Fashion Monitor Journalism Awards: One Week Left To Vote |
There's only one week left to vote for the Fashion Monitor Journalism Awards.
One of our meetings at SWAROVSKI CRYSTALLIZED™ where you can spot one or two of our members, who will be moonlighting as FMJA judges
Our event partner, Fashion Monitor has developed the first ever journalism awards to span exclusively across the fashion and beauty sectors. The awards opened for nominations almost a month and a half ago, and entries have been flooding in ever since. Now, with the closing date looming, we quickly look at what Topshop's Sir Phillip Green said about the FMJAs to show what this award initiative means for the sector and why you should take the time to vote.
"From the considered glossies monthlies through to the young bloggers creating exciting content by the minute, our writers have authority and style, and play a crucial role in ensuring that British fashion, and opinion, is at the heart of the global fashion industry," explained the retail mogul. "I am delighted that the Fashion Monitor Journalism Awards have been launched in 2012, and see these as a credible and relevant way to celebrate the vast array of talent in fashion writing that we have in the UK."
As the premier members group for fashion professionals, naturally many of our Industry members have been drafted in to offer their expert opinions. As the publisher of Fashion Monitor, our Hannah White has been spearheading the whole project. Fellow Industry members, Courtney Blackman, Nik Thakkar, James Joseph, Lauretta Roberts, Maurice Mullen, Martyn Roberts and Frances Card are also sitting on the judging panel.
Winners will be announced at the black tie awards ceremony on Tuesday 2nd July at London's The Brewery. If you'd like to submit any last minute nominations, click here or if you would like to book a table for what is surely set to be one of the most lucrative networking events of the year, click here.
By The Industry's features editor, Harriet Bowe
Would you like to join Hannah, Courtney, Nik, James, Lauretta, Maurice, Martyn and Frances in the premier members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page. |
Harriet Bowe |
Courtney Blackman, Fashion Monitor, Fashion Monitor Journalism Awards, Frances Card, Hannah White, Harriet Bowe, James Jospeh, Lauretta Roberts, Martyn Roberts, Maurice Mullen, Nik Thakkar, Sir Phillip Green, Swarovski Crystallized, The Brewery, Topshop |
Life In The Fast Lane: Vogue.co.uk Meets Mark Fast |
The first Industry session of the 'teens' brought knitwear pioneer Mark Fast to SWAROVSKI CRYSTALLIZED™ – where he was interviewed by Jessica Bumpus, fashion features editor at VOGUE.CO.UK.
Jessica Bumpus of VOGUE.CO.UK talks fashion business with Mark Fast
"London is the spirit of McQueen and Galliano," muses Mark Fast with his softly spoken Winnipeg inflection, "it has a raw, dark, mysterious energy." Relocating to the capital to study at the hallowed halls of Central Saint Martins, he was attracted to knitwear as it meant "being in control of everything, from the yarn, to the thread, to the stitch." Graduating with an MA in 2008, he went to work with Turkish designer Bora Aksu."He taught me how to be a free spirit."
Industry members are out in full force for the Mark Fast meeting at SWAROVSKI CRYSTALLIZED™
Since then Fast is the man credited with "bringing sexy back" to knitwear. 'Body-con' and 'cobweb knits' are phrases that appear again and again in catwalk reviews: open weave stitches reveal flesh underneath, and swishy fringes emphasises the wearer's rhythm. It's no surprise his designs have found favour with singers such as Nicki Minaj, Jessie J, Ciara, and Rihanna. Though of all the celebrities to wear his clothes, his highlight was the altogether more otherworldly Tilda Swinton gracing the cover of AnOther magazine. "When I found out I ran around my mum's kitchen counter. We're less reserved in Canada" he told The Industry.
The VOGUE.CO.UK team, Tilly Macalister-Smith, Ella Alexander, Lucy Hutchings, Scarlett Kilcooley-O'Halloran & Lauren Milligan enjoy a glass of bubbly
In February 2010 he launched his Faster line, born out of an experiment with trying to mass-produce a stitch – now a big hit with the LA and New York hip-hop scene: "they like getting it out – no shame," he laughs. On the other hand his main line of bespoke knits is popular with Russian oligarchs: "they are couture like in a ready to wear world." And it's not just women he has his eye on, he's also thinking about designing for men. "I'm waiting for the right time," he revealed exclusively. "There's a lot to do in menswear at the moment."
Networking in full swing at SWAROVSKI CRYSTALLIZED™
In an industry often berated for its lean models, Fast famously made the unusual choice to use statuesque girls such as Hayley Morley and Crystal Renn in his catwalk show, both size 14. This personalisation of dresses, fitted for the model's shape, has made him the poster boy for a healthy, positive body image in fashion. It also kickstarted a trend, "I can't book my favourite girls any more" he laments, "I remember thinking, 'what do you mean you're casting in Milan? No!'"
The Industry's MD and founder of Forward PR, Courtney Blackman with fellow member, VOGUE.CO.UK's Jessica Bumpus
"I want to create dresses that create dreams," the designer concludes. And that's his genius – he allows you to fantasize about being 'that' Mark Fast kind of girl, which is really any girl with the balls to wear his designs.
By The Industry's contirbutor, Hannah Kane, editor-in-chief of PHOENIX
All photos by The Industry's photographer, Sam Atkinson
Would you like to join Mark and Jessica in the premier members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page. |
Harriet Bowe |
Alexander McQueen, AnOther, Bora Aksu, Central Saint Martins, Ciara, Courtney Blackman, Crystal Renn, Faster by Mark Fast, Forward PR, Hannah Kane, Harriet Bowe, Hayley Morley, Jessica Bumpus, Jessie J, John Galliano, Mark Fast, Nicki Minaj, Phoenix Magazine, Rihanna, Sam Atkinson, The Industry, Tilda Swinton, Vogue.co.uk |
Fashion Monitor Launches Journalism Awards |
With faces from The Industry punctuating the judging panel, we find out more from fellow member and event organiser, Hannah White.
As Fashion Monitor's publisher, The Industry's Hannah White has been at the centre of the FMJAs
For the very first time, our media partner is honouring the best in fashion and beauty journalism this year. As the leading contact provider for both industries, the highly anticipated Fashion Monitor Journalism Awards couldn't be better positioned. With Industry members already in on the action, and nominations opening for entry today, Hannah White tells us more.
Why did Fashion Monitor decide to launch the FMJAs this year? And how have you been at the centre of its conception?
We decided to launch the FMJAs this year as a direct reflection of our position within the industry. Over the past few years the entire team have been striving to become the must have fashion and beauty tool for the industry and we have now accomplished that. Our central position at the heart of the industry allows us to independently host the awards maintaining impartiality throughout the entire process. I have personally been spearheading the project from the original ideas stage all the way through to launch. Fashion Monitor is now part of Centaur Media and I have been working extremely closely with the events team to create an awards for the industry that is unique in its offering. A key drive behind this was to bring together the fashion and beauty industry so that journalists across the two sectors are awarded side by side.
Quite a few Industry members are on the judging panel, how did you select the judges?
It is a great honour to have so many of the Industry members on our judging panel. Out of 26 judges, seven are Industry members. Courtney Blackman (managing director of Forward PR), Frances Card (managing director of Frances Card Consultancy), James Joseph (editor-in-chief of Stylenoir Magazine), Maurice Mullen (head of fashion and luxury goods at the London Evening Standard), Lauretta Roberts (brand extensions director at WGSN and former editor-in-chief of Drapers), Martyn Roberts (director of Vauxhall Fashion Scout) and Nik Thakkar (the voice behind KARL IS MY UNKLE and director of Nephew London) all sit on the panel. My main aim in selecting the judges was to have a fair representation of the entire industry. Our panel will ultimately determine the winner of each award and therefore their expertise will be relied upon heavily. Terry Mansfield is our chairman and will sit in on each judging panel to ensure consistency throughout the judging process.
Sponsoring the FMJAs is a fantastic opportunity for both members and the wider fashion industry alike. How do you see partnering with the FMJAs directly benefiting their businesses?
The FMJAs provides a variety of unique sponsorship and exposure opportunities for brands and companies. It is important to preserve and reward the great journalism that the UK is famous for and the awards provide the opportunity to do that. Journalists have a direct impact on a brand's commercial success and this in itself highlights a key reason for brands to sponsor and support the key journalists within the industry. The Industry's Frances Card is one of our judges and captured this entirely when she said: "Retailing is incredibly competitive today and great journalism is integral to both the brands and businesses success."
Where do you see the FMJAs in five years?
In five years time I envisage that the awards will be the must have accolade within the industry. I am extremely excited for the prospect of the awards and what they will mean for journalists across the fashion and beauty industry.
How can Industry members nominate journalists to win an award?
Nominations are open now and Industry members can visit the awards website to nominate the journalists they feel should be making the shortlist for each award. Once all of the nominations have been collated we will announce the shortlist to the industry and then our judging panel will step in to decide on the winners!
The FMJAs will take place on Tuesday 2nd July at The Brewery on Chiswell Street, London. Industry members will have the opportunity to purchase a table at the black tie event to celebrate the award winners. Fashion Monitor will be opening table sales in March.
For more information regarding the awards click here or for sponsorship opportunities contact Hannah on hannah.white@fashionmonitor.com or call 020 7970 4236.
By The Industry's features editor, Harriet Bowe
Would you like to join Hannah, Courtney, Frances, James, Lauretta, Martyn and Nik in the premier members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page. |
Harriet Bowe |
Centaur Media, Courtney Blackman, Drapers, Fashion Monitor, Fashion Monitor Journalism Awards, Forward PR, Frances Card, Frances Card Consultancy, Hannah White, Harriet Bowe, James Joseph, KARL IS MY UNKLE, Lauretta Roberts, London Evening Standard, Martyn Roberts, Maurice Mullen, Nik Thakkar, Stylenoir Magazine, Terry Mansfield, The Brewery, The Industry, Vauxhall Fashion Scout, WGSN |
Working Together: Vfs Scouts Mentors From The Industry |
Vauxhall Fashion Scout's latest mentoring event sees The Industry's Martyn Roberts, Courtney Blackman and Hannah Kane work together.
VFS's bespoke mentoring sessions feature special guests from the many different facets of the fashion industry
Industry member and Vauxhall Fashion Scout director, Martyn Roberts has asked fellow comrades, Courtney Blackman and Hannah Kane to share pearls of wisdom at their mentoring event tonight. Experts in their respective fields – Courtney is the managing director of Forward PR and The Industry whilst Hannah is the editor-in-chief of PHOENIX magazine – will offer exclusive insight on press and PR.
Known for their knack of spotting rising stars and sending them skyrocketing, the Industry trio will focus on how emerging designers can best exploit the media. Topics such as contacting press, creating newsworthy stories and garnering those all important column inches sit high on the agenda, which will be chaired Q&A style by Martyn.
"Our series of mentoring events are essential for all new fashion design businesses. VFS has a strong track record of nurturing new designers and helping them build their business," Martyn tells The Industry. "The mentoring events feature experts from across the fashion industry, who are able to pass on years of experience. Press and PR is vitally important for new designer brands and so it is great to have Courtney and Hannah as our special guests."
Run in partnership with the Mayor of London, the event will take at Beach Blanket Babylon in Shoreditch at 7:00pm. For more information click here.
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe
Would you like to join Martyn, Courtney and Hannah in the premier members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page. |
Harriet Bowe |
Beach Blanket Babylon, Courtney Blackman, Forward PR, Hannah Kane, Harriet Bowe, Martyn Roberts, Mayor of London, Phoenix Magazine, The Industry, Vauxhall Fashion Scout |
The Industry Partners With Morgans Hotel Group |
More details on our new event partnership with international hospitality experts, Morgans Hotel Group.
Sanderson will host The Industry's upcoming Master Class with Brand + Commercial
The Industry announces Morgans Hotel Group, parent company of two of London's most original and luxurious hotels, as one of its newest event partners. Set in the heart of the city's shopping district, the plush function rooms of Sanderson and St Martins Lane make the perfect fashion business backdrop for The Industry's biannual Master Classes. Members will benefit from the five star interiors, alongside canapés and fizz served directly from the hotels renowned kitchens.
Just a stone throw away from Oxford Circus, The Industry's upcoming Master Class with Brand + Commercial will take place on the 28th of November inside Sanderson's Billiard Room. Brand + Commercial will exclusively offer members constructive advice on the commercial development of a brand and long-term growth in a shifting digital landscape.
Courtney Blackman, managing director of The Industry says, "I'm delighted that The Industry is partnering with Morgans Hotel Group. We have always housed our members in world-class venues, and Sanderson and St Martins Lane are no exception to this. Renowned for their contemporary approach to design, the hotels are an ideal environment for fashion professionals."
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe
Would you like to attend the Brand + Commercial Master Class? Sign up to The Industry – the premiere members group for those shaping the future of fashion – by visiting our JOIN page. |
Harriet Bowe |
Brand & Commercial, Courtney Blackman, Harriet Bowe, Morgans Hotel Group, Sanderson, St Martins Lane, The Industry |
Seoul Man: Eudon Choi Talks To Lauretta Roberts |
Our official review writer, Hannah Kane reports directly from the meeting where Eudon Choi revealed all to WGSN's Lauretta Roberts.
Lauretta Roberts in conversation with Eudon Choi at SWAROVSKI CRYSTALLIZED™
Originally hailing from Korea, Eudon Choi is one of the most decorated designers working in London. In 2010 alone Eudon went from being a member of Vauxhall Fashion Scout's Ones To Watch group show, to the sole winner of their prestigious Merit Award, as well as the BFC/Elle Talent Launch Pad.
A year later he was given the nod of approval by the usually reticent Ms Wintour as part of the VOGUE FASHION FUND at Milan Fashion Week, as well as bagging the Samsung Fashion and Design Fund and the LYCRA® Style Emerging Talent Award at WGSN Global Fashion Awards in New York. It's been a busy couple of years.
The Industry's Donna Ida Thornton chats to fellow member and colleague, Claire Etchell and MD Courtney Blackman
So what is it about this quietly confident man's designs that have the upper echelons of editors and buyers, such as those from Browns and Harvey Nichols, clamoring at the rails? Well, few designers have so elegantly captured the modern design aesthetic of the twenty-tens. A clean and contemporary interpretation of the modern woman's sartorial needs, with assured tailoring skills harking back to his training as a menswear designer in Korea.
Celebrity stylist, Sabina Emrit & Navaz Batliwalla of Disneyrollrgirl take front row seats
After moving to London, Eudon completed the MA in womenswear at the Royal College of Art, and before he had even left the campus was picked up by All Saints as senior designer – the distressed and artfully grungy look a world away from his current designs. Then followed a stint as senior designer for the Miller sisters' Twenty8Twelve label before the launch of his eponymous label.
