Steven Tyler owned Keanan Duffty Coat auction

Steven Tyler owned Keanan Duffty 2001 Collection Frock Coat sold at auction.

Winning Bid : $781.25

Keanan Duffty by Roger Charity.

Keanan Duffty by Roger Charity.

In 1985 I was lucky enough to work with renown British photographer Roger Charity. Roger shot this portrait in his studio in Clerkenwell, London. At the time Roger was part of the Buffalo crowd that centered around uber stylist Ray Petri and also included
photographers Jamie Morgan, Martin Brading, Marc Lebon and Norman Watson to evolve the Buffalo Boy series of fashion spreads for The Face and Arena.

Harley Sears Management is pleased to announce a management deal with Keanan Duffty

Harley Sears Management is pleased to announce a management deal with award-winning British fashion designer and musician Keanan Duffty.

At age 14, Keanan was a founding member of the British punk band Sordid Details. He later formed Wonder Stories, a New Romantic group influenced by David Bowie and Roxy Music. Keanan is also lead singer in the band Slinky Vagabond, alongside Glen Matlock of The Sex Pistols, Clem Burke of Blondie, and Earl Slick (guitarist for David Bowie).

Keanan established his eponymous fashion label in 1999. The collection is inspired by subversive subcultures, and mixes high fashion with youth culture, music, and British iconography. Duffty's clothes have attracted a celebrity following that include Mick Jagger, Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Alyssa Milano, Sarah Jessica Parker, and more.

In 2009, Keanan wrote "Rebel Rebel Anti-Style". Tracing the roots of rebel style to the music scene, the book explores how music and "anti-fashion" icons have inspired fashion.

He is currently co-producing the Malcolm McLaren documentary: "Spectacular Failure".

Harley Sears has managed a variety of pop, punk, and rock bands spanning across America and Britain. He studied artist management at Berklee College of Music, and is a member of the Music Manager's Forum. To reach Harley, call (816) 787-3914 or send email to harleysears@gmail.com.

Learn more about Keanan Duffty at www.keananduffty.com

Random Questions For…Keanan Duffty. OCTOBER 15, 2007

By Lauren David Peden. October 15th 2007.

Plenty of designers dress musicians. But few designers actually are musicians themselves (we’re speaking of real, trained designers here, not the Beyoncé. P. Diddy, J. Lo, Gwen Stefani school of frock).

Not so Keanan Duffty, who grew up playing guitar – and released his debut CD, “Watersport” in 1985 – before studying fashion at London’s prestigious St. Martin’s College and moving to New York in 1993 to work in the fashion biz.

Duffty launched his aptly named menswear line, Slinky Vagabond, in 1999, and the collection of skinny trousers, sharply cut suits and Union Jack emblazoned everything is now carried at Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf Goodman and Fred Segal. He collaborated with Reebok in 2000, and won the Fashion Group International Rising Star Award in 2003.

These days, the cheeky Brit counts members of Aerosmith, the Sex Pistols, Smashing Pumpkins, Bush and Wilco among his fashion fans, and he has often dressed David Bowie – his musical idol since childhood – which recently resulted in an entire Bowie-themed collection for Target.

The Bowie by Keanan Duffty collection, scheduled to hit stores today, features a tuxedo, vest and pants inspired by Bowie’s Thin White Duke persona. The trench coat and dress shirts reference Bowie’s role as Thomas Jerome Newton in the film, “The Man Who Fell to Earth.” And one gray button-down boasts lyrics from “Let’s Dance” scripted onto the fabric. And in a unique marketing ploy, the entire collection will be sold alongside an exclusive David Bowie compilation CD that includes newly remastered, live versions of “The Jean Genie” and “Young Americans,” along with some material never before released on CD.

But enough about Bowie, let’s dish about Duffty, who, in addition to designing clothing, now fronts the electro-rock band, Slinky Vagabond, backed by legendary musicians Glen Matlock, Clem Burke and Earl Slick (alum of the Sex Pistols, Bowie’s band and Blondie, respectively).

So, Keanan…


What is the last book you read?
Literally (pardon the pun), the last book I read was “The Alchemy of Enlightenment” by Osho, otherwise known as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. I read it this morning because I needed a spiritual top up. All of his books are funny and you can learn a lot. I went to the Osho Ashram in Poona in 1994 for three months and it was a great experience - non-competitive tennis (Zennis), meditation and lectures all in a beautiful setting. Osho's book takes me back there.

When you were 9, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I probably wanted to be Spider-Man. I had a homemade costume and I used to climb on the roof of my parent’s house and frighten the neighbors. The costume was the first garment I ever made - it was glued, rather than sewn, together. I drew the webs with a marked pen. Maybe I should revisit that idea...

