Tell us what you're really thinking – we find out what make these cult figures tick.

Having grown up around Deptford’s wildly eclectic market in South East London, set designer Anna Lomax quickly developed a sense of creating new from old, a sensibility she’s currently employing as one of Clarks Orginals’ Pioneers, putting her spin on the classic brand. We spoke to her recently about her anything-but-ordinary charity shop finds and the most bizarre afternoon tea you’ll ever hear about (it involves a Chihuahua)… 

The best thing I ever found in a charity shop was a set of 4 with had a Jean Cocteau print on them, about 8 years ago in a little shop near the Hamptons.I haggled them down to $25 dollars and they take pride of place in my kitchen (alongside the giant green neon light I have that says 'breakfast lunch and dinner' which I found next to a bin near my house) Last year looked them up and they were worth £600 - great find! 

I'm a firm believer that all the colours and all the patterns are totally acceptable when worn together, the more the better. My mum always said the colour yellow didn't suit me and that white trainers weren't for winter. These are the two rules I ignore the most! If you wear it like you own it, you can do whatever you want. 

A bizarre thing happened to me in New York: I got taken to what I thought was going to be an afternoon tea, but it actually turned out to be one of La Chapelle's art director’s parties. A huge naked bodybuilder waiter answered the door to the apartment on 5th avenue, and proceeded to make us cocktails. The guy throwing the party was dressed as Jesus and had his seven Chihuahuas running round the apartment or sitting on his lap (they had their own room!) while he held court over ten 45-year-old men who were absolutely high as kites at 3pm on a Saturday. Still one of the most surreal afternoon shindigs I have ever been a part of. 

If I only had £5 in the world I’d take the London Overground to Deptford and go to the market for a cuppa in a cafe with my mum. This is what I often do with my last fiver!

I would love to be locked in a room with Jeremy Deller and have a chat with him. That is if I could overcome the ridiculous shyness I experience when I meet someone whose work I really respect like that. 

I find it quiet hard to read in London as I'm always on the move, but last time I went on holiday I read In the Miso Soup by Ryu Murakami. I love Tokyo and this book is a brilliant, macabre tale of its underworld. 

I listen to a lot of music in my studio when working. If I'm alone in the studio then it's strictly Dancehall and Soca but if I have to be considerate to the others trying to work in there then I mostly listen to lots of podcasts from Rinse FM; The School Records show is a must listen, as is the Swamp 81 show.  I really like mixes that make the hours fly by and I love it when a really good DJ throws stuff in that takes you straight back to a great night or moment with a particular tune. 

When I was small I had a dress with Minnie Mouse on it and I loved it so much. All my clothes were from charity shops and jumble sales when I was little, I spent a lot of time begging for Bon-Blue, Oilily and Naf Naf like the kids in school though!
 
I'm really lucky to be surrounded by some of the most inspiring people out there. I have a great network of people through the Wproject (run by Teo Connor and Loren Fills). They are doing amazing things in the creative community. People like Fred Butler, Sharmadean Reid, Lizzie King, Chrissie Macdonald and Kate Moross are all people I find incredibly inspiring and will continue to look up to throughout my career.

 

Anna Lomax is the face of the Clarks Originals Pioneers campaign – for more information please visit www.ClarksOriginals.com/Pioneers