HUSBAND-and-wife team Clements Ribeiro thought they were too different to design together, but their special chemistry, Scots fabric and a rebellious streak have given their couture the cutting edge. Uzanne Clements is one half of husband-and-wife design duo Clements Ribeiro. Known for its bold use of print and wool, the label has enjoyed an international following for 17 years, and the couple spent seven years as artistic directors for Cacharel between 2000 and 2007.
Their graphically patterned cashmere has become their trademark, from bold rainbow or zebra stripes, to the English flag. Ribeiro says "we do simple cuts with strong fabrics, we call it clumsy couture." They combine simple uncluttered shapes with an exuberant use of colours, prints and materials. They invert established values by using couture fabrics for basic day-wear, such as a T-shirt in pure cashmere. In 1996, they produced a collection of garments with multi-coloured stripes and diagonal checks.