My uncle, Jim O’Connor, who has died of cancer aged 80, was an influential designer whose highly innovative approach made him a key figure on the London fashion scene in the late 1960s and early 70s. Using a pop-influenced approach and bright primary colours, Jim sought always to make his designs exciting and accessible to all.
As a hard-working student full of energy and excitement, Jim was disinclined to look to France and haute couture for inspiration during his time at the Royal College of Art. His lecturers expressed concern about his prospects, but his 1968 graduation show caused a stir and was featured in Vogue. Another Vogue feature in 1969 noted that “Jim O’Connor is a bright designer without a break: no manufacturer, no boutique, no money. What he has is a fresh, direct, new way of seeing things and the things he makes are fun.”