Eudon enjoys a glass of bubbly with and Abi Ward of DeVetta PR and fellow members, journalist Olivia Pinnock & Charlotte Bramford from Knock on the Door
Eudon revealed at The Industry, that there is a return to the high street on the horizon – though he's currently keeping quiet on naming the other half of the collaboration. For now, his focus is on building the brand.
In an often all-to mercurial industry, Eudon Choi's story is a reminder that there's still mileage in the old adage – talent will out.
By The Industry's contributor, Hannah Kane, editor-in-chief of PHOENIX
All photos by The Industry's photographer, Sam Atkinson
Would you like to join Eudon and Lauretta in the premier members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page. |
Harriet Bowe |
Abi Ward, Anna Wintour, BFC/Elle Talent Launch Pad, Browns, Charlotte Bramford, Claire Etchell, Courtney Blackman, DeVetta PR, Disneyrollrgirl, Donna Ida Thornton, Eudon Choi, Hannah Kane, Harvey Nichols, Knock on the Door, Lauretta Roberts, LYCRA® Style Emerging Talent Award, Merit Award, Milan Fashion Week, Navaz Batliwalla, Olivia Pinnock, Ones To Watch, Royal College of Art, Sabina Emrit, Samsung Fashion and Design Fund, Savannah Miller, Sienna Miller, Swarovski Crystallized, TellusFashion, Twenty8Twelve, Vauxhall Fashion Scout, Vogue Fashion Fund, WGSN |
Member Interview With Selma Day Of Mayfair Times |
We chat to the editor of Mayfair Times about fashion, finance and all things London.
The Industry's Selma Day, editor of Mayfair Times
At almost 30 years old, Mayfair Times is one of London's longest established lifestyle magazines. At the helm sits our Selma Day, who as editor, regularly cherry picks her interviewees from the designer shops that line Bond Street. In January, Selma will be talking with Ozwald Boateng at The May Fair Hotel. Before she takes to The Industry hot seat, we find out more about sitting at the epicentre of one of fashion's most influential business districts.
Mayfair is one of the world's leading centres for both fashion and finance – how does Mayfair Times cater for the two?
Whether its fashion or finance, people are interested in hearing the story behind a brand and the people that work within it. Without demeaning the quality of a fancy watch or a beautiful handbag, people are interested in personalities. That's what Mayfair Times is about, we bring the backstory of that watch or bag. If you're a hedge fund in Mayfair, you're interested in the story of the business because it deepens your appreciation of that product.
You've been at the Mayfair Times for many years. How have you seen the publication grow?
When our company Publishing Business took over Mayfair Times in 2005, it was an ailing local newspaper, which although having been published since 1988, was still rooted in the parish-pump, local newssheet tradition of a previous era. The publication failed to match the reality of the new Mayfair.
When I became editor around eight years ago, from the outset I believed that the focus of the magazine should change to a more inclusive interest in the aspirational style that constitutes Mayfair today. I presided over the move from newspaper to magazine and pushed hard for a key change in the way the magazine presented itself to its existing and potential readership. We believed that to drive readership, not just with the local residential and working community, but also with the thousands of visitors to the area, we had to have covers that were more easily understood and relevant to a wider more disparate target readership.
Our solution was to have a mix of local high-profile people and internationally recognized personalities who had a strong connection with Mayfair. The list includes Sir Peter Blake, Samuel L. Jackson, Thierry Henri, Gordon Ramsay, Richard Branson, Piers Morgan, Colin Firth and the Duke of Westminster alongside a string of fashion designers including Giorgio Armani, Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith, Matthew Williamson and Ozwald Boateng.
Paradoxically we have scaled up the human-interest nature of the magazine and have never lost sight of the fact that we are doing stories about personalities rather than products. Our strength and what sets us apart from our competitors is that we have been immersed in Mayfair for 27 years. People have grown to respect the publication because it holds the community together and is the custodian of what Mayfair is. It's not in a shop or a new restaurant that's gone in five years, but it is in our magazine. Now Mayfair Times is seen as a quality title reflecting the aspirational qualities in the most affluent area of London.
Mayfair Times works not only as a magazine, but as a business directory. How can industry members get involved with the publication?
Pick up the phone and tell us what you're doing. If you've got something interesting to say that you think other people will want to hear about, we want to know. It's important to consider why other people would be interested in you and what makes you different from other people. So if you've got a story, as long as it has some kind of Mayfair connection, get in touch.
Where do you see the Mayfair Times in five years?
Continuing to promote the message behind the brands and businesses in the area. That may have other outlets in different forms of media dissemination, for example internet, iPads, apps, podcasts etc. Our company isn't just necessarily in magazines, it's in the community that makes up Mayfair.
What other Industry members have you worked with?
First and foremost Industry founder and managing director of Forward PR, Courtney Blackman. I interviewed Courtney when she first set up Fashion Business Club, which later became The Industry. As a Mayfair resident setting up a Mayfair-based business, she ticked all the boxes. I also believed in her vision and felt I could bring that to a wider audience.
I also wrote a profile piece for Mayfair Times on Industry member and advisor, Daisy de Villeneuve when she launched a candle range at Liberty, and have written pieces on my-wardrobe.com run by The Industry's Sarah Curran, Katie Canvin of Austique and designer Corrie Nielsen. I've interviewed the British Fashion Council's Harold Tillman several times and generally cover The Industry meetings as they are held locally and very often feature a Mayfair-based personality. Having been a regular attendee for many years, I am now looking forward to being in front of the audience when I interview Ozwald Boateng at the next Industry meeting in January at The May Fair Hotel. It's going to be great.
Get in touch with Selma via The Industry Directory.
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe
Would you like to join Selma in the premier members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page. |
Harriet Bowe |
Austique, Colin Firth, Corrie Nielsen, Courtney Blackman, Daisy de Villeneuve, Duke of Westminster, Fashion Business Club, Forward PR, Giorgio Armani, Gordon Ramsay, Harold Tillman, Katie Canvin, Liberty, Matthew Williamson, Mayfair Times, my-wardrobe.com, Ozwald Boateng, Paul Smith, Piers Morgan, Publishing Business, Richard Branson, Samuel L Jackson, Sarah Curran, Selma Day, Sir Peter Blake, The Industry, The May Fair Hotel, Thierry Henri, Vivienne Westwood |
Member Interview With Jana Ririnui Of Aofm |
Jana Ririnui tells us how standing out from the crowd has got him in with the fashion pack.
Industry member, Jana Ririnui, director of AOFM
The Academy of Freelance Makeup (AOFM) has grown exponentially since The Industry's Jana Ririnui set up six years ago. With schools in London, New York and Paris, a presence at every major fashion week and enough editorial to fill a book (two in fact), we find out a little bit more about what has made his business so successful.
How did the AOFM business concept come about?
My colleagues and I really felt that there was a lack of real education surrounding makeup artistry, particularly within fashion. So we decided to come together to create an academy of freelance makeup artists that would be trained by full time, working makeup artists – a premise that is exclusive to AOFM. We've turned the saying 'those who can't do teach' on its head, because we take those that are doing it best and bring them in as guest teachers on our courses.
As the only makeup academy to sponsor fashion shows around the world, we are able to provide on-the-job training that fully prepares our graduates for the fast pace of fashion.
Out of the many, many London Fashion Week shows that AOFM puts on each season, can you name a few favorites?
Bora Aksu, Corrie Nielsen, Fyodor Golan and Fashion Fringe. I choose these designers because I find them extremely innovative, Corrie and Fyodor especially. As designers, they think outside of the box and because of this, our teams get a lot of creative input when working with them. Also it's always great to work with Fashion Fringe because it's an opportunity to work with upcoming talent, which is important for the industry and something that we are always interested in.
In only six years, you've grown from a single studio in Soho to schools in both Paris and New York. How have you managed to harness such rapid growth?
I personally think it's because of our individual concept. We're doing something that no other makeup business is doing, and that in itself has allowed us to grow. The fact that we have more than 50 freelance guest makeup artists working for us pulls in the students who want to learn from the very best. Heading shows at London, New York and Paris Fashion Week has garnered us some great exposure, it's allowed us to establish international contacts and develop one of the largest backstage creative teams in the world. We are unlike any other business in the makeup market, so there was and continues to be room for growth.
Where do you see AOFM in five years?
I can't say too much now, but you will be seeing AOFM in other countries soon.
What other Industry members have you worked with?
Corrie Nielsen is a fellow member and we have headed her backstage creative makeup team for the past two seasons, as is stylist Rebekah Roy who we have done makeup with behind-the-scenes at LFW. We have also worked closely with Vauxhall Fashion Scout, run by members, Martyn Roberts and John Walford. At the moment, I'm currently working with Lauretta Roberts of WGSN. I'm one of the judges at the 2012 WGSN Global Fashion Awards , which Lauretta is the director of. We're also excited to be partnering with the event as their official makeup artists, where we will be doing all the backstage makeup. And of course, Courtney Blackman who as MD of Forward PR has looked after AOFM for quite some time now; she and her team organise the top shows we do each London Fashion Week as well as looking after our events and press.
Get in touch with Jana via The Industry Directory.
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe
Would you like to join Jana in the premier members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page. |
Harriet Bowe |
Academy of Freelance Makeup, Bora Aksu, Corrie Nielsen, Courtney Blackman, Fashion Fringe, Forward PR, Fyodor Golan, Global Fashion Awards, Harriet Bowe, Jana Ririnui, John Walford, Lauretta Roberts, London Fashion Week, Martyn Roberts, Rebekah Roy, The Industry, Vauxhall Fashion Scout, WGSN |
Member Interview With Courtney Blackman |
As we look towards Spring/Summer 2013, The Industry's MD, Courtney Blackman takes us through her fashion week rituals.
Photographs of Courtney courtesy of Industry members Donna Ida Denim
If preparation is everything then Courtney Blackman has it covered. As founder of Forward PR – and managing director of The Industry – Courtney doesn't just have herself to co-ordinate during fashion week, but a whole roster of fashion clients making appearances in both London and Paris. We chat to Courtney to find out how she makes it all happen.
You represent a variety of clients within fashion – in what ways will you be working with them at fashion week?
I do indeed. At my PR agency, Forward PR we will be looking after three catwalk shows: fellow Industry member and ascending star of the London catwalk, Corrie Nielsen (styled by Rebekah Roy, also an Industry member and a client of Forward PR); China's superstar designer, Ji Cheng and Singapore-born, London-based Eugene Lin for his debut show. We will also be looking after one of London's largest backstage makeup sponsors, AOFM Pro's London Fashion Week party; The Untitled Magazine's London Fashion Week party, and we look after British singer/songwriter Kate Nash who performed live at Industry members Daniela and Annette Felder's show last night!
We represent fashion and culture magazine, PHOENIX, so will make sure they have primo seating and we'll be promoting their London Fashion Week Pop-Up space in Carnaby, and we'll make sure that our designers/clients who aren't directly involved in Fashion Week (Eden Diodati, Euphorik and Ms Castro on a Motorbike) come to our shows and parties, as networking at LFW is an important task.
How do you prepare your clients for the "Big 4"?
As we're London-based, most preparation is for LFW. I'm not even sure where to start. Maybe one example? For a designer who is showing, it's making sure we have the venue locked in place, hair, makeup, models, all assets for the season: invitations and envelopes, press release, bio and credit sheet for the show, gift items for the catwalk, an organised list of media who are coming backstage… it's an endless list, which could go on and on. I'm getting dizzy just thinking about it.
What are your top three fashion week essentials?
An amazing team of people to help make it happen, enough sleep to pretend to be coherent and a good sense of humour. Some of the requests we get through for tickets to shows are nothing short of hilarious.
Each season you present collections on the prestigious British Fashion Council and Vauxhall Fashion Scout catwalks – what kind of organisation goes into a show of this scale?
Having a production book for each venue is key so we know the seating layout and how we can allocate. We also have a whole system of ticket allocation that is kind of complex, but necessary to keep us organised. Oh and lists! We have staff call sheets, backstage lists, production checklists, VIP lists, sponsor lists, party RSVP lists. Come fashion week, we're buried in lists.
How does Forward PR follow up post fashion week?
Immediately after fashion week we distribute images to the media, analyse digital, print and social media from the shows and events, catch up on a bit of sleep and then prepare for Paris. Corrie Nielsen, Ji Cheng and Eugene Lin will all be heading to Paris Fashion Week after London, then it's back to London and right into the press days and preparing for Feburary for the Autumn/Winter 2013 shows. It's neverending.
Get in touch with Courtney via The Industry Directory
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe
Would you like to join Courtney in the premier members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page. |
Harriet Bowe |
Annette Felder, AOFM Pro, Autumn/Winter 2013, British Fashion Council, Corrie Nielsen, Courtney Blackman, Daniela Felder, donna ida denim, Eden Diodati, Eugene Lin, Euphorik, Felder Felder, Forward PR, Harriet Bowe, Ji Cheng, Kate Nash, London Fashion Week, Ms Castro on a Motorbike, Paris Fashion Week, Phoenix Magazine, Rebekah Roy, Spring/Summer 2013, The Industry, The Untitled Magazine, Vauxhall Fashion Scout |
The Industry Holds Court At The Gfas |
The judges for the WGSN Global Fashion Awards have been announced, with more than a few familiar faces on the panel.
A myriad of Industry members sit on the GFAs judging panel this year
Industry advisor, Lauretta Roberts of WGSN is both the founder and director of what is quickly becoming one of the most prestigious awards ceremonies in fashion. And now that it is based in London, what better place to look for judges than The Industry Directory.
The panel, confirmed this week, is made up of some of fashion's most esteemed business professionals. Industry members, Sarah Curran of my-wardrobe.com, stylist Rebekah Roy, Michael Herz of Bally, illustrator Daisy de Villeneuve, Hannah Kane of PHOENIX, Donna Ida Thornton of Donna Ida and Caroline Issa of Tank will sit on the panel beside directors from Oxford Street retailers such as Topshop and Selfridges and high-end designers like Bora Aksu and Laura Bohinc.
Courtney Blackman, managing director of The Industry and event and partnership advisor of the GFAs will also accompany members on the judging panel. She says, "The Industry Directory houses some of fashion's most forward thinking professionals, many of which are defining the future of fashion. The GFAs accredit those who are not only the best in their field but the best in the world. It is a pleasure to see so much of our membership at the forefront of this."
Applications for the awards are open until Friday 17th August. For more information or to enter click here
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe
Would you like to join The Industry's GFA judges in the premier members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page.
