brigandage blog

Hi! My name’s Michelle Brigandage and due to being very lucky i.e I was the right age and in the right place – London – I was privileged to see the Sex pistols and all the great punk bands from 1976 onwards.This life changing experience turned my career plans around and I went to art school at Ravensbourne to do fashion. The first day of my degree course we were told that fashion was about being a bitch and we be taught to be the best ones – we weren’t to share property or ideas – this confused me greatly as it didn’t go with my fledging political ideas. I lasted 2 years out of 4.

In the end I left because I wanted to be Vivienne Westwood and I couldn’t be! There is only one but in the typical way of teenagers every thing is black and white and I left to form a band- Brigandage. In this I wanted to be Patti Smith meets the Sex Pistols and over time I began to find my own voice which led back to making clothes. Knowing I couldn’t be the Pistols or Patti made me realize that although I’d never be Vivienne Westwood I could try to be the best I could be.

I had a stall in Camden from 1984 til 86 which was a meeting place for friends, fans and musicians. I sold to the shop Fans and later to Sign of the Times.

Earlier I’d become involved with the anarchist punk scene and this has been a continual theme in my work - to combine Sex, Fun and Revolution.

Due to space limitations I’ve had to concentrate on small pieces such as shirts and tees but now I’m sharing a print studio I’m working on a women’s collection which will include printed muslin dresses.

At the moment I’m lookinging for shop outlets for my clothes so fingers crossed and in the future I would like to see it grow into a collective/collaboration with other artists.

Don’t be shy in getting in contact with me for any reason.

mx