Post date: Sep 11, 2012 11:46:21 AM
The vivacious designer talks about her 47 years in the industry and gives a sneak peek of her Spring 2013 show for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. Kilmeny Duchardt reports.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK UNITED STATES (REUTERS) - Sex, fun and rock and roll.
That's the spirit behind designer and American original Betsey Johnson's punk ballerina style.
And some might say that's why she's thrived in the fashion industry, with no plans to slow down at age 70. Betsey Johnson, fashion designer, saying
"I came into the industry weirdly by winning a contest and the one thing I didn't want to do is be that designer on the pedestal. 'Cause I was just making clothes for myself."
Launching her own label in 1978, Johnson said she's survived the test of time, bouncing back from bankruptcy after Steve Madden purchased her label two years ago.
Betsey Johnson, fashion designer, saying
"I'm happier that I can do my work for more girls at a better price through volume and licensing."
Now Johnson's filming her new reality show on the Style Network with her daughter Lulu and gearing up for a retrospective to be shown during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York.
Betsey Johnson, fashion designer, saying
"I don't know. It's like time flies when you're having fun. It just flew right by and true to what they say, it goes faster as you get older. So now I'm thinking, enjoy yourself it's later than you think, and at 70, you can do whatever you want."