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Harriet Bowe |
Bally, Basso & Brooke, Bora Aksu, Caroline Issa, Courtney Blackman, Daisy de Villeneuve, Donna Ida, Donna Ida Thornton, Global Fashion Awards, Hannah Kane, Harriet Bowe, Laura Bohinc, Lauretta Roberts, Michael Herz, my-wardrobe.com, Phoenix, Rebekah Roy, Sarah Curran, Selfridges, Tank, The Industry, Topshop, WGSN |
Rebekah Roy Turns Industry Advisor |
Long serving Industry member, Rebekah Roy a.k.a. Stylist Stuff, takes a seat on our advisory board.
Stylist to the stars: Rebekah Roy is the newest member of The Industry's advisory board
"Rebekah has contributed so much to The Industry. She has overseen creative direction of our online magazine, brought in amazing speakers, served as an interviewer and been a great support to its mission," explains The Industry managing director, Courtney Blackman. "It is an honour to have her join the advisory board." In light of this, we get word from the woman herself.
You've recently become an advisor of The Industry, tell us more?
I'm excited about this new role! I've been a member of The Industry for several years and during this time I've worked with many of our members and made some great contacts. Often when I'm styling a shoot I'll see if any of The Industry members have what I'm looking for. It's a great opportunity to help members connect to one another and let other people know what we have to offer.
How long have you been working as a stylist and creative director?
I've been working in the industry for over 10 years, working with a wide range of cutting edge designers and established brands styling photo and video shoots. I work regularly on editorial, catwalk and commercial projects and I'm fashion director at PHOENIX Magazine alongside fellow Industry members, Hannah Kane and Nik Thakkar.
I've worked with some incredibly talented people! That's probably the best part about what I do – working with amazing people. I work closely with my clients as I'm often putting the teams together from casting the models to photographers to makeup artists. This means I get the opportunity to meet lots of varied and interesting people.
As a freelance creative, you have managed yourself for many years when working with some of the most impressive names in the business. What are your top tips?
I think the same rules apply to any sector – you need to be responsible and listen to your client. It still surprises me when people don't take note of what their client wants. You have to take the time to get to know the people that you're working with. It's also vital to know what's happening around you – fashion doesn't happen in a void. I'm interested in so many things and I think it's that which allows me to be diverse in my work and bring something unique to my clients.
You're the only stylist on The Industry's advisory board, what do you hope to uniquely bring to the position?
I hope to bring in new members and create relationships and synergy with other fashion organizations. It's important for professionals to have a community and being a freelancer can be quite lonely. The Industry really creates a very friendly professional fashion community.
Get in touch with Rebekah via The Industry Directory
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe
Would you like to join Rebekah in the premiere members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page.
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Harriet Bowe |
Courtney Blackman, Hannah Kane, Harriet Bowe, Nik Thakkar, Phoenix Magazine, Rebekah Roy, Stylist Stuff, The Industry |
The Industry Partners With A Pale Horse |
We partner with A Pale Horse to film the nuts and bolts of fashion business, brought to you via IND-TV.
A Pale Horse produces films for a range of clients including those operating within the fashion sector
The Industry has taken on a new film partner, A Pale Horse. As a creative collective, they provide visual solutions for a range of clients including fashion film production. In this capacity, A Pale Horse will be working with The Industry on their dedicated film platform, IND-TV to bring unabridged digital insight into their quarterly 'Network and Expert' meetings held at SWAROVSKI CRYSTALLIZED™.
A Pale Horse's first film for IND-TV will feature Caroline Issa of Tank Publications in conversation with Industry member and advisor, Yasmin Sewell on 25th July. Bringing invaluable access into fashion business, Caroline and Yasmin will discuss the art of communication in editorial's rapidly changing landscape whilst A Pale Horse films the event in its entirety.
Courtney Blackman, managing director of The Industry says, 'The Industry brings together industry icons and I’m delighted that A Pale Horse will be recording these rare interactions to showcase on IND-TV. Not only does this partnership serve as a means to document priceless information about the inner workings of fashion, but it introduces The Industry and what we stand for to a much wider audience.'
All film coverage will be produced by LJ Hopkinson and Thalia Murray. LJ Hopkinson is the founder and managing director of both Little Yellow Jacket Productions, and creative agency A Pale Horse. She began her career in photography, studying at the London College of Printing, then going on to the international news agency, Reuters. Her work has appeared in publications such as Exit, Foto8, Arena, Dazed&Confused and Next Level. The transition from stills to moving image was a natural progression, having worked on many commercials, shorts and music promos as a DOP and director. Thalia Murray is a founding member and executive producer of A Pale Horse, who currently represents clients such as Edith Bergfors, David Boni, Favourite Colour:Black, LJ, Ryan Hopkinson, Nick Jell, Molly Schiot, Between Man & Beast.
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe
Would you like to join the premiere members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page. |
Harriet Bowe |
A Pale Horse, Arena, Between Man & Beast., Caroline Issa, Courtney Blackman, David Boni, Dazed&Confused, Edith Bergfors, Exit, Favourite Colour:Black, Foto8, Harriet Bowe, IND-TV, Little Yellow Jacket Productions, LJ, LJ Hopkinson, London College of Printing, Molly Schiot, Next Level, Nick Jell, Reuters, Ryan Hopkinson, Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™, Tank Publications, Thalia Murray, The Industry, Yasmin Sewell |
The Industry & The Wgsn Global Fashion Awards |
With a cluster of Industry members in the driving seat, the WGSN Global Fashion Awards is making its way to London.
Award-winner: The Industry's Sarah Curran of my-wardrobe.com
Previously hosted in New York, this year the WGSN Global Fashion Awards is traversing across the Atlantic for a night at one of London's most luxurious hotels. Held at The Savoy on the 5th November, the WGSN Global Fashion Awards will be working in co-ordination with The Industry to reward the world's best fashion businesses operating within the design sector.
Long serving advisor to The Industry, Lauretta Roberts of WGSN is the brains behind the operation with The Industry's managing director, Courtney Blackman on side as an advisor and judge. 'The upcoming WGSN Global Fashion Awards is an opportunity not to be missed by fashion design businesses, both big and small,' says Courtney. 'As the world’s leading fashion forecaster, the WGSN brand offers both industry reach and commercial clout. Whilst it's free to enter, an award from them offers invaluable recognition.'
Last year, Sarah Curran's my-wardrobe.com scooped the 'Outstanding Customer Experience' accolade, something The Industry member describes as a 'phenomenal achievement for the business and something we are incredibly proud of.' To add to this, Industry member Frances Card collected the award for 'Outstanding Brand Mix' on behalf of Matches.
Applications for the awards are now open. For more information on the WGSN Fashion Awards or to enter click here
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe
Would you like to join Lauretta, Courtney, Frances and Sarah in the premiere members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page
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Harriet Bowe |
Courtney Blackman, Frances Card, Harriet Bowe, Lauretta Roberts, Matches, my-wardrobe.com, Sarah Curran, The Industry, The Savoy, Vogue, WGSN, WGSN Global Fashion Awards |
Member Interview With Tala Samman Of Myfashdiary.com |
The Industry chats with Tala Samman about blogging through different dichotomies.
The Industry's Tala Samman is the editor of myfashdiary.com
A key driver in the development of Dubai's fashion scene, The Industry catches up with London-based Tala Samman of myfashdiary.com to find out how writing about her favourite things has won over an avid readership on both sides of the globe.
How did the concept for myfashdiary.com come about and what kind of content do you look to publish?
It started off as a digital fashion diary three years ago where I would share my fashion experiences. It then moved to a daily updated blog and is now organically growing into an online curated lifestyle destination. I only feature things I like whether it is in fashion, beauty, food, fitness, travel or culture. It is all about things I love enough to share with my readers.
myfashdiary.com has won multiple accolades – how did you grow your readership?
Luckily it was one of the first in the Gulf so it garnered great press from the beginning. I also believe if people enjoy it they will share with others. Word of mouth is a great tool and one that significantly helped grow my readership.
Your blog was one of the first to hit Dubai's fashion scene – how does it compare to the UK and where do you see the market developing?
London is home to some of the best designers in the world whilst Dubai's fashion scene is growing every day, however the UK is still a lot more developed in terms of innovation.
What's next for myfashdiary.com as a business?
I have lots of great things in the pipeline but one thing I have been working on is exclusive content within 'style' rather than just fashion. In this way, myfashdairy.com will bring my readership the best in multiple facets including fashion, beauty, travel and now lifestyle.
What other Industry members have you worked with?
I have worked with Donna Ida on great content for myfashdiary.com and Courtney Blackman throughForward PR and the many clients they represent.
Get in touch with Tala via The Industry Directory
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe
Would you like to join Tala in the premiere members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page
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Harriet Bowe |
Courtney Blackman, Donna Ida, Forward PR, Harriet Bowe, myfashdiary.com, Tala Samman, The Industry |
Member Interview With Heike Schnell Of Wellicious |
We chat to Wellicious about their fashion yoga brand that's good both inside and out.
Heike Schnell, founder of Wellicious
Since establishing the business back in 2007, Wellicious has gone on to become a household name in fashion's health and wellbeing sector. The Industry catches up with the founder, Heike Schnell to find out more about the ethics integral to her luxury yoga label.
Tell us a little bit about the conception of Wellicious?
The Wellicious idea was born from my interest both in following a healthy and organic lifestyle and my passion for yoga and pilates. Being a self-confessed fashion addict, I struggled to find high quality, comfortable clothing that was also stylish and worked whilst at the studio, at home and out meeting friends. I practice yoga or pilates every day, and as a mother of two girls, I understand first hand the needs of a modern woman juggling the house, work and time for herself. Tired of looking for clothing that was versatile, eco-friendly as well as glamorous, I decided to design my own!
How is your yoga wear influenced by fashion trends?
Having worked for luxury brands for many years, I drew inspiration from my experience and combined it with my love for yoga to create the Wellicious brand. The collection is very much influenced by colour and trends from the catwalk, incorporating beautiful design details with high end eco-friendly fabrics. Wellicious clothing is stylish which makes it versatile enough to wear out and about as well as in the yoga or pilates studio.
Wellicious designs and manufactures all its garments ethically – how easy has it been for you to produce in this way without compromising on quality or cost?
This has been one of my biggest challenges, as producing our garments sustainably and ethically was very important to me. After much research, I succeeded in finding a factory in Europe which produces all of our garments in line with our strict ethical standards. We work only with natural fabrics such as organic cotton and lyocell, which also feel incredibly luxurious and soft. This does affect our profit margin and prices, however our fans love Wellicious because they know that when they buy our products they are getting high quality, durable as well as stylish clothing that is not causing harm to people or planet.
Giving back is also very important to me. Being of Peruvian origin, the SOS Children's Village in Peru is a charity that is very close to my heart. Each Wellicious employee sponsors their own child from one of the orphanages and the company also gives a percentage of its profits to support the organisation each season.
Where do you see Wellicious in five years?
The health and wellbeing sector has been doing well despite the recession and we are focusing our resources in expanding the brand into new territories, including the US, Asia and the Middle East.
Additionally, we are launching a highly anticipated new menswear line for Autumn/Winter called W2 which is very exciting. Also look out for some interesting collaborations coming soon, including Wellicious jewellery and an accessories line.
What other Industry members have you worked with?
It was hugely helpful to connect with The Industry members when we first launched on a whole range of topics, covering everything from marketing to legal issues. To name a couple, we worked with Courtney Blackman on a press event through Forward PR and Ellen McGrath provided some illustrations for our website.
Get in touch with Heike via The Industry Directory
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe
Would you like to join the premiere members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page
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Harriet Bowe |
Courtney Blackman, Ellen McGrath, Forward PR, Harriet Bowe, Heike Schnell, SOS Children's Village, The Industry, Wellicious |
Votes For Women: Industry Members Making History |
Industry London'ers have been shortlisted for the annual Addidi Inspiration Award, a highly anticipated accolade celebrating women entrepreneurs both past and present.
The Industry's Courtney Blackman is championing fashion's Angele Delanghe who worked for Fortnum & Mason back in the 1950s
Addidi's Inspiration Award celebrates women in history. Naturally the event is being hosted by one of fashion's most influential women, Frances Card who is coincidentally a long-standing member of The Industry and founding member of professional women-only network, The Sorority. In a champagne flowing reception, the awards ceremony will present those who are changing the world today whilst simultaneously championing those whose contributions have endured through the ages.
The final contenders include two Industry members, Courtney Blackman of fashion PR agency, Forward PR and Julia Grinham of bespoke shoe brand, Upper Street. Aligned with the female figures that have inspired their entrepreneurship, Courtney has been paired with designer, Angele Delanghe and Julia with dressmaker, Margaret Cameron.
The winner will be announced on Thursday the 28th of June at Home House, London where each of the champions will discuss how their historical female figure has gone on to help forge their future.
To find out more about this year's Inspiration Awards and to vote for an Industry members click here.
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe
Would you like to join Frances, Courtney and Julia in the premiere members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page |
Harriet Bowe |
Addidi's Inspiration Award, Angele Delanghe, Courtney Blackman, Fortnum & Mason, Forward PR, Frances Card, Harriet Bowe, Home House, Julia Grinham, Margaret Cameron, The Industry, The Sorority, Upper Street |
Member Interview With Disneyrollergirl |
Blogger Navaz Batliwalla a.k.a Disneyrollergirl on commercially curating the world around her, whilst keeping it real.
Navaz Batliwalla a.k.a. Disneyrollergirl
Navaz Batliwalla launched her blog, Disneyrollergirl back in 2007. Then written from the perspective of an anonymous 'fashion insider', the blog has since propelled Navaz's career into full frontal freelance editing and consultancy. Navaz shares the secrets behind her tremendous success.
You started your blog under the pseudonym Disneyrollergirl – what inspired the name choice?
It's a mish mash of my Disney Americana fixation, The Beach Boys song 'Disney Girls' and my obsession with rollerskating imagery!
You were one of the first high profile fashion bloggers to hit the UK blogosphere – what made you decide to start your blog?
I started it because I was already reading blogs like The Sartorialist and Style Bubble and liked the idea of having that space to ponder my thoughts and observations about fashion and the industry. I was working as a full-time fashion editor at the time and found that not all my ideas were getting past my editor, the blog became a place to empty my head and flesh out ideas – there was no real agenda. And I guess in those early days people liked that it was an honest point of view about fashion and the industry, not commercialised or compromised. I think not blogging solely as a means for fame or riches is the secret to my success!
In many ways, fashion bloggers have changed the face of the front row. What impact do you think fashion blogging will continue to have on taste making and in turn how will it influence consumerism?
