In the spring of 2022, two Spanish towns were getting ready to celebrate one of their most famous sons. Hundreds – possibly thousands – of tourists would pack the usually sleepy streets of Javea and Getaria to visit temporary exhibitions displaying the finest haute couture. Intricate womenswear designs from the 40s, 50s and 60s, trimmed with the most luxurious lace, sequins and silk, creating intriguing feminine silhouettes that were considered revolutionary at the time. The occasion? The 50th anniversary of the death of a designer whose work transformed the female form forever. A man so talented that his contemporary, Christian Dior, dubbed him “the master of us all”, while American fashion magazine Women’s Wear Daily proclaimed “The King is Dead” in their announcement of his untimely death.

This episode was written by Annique Simpson.

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