Wayne Hemingway

Highly successful and popular speaker Wayne offers audiences insights into entrepreneurship, creativity, common sense and moving onto new challenges. Inspirational and hugely entertaining, Wayne’s energising presence leaves audiences feeling inspired, motivated and empowered.

Wayne Hemingway’s career in fashion began in 1982 with a stall selling second hand clothes on Camden Market and peaked when his label Red or Dead was sold in a multi-million pound deal in 1999. Red or Dead became one of the strongest British brands of the 90s. Hemingway has since been involved in many award-winning redevelopments of urban environments in Gateshead, Manchester, Lothian, London and elsewhere.

Born in Morecambe in 1961 Hemingway grew up in Blackburn, the son of Billy Two Rivers, a Mohawk Indian wrestling champion. Hemingway is part punk, part pop star, part speak-it-like-it-is northerner. He relies heavily on gut instinct when looking at new projects and backs it up with a remarkable work ethic. The enormous success of Red or Dead came despite opposition from the fashion industry which sneered at the label’s cheap, playful street style and didn’t like it when Hemingway grinned back.

After dominating the London fashion scene in the mid 90s, Red or Dead was sold in 1999 and Hemingway began a new business, Hemingway Design. Operating under the strapline ‘We design things’ the firm has created objects ranging from Pure’s ‘The Bug’ radio, to carpets, to Sky’s set-top digibox. Hemingway prides himself on creating designs that “can add something to people’s lives – without hurting their wallets!”

Hemingway Design has also successfully created affordable low-cost housing. Wayne is a Geography and Town Planning graduate from University College London but had no experience of the construction industry. Working with house builder Wimpey in 2005 he created the Staithes South Bank, an 800 unit development in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. This was the first in a series of award-winning projects that includes The Birchin, an apartment block in Manchester built with affordability for inhabitants prioritised over profitability.

Hemingway’s main motivation is to change things and leave a legacy. He has done just that, first in the fashion world and now with development projects across Lancashire, the North and in London.

Hemingway’s extensive humour and no-nonsense style have impressed audiences in over 30 countries. His mission is to deliver messages that inspire and improve the daily effectiveness of each and every member of the audience, making them more productive, creative, forward thinking and above all, able to get straight to the point!