I think everyone from brands to publishers have seen how consumers really relate to bloggers as fellow consumers whose opinions they trust. So those brands and publishers have now tapped into that influence by creating their own blog-like content or micro sites that harness the power of everyday style. Burberry was way ahead of the curve with Art of the Trench and now the likes of Armani, ASOS and Jimmy Choo have followed suit. I think it's interesting that Look Magazine has launched Look What I'm Wearing, a site celebrating reader style that also drives traffic to etail sites. Bloggers are also doing the same thing by linking directly to the products they talk about so their fans can get the look straight away. It proves that if you have a strong visual point of view – and an authentic voice – you can shift serious amounts of product for etailers. The challenge for bloggers is to stay true to their style and not get sidetracked by brands offering freebies and other rewards in exchange for a blog post – too much of that can be damaging.
Many fashion businesses use blogging as a way to leverage their brand. How do you recommend that labels, retailers, writers and consultants best use a blog to promote what they do?
It's important to have a platform where you can communicate your brand message to your customers and engage with them but don't forget there are creative ways you can do that. I think anything that really takes the customer deep into the brand is great so have a mix of content, words, pictures, short videos, little handwritten notes – anything that makes it feel authentic is good. I think surprises help keep things fresh so try to be spontaneous where possible. My blog is a mix of wordy observational posts and shopping pages but I'll throw in a stream of random pictures of kids on skateboards; it doesn't need to be too slick. Anything that adds personality or tells a story will engage people. Don't forget to cross pollinate on different platforms to help spread the word further. But by the same token, don't feel like you have to have a presence on every platform.
What other Industry members have you worked with?
I did some work with creative consultant, Sim Scavazza on an Australian brand, was invited to speak on a Stylesight trend panel by branding expert Nik Thakkar and judge the WGSN Global Fashion Awards by Forward PR's Courtney Blackman. Recently I met Mireia llusia-Lindh at an Industry event and I couldn't stop starting at her Milli Millu bag. I ended up interviewing her about how she built her brand and running a piece on Disneyrollergirl.
Get in touch with Navaz via The Industry Directory
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe
Would you like to join Navaz in the premiere members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page |
Harriet Bowe |
Armani, Art of the Trench, ASOS, Burberry, Courtney Blackman, Disney Americana, Disneyrollergirl, Forward PR, Harriet Bowe, Jimmy Choo, Look Magazine, Look What I'm Wearing, Milli Millu, Mireia llusia-Lindh, Navaz Batliwalla, Nik Thakkar, Sim Scavazza, Style Bubble, Stylesight, The Beach Boys, The Industry, The Sartorialist, WGSN Global Fashion Awards |
Donna Ida Crowns Industry Members Queen For A Day |
To celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, Donna Ida's 'Queen for a Day' campaign asks Industry members what they would do should the crown fit.
With the Queen's Jubilee fast approaching, Donna Ida asks fashion royalty what they would do if they were Queen for a day – with more than a few Industry members making the list. Director of the eponymous jean retailer, Donna Ida Thornton was the first to take her coronation this Monday, followed by fellow members Dolly Jones of VOGUE.COM UK and Courtney Blackman of Forward PR.
'I wanted to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee by asking my fashion friends to tell me how they would celebrate and I love the answers that came back. Lorraine Candy, editor of ELLE UK would encourage everyone to forget their diet worries and serve up Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Emily from Fashion Foie Gras would make everyone wear fancy dress for an entertaining tube ride, and Tatler's Mariella Tandy would build a faux beach alongside the banks of the Thames like they do in Paris', says Donna. 'I wanted to create a buzz around the Diamond Jubilee and encourage dialogue with the press and our customers. We're asking our Twitter followers to tell us what they would do if they were Queen for a day and the best answer will win denim vouchers to spend at Donna Ida.'
To read the features in full click here.
To be in with a chance to win, tweet your regal dreams through to @donnaidadenim followed by hashtag #queenforaday
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe
Photograph of Dolly Jones by The Industry's Photographer, Sam Atkinson
Would you like to join Donna, Dolly and Courtney in the premiere members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page
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Harriet Bowe |
Courtney Blackman, Dolly Jones, Donna Ida, Donna Ida Thornton, Elle, Emily Johnston, Fashion Fois Gras, Forward PR, Harriet Bowe, Krispy Kreme, Lorraine Candy, Mariella Tandy, Sam Atkinson, Tatler, The Industry, Twitter, Vogue.com |
At The Helm Of E-commerce: Miriam Lahage Moves To P & C |
In an exclusive interview, we talk to The Industry member about pastures old and new.
A new chapter: Miriam moves on to new things at P & C
The woman behind eBay's fashion evolution, Miriam Lahage is the queen of digital strategy. About to embark on a new role with Peek & Cloppenburg in Vienna, The Industry catches up with her to find out more.
You were voted The Independent's Online Fashion Star by your peers in 2009-2010 – what's the secret to your success?
Consumer insight! I have learned over my online years that this is crucial – any time and effort invested is well worth it. I worry when someone tells me that everyone is potentially their customer. Find out exactly who sits in your target's bullseye: what they read, how they shop, what they do for fun and most importantly what they need from you. Remember that the customer sits in the driver's seat and therefore makes the decisions. Determine how to earn a right to their custom. In many cases you can do this with great product, an outstanding experience and a human connection.
You've worked with a portfolio of high flying fashion companies – at which one have you learned the most?
I have learned from each and everyone of my experiences. From TJX – TKMaxx in the UK – I learned how to find the place of mutual benefit with a manufacturer or designer. From Koodos I learned how to create a great culture and a big vision with little resource. From Net-a-Porter I learned the importance of brand values. And from eBay I learned the responsibility that comes with millions of people in the seller community.
E-commerce has without a doubt been one of the most lucrative markets for fashion retailers in the last few years. What do you think will be the next big step?
The lines between online and offline are blurring. Retailers who are able to connect, engage, and personalise this experience for their customers – when, where and however that customer wants – are the ones who will succeed.
You're about to embark on a new role with P & C – tell us more.
P & C is the market leader in multi brand fashion retail in Germany, Central and Eastern Europe with over 100 retail locations in department store and specialty store formats. It has an excellent reputation with both customers and the industry alike. I'm looking forward to learning from the experts who have been driving the business of such a successful company forward and excited about the upcoming opportunities that I'm yet to discover!
What other Industry members have you worked with?
Rebekah Roy has helped me out with her styling brilliance many times – only last week I asked for her help! However one person stands out and that is Courtney Blackman. She inspired me to rethink the importance of networking and The Industry is a perfect example of how pivotal it can be. It is remarkable to see how this community is so supportive of its members.
Get in touch with Miriam via The Industry Directory
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe
Would you like to join the premiere members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page |
Harriet Bowe |
Courtney Blackman, eBay, Harriet Bowe, Koodos, Miriam Lahage, Net-a-Porter, Peek & Cloppenburg, Rebekah Roy, The Independent, The Industry, TJX, TKMaxx |
Member Interview With The Usual Studio |
Meet Charlee Sully, founder of multi-disciplinary design agency The Usual Studio.
Charlee Sully, founder of The Usual Studio
You own a fashion business but do you own a brand? In an exclusive interview with The Industry, Charlee Sully explains how branding goes beyond the clothes rail. From look books to garment labels, Charlee explains how a little creativity can go a long way.
Tell us about the conception of The Usual Studio.
I began with an idea to build an agency specialising in graphic design for the creative industries, fashion in particular. The Usual Studio launched in early 2007 when the economy was a little more kind and a lot more prosperous than it is today. It's not been easy but the business has continued to grow. More clients are finding us, recommending us and coming back for more!
I used to run the company solo but as The Usual Studio has got bigger I’ve sought the help of other small businesses and freelancers whose skills compliment mine. I've surrounded myself with a brilliant team of web developers, designers, copywriters, PRs and photographers. So we now take on bigger projects, with lower overheads and more competitive prices than larger agencies.
How can The Usual Studio help our members?
We can oversee all aspects of the branding process from imagery, websites, digital marketing and look books through to packaging and print campaigns. Our creatives have experience producing print and online campaigns that visually delight, promote interaction and drive sales. Our aim is always to produce stylish branding for clients who share our passion for technology, unusual ideas, attention to detail and beautiful aesthetics. I would be delighted to speak with members who are interested in collaborating.
In terms of branding, what areas have the most impact (i.e. look books, websites, social media campaigns)? Where would you suggest smaller fashion businesses with limited funds invest first?
Work on building a great image which reflects both the collection, appeals to your target audience and is original to you. And then be consistent across all outputs, both online and in print.
A great website makes a big impact! It's your shop window to an international audience so make sure it works across all browsers and devices. Utilise advancements in technology: request your site is styled with the latest techniques such as CSS3 and use custom web fonts. Include social media buttons or leave room for more to be added. Aim to create an enjoyable online experience: ask for JQuery interactive effects to be integrated into your site to create stylish image galleries and navigation buttons.
Join in with social networking and be active across the platforms which suit your brand. Get to know your customers, share useful content, give special offers where appropriate. Social networking takes time but it's a low cost way to reach a potentially huge audience. Look at starting a blog: they're a great way to interact with customers, bring personality to your brand whilst also benefiting search engine rankings.
In terms of print look for ways to differentiate with small details such as custom address labels for packaging, woven garment labels, tissue paper wrapping, stationery and catalogues printed with smart finishes such as metallic inks or embossed text. Produce look books whether they're printed or digital so you can market your collection direct to buyers and press. Be original with content: work with designers, illustrators and photographers to make your collection looks the very best.
Finally consider how you interact with others. Try sending a postcard after a meeting to say thank you or simply call instead of emailing sometimes. Be personable – all these elements will work towards making your brand different and memorable.
4. Where do you see The Usual Studio in five years?
Having recently celebrated our first five year anniversary inevitably thoughts turn to the next five. Plans for the immediate future involve working with developers to offer app design and development. I have just started offering free brainstorming sessions for brands needing design and marketing inspiration and I am also looking to partner with more PR and marketing firms as a creative consultant, supporting their existing client services.
In five years, I plan to have a larger team, a new office, be working with fashion and beauty clients internationally, offering new services and continually looking for ways to innovate.
What other Industry members have you worked with?
We have enjoyed working with Courtney Blackman for over five years, which has led to some great projects for Industry members. For example Corrie Nielsen's recent SS12 and AW12 digital look books and print materials for Giovanna Velasquez at Magenta 8. We've also previously worked for The Industry personally when we designed stylish black envelopes with metallic ink for their member welcome packs.
Get in touch with Charlee via The Industry Directory
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe
Would you like to join the premiere members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page |
Harriet Bowe |
Charlee Sully, Corrie Nielsen, Courtney Blackman, Giovanna Velasquez, Harriet Bowe, JQuery, Magenta8, The Industry, The Usual Studio |
Member Interview With Claire Etchell |
Jeans, dreams and having fun are all topics of conversation in our exclusive interview with Claire Etchell from Donna Ida.
Jean Queen: Donna Ida's Claire Etchell
Industry member, Claire Etchell is PR and Marketing Manager at designer jeans retailer Donna Ida. With four London boutiques, an online store and almost 8,000 Twitter followers, we chat to Claire from the dizzy heights of denim heaven.
What do you love most about your job?
I love how fast paced my job is! One minute I'm at a photo shoot, the next I'm meeting a journalist. It's great talking to so many different people and finding out how we can work together.
Out of all the marketing campaigns you have worked on which are you most proud?
It's too hard to pick the work I'm most proud of – I've really enjoyed working with Donna Ida introducing journalists to amazing jeans. Seeing a happy customer become a jeans convert is such a good feeling.
Donna Ida as a brand has a great presence on social media channels, in particular Twitter. How would you define the Donna Ida voice and how did you establish this?
Donna writes and runs her own Twitter – it's fantastic how motivated and engaged she is. We decided early on that there was space for the brand to have a separate Twitter account (@donnaidadenim) which I run with help from all the Donna Ida girls. The Donna Ida Denim voice is informative whilst fun and a little bit cheeky. We're always there for advice but don't take ourselves too seriously.
If you could choose a dream label to work with who would it be and why?
Dream label? I'm very excited to be near so many gorgeous designer jeans but I guess my other obsession would be Chanel. I also can't wait for Victoria's Secret to arrive in the UK.
What other Industry members have you worked with?
I've worked with Jonathan Kirkby since he was with lifestyle PR agency, Eden Cancan. I've known him since my Moda in Pelle days and count him as a good friend now. Quite a few Industry members joined Team Donna Ida last year in our Jeans for Genes challenge, including Alice Stone from Lily and Lionel and of course The Industry MD Courtney Blackman. I hope lots of people join us again this year!
Get in touch with Claire via The Industry Directory
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe
Would you like to join the premiere members group for those shaping the future of fashion? Visit our JOIN page
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Harriet Bowe |
Alice Stone, Chanel, Claire Etchell, Courtney Blackman, Donna Ida, Eden Cancan, Harriet Bowe, Jeans for Genes, Jonathan Kirkby, Lily and Lionel, London, Moda in Pelle, The Industry, Twitter, Victoria's Secret |
How To Change Tact In Tough Economic Times |
Industry member, Michaela Wenkert offers wise words on brand building and product development in the shoes and accessories sector.
Industry member and fashion entrepreneur, Michaela Wenkert
Michaela Wenkert runs accessories consultancy, Lady Double You. Once a brand in itself, Michaela offers sound advice and valuable lessons for businesses looking to branch out.
Lady Double You has changed direction since conception in 2006. How and why did the company decided to rejig its business plan?
Lady Double You first started as a luxury, limited edition footwear and accessories brand. Having worked for a plethora of fashion labels, I felt the creative urge to try my own thing. However whilst putting together my collection I continued to consult with several fashion brands.
This was a wise move, because by the time the recession had hit I had to take the tough decision to no longer produce my own products until, if and when, I found a backer to do so. Having worked for multimillion turnover brands, I knew first hand that without the golden triangle of investment (in design, marketing and sales strategy) a brand cannot survive. Never has this been a bigger prerequisite than in today's recession hit market and without a cash injection I knew there was no way that a small start-up like mine could survive.
So these days Lady Double You thrives on providing expert best practice consultancy to fashion brands, specialising in how to build profitable accessories ranges. This is particularly relevant to clothing brands where often they make the common mistake of building footwear and accessories ranges in the same way that they would create a clothing line. Often they come unstuck for one simple reason: in short the consumer pattern is very different from clothing, as are the design and manufacturing processes. Once this is addressed, profitability becomes an achievable ambition.
How did your experiences working at high end brands Mulberry, Radley and Hobbs influence the running of your business?