What did you have for breakfast this morning?
Eggs Florentine, in the good company of Earl Slick, who plays guitar with David Bowie. We went to Balthazar in NYC. Usually I get up at 7 a.m. and go to the gym, then I eat granola; today was an exception.

What is your favorite getaway spot?
Baga beach in Goa, India. If you avoid the rave scene there, Goa is a great place. Amazing beaches, great food, wonderful people and sacred cows. Goa was a Portuguese colony so it is a Mediterranean/Indian mix of cultures. I first went to Goa in 1990. It's changed a lot since then but thankfully it's not Disneyland, like New York has become.

Tell me about your pet(s).
I have three cats. Gogo is an amazing Russian Blue who came to stay with us for three weeks in 1998 and is still here. He has an amazing personality and has taught me to love cats. Ziggy Stardust is a rescued calico female from Kitty Kind, and Buddha Boy is also a rescued mixed breed who has lived with us for nine months. Buddha Boy arrived in a very bad state and we are doing our best to get him settled.

For what will you be arrested (hypothetically speaking, of course)?
For crimes against fashion, hopefully. Fashion is always out of fashion; what happens on the street is always stolen by designers who, by their very nature, are out of touch. I actually find unfashionable ideas to be more interesting. Go against the grain!

What is your favorite item of clothing/piece of jewelry?
My wedding ring. My wife Nancy and I have the same ring, from Alex Streeter of Soho. It's a heart with wings - not the Aerosmith logo, as some people think! Nancy's is gold and I gave it to her for our fifth anniversary.

What would you never be caught dead wearing?
A bow tie and fishnet stockings. That only works if you are Sally Bowles or Joey Arias.

Who is your muse?
Natalie Gibson, the former head of textiles at Saint Martin's School Of Art in London.

What never fails to make you cry?
Sally Bowles and Joey Arias.

When are you happiest?
Making music and playing live on stage. It’s meditational. Everything else fades away. A Zen moment, maaaannnn!


The limited edition Bowie by Keanan Duffty men’s collection will be available at most Target stores and online at www.Target.com from October 15th through December 24th.

http://thefashioninformer.typepad.com/informer/2007/10/random-question.html

Keanan Duffty / Slinky Vagabond 2001 Fashion show

fashiontv - SLINKY VAGABOND Mem's Fashion Show 2001 - fashiontv | FTV.com

New Keanan Duffty Holiday Collection available at Any Old Iron

New Keanan Duffty Holiday Collection available at Any Old Iron









Photos: John Dunn.

http://www.anyoldiron.net/
149 Orchard Street New York, NY 10002 (212) 254-4404

Hours: Sun-Wed: 12–7pm Thu-Sat: 12–8pm


http://www.anyoldiron.net/products.php?product=Keanan-Dufty-Snow-Leopard-Blazer

Sex Pistols In Keanan Duffty gear.

John On The Jimmy Kimmel Show in KD Union Flag Shirt.



Steve Jones Dreaming Of England.



Rotten Wearing Reebok/Keanan Duffty Sneakers.







Glen in 'Let It Rot' T-Shirt.



The Mighty Matlock

Nigel Barker shot me.

My good friend Nigel Barker very kindly gave me a print of the portrait he shot for an upcoming project.

Here we are on a Manhattan rooftop. Good bloke, great suit, big smiles all 'round.

Photo: Ali Azios/Nigel Barker Studio

The Day I Met David Bowie

The Day I Met Bowie by Designer and Rebel Rebel Anti-Style Author Keanan Duffty


In 2002 I had reached out to Bill Zysblat. Bill is David Bowie’s longtime business manager. His office, which houses the RZO organization is on 57th Street in Manhattan.
I was interested in designing some clothes for David. “Great,” said Bill, “but he’s on tour so let’s revisit after the current dates come to a close in 2003.”

Several years later I reconnected with Zysblat. In the time since our first conversation my fashion business had changed. My label had blossomed and I struck a deal with the American mass retailer Target, a 1400 plus chain based in Minneapolis and reaching across America coast to coast.


“Come up to the office,” said Bill. “You should meet with David and see if there is synergy.” The RZO organization – that would be the place where I would first encounter the guy who had influenced my whole career.

In December 2006, at his management offices in Manhattan, I met David Bowie to discuss my idea of creating a fashion collection inspired by him, his style, and his music. I confess to feeling something approaching awestruck at the first meeting, which was to be with David, Coco Schwab, and Bill Z in Bill’s boardroom. Beforehand I imagined the meeting would be with the Thomas Jerome Newton character fromThe Man Who Fell To Earth. The seminal Nic Roeg movie that cemented Bowie’s mid 1970’s star as the alien rock icon. Would David enter the room in a fedora, black coat and shades? Was I suddenly being transported into the offices of World Enterprises? ”Slow down Arthur, keep to thirty.”

