Rishika Shahi
Zandra Rhodes, the celebrated fashion designer known for her vibrant style, has opened up about her personal journey with cancer and the empowering role her signature pink hair plays in her life. In a candid interview, Rhodes reflects on how color has become a source of strength and confidence as she navigates the challenges of illness. Her story serves as an inspiring reminder of the power of self-expression and resilience in the face of adversity.
The Significance of Pink Hair
An American CEO from a cosmetics company declined to work with Rhodes in the 1970s, stating, “I apologize for my statement, but women who colored their hair were not very moral people back then.” Once more, surprise: her mother gave her the name “Zandra” because she believed that fashion and flamboyance were important.
Regardless of how joyful the relationship was at first, Rhodes’s appearance also caused problems for each of her boyfriends over time. In addition to her feathered pink (or green) hair, she would pluck out her eyebrows and paint on the stylish line of pink or blue dots that she still wears today. She would also shave her hairline back to make way for additional color on her face, such as red curls drawn with lipstick. “They would tell me I looked terrible, or look at me like there was something wrong.”
Does her hair seem disobedient right now? She laughs. “No! I would undoubtedly pass at least three or four persons with pink or blue hair if I were to stroll to the tube. What does it feel like to blend in with the crowd? “I’m not sure I’ve ever noticed. I still have a reasonably robust immune system. And I just kind of head over to my destination. Pink hair is also very easy to maintain. I simply smear the dye every couple of weeks.”
She gives a shrug. It’s an extremely practical set of armor. I am concealable. Did she continue to wear pink while receiving chemotherapy? Yes, indeed. The doctor said, “There’s one question you haven’t asked,” when he asked, “Will you lose your hair?” when I was at a loss for words. “Well, I have plenty of pink wigs,” I responded. “Color, it brightens the day”. She laughs.
Navigating Cancer Diagnosis
Her best friend Andrew Logan was leading her in a yoga practice in this very room right before the epidemic struck. As she reclined on her lilac mat, she became aware that something felt strangely full in her stomach. When she visited the doctor, he diagnosed her with bile duct cancer and gave her a six-month prognosis due to a 13-cm growth.
She remembers the meeting with a certain snappiness these days. “I realized no one needed to know because it was Covid at the time, so I decided not to tell anyone,” but why? “Because if people knew, I wouldn’t be able to find any work!”She mentioned.
Her first action was to prepare her will, saying, “My ‘do not resuscitate’, and then I called my accountant to talk about setting up the Zandra Rhodes Foundation, to protect everything and make sure that this—a lifetime of work—will all be around in the future.”
She gestures with a bird’s hand to a rail of dresses. But what about you, I wonder, the you outside of the workplace? “I believe the two are so intertwined. And I doubt I had time for that particular portion. She was considering her legacy carefully. “In actuality, it was really favorable. It seemed to me like a warning to organize my life and finish everything. It forced me to concentrate.
The Role of Creativity in Healing
Rhodes believes that creativity can be a powerful tool for healing. She shares how immersing herself in design and art has provided solace during difficult times, allowing her to channel her experiences into meaningful work that resonates with others.
Through her journey, Rhodes advocates for mental health awareness, particularly in relation to chronic illness. She encourages others facing similar struggles to embrace their individuality and seek support, reminding them that self-expression can be a vital part of the healing process.
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