Philip Treacy Treacy, aged 23, on the prompting of Blow, got his "big break", being asked by Karl Lagerfeld to come to the Chanel showrooms in Paris, in what was to be the start of a long–term working relationship with Chanel. The first hat that Treacy designed for Chanel appeared on the cover of "British Vogue" worn by model Linda Evangelista. In 1991, Treacy opened his first showroom in London, and won his first of five, British Accessory Designer of the Year awards. By 1993, Treacy held his first fashion show during London Fashion Week in "Harvey Nichols", with Naomi Campbell, Yasmin
Philip Treacy has noted the support his parents gave him in pursuing his love of millinery, noting that his father would say: "whatever makes him happy". Treacy called his friendship with his significant mentor, Isabella Blow, as: "an affair without sex". Treacy also highlights the importance of fashion model Grace Jones as a collaborator and friend. Treacy is the second youngest of a large family and has eight other siblings, including one sister, the oldest sibling, and seven other brothers. He is particularly close to his sister, Marion Tubbing, who he credits with supplying him with editions of "Harper's and Queen" and