In this episode, co-founder Matt Gibberd delves into her extraordinary origins, including her semi-pastoral childhood in Chatham, Kent with her ballroom dancing and art teacher mother – “in green lizard-skin platforms […] she looked wonderful and exotic” – through to her first trip to New York that led to her kaleidoscopic printed kaftans being featured in Vogue.

Her polychromatic penthouse in Bermondsey is entirely autobiographical. Good friend and fellow artist Andrew Logan encouraged her to purchase the building, and she has since converted the space into the Fashion and Textile Museum, her studio and a collection of flats – the exterior now painted in striking orange and magenta. Inside is a glimmering trove of stones, statement ceramics and her archive of designs – “everything is one of life’s adventures that’s recorded and saved with me.”

“Zandra's home is one of the most colourful, cluttered and downright bonkers living spaces I've ever been in,” says Matt Gibberd. “We recorded this podcast just before Christmas, so there was an extra layer of sparkle on top of the kaleidoscope.

“Zandra walked me through her incredible life story – from being born during an air raid in 1940, to being discovered by American Vogue's fashion editor Diana Vreeland, dressing Freddie Mercury, having lunch with Salvador Dali and visiting Andy Warhol’s factory.

“We discussed why she dyes her hair pink and wears flamboyant clothes, and why she's never seen herself in the mirror without makeup.

“She told me about her family history, including being embarrassed by her dad and how her mum channelled her own artistic ambition into Zandra – and a grandmother who was murdered.

“A few years ago, she was diagnosed with cancer and given six months to live, so I wasn't sure quite what to expect. But I found someone who is incredibly full of life, working as hard as ever, and optimistic about the future.”

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