Mark: When I was living at home, Dad was really good with me allowing me to come home in some purple trousers I bought from a shop called 'Paradise Garage' in Cardiff. He didn't understand my taste but he accepted I think.

Nia: When did the relationship between clothes and yourself begin?

Mark: I started making clothes having bought a shirt for forty pounds which was expensive at the time, and it fell apart. I wasn't happy at all but thought to myself I can do better than this so I started to experiment. I was living in Brighton at the time, and was lucky to be surrounded by people who were doing Fashion or Drama courses. Between them, they managed to teach me how to sew and screenprint. They were able to do this for me which meant I didn't have to apply to do a course. I was doing a Geography course which was nothing to do with clothes!

Nia: Do you remember the first piece of clothing you did by hand?

Mark: A piece that wasn't wearable! I've made a lot of things that aren't wearable and unappropriate for normal people. I used to think that if it fitted you perfectly, it wasn't an interesting piece. I think my first piece was a shirt.

Nia: You started producing clothes under the AFIACH label in 1986 and used to sell on the Eisteddfod field?

Mark: I used to hire a pitch on the Eisteddfod field and printed the shirts there and then. Quite often, the designs allowed the customers to choose four different colours of their own choice. This allowed them to have something completely unique.

Nia: What was the influence as far as the patterns went? You obviously went after shapes and stripes?

Mark: That's what design is for me. People ask me sometimes "what do you do?" and I answer "shapes and colours."

Mark: I like pink a lot. I have a fantastic pink bike!

Nia: You did one leg of the Tour de France. What did you wear?

Mark: This top but it was much more pink than it is now because I washed it with dark colours! I really enjoyed the day and the highlight was people shouting "Aller Rose" at me!

Nia: You make your own suits too?

Mark: Yes and I love wearing them too. They have to be a three piece. I'd never make just a two piece, that's just lazy.

Mark: This is a suit I made in the eighties when I used to screenprint the linings. The style of the trousers is typical of the eighties and are similar to MC Hammer trousers!

Nia: Do your clothes reflect your character?

Mark: I suppose they do. Although, I don't really think about that when I'm making them - as long as they keep me dry and warm.

Nia: So, are clothes something more practical rather than something emotional to you?

Mark: Yes, they are completely practical and I guess they have an emotional side too but I don't really think about that side when designing.

Mark on clothes...
I think I'm going to get fed up soon of working for money. I'd like to just go back to having fun and just making clothes and settling on less money.