SOUNDBITES FROM SIMON COSTIN MAKER OF THE ORIGINAL DANTE MASK IN CONVERSATION WITH BYRONESQUE.

My memories are mainly to do with setting up the front of house of the Dante show. I remember models were walking and going back to get changed and somebody else would put the same mask on and walk onto the runway. Several models wore the same mask.

Because Lee was so enveloped in designing and developing the collections, I always thought, Oh, I know Lee would like this. So, it was a very holistic working process, we would all feed in stuff that may get thrown out or may get used.

Along with some assistants back at the squat, we found a selection of crucifixes which were sourced from all over the place. And they were basically pulled off wooden crucifixes that we found. I remember we found some on Brick Lane in a junk shop. Bear in mind, eBay didn't exist then, so we were sourcing things from car boot sales and junk shops.

And because of this, each mask is in of itself one-of-a-kind. For instance, one didn't get used in the show, because Jesus’ feet hung too low on the model’s face. So, we had to source figures which were the right size, and then work out a way of sticking them onto the masks. There would have been about a dozen masks made I think, but after the show, a couple of models left with some because they were going to a party, and I know one got dropped and smashed.

Reading my early diaries from the time, you know that after that show we were the one’s clearing up, Katie was packing all the garments into boxes and Lee had to give me a hand to pack up. He’d say ‘great thanks’ Simona, as he used to call me. And then we went to the pub, and then his ex turned up, they had a row and he left.

The person who buys this mask will be owning quite an important part of fashion history.

Photo of Hannah Rose by Steven RAJ, Fecal Matter for Byronesque.