Graham Breakwell was there when it all happened. He joined Sassoon's Sloan Street, London salon when lightening struck the fashion industry. It was the Swinging 60s and celebrities that defined this transitory era cycled through the salon and filled his chair. Clients included Mary Quant, Paul McCartney, Paul Newman, Phil Collins, Angelica Huston, and Lulu. Graham was mentored by Christopher Brooker, Artistic Director for Vidal Sassoon, and represented Vidal Sassoon at runway shows and photo shoots for fashion magazines in London and Paris, such as VOGUE and ELLE. He was still in his teens when Sassoon stood and watched in rapt attention Graham's exquisite workmanship.

Chosen by Vidal as first Artistic Principal for his Advanced Schools in London, Graham developed the curriculum of which the foundation is still being taught at these Academies around the world and which is influential in every advanced curriculum in every competitive academy. Calling this first Academy "influential" is to vastly underrate it. The London Academy was the premier destination for the world's next-gen hairdressers who would fly in from every country, fly home and forever change the beauty business.

Graham Breakwell left Sassoon and, in 1973, founded Inter Crimpers in London's tony West End. His co-founders were the innovative Dwight Miller, etc. Intercrimper was a factory for leading edge ideas in hair and makeup design, launched a dozen imitation consortiums including Tony&Guy, and led the push into disco-era hair and the punk-rock fashion movement. Graham came to the US and landed in Seattle with Tony Beckerman and Arthur Treble to found, with Rosalie Cantrell from Alaska, Fashion Media in Seattle- a combining of hair/clothes/makeup/attitude and media, such as photography and video that is still the holy grail of all fashion marketing.

Graham had his own salon in Seattle, "Collections in Hair", that launched a hundred worthy careers and was the inspiration for dozens of top area salons and spas. Currently, Graham is the Educational Director for SEVEN Salons and Academy.

Graham Breakwell and this author, Edward Paul, have met on several occasions in the past month and Graham agreed to be interviewed about his amazing career, his vision for SEVEN Salon, and the role of education in the hairdresser's presentation. Capelli d'Oro is pleased that this artist, a principal architect of the modern artistic stylist, is so open and accessible.

Graham is charming in the English manner, sharp and as energetic an individual as you would ever meet. Graham put everyone at the interviews at ease and chose Oliver's Restaurant in Seattle's Mayflower Park Hotel - a classic watering hole filled with old-school charm. At the beginning, Graham stated that the interview would be in multiple parts and that we were going to receive a "daily dose" of his career. The interview was smooth, pleasingly anecdotal and filled with bits of his wanderings across the history of this our most beautiful business.

Hear the first interview with Graham Breakwell wherein he recounts his storied history.

A vast collection of photos from the beginnings of Vidal Sassoon in London compilied by John Santilli exists at this site

Edward Paul - Capelli d-Oro©2011

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