With his own Milan-based label,a host of celebrity clients and a stint as an MTV presenter,Neil Barrett has come a long way from his Devonshire roots.Known for clothes that focus on detail and cut,Barrett ‘s is an approach underpinned by an extensive knowledge of fabric production,which he employs to rejuvenate classic designs. With subdued clours and restrained tailoring,Barrstt’s menswear range is avowedly masculine – a factor that has contributed to its widespread appeal. Born in 1965,Barrett graduated in 1986 from Central Saint Martins,and received an MA from the Royal College of art in 1989. Within a year,he was made senior menswear designer at Gucci in Florence,where he worked until 1994-a period in which the brand underwent an important revival,both creatively and financially. Success at Gucci enabled Barrett to approach Prada with a proposal for a menswear line. Prada accepted his offer and he began work as the company’s menswear design director. He remained at Prada until 1998,when he launched his frist self-named menswear collection. This was an immediate success that was snapped up by over 100 designer stores across the world. The following year,Barrett set up White,his own Prada-produced labal,which was invited to open the Pitti Immagine Uomo Fair in 2000,where he also introduced his frist womenswear collection. The next few years saw Barrett sign a footwear deal with Puma and in 2004 he redesigned – an honour for a non-Italian and a testament to the worldwide success of his label.