Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Red or Dead founder receives University honour
Wayne, who is no stranger to Leeds Met having delivered guest lectures and Chaired the judging panel in the University's Northern Design Competition, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Arts on Wednesday 25 July.
The graduation ceremonies are taking place at the Headingley Campus from Monday 18 to Saturday 23 July, where over 5,000 students will graduate over five days, alongside ten honorary degree recipients.
Speaking at his graduation, Wayne said he was delighted and honoured to receive the recognition for his contribution to the arts.
He told Arts, Environment and Technology graduates: "The best thing you can do is to throw yourself into life now. Just try things and try to be happy. Do not be afraid of failure - just go on and have a great time."
Others receiving honorary degrees from Leeds Metropolitan include Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis, England rugby union head coach Stuart Lancaster and Olympic torch designer Edwards Barber.
Wayne spent his youth in Blackburn listening to Northern Soul, Disco, Punk, New Romantic and Rockabilly music and experimenting with the corresponding fashion styles, making his own clothes and constantly reinventing himself. Studying for a degree in Geography and Town Planning, his interest in fashion and design grew and following a wardrobe clear-out, he and his now wife Gerardine - sold their unwanted clothes at Camden Market.
The couple expanded into Kensington, selling clothes designed by Wayne and sewn by Gerardine, with the first Red or Dead collection launching following an order from US department store giant Macy's.
After 21 seasons on the catwalk at London Fashion Week, Wayne and Gerardine sold Red or Dead in a multi-million pound cash sale and returning to Wayne's town-planning roots, the couple set up HemingwayDesign, specialising in affordable and social urban design.
HemingwayDesign co-curated the official party for The Queens Diamond Jubilee Pageant on 3 June in Battersea Park. The event was a 60,000 sell out.
Wayne is Chair of the South Coast Design Forum and Building for Life, which promotes excellence in new housing design, and was awarded an MBE for his services to the design industry in 2006. He also does what he calls, 'a bit of charity work' for Noise Festival, The Prince's Trust, Shelter, Oxfam and Traid.