Lee Lapthorne FBC member is a textile designer,  curator, catwalk show producer and creative director of The Doll and On|Off .

What’s happening at OnOff?
LL - At our new venue (Victoria House, WC1B 4DA) we have 16 catwalk shows and presentations this February 19 - 22nd, and 26 exhibition designers and artists. Our official party on 20th will feature none other that Neneh Cherry (last season Soul II Soul wowed the guests by performing live with Caron Wheeler) and a succession of secret gigs planned sometime over the event in aid of a charity working with children who survived the Haiti earthquake.

What are the highlights?
LL - We are really excited that J Maskery is following Pam Hogg’s successful come back steps in choosing On|Off to launch her new collection. And it’s our selection of debuting designers including On|Off Presents…(Friday 19th at 19:00hrs) that we are most excited about. Known for discovering and launching Mark Fast, Hannah Marshall and Richard Sorger, this season’s collections are focused and successful. Hosting Roksanda Ilincic’s show, known for her refined and beautifully crafted demi-couture pieces, is a huge honor for this season. Moreover, included in our exhibition are show pieces from Alexander Koutny’s Victoria Secrets catwalk show collaboration. Oh and not forgetting our limited edition travel wallets, this season designed by the renowned illustrator Richard Gray.

How long have you been producing shows for?
LL - I’ve been producing shows since 1996, but I am known for the creative shows I produced for Preen, Red or Dead and Robert Cary Williams (his famous ice dress, and the horse show were highlights). I’ve produced and directed shows that span the full spectrum of fashion from, to name a few, shows for Gucci, Hackett, Graduate Fashion Week, ‘Make me a super model’, ‘Britain’s Next Top Model’ and more, recently directing the vast Clothes Show Live and London main theatre shows.

What other project does On|Off have coming up?
LL - Due to the success of last season’s On|Off Paris Fashion Week showroom, we are managing our showroom for its second season, displaying the best of On|Off fashion collections for sale to international buyers. We are also producing short industry On|Off.tv films for the website and a unique blog. We are also currently researching ideas for new directions for the brand in support of the industry at large.

What’s your fashion background?
LL - I have an extensive fashion background, starting as a training manager for the Sears group in the late 80’s, to visual merchandising for Top Shop/Man and working in the creative team for shop refits whilst studying for my degree, graduating in 1996. I then won a bursary to study for my Textiles (for Fashion and Architecture) Masters, which I completed with distinction in 1998. In 1997 I worked for Zowie Broach on a pop video for the band Suede, who encouraged me to use my skills in producing and directing fashion shows. In 1998, I produced my first LFW show for Emma Cook and my production career grew from there… In 2001 I was invited back to the University I graduated from to run the MA Fashion Course for the UCE, where I gained the endorsement from Alexander McQueen to change its direction. I have continued to lecture in fashion and textiles at numerous institutions and I have helped to validate new University courses. I have just been appointed as the External Examiner at Central Saint Martin’s for the Textiles Degree course. I started On|Off in 2003, when no other initiatives like On|Off existed, supporting designers to showcase and sell their collections. I continue my hands on approach to support debuting designers showcasing at On|Off, such as Mark Fast and Yang Du. In 2009 I launched my own textiles range of mens fashion accessories with designer Clare Copland and our first collection debuted at Harvey Nichols Knightsbridge, London. I am currently working on a new fashion event, which will be launched in September 2010.

For more information visit On|Off.

FBC member Bryce Aime will be showing his A/W 2010 collection this London Fashion Week at OnOff on February, Saturday 20th at 11.30am.

For more information contact info@bryce-aime.com

FBC member Anna Brett is the MD of The Image Studio. Anna’s work is long done before the rest of us see it at London Fashion Week.They specializes in manufacturing high end fashion designer wear in central London. They’ve worked with some of London’s best talent including Vivienne Westwood, Marios Schwab, Peter Pilotto, William Tempest, Emilio de la Morena. The Image Studio won the Topshop Award Winner for Product Innovation.

Anna Brett - “We are extremely busy here at Image Studio Production, helping both established and hot new designers translate their creative designs for LFW into fabulous reality! Just wait until you see this seasons catwalks as we are already really excited about some of the new samples coming out!

For more information on The Image Studio contact annabrett.image@zen.co.uk.