I feel incredibly privileged to have worked with Mulberry, Radley and Hobbs during their re-branding strategies. It is great to have been a part of that process and ultimately have a place in their success! The common denominator is that they all offer design integrity, heritage, style and quality but essentially needed sexing-up. In a British way, they have made this work on a global level.
Prior to this I also worked in New York for Nine West. I think this was my first foray into what being a global brand really requires and means. Through them I learnt so much about precision and execution. Producing shoes that required minimum quantities of 40,000 per style meant that anything less than perfect was unacceptable. Coupled with an American work ethic, learning about the importance of consistency in communicating a brand's story (encompassing each stage of the process from product to market) has given me invaluable training which I apply to every brand I work with today; whether that be a small start-up or a global name, the same brand disciplines inevitably always apply.
I compare designing to acting: it's about being able to get under the skin of the consumer – even if you aren't that consumer – and interpreting their taste using your own creativity.
What do you love most about your job?
The satisfaction of seeing a vision or idea that was once in your mind and translating that into something tangible and profitable. It's also incredibly rewarding to bring a brand back to life and reach a wider audience with a taste level that is neither insipid nor extreme. I suppose in a way Lady Double You is a bit of a style doctor!
However prior to working in fashion, I worked in advertising and film. I think my obsession with brand building stems from this. I have a real fascination with what makes people tick, so a large part of my work is about helping brands to identify the zeitgeist, understand their consumers and help them to create accessory collections that reflect the brand's DNA and values.
Where do you see Lady Double You in five years?
Very much in the same vein. Helping brands to be profitable, design great products and build strong teams. I have always had a bit of an entrepreneurial spirit and have several ideas cooking so who knows...maybe Lady Double You will have a little sister or brother one day soon.
What other Industry members have you worked with?
I've had the pleasure of working with both the fabulous Courtney Blackman and Rebekah Roy when showing my collection in a press event.
Get in touch with Michaela via The Industry Directory
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe |
Harriet Bowe |
American, British, Courtney Blackman, Harriet Bowe, Hobbs, Lady Double You, Michaela Wenkert, Mulberry, New York, Nine West, Radley, Rebekah Roy, The Industry |
Member Interview With Maria Lau |
Industry member and independent designer, Maria Lau updates us on the movements of her luxury concept jewellery brand.
Maria Lau, Founder of eponymous luxury concept jewellery label
Hailed by Susie Lau as one of her favourite up and coming designers, Maria's eponymous jewellery label has gone from strength to strength since start up in 2008. In this interview she tells us about it's direction then, now and in the future.
Tell me a little bit about how the Maria Lau jewellery brand was conceived?
After finishing my MA in Mixed Media Textiles at the Royal College of Art, I spent a few years making and selling jewellery to different clientele, independent shops and also engaged in several freelance projects. During that time I moved back to Yorkshire to look after family and it felt like I had been cast onto an island! I developed a burning desire to link back up to the fashion/design world, through creating a range of work that was fresh, exciting and relevant. Thus Maria Lau was a way for me to explore new materials within jewellery, inspired by everyday dress and tribal cultures. My point of view was that jewellery doesn't have to be made from precious metals, but can be made valuable through the innovative use of materials; transforming ordinary soft textiles like hosiery and shock-cord elastic into luxurious jewellery.
What's an average day at Maria Lau HQ like?
Hmm it can change! But in the last week mornings involve a bit of email and admin, photography or preparing parcels and press requests whilst the afternoon is used for more creative projects such as development, making or liaising with my brand consultant about a new collection. Then in the evening I can continue to make jewellery, or even venture out and attend an event – my work is currently showcased at the brand new Aston Martin showroom in Park Lane, London.
What's your biggest achievement to date?
That I was able to create an innovative jewellery brand in West Yorkshire and achieve international interest from press and buyers. Also being recognised and being able to work with premium brands and retailers such as Michiko Koshino, DKNY, Harrods and Aston Martin has been important.
Where do you see Maria Lau in five years?
I see that the brand is recognised and selling internationally with good collaborations achieved, so I'm looking at taking on more PR and sales representation this year to further increase exposure. As a small label, which is growing organically, expansion will happen at the right time.
What other Industry members have you worked with?
The Industry MD Courtney Blackman, Lauretta Roberts from WGSN and stylist Rebekah Roy.
Get in touch with Maria via The Industry Directory
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe |
Harriet Bowe |
Aston Martin, Courtney Blackman, DKNY, Harriet Bowe, Harrods, Lauretta Roberts, London, Maria Lau, Michiko Koshino, Park Lane, Rebekah Roy, Royal College of Art, Susie Lau, The Industry, West Yorkshire, WGSN |
Member Interview With Fearnhurst Pr |
In an insightful interview we pick the brains of Industry member and PR guru, Samantha Fearn.
Industry member and Co-Founder of Fearnhurst PR, Samantha Fearn
It only takes a single click onto Fearnhurst PR's super snazzy website to tell that they're at the top of their game. Considered one of the best fashion PR agencies in London, FHPR represent a roster of leading brands including All Saints, Kookai and Hobbs. Stacked with tips, we interview founder, Samantha Fearn.
PR Week identified you as one of the top PR entrepreneurs in the country, tell us a bit about setting up FHPR.
I started my career in New York at global PR agencies Weber Shandwick Worldwide and Hill and Knowlton. During my time in New York I was fast tracked from an Assistant Account Executive to an Account Director within 24 months. I also joined the judging panel for the Public Relations Society of America's prestigious Silver and Bronze Anvil Awards. When I returned to London in 2001, at the age of 24, I struggled to secure a position at the equivalent level because I was so young. As I was not prepared to take a demotion, my only choice was to set up my own business.
Together with a friend we established Fearnhurst PR. Our first client was The Shoe Studio Group and we represented Nine West, Bertie and Pied a Terre. We worked out of my business partner's apartment where we set up a showroom in her front room and had couriers coming to our door constantly throughout the day. We worked day and night to set up the business. I remember travelling to Wales on an eight hour round trip for a contract which was less than the cost of our petrol for the journey! I bought out my partner's share in 2003 and a few months ago we celebrated our tenth birthday.
As part of FHPR you have won multiple awards, including one from Buckingham Palace. How did it feel meeting the Queen?
When I received the invitation to meet the Queen the invitation said 'The Master of the Household has received Her Majesty's command to invite Ms Samantha Fearn to a Reception for Women in Business to be given at Buckingham Palace by The Queen.' As soon as I received the invitation I called my father and said 'Dad – seriously, you're not funny.' I was completely convinced it was a wind up! I continued to fire wind up accusations at family members until my mother suggested I called the phone number to the palace referenced on the letter. I was completely shocked when I discovered it was genuine!
Meeting the Queen and all the royal women was without a doubt one of the biggest highlights of my life. What struck me most about Her Majesty The Queen was how exceptionally knowledgeable she was about every one of the 200 women in the room. She talked to every single one of us about our separate and individual achievements.
Could you share some of your top tips for other Industry members looking to get press?
Focus on quality not quantity. Make sure you edit your product range to showcase the most press worthy pieces. What the press like is often quite different to what the customer wants to buy. If you go down the agency route, provide as detailed a brief as possible outlining your requirements and expectations. PR campaigns take time to develop and results don't appear overnight. The best results come from strategic campaigns and continuous activity.
Where do you see FHPR in 5 years?
I am very excited about the future of FHPR. Our MD at FHPR, Suzy Socker, also an Industry member, is looking at diversifying the business into additional sectors including beauty and consumer – we have very strong expertise in the team across these areas. I would also hope we have a presence in New York or other territories. Half of our current client base is made up of American brands including Kenneth Cole, TOMS and HBO.
What other Industry members have you worked with?
Through our sponsor Mishcon de Reya at Fashion Press Week we have worked with a number of Industry members including Yan To (who is one of my personal favourites) – who is an exceptionally talented designer and represented by FHPR. We have also worked with Lauretta Roberts from WGSN. Lauretta judged the Mishcon de Reya Fashion Discovered and Fashion Fair awards at Fashion Press Week. I have been fortunate to have worked with Lauretta at various stages throughout our careers. Courtney Blackman has also been a pleasure to work with. There are so many wonderfully gifted Industry members and it is an honour to be a part of such a dynamic, creative and talented network.
Get in touch with Samantha via The Industry Directory
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe |
Harriet Bowe |
All Saints, Bertie, Bronze Anvil Awards, Buckingham Palace, Courtney Blackman, Emesha, Fashion Press Week, Fearnhurst PR, Harriet Bowe, HBO, HEMYCA, Her Majesty The Queen, Hill and Knowlton, Hobbs, Kenneth Cole, Kookai, Lauretta Roberts, Mishcon de Reya, Nine West, Pied a Terre, PR Week, Public Relations Society of America, Reception for Women in Business, Samantha Fearn, Silver Anvil Awards, Suzy Socker, The Industry, The Shoe Studio Group, TOMS, Weber Shandwick Worldwide, WGSN, Yan To |
Leveraging Film With Pulse Films |
The Industry will be hosting a Master Class at the V&A Reading Rooms on the 28th of March at 5pm. The topic to explore will be the ways and know-hows of leveraging film in the fashion industry.
A still shot of Industry member Rebekah Roy interviewing Kate Nash at The Industry's Fashion Meets Music event at Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ - filmed by Pulse
For the past two fashion seasons more films have opened up catwalks at Fashion Weeks around the globe than ever before; designers have opted out of the traditional forms of presentations on rails and embraced the creativity of visual scripting for their latest collections; films have been used as a medium to introduce newcomers to the scene while elevating those who dominate it further. At the same time in 2011 Duran Duran's music video Girl Panic heralded the rock group's return while also paying homage to the fashion industry by featuring super models dressed head to toe in emerging British designers. This form of creative communication has contributed to the increase of sales; major beneficiaries are luxury brands such as Burberry and online platforms Net-a-Porter and my-wardrobe. Such are the successes and emotions evoked by film.
A still shot of Industry member and editor of VOGUE.COM UK Dolly Jones interviewing Industry member Donna Ida at Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ - filmed by Pulse
But, how does a brand go about creating a successful visual campaign? What creative skills does it require? And, how much does it cost? With the increase of freelance creatives the price to make films has become more competitive. But to what extent can brands cut creativity costs? Is it worth it in the end? And, finally what skill structure needs to be in place in order to guarantee the film's exposure to a mass audience?
Guest speakers at The Industry's Master Class, Sam Sniderman and Joanna Vieira from Pulse Films will be answering these questions to an exclusive audience of Industry members, all professionals involved in the fashion industry.
Pulse Films is a talent management and integrated content production company for advertising, fashion, film, music and TV. Commercial Director of Pulse, Sam Sniderman has worked in the media and entertainment industries in senior executive roles in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia finding ways to use new platforms and technology to engage audiences for the benefit of brands. Joanna Vieira currently co-ordinates Pulse's fashion department, events curation and social media.
MD of The Industry, Courtney Blackman, says 'The power of film can no longer be ignored in the fashion industry. As someone who works closely with fashion brands I am constantly creating story and mood boards that best represent my client. However, the medium is always heavily debated. Should it be film, traditional advertising, catwalk, or presentations? I look forward to hearing what Pulse Films have to say.'
For details on joining The Industry, visit our JOIN page.
By The Industry's Press Director & Sub Editor, Penelope Sacorafou |
Harriet Bowe |
Burberry, Courtney Blackman, Dolly Jones, Donna Ida, Duran Duran, Fashion Week, Joanna Vieira, Kate Nash, my-wardrobe, Net-a-Porter, Pulse Films, Rebekah Roy, Sam Sniderman, Swarovski Crystallized, Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™, The Industry, V&A Reading Rooms, Vogue.com |
Vanessa Pepper Launches Scarf Label |
Industry member, Vanessa Pepper launches Ness & Pepper – a luxury scarf label that fuses photography with fashion.
Industry member and highly acclaimed photographer, Vanessa Pepper prints her imagery onto luxury scarves
Vanessa Pepper's experience as an award winning photographer has lead her to photograph both for the British and Italian fashion industries, a grounding which has inspired her next business venture. The recently launched Ness & Pepper label produces hand-finished scarves printed onto the finest Chinese silk and chiffon. We take a moment with Vanessa to find out how she discovered her entrepreneurial spirit.
Tell me a little bit about how Ness & Pepper was conceived creatively?
Throughout my career in photography I have spent a lot of time in the darkroom exploring different processes and materials. From the most primitive Van Dyke process (which uses sunlight to expose an image) to lifting polaroids onto different surfaces. I became fascinated with printing onto fabric and whilst some materials worked better than others, the outcome was always interesting. The images that I was printing would always be rich in texture, and more specifically drapery – no doubt a hangover from my years in Italy and my passion for Renaissance paintings. Watching the image of fabric come alive on different surfaces was exciting!
In business terms, how did you go about setting up the label?
I was working closely with fashion clients who I would do photo shoots for and learned a lot about the production and marketing side through them. I have also been going to The Industry meetings from it's birth years ago which have inspired me and given me the confidence to do it.
How do you think your experiences with photography and fashion helped with setting up Ness & Pepper?
It seemed like the next natural step, already working in the fashion industry as a photographer I was well placed. However in the past I have always leant more towards the fine art than the commercial side of fashion. I was attracted to the luxury goods market and the conception of Ness & Pepper meant that I could make my images accessible to more people (rather than limited editions of 15). I've been very lucky that I have been able to do most of the start up work myself.
Where do you see the business in five years?
I hope the label takes off! In the future I would like to be creating bigger collections and selling internationally – that would be wonderful.
What other Industry members have you worked with?
I have worked with Giovanna Velasquez from Magenta 8, who is a very talented designer. I have also crossed paths with various other members, Annick Adjo from Atelier Annick has been a massive help with me building this line of my business. Courtney Blackman is another person who has inspired me along the way.
Get in touch with Vanessa via The Industry Directory
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe |
Harriet Bowe |
Alison Whelan, Annick Adjo, Atelier Annick, Courtney Blackman, Giovanna Velasquez, Harriet Bowe, Magenta8, Ness & Pepper, The Industry, Vanessa Pepper |
Member Interview With Muks |
With Kate Moss as her first customer, Industry member Jaime Cooke set up her fashion business on a whim in 2003. Nearly ten years on, she's increasing her product offering and expanding into new markets. In a five minute interview, Jaime shares the Muks story.
Jaime Cooke, Founder of Muks
Essentially derived from a pair of traditional Canadian hunting boots, you turned Mukluk boots into a luxury fashion product back in 2003. What inspired you?