I nervously paced the boardroom. After a few minutes Bowie appeared looking very casual in a sweatshirt, chinos and suede desert boots. “I guess I’m meeting David Jones then,” I thought to myself. Bowie immediately put me at ease by having me sit in the chair at the head of the desk! Now I was on the spot. That voice. Even his speaking voice is totally distinctive. This is the guy who inspired me to be creative in the first place. I’m in the same room. This is surreal but I am keeping it together. Just act natural…After some light hearted small talk I made my pitch. Bowie was charming and funny, at one point in the conversation I forgot where I was in my monologue, “I’ve lost my thread,” I said, at which Bowie pointed out that was “not so good for a fashion designer – losing your thread.”


He asked what I had in mind and I told him that I thought it was a good time to bring my idea of a Bowie fashion line to him. “Oh, why is that then?” he asked. Simply, that I had built a small business selling to hip premium retailers around the world and had now struck a deal with Target, meaning that my clothes would have the potential to be in shops across America. It was a bit like getting a big record deal after years with an independent label. With that distribution already in place I could put the Bowie name on a fashion collection and offer a “Warhol style” mass market approach. David seemed intrigued.

One of the appealing elements for me was to make a limited edition line for sale in Target’s 1,200 stores in the United States; I felt this then would be in the spirit of Andy Warhol. There was an enormous satisfaction from bringing someone of Bowie’s caliber – a globally renowned rock star who is in the mainstream but constantly works in the leftfield – to the mass market.

I was dying to ask David for his autograph and get my picture taken with this icon of innovation and cool, but I resisted the temptation to ask. “Don’t’ blow it” I kept telling myself. We shook hands and Bowie asked to see some design ideas. “You haven’t already pitched this to Target have you?” “No”, I said, “I was waiting to get your approval.” He seemed happy with this and gave his blessing for me to approach the retailer.


In terms of tone, I had in mind Bowie’s Man Who Fell To Earth/Station To Stationlook of the mid-‘70s, which was quite dressy: suits, hats, smart shirts and coats. I saw the overall palette as black and white with a hint of color, and also detail that referred to other parts of his career. Since it was into stores in and around the holiday period, the dressy approach felt right.

Meeting number two took place again at Bill Z’s office. David, Coco, Mark Wolk, the president of the manufacturing company, my wife Nancy Garcia, and myself attended. We had sketches, sample garments, and designs for the labels, hang tags and packaging. All we needed was David’s green light. “Nice jacket,” Bowie said to me of the coat I was wearing. “It’s one of Vivienne Westwood’s,” I said, relieved at the seal of approval.


The third meeting was at the Isolar offices on Lafayette Street in Soho. This time it was just David, Coco, and myself. I had come to present the marketing ideas. Target were very keen to have David perform a song at an opening party. Not going to happen. “I’m not Posh Spice,” he said. Oh dear. Did I fuck this up? He seemed happy with the in-store promotional presentation and the CD design.

The concept for the collection was to avoid the whole rock star /fashion route of plastering obvious images onto T-shirts. My notion was that Bowie’s richness and diversity could be used for a collection that was subtle and detailed.

It’s a testament to Bowie’s rightful position as a true style icon that the collection sold out very rapidly and I feel proud to have been part of his exploration of this new area.

Excerpt from Rebel Rebel Anti-Style by Keanan Duffty with Paul Gorman and Forward by BP Fallon, (c) 2010. Rebel Rebel Anti-Style is published in the US by Universe/Rizzoli (US $22.50 / CAN $27.95) and in the UK by Adelita (£14.99).

Keanan Duffty is a British fashion designer and musician based in New York City. He is a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America and winner of the Fashion Group International Rising Star Award 2003. Duffty studied fashion design at Central St. Martin’s in London, and was awarded a first class Bachelor of Arts degree with honors. His celebrity clients include David Bowie, Sex Pistols, and Gwen Stefani. Duffty is also lead singer in the band Slinky Vagabond, alongside Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols, Clem Burke of Blondie, and Earl Slick (David Bowie/John Lennon/New York Dolls). His book, Rebel Rebel Anti-Style explores how fashionable music and “anti-fashion” icons, like David Bowie, the Sex Pistols, and Gwen Stefani, have inspired fashion. Rebel style is all about wearing common or mundane items with a sense of creativity and irony.

For more on Keanan Duffty visit his blog: RebelRebelAntiStyle.blogspot.com/

Slinky Vagabond 'Glitterbug'

Slinky Vagabond: Glitterbug