Kirsty Wark's new BBC series Icons of Style explores Scotland's fashion legacy
The new fashion series Icons of Style is hosted by Kirsty Wark as she delves deep into the rich history of fashion and the influence Scotland has on the industry.
Kirsty Wark, one of Scotland’s most iconic journalists and broadcasters, recently shared insights into her latest project, Icons of Style - a series exploring Scotland’s influential fashion history.
This new BBC Scotland show will celebrate the country's most iconic fashion figures, from Annie Lennox and Bill Gibb to Pam Hogg and Alan Cumming.
The two-part series dives deep into the social history of Scottish fashion, exploring how a small country has made a significant impact on the global fashion scene.
Along the way, Kirsty meets the designers, influencers and celebrities who have shaped international style while promoting Scotland’s unique sense of fashion.
Reflecting on 60 years of Scottish fashion and its lasting influence, Icons of Style highlights the Scots who have left their mark on the industry across the decades, showcasing its continued appeal.
Kirsty spoke exclusively to the Daily Record, about filming the show and the rich history of Scotland's fashion culture.
When asked how the idea for Icons of Style came about, Kirsty told The Record that it had been a long-standing dream of hers to explore Scotland’s contributions to the fashion world.
The inspiration, she shared, came in part from her daughter, Caitlin, who worked on a postgraduate journalism project tracing the journey of Scottish knitwear from a factory in Hawick to the luxury boutiques of New York's Fifth Avenue.
She revealed that her daughter spend time with three generations of women at work in the knit ware factory, sharing stories with her of the bond this family had over fashion, stating: "When she came back with that, I thought I've always wanted to do this series. I need to do this across generations and across different time frames for style."
Kirsty explained: "The constant in Scotland is the fabric, but the reinvention is permanent. What we have are fabrics from the past that are fit for the future, and that’s vital for sustainability."
The series highlights the role of iconic Scottish mills like Lochcarron, which produces fabrics for major fashion houses worldwide.
"If you want gold lurex in your tartan, you can have it," Kirsty said with a laugh, emphasising the creativity and adaptability of these mills.
Kirsty also spoke fondly of her family’s influence on her own style. She still wears pieces handed down from her mother and auntie, including a blazer from the 1950s that she famously wore on Newsnight.
"Fashion comes back around," she noted. "It’s about repurposing and reimagining pieces for a new generation."
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The conversation naturally turned to the modern generation’s relationship with fashion. Kirsty acknowledged the prevalence of fast fashion but expressed optimism about the growing awareness of sustainability.
She explained: "I think probably fast fashion is more affordable, but it wont last. I think fast fashion, to be honest, will give you a great hit for a party one Saturday night, and then people probably wont wear it again."
"I understand because teenagers always want to experiment with stuff but i think people are so conscious of sustainability now - so conscious of throw away culture," she continued.
She went on to explain that she hopes the series shows people that they "can re-purposely wear" things. As she states: "You can change something, you could take a strap off, you could add a bit of embroidery, you can do anything and it would make it your own and make it for a new generation."
Kirsty also hopes the series inspires viewers to embrace Scotland’s fashion heritage and incorporate it into their own wardrobes.
A highlight of Icons of Style is the exploration of Scotland’s early fashion influencers, including Lulu, the Glasgow-born singer who rose to fame in the 1960s.
Kirsty described Lulu as a trailblazer who made her own style. "She wasn’t just an influencer in Scotland; she was an influencer across the UK," Kirsty said.
When asked about her favourite Scottish fashion decade, Kirsty chose the 1950s. She explained: "After the war, people were coming out of the gloom, and Dior’s New Look was incredibly influential. Fashion from that era was sophisticated and timeless."
Kirsty also praised the versatility of the kilt, a garment she described as "always on trend." Whether reimagined as mini kilts or adorned with modern embellishments, the kilt remains a symbol of Scotland’s enduring style.
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Icons of Style will premiere on BBC Scotland on Sunday, 16 March at 9pm and will also be available to stream on BBC iPlayer.