I have been wearing traditional Mukluk boots since I was three years old. It has always been an item we had in the Canadian winters to keep our feet nice and warm. When I moved to London my mum decided to send me a pair as a little reminder of home, I would get stopped in the streets when wearing them and thought perhaps I was onto something. I then tried four pairs in a boutique in Notting Hill and Kate Moss was photographed a week later wearing two of the four styles we had supplied the store. I couldn't believe my luck!
Since starting out, you've built up a loyal celebrity following from the likes of Kate Moss to Paris Hilton. How do you feel that celebrity endorsement has impacted upon your label?
Kate Moss made my success initially, without her wearing the boots it probably would have taken a lot more to establish the product and the brand. As she is a highly publicised celebrity, the others naturally followed. In fact we would use the Kate Moss images to introduce the boots to key retailers and 90% of the time they ordered without even physically seeing the product. It was amazing to witness how much she influenced both retailer and consumer. We still get celeb requests, we recently sent Elle Macpherson and Daisy Lowe boots which has resulted in great PR and increased demand for the product.
Where do you see the Muks brand in five years?
Every year we are building up new territories and distribution areas, it is a steady but manageable growth. We are now getting to a point where we need more infrastructure in place in order to support this growth – it is an exciting time for us. The key is to keep evolving, I started with one style in four colours and after four years the customer wanted more. We now do 25 styles over a variety of colours each season, but the original is still the best seller – 60% of our sales are still in this model. We are launching a Spring/Summer line this year and a slipper range for next Autumn/Winter. I believe this opens up more markets for us, in hope we will become a well established brand turning over a nice profitable business within five years time.
What other Industry members have you worked with?
Industry members I have worked with include Courtney Blackman through Forward PR and fashion stylist Rebekah Roy.
Get in touch with Jaime via The Industry Directory
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe |
Harriet Bowe |
Canada, Courtney Blackman, Daisy Lowe, Elle Macpherson, Forward PR, Harriet Bowe, Jamie Cooke, Kate Moss, London, Mukluk Boots, Muks, Notting Hill, Paris Hilton, Rebekah Roy, The Industry |
Back To The Future |
The Industry’s Futurist Panel tell its members what’s happening in e-tail.
Lauretta Roberts, Katie Bell, Nik Thakkar and Paulina Bozek
Boldly going where several had gone before, The Industry welcomed its Futurist Panel in the form of Katie Bell from Stardoll, along with Paulina Bozek from design development studio inensu (shattering the preconception that video game developers are chubby men in hamburger stained T-shirts); and Nik Thakkar, brand consultant and blogger at KARLISMYUNKLE (proof, if needed, that the letter “k” is having a Khloe Kardashian sized moment). Fielding questions was Lauretta Roberts from global trend forecasting giant WGSN.
These three digital musketeers are at the forefront of the online revolution.
Stardoll is a fashion and entertainment website with 150 million users worldwide, published in 28 languages and 223 territories. Most of its users are teenage girls who use the site to create and style an avatar called a “MeDoll”. Oh, and apparently Christopher Kane is also a member.
The Futurist Panel at SWAROVSKI CRYSTALLIZED™
inensu’s latest app is Closet Swap – a platform that allows you to share clothes with your friends. Need a copper coloured handbag? Trawl through your mate’s wardrobe without lifting an Oyster card.
Nik worked with Dita Von Teese on her Wonderbra collaboration, and with Karl Lagerfeld on his Diet Coke venture.
What all successful online platforms have in common are the two key elements of content creation and interaction – we are all familiar with the concepts these days; commenting and ‘liking’ on Facebook, talking to people on Twitter, and more lately, Tumblr. Businesses have quickly jumped on board. “Everyone is now curating their social persona,” explains Nik. “Because all of this interaction is public, it’s an incredible opportunity for brands to understand what the consumer is saying straight away.”
So what we can we learn from this? That with the wealth of platforms available, you can find the one that’s right for your business. “Brands are starting to identify it as an opportunity,” Nik adds. There’s huge potential for perfecting the art of balancing supply and demand with custom-made platforms. “You can buy off the runway now, and essentially every click is a piece of information for the brand. It affects product – if X is more popular than Y, then why not distribute it further and wider? Six months down the line when it drops into store or online “officially”, there’s less wastage and it’s better for the environment.” It’s not just the Burberry’s of the world who can do this; in fact it’s easier for smaller brands, as they are closer to their customer.
So on the one hand, the consumer drives product – “The traditional production cycle doesn’t work any more – it’s about what the consumer wants in real time and getting it to them as quick as you can,” explains the panel.
On the other hand there will always be a place for the innovators – people like Steve Jobs who somehow know that what we really want is an iPad. And then they create it. Lauretta reiterates the famous quote attributed to Henry Ford, “If I'd asked my customers what they wanted, they'd have said a faster horse."
The Industry's MD, Courtney Blackman
The most prescient digital trend of late is the movement of retail brands into content publishing, it seems like every store has a blog (or more dubiously, a “magazine”) these days. “But how can you do that in a way that has integrity?” asks Lauretta.
It’s to do with quality. “A big moment was when Jeremy Langmead left Esquire to head up content at Mr Porter,” says Nik. “It showed the importance of having that kind of gravitas in terms of editorial. It wasn’t just an intern writing what they thought was going to be hot next week – it was an editor from the second biggest men’s magazine in the country.” Ultimately people are happy with getting all their information online these days. Nik postulates the slightly depressing thought that more people read their Facebook updates and RSS feeds than the newspapers.
So what’s next? “The next step is closing the loop,” says the panel, “but it’s more difficult for a magazine to move into retail than it is for a shop to create editorial.”
Watch this cyberspace.
Words: Hannah Kane, Editor at PHOENIX magazine
Photos: Sam Atkinson of Sam Atkinson Photography |
Harriet Bowe |
Burberry, Christopher Kane, Closet Swap, Courtney Blackman, Diet Coke, Dita Von Teese, Facebook, Futurist Panel, Hannah Kane, Henry Ford, inensu, iPad, Jeremy Langmead, KARL IS MY UNKLE, Karl Lagerfeld, Katie Bell, Khloe Kardashian, Lauretta Roberts, MR PORTER, Nik Thakkar, Paulina Bozek, Phoenix Magazine, Sam Atkinson, Stardoll, Steve Jobs, The Industry, Tumblr, Twitter, WGSN, Wonderbra |
Member Interview With Knock On The Door |
Industry member Charlotte Bramford set up Knock on the Door in 2009 after finding a gap in the ethical fashion market. Her revolutionary concept brings emerging design talent, best practice strategies and financial stability together to create a water tight business model. The Industry takes five minutes with Charlotte to find out more.
Christine Hall in collaboration with Knock on the Door
Tell us a little bit about what your company does and how you set up your business?
Knock on the Door head hunts emerging designers, often recent graduates, and commissions them to develop a capsule collection exclusively for us. We then produce the collection using ethical fabrics and UK manufacturers; however the range is sold under the designers’ name.
When looking to set up my own business I wanted a concept that was truly original. In 2009 I became interested in ethical fashion, an area I previously had no knowledge of, and the idea from Knock on the Door grew from there.
Ethical fashion had a niche market that was growing and spreading into the mainstream. However, many of the ethical fashion brands lacked a strong or directional fashion element. Then there were talented graduates who were leaving university full of creative ideas but often without the experience or funding to develop and produce them into a commercial collection. My idea was to combine the two. Knock on the Door would source the ethical fabrics and fund the manufacture; however the graduates would have their name on the finished garments.
The aim was to create a platform for talented designers to launch their career without them incurring crippling start up costs. In turn these future stars provide a much needed injection of style and creativity into the eco clothing market.
What is it that Knock on the Door look for in the emerging designers that you work with?
We have two main routes for finding designers. First is Graduate Fashion Week, which provides a fantastic opportunity to see hundreds of designers in one place. Second is through competition briefs we issue to our large database of designers. Applicants will send in illustrations and technical drawings of their entry. We will then assess them on various criteria, including their aesthetic appeal, the cost of production and the ability to source the relevant fabrics.
What do you think the future holds for a more ethical fashion industry?
Many of the larger retailers are becoming more aware of the need to implement sustainable practices into their supply chain and I hope this will continue. Ultimately it should be something which is done as a matter of course and not something which is done for publicity. Producing locally and supporting UK manufacture is something I encourage all new designers to do. It is important both for our economy and to prevent the loss of skills our manufacturing industry is facing.
Where would you like to see Knock on the Door in five years?
As word spreads that we work with new designers we receive more and more enquires asking where to source this, who manufactures that or just questions on general issues which new designers face. It is for this reason that we are currently developing a support package aimed at designers who are setting up their own label. Working with a few select designers, as we do at the moment, is good but being able to help hundreds more with the designer support package will be even better. We see this side of the business growing rapidly over the next few years, complementing our retail side and allowing us to add many more emerging designers to our website.
What other Industry members have you worked with?
The first member of The Industry I met was Courtney Blackman through an event at the Ethical Fashion Forum. After joining The Industry, and being a regular at their events, I discovered I already knew some of the members but the events also provided me with the opportunity to make some great new contacts. Most notable is Olivia Pinnock from TellusFashion, partly because I love the work they do with emerging designers but partly because Olivia is just a lot of fun!
Get in touch with Charlotte via The Industry Directory
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe |
Harriet Bowe |
Charlotte Bramford, Christine Hall, Courtney Blackman, Ethical Fashion Forum, Graduate Fashion Week, Harriet Bowe, Knock on the Door, Olivia Pinnock, TellusFashion, The Industry |
Fashion Monitor Welcomes The Rtw Season |
The Industry’s media partner, Fashion Monitor hosted the first of what will most likely be a regular seasonal event in the run up to the ready-to-wear season.
Hannah White being interviewed for 55TV
Industry member and editor of Fashion Monitor, Hannah White welcomed guests to Altitude 360 in London’s Millbank Tower and nitrogen cooked food was supplied by Nomad Food & Design.
Quite a few Industry members were dotted around the very crowded party: fashion designer, Francesca Marotta; brand strategist, Nik Thakkar; commercial director of Stardoll, Katie Bell and The Industry’s MD, Courtney Blackman.
Get in touch with Hannah White via The Industry Directory
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Harriet Bowe |
Courtney Blackman, Fashion Monitor, Francesca Marotta, Hannah White, Katie Bell, Nik Thakkar, Stardoll, The Industry |
Swarovski Crystallized™ And Helena Christensen’s Unsigned Model Search |
Stars of the red carpet and fashion celebrated The Industry’s venue partner, SWAROVSKI CRYSTALLIZED™ and Helena Christensen’s Unsigned Model Search.
Industry member Harold Tillman and Helena Christensen
Winners of the competition, Freya McHugh and Reece Sanders, wore exclusive SWAROVSKI CRYSTALIZED™ pieces as they mingled with guests at the SWAROVSKI CRYSTALLIZED™ concept store on Great Marlborough Street in London. Members of The Industry in attendance included Stine Brogaard, marketing operations manager of SWAROVSKI CRYSTALIZED™; Harold Tillman, Chairman of the British Fashion Council; Selma Day, editor of Mayfair Times and Courtney Blackman, MD of The Industry.
The SWAROVSKI CRYSTALLIZED™ S/S 2012 advertising campaign featuring Freya and Reece, was shot by Christensen in her capacity as photographer. The campaign will be feature in the UK, the US, China and Austria throughout the spring/summer 2012 season.
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Harriet Bowe |
British Fashion Council, Courtney Blackman, Freya McHugh, Harold Tillman, Helena Christensen, Mayfair Times, Reece Sanders, Selma Day, Stine Brogaard, Swarovski Crystallized |
Member Interview With Alan Black |
Industry member Alan Black is the Commercial Director of luxury womenswear label, Liz Black. Originally from a legal background, Alan talks about how his business acumen combined with Liz's creativity has forged a winning combination.
Liz Black, founder & designer
Liz Black has seen great recognition in just two years, how did you go about setting up the label in 2010?
After graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2010, Liz had to decide between setting up her own label straight away or working for another designer first. We both have previous experience of setting up and running businesses (albeit in different industries) so that part of it didn't scare us, and Liz felt that the best way for her to express her own creative ideas was to have the freedom that comes with being her own boss – so we decided to create Liz Black and try to make it work! Liz's training at Central Saint Martins and the experience she gained through working with other established designers, along with my own legal and business background gave us both the confidence to make that leap.
How has Liz Black grown since then?
We started working from our flat in Central London but within a very short space of time we outgrew that with the need for larger cutting tables, sewing machines and freelance help. We moved into our current studio premises in Holborn and quickly acquired the equipment we needed to be able to develop the collections more easily. We have since exhibited our collections in a number of countries and are currently working with PR and sales agents in order to become more established. Liz Black pieces often appear in magazine editorials and online publications and we receive celebrity requests from the likes of Lady Gaga and Jessie J.
Where do you see Liz Black in 5 years?
We have a small number of stockists in the UK and abroad, but our aim is to increase our presence in carefully targeted high-end boutiques, department stores and concept stores. We would also like to achieve recognition from one of the major organisations, for example NewGen, Vauxhall Fashion Scout, BFC etc. and to have shown on-schedule during London Fashion Week within the next five years.
What other Industry members have you worked with?
I met The Industry MD, Courtney Blackman at a legal seminar last year, being a lawyer by background. We also exhibited our collection recently in Germany alongside another UK label, HEMYCA, who was an Industry member and recommended the club to me. I'm looking forward to meeting other members in order to expand our connections in the industry, especially amongst potential stockists.
Get in touch with Alan via The Industry Directory
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe |
Harriet Bowe |
Alan Black, BFC, Central Saint Martins, Courtney Blackman, Harriet Bowe, HEMYCA, Jessie J, Lady Gaga, Liz Black, London Fashion Week, NewGen, The Industry, Vauxhall Fashion Scout |
Sapphires Model Management Look To Expand In 2012 |
Industry members, Neely Reyes and Iain Warren, co-director of Sapphires Model Management have announced plans to expand their award-winning model agency thanks to private equity investment.
Neely Reyes & Iain Warren
Since starting up in 2005, a small loan of £3,000 generated rapid growth seeing the company move from the Midlands to London in May 2011. Less than a year on and they have relocated to the prestigious South Molton Street – only a few steps from Bond Street tube station. To add to this, they are taking on two more members of booking staff and developing a brand new website set to launch in February. We catch up with co-founder Neely Reyes to find out what the money means to their business, both now and in the future.
Iain and Neely with new staff Florian and Russell
How did Sapphires secure the funding?
Through a private deal.
How will this space help grow the business?
We now have our own photo studio and casting room. We can build models’ portfolios and work with photographers in-house. In addition, clients are welcome to make use of the space to hold their castings.
Where do you want to see Sapphires in 5 years?
