Design wizard's tribute to roots

Macdonald with clients Kate Moss and Scary Spice

Fashion designer Julien Macdonald has returned to his native south Wales to say 'thank you' to his hometown.

Dubbed the 'Knitwear Wizard', the man who now dresses some of the world's most glamorous women brought with him 10 of his most famous dresses.

Clients include actress Joely Richardson

The garments were arranged for an exhibition at his former school - Cyfarthfa High in Merthyr Tydfil.

Julien Macdonald is a dress maker to the stars and his designs - or the women wearing them - are hardly out of the news.

Scary Spice, supermodel Kate Moss and actress Joely Richardson are just a few names plucked from his exclusive client list.

But despite the globe-trotting lifestyle, the designer has never forgotten his roots which remain firmly in the south Wales Valleys.

From his early days when she taught him to knit, his mother, Joan Macdonald, knew he was destined for something different.

'Unconventional'

But such a meteoric rise has taken both her and Julien's father, Glyn, by surprise.

"When we're sitting there and the models are coming down, I just can't believe that this show is Julien's," said Mrs Macdonald.

Julien met up with old friends including his former art teacher, Lorraine Buck, who persuaded his parents to send him to art college.

"He was very innovative, very unconventional, very different," said Ms Buck.

"He always had lots and lots of different ideas."