Working Life
Cox set up his own company designing shoes in 1985, and in 1986 designed the shoes for John Galliano's "Fallen Angels" collection. Subsequently, Cox launched his own Patrick Cox label, adopting the fleur-de-lys logo. Cox continued to work with Galliano for a further six seasons.
In 1991 Cox opened his first shop opposite the Peter Jones department store in Sloane Square, Chelsea, a well-known fashion district of London. In 1993, Cox marketed his first collection designed for the mass market. This diffusion range called "Wannabe" increased the company's annual sales from 2000 to 200,000 pairs. In 1994, Cox opened his first store in Paris at 62 rue Tiquetonne, followed in 1995 by a second store in London at 129 Sloane Street, a new store in New York and a second store in Paris on rue de Grenelle. During this time, Cox was twice awarded Accessory Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards. 1998 saw Cox move his design office and production from the UK to Civitanova, in the Italian Marche, an area known for shoe manufacture.
In 2000, Cox was approached by the fashion house Charles Jourdan, and in January 2003 he was appointed Creative Director, his brief being to rejuvenate the brand. After 2 years of successful collaboration, Cox decided to move on to concentrate on the development of his own label.
In 2008 following business problems that saw the closure of his Chelsea store, Cox was forced to sell his business to self-styled ‘Lord’ Eddie Davenport for £2.5m. Although he relinquished ownership of the business, Cox remained on the board of designers.
In September 2010, Cox opened 'Cox Cookies & Cake', a baked goods shop in Soho, with Eric Lanlard to whom he was introduced by Elizabeth Hurley. In keeping with the area's history of seedy business, the décor was black and neon while the staff wore leather aprons and chains. Delicacies included titty and bum cupcakes along with his mother Maureen's recipe for traditional Canadian Nanaimo bars. The shop has subsequently closed down.
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