A Cheshire designer who has already created outfits for the likes of Hilary Duff, Shakira and Zara Larsson said his career in fashion started almost by accident.
Paul Aaron, from the village of Hooton, had originally signed up for an Art and Design course at a community college in Liverpool but, after enrolling, discovered he had instead been put on the Fashion Design and Textiles course instead.
“That's where I learned everything I know about cutting, sewing, and padding,” Paul, 31, tells the Manchester Evening News. “But if I'm being fully honest, I'd say I got into design the way a lot of other queer kids do, simply by playing with Barbie dolls, cutting up my mum's old dresses to make tiny gowns for them, and playing dress-up with whatever was left.”
From Nottingham Trent to Central Saint Martins
After college, Paul began studying a degree in knitwear at Nottingham Trent university but decided to change course after a year when he packed up everything he owned and moved to London to study at the prestigious Central Saint Martins.
“I never really thought a career in fashion was in the cards for someone like me even though, in an ideal world, it was always the dream,” he explained. “Growing up in a working-class, single-parent household puts real limitations on what feels possible. That's where a lot of talented designers get lost, because they don't have the resources or background to let that talent flourish in this industry. The ones who do make it through, like Galliano and McQueen, tend to do so by fate.”
Paul, who says he takes inspiration from the early 00s and 90s including Y2K street styles, as well as old Hollywood red carpet glamour. He cites Paris Hilton’s ‘bedazzled’ outfits and Lady Gaga’s ‘experimentation with fashion’ as iconic moments that have sparked his creativity - and it’s led him to work with some big music stars and celebrities already.
Star-studded commissions
Last year, Zara Larsson wore a custom hibiscus yellow and hot pink flower beaded skirt for the opening night of her Midnight Sun tour in Munich, Germany, whilst he also created a crochet top for Kylie Jenner, which she wore whilst in Venice for Jeff Bezos’ wedding.
Earlier this year, he also created a red crochet star-shaped top for Shakira, which she wore in her Dai Dai music video for the World Cup. The video has had almost 850 million views on YouTube alone so far.
“I had less than two days to pull it all together,” he recalls of the Shakira outfit. “That is barely any time at all considering everything is done by hand. Her stylist and I were both really keen on making it work since we knew my aesthetic would suit their vision. So, I did it working throughout the night, and I really am glad I did!
“It wasn't supposed to be a huge deal, but the images ended up everywhere, on billboards, on her Spotify single, on the song's cover art. It was crazy!”
At the start of this month, Hilary Duff also wore a silver dress created by Paul featuring around 20,000 glass beads during two nights on her tour at New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden stadium. The outfit took 500 hours to complete, and also featured hand weaved crochet stars and over 2000 meters of crystal chains.
He said it all came about after taking the initiative and reaching out directly to her stylist on social media. “I went into it out of pure love, because I grew up watching Lizzie McGuire on TV,” he recalls. “It genuinely felt like a full-circle moment!
“I didn't work directly with her, but working with her team was a great experience. When people genuinely love their craft, and care about creating something great for someone they adore that energy always comes through. You can always tell with those things, if the people around them are happy and passionate you know the celebrity must be lovely to work with.”
Future plans and advice
Next month, Hilary will bring her Lucky Me tour to the UK, including a night at Manchester’s AO Arena on September 12. Asked if there’s any possibility the star might wear more of his outfits on the UK leg, Paul refuses to let anything slip. “We certainly had a great response to our work together,” he said. “So, I would definitely love to work with her and her team again.”
Asked what he thinks it is about his designs that draw in the big names, Paul remains humble about his craft but says it all comes down to the determination behind the project. “I think people resonate with passion,” he explains.
“When someone truly loves what they do, and believes in it, people respond. It also comes down to wanting to work with other people who are equally passionate about their own craft. The industry is full of talent, and sometimes it just takes a collaboration or two to push each other's limits and make something unique and beautiful together.
“A lot of my work is very ‘pop', it's meant to be enjoyed whether you're wearing it on stage while performing, on a red carpet, or watching it from afar. It's pop in both senses: how it makes the performer feel, and how the crowd reacts to it.
“I think having a signature that translates regardless of how the piece actually looks is something a lot of people respond to, as a designer. And honestly, who doesn't love a sparkling outfit full of texture and colour?
“I'd also like to think that my creations really celebrate women and are made to help them feel loved and appreciated. A lot of designers don't design for women. I'd like to think I do.”
Whilst Paul already has so many big names under his belt, there are some celebrities that he has his eyes on when it comes to creating something special with their vision. “Definitely the queen Lady Gaga,” he laughs when asked who he would like to work with.
“I think my aesthetic would work great with Paris Hilton, and Addison Rae, and I'd love to create something unique for Zendaya with [her stylist] Law Roach.”
Reflecting on his childhood creating outfits for his barbies and his first few days at college, Paul says he also wants to inspire those growing up with an interest in fashion and to encourage them to take their craft seriously - even if it’s potentially not going to be an easy pathway.
Asked if he has any advice for budding designers, he says: “Just keep going. No matter how hard it gets, if you believe in your vision and have real passion for it, people will respond to that. But also, say no to press loans. Financing everything while working independently is difficult enough as it is. If stylists want the pieces that badly, they'll pay a rental fee.”
