Wilbert Das (creative director of Diesel) and the Diesel Style office representatives regarding my collection. Afterwards Wilbert gave his view.
We also discussed a lot about production, which covers fabrics, materials, suppliers, different washes, different kinds of finishing, accessories, lead-time, deliveries, and even visual presentations to the boutiques where the pieces will be sold. I also asked if I could go through all their fabric fillers and accessories and start to make a line up of what sort of fabrics and accessories I would be using.
Although I am aware of all these topics (because of my work in London) it is so good for me to learn how other company such as Diesel do their thing…they deal with huge quantities per style/design and that is something!!!! I told myself: I’ve got to learn as much as I can here!!!!!
Michela took me for lunch in a restaurant where all the Diesel people/staff eat their lunch. Renzo Rosso was also there and he stopped to say hi and told me he wants the best! I answered ok (what a silly answer!!)
23 August 2004
I sent my Diesel Collection designs/proposal to Italy.
30 August 2004
I got a feedback from Diesel regarding my sketches. Michela and the Diesel team will discuss my proposals with Wilbert Das for approval
8-11 September 2004
I am scheduled by Diesel for another meeting, this time its all about production, fit and planning the prototypes.
24th of sept/04
I had again problems with my passport, but Rachel from EVE came to the rescue!!!!! She decided that she should call the lawyer who is handling the situation. I was already loosing hope and thought I might give up…but Rachel was so good in keeping me positive…I told myself: this is a true talent support!!!!!!
17 October 2004
London, 9 am
Due to these passport problems I won’t even talk to you about (a really long story…) we are 1 month delay from the original schedule. This will affect the production and the delivery of the final products to the Diesel stores.
Meeting with Michela, Francisco, Vladimiro and Venocia from Diesel to talk about accessories, fabrics and all the different washes we had talked about in our first meeting. Anyone working in the fashion industry needs to respect the commercial planning: it’s always the commercial planning that comes first before the creative planning. I need to give way with some choices of fabrics and fastenings. I admired Vladimiro’s professionalism in terms of showing me all different ranges of fabrics, wash, treatment and fastenings. Michela was so cool today! I noticed she was wearing a denim mini skirt.
Now with Venocia! She doesn’t speak English and I was worried about this…then I realized that we could actually understand each other: it’s called body language, and it works!! Her personality is so loud that I really really get on well with her!! This woman is a legend!!
We managed to finish everything just before lunch
14 February 2004
Went to Diesel Headquarters to check the prototypes, spoke to Wilbert Das, went to Diesel’s shoe archive to pick some shoes for the shoot tomorrow, checked the location for the shoot. We all decided that it should be in a white backdrop in a studio because the garments are all in neutral tones/colour base.
15 February 2005
Shooting my collection for Diesel at Diesel Headquarters
9 am: I’ve met Nena and Tomy, the photographers - they drove all the way from Milan.
10 am: the make up artist and hair stylist arrived from Milan
10.30 am: Silvia, Michela and Francisco arrived to see the whole set up
10:45 am: the shoot starts…everything should be sharp, sleek and sophisticated.
2 pm: shoot finished
2:30 pm: Michela and Silvia took us for lunch in a restaurant owned by Renzo Rosso’s son…very good sandwiches and cool crowd…everyone wears diesel there!
8 March 2005
Dinner date with EVErs Lidia, Barbara and Michele in London - they took me for an Indian meal. I have the chance to know Barbara more - up close and personal
9 March 2005
We’ve just finished with the UK press launch of my collection for Diesel in London. The location for the event was perfect: The Martini Lounge at "The Hospital", in Covent Garden". I was overwhelmed with the attendance of UK press…many familiar faces…Erika from i-D, David from another magazine, Amechi from Flux…Tamara (Diesel UK ) did a very good job! I also had some beaded tennis caps give away prepared!!
23 March 2005
I will be flying to Milan for another Press Presentation. The location for the launch was the "Black Rebel Room" at the Hotel Sheraton Diana Majestic. This Presentation is bigger than the one in London!!!!! I’m so overwhelmed…there were so many people involved in the preparations, it’s so busy, everyone’s there to shown their support: Barbara, Manuela, Michele, Silvia, Michela, Cristina and Roberto from Diesel press office in Milan, Wilbert Das, my friend Christian Boaro from Dolce & Gabbana was there….. a fellow ITS#THREE guy! It was a memorable experience for a young designer!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 2005
From the end of April, my collection is available in the Diesel Stores!!!!
Here is the list of the Diesel stores around the world where you can find it:
Diesel denim gallery, New York
Diesel denim gallery, Tokyo
Diesel flagship store, London, King’s road
Diesel concept store, Milan, Porta Ticinese
Diesel concept store, Paris, Marais
Diesel store, Antwerp
Diesel concept store, Berlin, Mitte
