Barbara Hulanicki
Barbara Hulanicki is the founder and designer behind the iconic London boutique and label, BIBA
Gone Bazaar: Why did you start Biba?
Barbara Hulanicki: There were no shops or designs for young people, only old ladies. And no young fashion that was inexpensive.
Gone Bazaar: Who were some of your favorite Biba customers in the 60’s and 70’s?
BH: Sonny and Cher, Cathy McGowan, Julie Christie, Bridget Bardot, Cilla Black, Barbara Streisand, Twiggy, Mick Jagger
Gone Bazaar: Where did the name BIBA come from?
BH: My sisters nickname, it was an abbreviation of Biurata, a Lithuanian name.
Gone Bazaar: If you could travel in a time machine to live in any era for a month, which era would you choose?
BH: Back to the 1970’s, it was the most fun.
Gone Bazaar: What was your favorite thing about London in its 60’s/70’s heyday?
BH: Just working on the shop, designing and the whole free atmosphere of the time was so incredible.
Gone Bazaar: Do you enjoy interior design equally to fashion design? Or one more than the other?
BH: No I really like both equally, interiors are like doing Biba without the clothes. The process is very similar.
Gone Bazaar: What have been some of your favorite interior design projects?
BH: Big Biba, The Marlin Hotel, and Woody’s on the Beach (Ronnie Wood’s nightclub)
Gone Bazaar: If you could have a dinner party with any 3 people in the world (fictional or non-fictional/alive or past) who would you choose?
BH: Elvis Presley when he was young, Great Garbo, and Carmen Miranda, some dinner!