We are very proud of what we have achieved to date. Sapphires Model Management has grown organically up until now and this investment will help to really push the brand to get the recognition it deserves over the coming months and years. We founded this agency just over 5 years ago and we sometimes forget how much we’ve achieved in that space of time...the sky really is the limit for the next five!
What Industry members have you worked with?
We have worked with a few members, such as Courtney Blackman, Martyn Roberts, John Wolford, Daisy de Villeneuve and Lauretta Roberts. We have made some great contacts through the group and hope to work with new members such as Nina Patel in the near future.
Get in touch with Neely and Iain via The Industry Directory.
By The Industry's Features Editor, Harriet Bowe |
Harriet Bowe |
Courtney Blackman, Daisy de Villeneuve, Harriet Bowe, Iain Warren, John Walford, Lauretta Roberts, Martyn Roberts, Neely Reyes, Nina Patel, Sapphires Model Management, The Industry |
The Industry's Futurist Panel |
To welcome 2012, The Industry, the members only club for fashion professionals, is looking into the future.
The Industry at Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ by Sam Atkinson
On the 25th of January at Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™, The Industry will be hosting an informative debate with a panel of three professionals: Katie Bell, Nik Thakkar and Paulina Bozek, who have in the past played an active role to formulate the present state of British fashion, and at present are busy shaping its future.
Chaired by Industry advisor, Lauretta Roberts, Director of WGSN Boutique and the WGSN Gobal Fashion Awards (WGSN is the world’s leading global trend forecaster), the panel will include the following shakers and makers: Katie Bell, Creative Director of Stardoll, a virtual community website where the next generation of consumers is encouraged to create their own fashion world. It is one of few places on the Internet developed with an emphasis on girls' self-expression through fantasy and fashion play. What do Stardoll’s young players have to tell us about the future of fashion? Katie will be giving The Industry and its members exclusive insight.
Katie Bell of Stardoll
Nik Thakkar, industry leading brand content and publicity strategist who has co-pioneered a broad range of award-winning global entertainment and fashion campaigns including Wonderbra by Dita Von Teese, the Diet Coke by Karl Lagerfeld collaboration, creative content for LVMH, the launch of Kinect for Xbox 360 along with project work with trend forecasters, breakthrough pop stars and digital startups. Specialising in brand development and influence, Nik creates bespoke campaigns for brands within the digital space. How should brands communicate with their audience and potential market? And, how will this change and develop in the coming years? Does digital blur the lines between editorial and commercial? And, does this blur impinge on consumer rights?
Nik Thakkar
Paulina Bozek, CEO of inensu, a creative studio developing social and mobile applications and digital experiences for the connected generation. Recent projects include ‘Closet Swap’ – a social fashion platform developed in collaboration with Channel 4. As the name suggests ‘Closet Swap’ encourages the exchange of garments between friends, promoting the enlargement of an environmentally friendly closet. Is swapping clothes a trend only viable during a recession? Or is it here to stay? And, if so how will it affect the fashion industry? And how will applications that mime existing social behaviour affect the future of fashion consumption?
Paulina Bozek of inensu
Managing Director of The Industry, Courtney Blackman, says, “This is an Industry meeting not to be missed. We’ve pulled in three of the most talented and inspiring individuals who are shaping fashion’s future, and aren’t we all thinking about the future of our businesses? Collectively the panel’s experiences and knowledge need to be heard by any fashion professionals making plans for their business for the next 5, 10 and 20 years. Personally, as a fashion PR, I am intrigued to find out more about the future of brand communications.”
To apply for membership with The Industry, visit our JOIN page, or email: membership@theindustrylondon.com
By The Industry's Press Director, Penelope Sacorafou
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Harriet Bowe |
Channel 4, Closet Swap, Courtney Blackman, Diet Coke, Dita Von Teese, Global Fashion Awards, inensu, Karl Lagerfeld, Katie Bell, Kinect, Lauretta Roberts, LVMH, Nik Thakkar, Paulina Bozek, Penelope Sacorafou, Sam Atkinson, Stardoll, Swarovski Crystallized, The Industry, WGSN, WGSN Boutique, Wonderbra, Xbox 360 |
Master Class - A Legal Recap |
On the 30th of November, members of The Industry gathered at the V&A Reading Rooms for the first Master Class created by The Industry exclusively for its members.
Members at the V&A Reading Rooms
It was the launch of a series of scheduled master classes by The Industry, a new feature to its annual progamme since its recent re-brand. The V&A Reading Rooms provided a relaxed environment while the presentation by Tahir Basheer, longtime member of The Industry, and his colleague Daniela Cohen from Sheridans law firm was inspirational and informative.
The audience was as diverse as it could possibly be, reflective of The Industry's ethos and mission to represent a real cross section of Britain's fashion industry. Corrie Nielsen, an award-winning fashion designer whose garments have recently been worn by Kelly Rowland on the X Factor; Dynasty occassionwear founder and managing director, Bhavin Shah, Reemé Idris, stylist and fashion journalist for The Collective, Derek Haughton, director of Iconic who supplies accessories to the High Street, photographers Vanessa Warren and Sam Atkinson, editors Hannah White and Sabina Emrit of Fashion Monitor and ACCESS-FASHION respectively and Lupe Castro stylist and champion of environmental practices in the fashion industry and many more.
Tahir Basheer
Tahir, opened the Master Class touching on crucial issues such as copyrights and distinguishing between registered and unregistered. Tahir advised the group to keep a timeline of their ideas and aspirations particularly those that have been shared with a wider audience. Understanding that registered copyrights may easily be restricted by the allocated budget initially injected by the respective creators, a detailed and chronological documentation of ideas, creations and aspirations will protect to an extent all initial plans. Tahir also distinguished between UK and EU copyright laws advising all The Industry members that the EU copyright law protects ideas far more than that of the UK's. The same goes for design rights though these on the whole are far more complicated to prove their origins, uniqueness and originality.
Tahir advised that the registration of copyrights is something that should feature and be taken into account in all 5-year business plans.
Daniela Cohen
Following Tahir's presentation Daniela embarked on the complications of employment law. Daniela touched on pressing issues such as employment confidentiality particularly concerning freelance contracts. In addition to this the growing practice of hiring interns. Though internships are a popular alternative particularly in the current financial climate, maintaining a casual relationship is a must especially when full time employment is not a prospect for the intern. Again, confidentiality clauses are mandatory even in the established casual relationship between the two parties. Daniela warned against any additional company perks being handed out to interns - as this may give the impression of prospective full-time employment.
A captivated audience
In the case of freelance contracts the issue of paid holidays came up. Daniela warned members, many of whom are company proprietors, that holiday entitlement is mandatory, but the right is to paid leave rather than payment in lieu. Payment in lieu of holiday entitlement should only ever be an issue on termination.
The presentation from Sheridans law firm was an overview of many of the issues that creatives need to have in mind from the get go. Upon leaving, all present were offered legal advice outside of the Master Class with Daniela and Tahir sharing their contact details and extending future assistance and advice. On the whole, as a member of The Industry and as the proprietor of my own company The Industry's first Master Class left me itching for more information while at the same time more aware of the legislature involved that will undoubtedly guarantee a more sustainable growth and progress of my business.
By Penelope Sacorafou, Press Director of The Industry and Managing Director of Fox & Squirrel
Images by Rupsi Gill for The Industry
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Harriet Bowe |
ACCESS FASHION, Bhavin Shah, Copyrights, Corrie Nielsen, Courtney Blackman, Daniela Cohen, Derek Haughton, Dynasty, Eemé Idris, Employment Law, Fashion Law, Fashion Monitor, Fox&Squirrel, Hannah White, Iconic, interns, Laura McCluskey, Lupe Castro, Penelope Sacorafou, Rupsi Gill, Sabina Emrit, Sam Atkinson, Sheridans, Tahir Bashir, The Collective, The Industry, Trademarks, V&A Reading Rooms, Vanessa Warren |
The Industry's First Master Class |
The Industry has added master classes to its annual schedule of fashion business-focused networking events and the first one sees a collaboration with the V&A Reading Rooms and law firm, Sheridans.
The V&A Reading Rooms
Taking place on the 30th of November at 5:00pm, Sheridans will be advising fashion professionals on issues such as copyrights, branding, media and entertainment legislature, and employment law. The event is geared both to start-ups, emerging enterprises and established businesses that need a review.
Sheridans started over 50 years ago and has since been at the forefront of the fashion and media industries and their constant evolution. Sheridans’ lawyers Tahir Basheer and Daniela Cohen will be leading The Industry’s first Master Class.
Tahir’s expertise lies in management, exploitation and protection of intellectual property rights across all areas of media and entertainment including music, computer games, e-commerce, sport, fashion and merchandising. He advises corporate entities, entrepreneurs, high net worth individuals, up-and-coming artists, musicians, designers and creative industry management teams, both within the UK and abroad on everything from trademarks to the development of new business models and distribution channels. Tahir founded Sheridan’s Technology practice and has built a reputation for highly commercial advice in digital media. He is a member of the International Association of Entertainment Lawyers, a guest lecturer at Kings College London University for Creative Business Entrepreneur students and a longstanding member of The Industry.
At the same time Daniella Cohen will be advising the audience on employment law. Her experience includes advising on staff handbooks, manuals and employment contracts for multinational companies, as well as advising on global re-structuring and integration projects. She also devises sophisticated in-house training programs, co-ordinates multi-jurisdictional advice for European and US clients and prepares guidance on various employment issues, including flexible working arrangements, disciplinary and grievance procedures and changes to terms and conditions.
The Industry’s master class with Tahir Basheer and Daniella Cohen is a developmental event that will equip members with the knowledge and understanding to grow their businesses at a strong and sustainable pace.
“I’m delighted that we’ve added master classes to our annual programme. As a professional and small business owner in the fashion industry, I know how important it is to get the legal and business fundamentals right. I hope our members are able to take away practical information to help their businesses grow.” Courtney Blackman, Managing Director, The Industry
Find out more here: The Industry Events
Membership Enquires?: Laura McCluskey: membership@theindustrylondon.com
Press Enquiries?: Penelope Sacorafou: press@theindustrylondon.com
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Harriet Bowe |
Courtney Blackman, Daniela Cohen, Fashion, Master Class, Sheridans, Tahir Bashir, The Industry, V&A Reading Rooms |
The Industry At The British Fashion Awards |
The British Fashion Awards have been on the fashion calendar since 1989 - an evolution of the British Fashion Council’s Designer of the Year Award. The awards celebrate British designers, creatives and models, and The Industry was there for the 2011 edition.
London's Savoy hotel was the setting for the ceremony and a cluster of members from The Industry were there to show support.
Winners are as follows:
Designer of the Year Award - Sarah Burton
New Establishment Award - Christopher Kane
Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator - Sam Gainsbury
Red Carpet Award - Stella McCartney
Designer Brand Award - Victoria Beckham
Emerging Talent Award - Womenswear - Mary Katrantzou
Emerging Talent Award - Accessories - Tabitha Simmons
Emerging Talent Award - Menswear - Christopher Raeburn
Menswear Designer Award - Kim Jones
Model Award - Stella Tennant
Accessory Designer of the Year Award - Charlotte Dellal
Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Award - Sir Paul Smith
British Style Award - Alexa Chung
Who was there from The Industry? Chairman of the British Fashion Council, Harold Tillman; Editor of VOGUE.COM, Dolly Jones; Creative Director of Bally, Michael Herz; Founder & Editor-in-Chief of the Business of Fashion, Imran Amed; model and writer, Laura Bailey; Market Operating Manager at Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™, Stine Brogaard; Editor of Fashion Monitor, Hannah White and The Industry's MD, Courtney Blackman.
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Harriet Bowe |
Alexa Chung, Bally, British Fashion Awards, British Fashion Council, Business of Fashion, Charlotte Dellal, Christopher Kane, Christopher Raeburn, Courtney Blackman, Dolly Jones, Fashion Monitor, Hannah White, Harold Tillman, Imran Amed, Kim Jones, Laura Bailey, Mary Katrantzou, Michael Herz, Sam Gainsbury, Sarah Burton, Savoy, Sir Paul Smith, Stella McCartney, Stella Tennant, Stine Brogaard, Swarovski Crystallized, Tabitha Simmons, The Industry, Victoria Beckham, Vogue.com |
See You At The Summit |
If you’ve been wondering why certain members of The Industry have been a little quieter on the email than usual over the last couple of days, the answer is that they’ve been congregating at the Drapers Fashion Summit, set in the sumptuous surroundings of One Whitehall Place.
Rebekah Roy
Fashion stylist Rebekah Roy wins the award for most in-demand member – not only styling the graduate catwalk show, but also sitting on panels for two sessions: “Trends Lab: 2012 – what’s hot and what’s not” and “What makes a brand ‘cool’ – creating a cult following”, hosted by the Industry’s very own fearless leader, Courtney Blackman. Never far from the action was Forward PR and The Industry’s Laura McCluskey, working autumn’s caramel leather to perfection.
One of the summit highlights was the aforementioned graduate catwalk show, featuring designs from Dominique Kral (Northbrook), Camilla Woodman (Kingston), Estee Anna Lindley (UCL), Kate Wallis (Westminster), Ume Romaan (De Montfort), and last year’s Graduate Fashion Week’s Gold Award winner, Rory Longdon (NTU). Thanks to GFW title sponsors George, from Monday 21st November you’ll be able to purchase a capsule collection of Longdon’s pieces online and in selected ASDA stores.
Neely Reyes & Ian Warren
Neely Reyes and Ian Warren, Directors of Sapphires Model Management, were on hand to provide girls for the show – with Martyn Roberts, Director of Fashion Scout and recently appointed Director of Graduate Fashion Week looking eerily calm as his team prepped hair and make up.
Also spotted around the venue: Stine Brogaard, Market Operation Manager of Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ (providers of The Industry’s amazing location on Great Marlborough Street); as well as Clare Tristam, Employability Manager at London College of Fashion; Clare Morgan, Owner of Clamor Fashion Agency; Sarah Curran, Founder & CEO of my-wardrobe.com; Reemé N. Idris, Stylist & Producer at The Collective and Suzy Socker, Managing Director at Fearnhurst PR.
Other Industry members have also been having an eventful few days, with Corrie Nielsen part of a panel of young designers talking about the future of fashion, still on a high from X Factor judge Kelly Rowland wearing a look from her AW12 collection on the show last Sunday.
Kelly Rowland in Corrien Nielsen via VOGUE.COM UK
At the end of the day, over a glass or two of wine, I caught up with the legal profession’s most rock and roll lawyer Tahir Bashir, Partner at Sheridans Solicitors to talk Black Sabbath and Intellectual Property Law – the man himself will be running a master class for members on November 30th on sustainable growth, IP, brand protection, and fashion collaborations. Check out the EVENTS page for more information.
