John Rocha Quotes

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John Rocha

Profession : Designer

Birth : August 23, 1953

At primary school, we would pick up plastic petals on the way home to make flowers. Now you might call it child labour, but we did it for pocket money.

John Rocha

My most precious possession is a 13.5-feet-long fishing rod, made by an American firm called Loomis.

John Rocha

There was the Cultural Revolution just over the border, and Hong Kong felt quite dodgy. My younger brother's wife actually swam from China to Hong Kong to escape. I realised in the '60s that I had to get out.

John Rocha

My dream home would be a fishing lodge in New Zealand.

John Rocha

I never set out to do interior design; I just do what I do, and some people come along and want me to work with them.

John Rocha

I like to create a simple space and surround myself with things that I like to look at.

John Rocha

It might be a selfish choice, but I find it quite difficult to design for individuals and prefer the distance of larger schemes. It's the same reason why, as a designer, I don't do wedding dresses.

John Rocha

I dress pop stars, and I dress my doctor. It's about attitude. I do what I love, and I'm lucky to do it. It's a long way from Hong Kong.

John Rocha

When I left college, nobody expected much of me - and nor did I.

John Rocha

When I was young, we always went to our posh cousins at Christmas. My dad made sure we had new shoes and clean clothes - he was really proud - and that's why I felt different from everyone living around me. We had the first television on the estate, the first fridge.

John Rocha

I will never see myself as a businessman. I'm a designer. I have to be true to what I believe.

John Rocha

Talent always shouts at you.

John Rocha

I think, as a designer, what you have to do is challenge yourself to do what you do, but better.

John Rocha

To create a beautiful thing with unlimited money is easy!

John Rocha

We cater for fashion-conscious people.

John Rocha

Unfortunately, I used to play in goal, and I broke my hand. Two fingers. The ball hit me and bent my fingers back. I used to play every Sunday. I was quite competitive.

John Rocha

I always have a cigar when I catch a fish.

John Rocha

I can speak Cantonese, but I can't speak about fashion - I learnt all my fashion in Europe, so often, during interviews in Chinese I just don't know the right word - it can be very hard to explain things.

John Rocha

During fashion week, I dream about fashion; afterwards, I dream about fishing. After fashion week, I always go fishing to wind down.

John Rocha

I love my black shirts; I have usually 14 of them at any one time.

John Rocha