British textile designer Lucienne Day was born on January 5th 1917, and grew up in Croydon, the youngest child of a prosperous Belgian reinsurance broker with business contacts throughout Europe.

Inspired by her mother’s love of art, fashion and interior decoration, she studied at Croydon School of Art and then in the textile department of the Royal College of Art, London.

In March 1940 she met Robin Day at an RCA dance. In spite of very different backgrounds they found they were kindred spirits, sharing a keen interest in modern design. He helped her design and set up her final year Diploma Show in June 1940.

German air raids on London began a few months later, and the RCA was evacuated to the Lake District. Lucienne did not take up her Continuation Scholarship, choosing instead to stay in the London area and do war work as a telephonist for Croydon Auxiliary Fire Service. Robin and Lucienne married in September 1942.