Catwalk Show - Felder Felder
FBC Members Daniela and Annette Felder
Date: 19 February 2010
Time: 18:15
Bloomsbury Ballroom
37 -63 Bloomsbury Square
London, WC1B 4DA
ticket requests:
buyers: sales@felderfelder.com
press: sarah.hendrey@goodleypr.co.uk

Fashion Business Club (FBC) is dedicated to coming together every two months, treating its members to high-profile industry guests, refreshments and goodies to take home. But for those members who can’t make it to the meetings, FBC provides filmed interviews of every one of its events via FBCtv.  Course, the behind the scenes of this process is a bit different than setting up the beautiful Swarvoski CRYSTALLIZED™ venue in all its glittering glory.

Every edit starts with a vision and trying to encompass as much as possible into the short span of 10 minutes.  When it revolves around 40 minutes of takes though, you can imagine how much FBC struggles to cut down the film- especially when we love absolutely everything! Adding graphics and FX credits comes next, while at the same time incorporating some talking heads, usually co-chairs Alison Whelan and Courtney Blackman- who also take on co-production roles in the film making and editing. After that, it’s overnight rendering- thanks to the crew of 3 Angry Men who have been working closely with FBC to bring you its fabulous interviews online.

It’s a four day operation, ruthless and gritty, picking at details and making sure everything is just right, but in the end, we love doing it. After all, how else to make you feel as if you were just there- even if you weren’t!

Watch the film here: my-wardrobe.com at FBC

Contact FBCtv’s film crew 3 Angry Men for all your fashion films: Guy Saville guy@3angrymen.com.

Imran Amed editor of The Business of Fashion and FBC member was interviewed on CNN this week. To see the interview click CNN. The interview will also be aired on CNN International again this weekend on Saturday and Sunday on a program called Luxury Life.

Juliet Hutton-Squire editor of Adorn London and FBC member will be scouting for accessories at LFW - “I will be at London Fashion week as Press and Adorn London will have a full report with jewellery being the focus. I thoroughly enjoyed my first FBC meeting and am delighted to be a member. I will also be in Paris for a couple of days.”

What shows are you looking forward to this season at LFW ?
JHS - On the Catwalk, it has to be Vivienne Westwood, Nicole Farhi, Paul Smith, Mary Katrantzou, Central St Martins (for emerging talent). They always pay fantastic attention to detail and accessorise the outfits with jewels that give direction and influence the way we put our looks together for the season. Presentations: I can’t wait to see Maria Franscesca Pepe, Eley Kishimoto and Holly Fulton.

What shows can we expect great accessories and jewellery from at LFW?
JHS - I always love to meet up with Mawi, Erickson Beamon and Fred Butler at the exhibitions. I will be writing a full report on LFW with street style photographs too, the focus always being on jewellery and accessories.

Tell us a bit about Adorn London.
JHS -Adorn London’s new website is a virtual peep-show of all that’s hip and happening in the world of jewellery. The site is a ‘one-stop-shop’ showcasing a wide range of jewellery from High Street to Haute Couture, from Costume to Fine.

Juliet is giving a talk on ‘Consumer trends’ at the Jewellery Show in Birmingham next week as part of the new Catwalk café initiative.

For more information about Adorn London contact Juliet Hutton-Squire at editor@adorn-london.com.

VOGUE.COM UK and Fashion Business Club (FBC) create Media Partnership

After four incredible years, Fashion Business Club (FBC) has finally met its match. FBC is thrilled to announce its new media partner: VOGUE.COM UK.

“I’m really pleased to formalise our relationship with Fashion Business Club having worked closely with Courtney and Alison over the last 4 years. The FBC has become a respected hub of fashion ideas and inspiration – I hope VOGUE.COM UK can help it to grow even more.” Dolly Jones, VOGUE.COM editor and FBC board member

Re-launched in spring 2008 under the direction of Dolly Jones, VOGUE.COM UK added a number of exciting new features to the site including VOGUE TV, which began streaming the latest and most popular catwalk and fashion-related videos to their readers. Additionally, the site doubled the number of news stories on the site per day, included a calendar feature to download upcoming fashion events, and added high-profile bloggers to their already fashion-clad site. VOGUE.COM’s new frontend design is used globally across different language versions of the site in order to increase accessibility and suit more international readers.

“We’ve been working with Dolly Jones and VOGUE.COM UK for a few years now and the natural synergy is undeniable. We’re really excited to make the relationship official. It means a lot in terms of our continued growth in both the UK and globally.” Courtney Blackman, FBC co-founder and co-chairman

As VOGUE.COM UK is regularly referenced on FBC’s  blog,  FBC sees partnering with the industry’s most well-respected online fashion resource a clear fit in the continued growth of FBC. Looking to VOGUE.COM for all the latest UK and international fashion news, trend reports, and fashion business updates, FBC co-founders and co-chairs Courtney Blackman and Alison Whelan couldn’t think of a better fit in terms of media partners.

