After obtaining a first class BA with Hons. in Fashion and textiles at Middlesex Polytechnic David Holah set up the pioneering label Bodymap with partner Stevie Stewart.in1983. they won the Martini Award for most innovative designer of the year for the Individual Clothes Show and together they put British fashion back on the map, enticing international press and buyers with their controversial catwalk shows. The fashion duo also worked in Japan and New York and in Italy designing womenswear, menswear, childrenswear and swimwear.
In 1985 Bodymap represented Britain at the Wool Awards in New York. Bodymap also took part in Fashion Aid at the Royal Albert Hall
In 1986 Bodymap was nominated for BBC designer of the year and were invited to take part in the Best of British at the British Embassy in Paris.
Bodymap designed costumes through out the 80's for Michael Clark's company
And they also costumed commissioned pieces for the Ballet Rambert and the Royal Festival Ballet. In 1987 Bodymap were awarded the Bessie Award for their costumes for Michael Clark Co.
Bodymap outfits are displayed in museums world wide including the Victoria and Albert Museum.
In 2006, with the revival of 80's fashion, Holah emerged from Camberwell college with an MA in Fine Art, making his mark as an extraordinary printmaker.
Holah's practice explores notions of sexual identity, gender in a 'transmorphic' state, and the social perception of gender roles (feminine male or masculine female).
The work contains suggestive symbolism concerning gender disguise and hidden elucidation. The work is self-indulgent and contains complex, subliminal elements that relate to his own history and personal sexual identity, and his interpretation of his feminine male role.
Printmaking techniques are employed to explore the glamour and decoration of fashion in an amusing and camp framework.