By Hannah Kane, Editor, PHOENIX magazine
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Harriet Bowe |
Asda, Camilla Woodman, Clare Morgan Clamor, Clare Tristam, Corrie Nielsen, Courtney Blackman, Dominique Kral, Drapers Fashion Summit, Estee Anna Lindley, FAshion Scout, Fearnhurst PR, Graduate Fashion Week, Hannah Kane, Kate Wallis, Laura McCluskey, London College of Fashion, Martyn Roberts, my-wardrobe.com, Neely Reyes and Ian Warren, One Whitehall Place, Phoenix, Rebekah Roy, Reeme Idris, Rory Longdon, Sapphires Model, Sarah Curran, Sheridans, Stine Brogaard, Suzy Socker, Swarovski Crystallized, Tahir Bashir, The Collective, The Industry, Ume Romaan |
The Industry At The 2011 Drapers Fashion Summit |
The Drapers Fashion Summit is in its 11th year and is taking place on the 15th and 16th of November at One Whitehall Place in London. Providing comprehensive and exclusive insight from top industry leaders within fashion, the Summit offers vital advice on business growth in a changing and challenging environment.
2010 Drapers Fashion Summit
The Industry is a partner to this year’s Summit and several members will also participate in the event as panel speakers, Advisory Board members, and of course as attendees.
Members of The Industry who are involved include Lauretta Roberts and Harold Tillman CBE, who both sit on the Advisory Board. Lauretta is the Creative Director of WGSN Boutique and Director of the WGSN Global Fashion Awards, while Harold is the Chairman and CEO of Jaeger, Aquascutum and the British Fashion Council.
Panellists from The Industry include: Dolly Jones, Editor of VOGUE.COM who is talking about ‘what’s hot and what’s not’ in Trend Lab: 2012; fashion stylist Rebekah Roy is on the ‘what makes a brand “cool”’ panel, which is being hosted by The Industry’s Managing Director, Courtney Blackman. Sarah Curran, CEO of my-wardrobe.com will be discussing technology’s impact on fashion; designer, Corrie Nielsen will be talking about the future of British fashion and Frances Card, COO of Matches is presenting on the establishment of an online presence that drives sales.
Industry member Suzy Socker, Managing Director of Fearnhurst PR won The Industry’s Twitter competition and a free pass to attend the Summit! If you would like to attend the 2011 Drapers Fashion Summit, book your place by clicking here. |
Harriet Bowe |
Aquascutum, British Fashion Council, Corrie Nielsen, Courtney Blackman, Dolly Jones, Drapers Fashion Summit, Fearnhurst PR, Frances Card, Harold Tillman, Jaeger, Lauretta Roberts, Matches, my-wardrobe.com, One Whitehall Place, Rebekah Roy, Sarah Curran, Suzy Socker, The Industry, Twitter, Vogue.com, WGSN Boutique, WGSN Global Fashion Awards |
Denim Retailer Donna Ida Hits The Hot Seat |
On the 26th of October The Industry will host its quarterly ‘Network & Expert’ meeting at venue partner, Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™. The event commences at 5:00pm and will feature denim and retail guru, Donna Ida interviewed by Dolly Jones, editor of VOGUE.COM UK and long serving advisor to The Industry. These two acclaimed fashion minds are a force to be reckoned with and The Industry is proud to bring them together to discuss fashion business.
Donna, founder of Donna Ida understands consumer needs, ultimately the search for the perfect pair of jeans. She has managed to master retail with a steady but dynamic expansion of her eponymous chain of stores and e-commerce offering. In an era that has threatened most retailers, Donna Ida opened her first shop in 2006 on Draycott Avenue in London’s upmarket Chelsea and in 2008 she launched her services online at www.donnaida.com, including her famed ‘Denim Clinic’. Her next bricks and mortar store landed in Westfield’s luxury Village, clearly solidifying Donna on the retail map.
The beginning of 2010 saw the launch of Donna’s third boutique on Belgravia’s Elizabeth Street and finally in 2011, Donna Ida opened a fourth denim concept boutique in the gorgeous heart of Surrey - Guildford. Courtney Blackman, managing director of The Industry says, “Donna is the embodiment of a fashion business entrepreneur. In five years she has built up the UK’s, if not the world’s most renowned denim empire. Starting with a London-based boutique in 2006, Donna now has four stores including a boutique at Westfield and an online offering that ships globally. If anyone can map out a retail expansion plan for our members, it’s Donna Ida.”
The growing popularity of her brand has rebuked the current trend that has witnessed so many retailers under threat. How has Donna Ida achieved this? What advice does she have to share with members of The Industry?
Donna Ida will be in conversation with Dolly Jones who says, “I’ve been a fan of Donna Ida’s since she opened her first store in 2006 – her enthusiasm and dedication to her clients is impressive, both in store and online. It’s going to be interesting to chat to her about both platforms and how she handles each separately. She’s been a huge supporter of VOGUE.COM since we’ve known each other, taking on our plans for 2010’s Fashion’s Night In and this year’s first ever Online Fashion Week with inspiring energy – so I’m looking forward to finding out how she does it all.”
Would you like to join The Industry? The Industry exists to unite and evolve the global fashion community. It facilitates unique thought, powerful collaboration and innovative experience through rare interactions with industry icons at world-class venues. The Industry connects the very people who are shaping the future of fashion and it operates as a vetted members organisation, allowing for select media to attend events.
Members include home-grown and internationals, well-known and aspiring designers, journalists, photographers, stylists, buyers, make-up artists, PRs, brand managers and more.
The Industry’s venue partner is Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™, its managing director is Courtney Blackman and the advisory panel is made up of: designer, illustrator and author, Daisy de Villeneuve; VOGUE.COM UK’S editor, Dolly Jones; Matches’ COO, Frances Card; WGSN’s Lauretta Roberts; Bally’s creative director, Michael Herz; and retail consultant, creative director and trend forecaster, Yasmin Sewell.
You can apply for membership online by clicking here: JOIN The Industry
For membership enquiries: Laura McCluskey: membership@theindustrylondon.com
For press enquiries: Penelope Sacorafou: press@theindustrylondon.com |
Harriet Bowe |
Bally, Courtney Blackman, Daisy de Villeneuve, Dolly Jones, Donna Ida, Frances Card, Lauretta Roberts, Matches, Michael Herz, Swarovski Crystallized, The Industry, Vogue.com uk, WGSN, Yasmin Sewell |
The Industry Wins At The 2011 Wgsn Global Fashion Awards |
Congratulations to two longstanding members of The Industry who won at this year’s WGSN Global Fashion Awards.
This was the second annual awards ceremony of what has quickly become one of the most prestigious accolades in fashion. Frances Card, COO of Matches took to the stage to collect the prize for Outstanding Brand Mix, while Sarah Curran, CEO of my-wardrobe.com collected the award for Outstanding Customer Experience.
Frances Card of Matches
Sarah Curran of my-wardrobe.com
Judges this year included several members of The Industry: Michael Herz, creative director of Bally; Dolly Jones, Editor or VOGUE.COM UK; Annette and Daniela Felder of Felder Felder; Navaz Batliwalla, a.k.a. Disneyrollergirl; designer, illustrator and author, Daisy de Villeneuve; Nicola Woods of Beautiful Soul; fashion stylist Rebekah Roy and editor of Fashion Monitor, Hannah White.
Hundreds of guests packed into New York’s Gotham Hall and amongst them were Nadja Swarovski, Coco Rocha, Anna Sui and The Industry’s managing director, Courtney Blackman.
Earlier in the day, a brunch was hosted by WGSN at Mondrian SoHo to choose the 2011 SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS ‘Winner of Winners’ Award. A grand jury made up of WGSN CEO Susanna Kempe, Nadja Swarovski, Harvey Nichols’ Averyl Oates, Michelle Mone and Industry members Courtney Blackman, Frances Card and Sarah Curran. They selected NET-A-PORTER to receive the ultimate GFA honour.
Averyl Oates, Courtney Blackman & Frances Card
Industry member Lauretta Roberts is the director of the awards, which were launched in 2010 to recognize and reward innovative international talent and achievement within the fashion industry. Lauretta says, “The Global Fashion Awards is a truly global event. Attracting entries from countries such as the USA, the UK, Israel, China, Norway, Australia, Japan, China, India, France, Mexico, Brazil, Italy, Sweden, Spain and Hong Kong, this is the only place you will find future stars being heralded alongside some of fashion’s best-known names. With an impressive judging panel of industry greats, fashion experts and icons, this is the only award that celebrates innovation and excellence on a unique peer-to-peer platform.”
Congratulations to Lauretta, Frances and Sarah.
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Harriet Bowe |
Anna Sui, Averyl Oates, Bally, Coco Rocha, Courtney Blackman, Daisy de Villeneuve Beautiful Soul, Disneyrollergirl, Dolly Jones, Fashion Monitor, Felder Felder, Frances Card, Hannah White, Harvey Nichols, Lauretta Roberts, Matches, Michael Herz, Michelle Mone, my-wardrobe.com, Nadja Swarovski, Net-a-Porter, Rebekah Roy, Sarah Curran, Susanna Kempe, Swarovski Elements, The Industry, Vogue.com uk, WGSN Global Fashion Awards |
The 2011 Wgsn Global Fashion Awards |
Long standing member and advisor to The Industry, Lauretta Roberts, created a fashion awards scheme in 2010 to encompass the entire world and the full spectrum of elements that make up an evolve global industry.
The second annual WGSN Global Fashion Awards take place on 20 October 2011 in New York City at Gotham Hall - one of the city’s most acclaimed architectural spaces.
Sponsored by SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS, the black tie event will play host to the top players in the retail and design world including Animale Brasil, Barbour, Dr. Martens, Guardian Media Group, Imagine Fashion, London College of Fashion, Moda Operandi, Net-a-Porter, Not Just a Label, Parsons Paris, Qui Hao Studio, Topshop and We Are Handsome.
There is not another event in the world that brings the international fashion community together like the WGSN Global Fashion Awards and Lauretta, who sits on the advisory panel of The Industry and is the director of the WGSN Global Fashion Awards says, “We launched the awards last fall to great success and since announcing the second annual GFA’s earlier in the year, we have been inundated with award entries and requests to attend by those working across the fashion industry from all corners. We had no choice but to move to a larger venue that could accommodate an audience that had grown six-fold. This year’s ceremony will provide an unprecedented opportunity for networking across the industry with a global reach and give guests the opportunity to meet the fashion world’s best.”
Created in 2010 to recognise and reward those who are laying the foundation for the future of the fashion industry, the Global Fashion Awards is a call to recognize high-level achievement.
This year, in conjunction with the SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS sponsorship, there is a new Grand Prix ‘Winner of Winners’ Award’. The judging panel of this award includes The Industry’s managing director, Courtney Blackman, Industry member Sarah Curran, CEO of my-wardrobe.com, Nadja Swarovski, Averyl Oates of Harvey Nichols and a further assembly of some of fashion’s top business professionals from around the globe.
If you would like to attend the 2011 WGSN Global Fashion Awards, you can book your space by visiting: www.globalfashionawards.com
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Harriet Bowe |
Averyl Oates, Barbour, Courtney Blackman, Dr. Martens, Gotham Hall, Guardian, Harvey Nichols, Imagine Fashion, Lauretta Roberts, London College of Fashion, Moda Operandi, my-wardrobe, Nadja Swarovski, Net-a-Porter, Not Just a Label, Parsons, Sarah Curran, Swarovski Elements, Topshop, We Are Handsome, WGSN Global Fashion Awards |
Reemé N. Idris And The Influencer Conference - London |
Industry member Reemé N. Idris is co-producing the first London edition of the Influencers Conference on October 6th and 7th. The Influencer Conference 2011 is a content platform designed to bring together tastemakers and influencers in technology, marketing and advertising, arts and music, philanthropy and entrepreneurship to discuss the current and future landscape of Influencer culture.
We catch up with Reemé for an exclusive interview.
What is your role in the event?
The conference, founded by Philip McKenzie of FREEDMC kicked off in NYC last year and expands to both London and Berlin this year - my role has been to co-produce London's conference and introduce the concept, helping build relationships between it and partners such as British Council & Courvoisier's The Future 500 as well as Sandbox who I came through.
It's been fantastic to bring other collaborations together with the likes of The Industry, The Neon Birdcage, Canvas8 not to mention lots of other dynamic individuals who have shared my enthusiasm for the opportunities for insight the conference is set to bring about.
Aside from the more obvious production related aspects, I've been really excited to work with our venue host Alice Fung of the new Hub Westminster, who runs parallel with the conference and aims to encourage open discussion and collaboration between change-makers and start ups, all within what's set to be a rather amazing space. We've been doing most of our pre-production in the construction site that is currently been made-over by Alice and her team in the nick of time to host our event. So whilst we're really thrilled to have found such a perfect fit with Hub Westminster, navigating this launch has required a bit more imagination and flexibility (not to mention faith) than usual!
I'm looking forward to getting the London edition off the ground for what's set to be some very insightful conversation.
How long have you been working as a stylist and producer? Are your two roles always separate or do they converge on many projects?
I began styling quite by accident for niche music magazines back in 2008. While I was putting myself forward for written based roles, the opportunities to style instead were offered... Production related work has rolled off of the back of that, as you'll often find yourself organising shoots taking cues from the client and facilitating the other creatives on the same project.
Personally, I've found that while the two roles can of course be separated; demand for my own input has always been due to elements found in a production related capacity as opposed to one as a fashion stylist, although my background in that is nevertheless invaluable.
How have you used The Industry to create new business for The Collective by Reemé and Nina?
Whilst I was always aware of the direct contacts and new working relationships that being part of The Industry would encourage, the speakers and contributors to the live events have spurred me on personally and creatively to progress my own business - whether it be by re affirming my own ideas or instilling a new perspective, I've found the like minded nature of other members extremely rewarding.
The Industry's MD Courtney Blackman will be moderating the panel discussion The Art of Storytelling - Defeat, Triumph & the Journey at the Influencer Conference while The Industry's editor, Rebekah Roy will be a panellist.
Members of The Industry are invited to the evening cocktail receptions that will take place on both of the conference days. Attendees will have an opportunity to network and mingle with fellow panelists and delegates.. For more information please contact Reemé via The Industry Directory.
For details about the Influencer Conference, click here.
Posted by The Industry |
Harriet Bowe |
British Council, Canvas8, Courtney Blackman, Courvoisier Future 500, Hub Westminster, Influencers Conference, Neon Birdcage, Rebekah Roy, Reeme Idris, Sandbox |