“Dolly Jones and VOGUE.COM UK understood immediately the potential of FBC and continue to champion our growth through this fabulous new media partnership - we are delighted!” Alison Whelan, FBC co-founder and co-chairman

The next meeting will be held Thursday, March 28 at the Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ Concept Store & Café from 3:00pm-4.30pm. FBC will welcome guest speaker Marigay McKee, fashion and beauty director at Harrods, interviewed by Dolly Jones.

FBC is a business-focused members club, created on the basis of bringing bright-minded fashion professionals together six times a year at an informal venue to listen to inspiring speakers, learn and do business together. The ethos of the club is generosity and the desire to share knowledge, along with at least two-years’ experience in the industry.

Alison Whelan and Courtney Blackman founded the club in 2006, and they, along with VOGUE.COM UK editor, Dolly Jones and renowned designer/illustrator, Daisy de Villeneuve make up the Board.

FBC meets six times a year on the last Thursday of every other month from 3:00pm-4.30pm at the Swarovski CRSYTALLIZED™ Concept Store and Café. If you would like more information about FBC or would like to cover the event, please send an email to press director, Myka Volney: press@fashionbusinessclub.net

London Fashion Week is quickly approaching and many, if not all of our members are participating in LFW.

Over the next few weeks FBC will be posting articles on what are members are doing during London Fashion Week!

Courtney Blackman is co-founder & co-chairman of Fashion Business Club and known for her fashionable outfits at FBC events, but she’s also the MD of Forward PR. Forward PR represents new and established designers, including several ethical designers. Courtney has organized events and fashion shows from the Ford Models Supermodel of the World UK to catwalk shows in Paris.

Most members know you as FBC co-founder & co-chairman, could you tell us more about Forward PR?
CB -I launched Forward PR in 2004 after the designer I was working for relocated to Tokyo. My initial clients were jewellery and accessory designers, so at first I was somewhat specialised in PR’ing jewellery and accessories. In the last couple of years we’ve (we’re a little team now) taken on a variety of clients - all in fashion - ranging from fashion designers; to Fred&Ginger - designer lingerie; to a model agency: Sapphires Model Management; to big events including the Ford Models Supermodel of the World UK Search and the 2009 Fashion Summit. I really love PR. I was born a natural people person.

What’s your fashion background?
CB - I’ve been running Forward PR for the past 6 years, and co-founded and act as managing director of Fashion Business Club, where we just celebrated our 4th birthday! I joined the board of the Ethical Fashion Forum last September, and I also do a bit of fashion writing for Blank magazine out of Panama. Prior to that, I was the London editor for Fashionista out of Chicago, and prior to that I worked for a London-based designer as her PR and marketing director.

In the last six months I’ve been involved in some exciting events and projects. I sat on the Advisory Board of the 2009 Fashion Summit, as well as the panel discussing the power of the fashion press. I was just one of the fashion panellists at the Ecommerce Summit discussing blogging and Twitter (which I’m apparently obsessed with).  I also sat on the expert panel for the first ever Handbag.com Online Fashion Awards, and judged this year’s Iconique Societás Awards^TM. Yes, I keep myself busy!

You’re involved in Fashion Week this season. What are you doing?
CB - One of our jewellery clients who we have looked after for several years, LeJu, will be exhibiting at London Fashion Week for the 6th season! It’s been amazing to watch them grow.
Also, we’ve just taken on Prophetik, a Tennessee-based sustainable label that has been exhibiting at London Fashion Weeks’s estethica for the past few seasons. This season Prophetik is showing at Vauxhall Fashion Scout, kicking off the shows there on the 19th at 1:00pm. We’re very busy getting ready! If anyone would like to request tickets, please send a note to: prophetik@forwardpr.com

You’re involved with the Ethical Fashion Forum. Can you tell us more about your involvement with this?
CB - I am a board member at the EFF, which is a network that focuses on social and environmental sustainability in the industry. I was really interested in joining the board since sustainability is such a growing factor in fashion. The EFF is great, as it’s not set up to enforce sustainability, but to educate and and act as a resource, pointing designers in the right direction if they’re looking for sustainable materials or socially responsible manufacturing. I know I’ll learn a lot by being on the board and am happy to apply my skill set and network to help the organisation expand. My next focus will be building a panel of ambassadors and a special advisory group.

Courtney can be contacted via e-mail on: courtney.blackman@forwardpr.com