Wayne Hemingway

Wayne Hemingway’s career is nothing short of remarkable. From accidental entrepreneur to internationally recognised designer and businessman, he has built an impressive reputation across fashion, design and retail. Best known as the co-founder of the Red or Dead fashion brand, Wayne has gone on to apply his entrepreneurial vision and commercial expertise across a range of influential projects and industry-leading ventures. From selling Red or Dead to developing HemmingwayDesign, Wayne has sought opportunities to support others, not only through his ongoing public service and charity work, but also as an engaging speaker. Wayne empowers corporate clients with his passion for creativity, breaking the mould and the importance of innovation.

In 1982, Wayne and his future wife, Gerardine, in need of some extra cash, emptied their wardrobes at a stall in Camden Market. By the end of the year, they had 16 stalls across London. Focusing on second-hand clothing and street style, Wayne soon opened a shop, and the rest is history. Before selling the business in 1999, Wayne had won three British Fashion Council Street Style Awards, walked his lines in 21 consecutive catwalk seasons and established a long-standing partnership with Dr. Martens stores. Red or Dead was acquired by the Pentland Group in 1996 and remains a global household name thanks to Wayne’s visionary leadership. Wayne and Gerardine officially stepped away from Red or Dead in 1999. However, his creative career did not end here.

In 2000, Wayne founded HemingwayDesign. His academic background was in geography and town planning, and he saw an opportunity to improve the "things that matter in life". This has meant spearheading several successful building design ventures, from office space with the Institute of Directors to the award-winning Staiths South Bank 800 home development; HemingwayDesign has had an undeniable influence on modern design. In recent years, Wayne has also served on the Design Council Trustee Board, been a House of Commons Advisor on coastal regeneration and is a Professor at Northumbria University. He also received an MBE in 2006 for his service towards design. Wayne's most recent venture saw him return to the space of fashion, co-founding Charity Super.Mkt, the UK's first second-hand fashion department store, displaying his continued commitment towards sustainability and charity, with 80% of sale proceeds going towards the participating charities.

As a keynote speaker, Wayne draws on his remarkable journey from fashion entrepreneur to internationally acclaimed designer to demonstrate how creativity, innovation and a strong sense of purpose can drive business success. With decades of experience spanning retail, design, regeneration and public service, he offers audiences valuable insights into identifying opportunities, challenging convention and turning ambitious ideas into reality. His passion for improving the places and spaces in which we live, work and play, combined with his commitment to social impact and ethical business, makes him an engaging and thought-provoking speaker. Whether sharing lessons from building Red or Dead or exploring the future of design and regeneration, Wayne Hemingway leaves audiences inspired to think differently and embrace the power of creativity.