The Luxury Marketing Council Europe held their premiere Luxuria Awards last week at a ceremony at The Orangery Gallery in Holland Park, sandwiched in the middle of a fantastic summer bash complete with rum punch, cucumber rolls and chocolate fondue.  The Wall Street Journal Europe was the key sponsor and the awards were created to honour excellence in luxury design, manufacture, retail and communications. Open to brands and suppliers across Europe, the awards had 16 categories and were judged by a panel of 21 experts spanning the luxury industry from companies including American Express, Barclays Wealth, McLaren Automotive, Vertu, and from the world of fashion: designer, Maria Grachvogel, Richemont International and Vanity Fair.

Maria Grachvogel

 
Amongst the attendees, FBC member and founder of Oresa Limited (executive headhunters), Orlando Martins was there, chatting with fashion stylist Rebekah Roy, and FBC administrative co-ordinator, Laura McCluskey.

Orlando Martins & Laura McCluskey
  

The CEO of Liberty presented the first award for Best PR Campaign-Single to Getty Images, NET-A-PORTER.COM won Best Retailer, and I collected an award on behalf of one of my clients, Louis Mariette, a milliner, who won Most Innovative Product Design – Range.  The prize was a specially sourced block of Italian marble emblazoned with a golden ‘L’ and a commissioned watercolour by Finlay Cowan (below). 

 
To find out more about the awards…and perhaps enter for 2010, visit: www.luxuriaawards.com 
 
Courtney Blackman Co-Founder & Co-Chairman 

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) recently ruled that trade mark proprietors can use their rights to prevent sales by their licensees of luxury goods through discount outlets where such sales damage the “allure and prestige of the brand”.  

The case came about when Christian Dior’s luxury corset licensee in France began to sell corsets bearing the Christian Dior trade mark to Copad, a discount store, in clear breach of the “selective distribution” arrangement set out in the licence with Dior.

Dior Corset

Dior sued for trade mark infringement.  At first, the French court said, no: there was no infringement and Dior’s only recourse lay against its licensee for breach of the licence.  However, the ECJ has now ruled otherwise.  It said, amongst other things, that the quality of luxury goods is not just the result of their material characteristics, but also of the “allure and prestigious image which bestows on those goods an aura of luxury”.  This “aura of luxury” is essential in enabling consumers to distinguish the goods.  If, on the facts, sales of Dior corsetry to Copad damaged the “aura of luxury”, the ECJ said that Dior could sue for trade mark infringement. 

If you would like further information on selective distribution arrangements or any other aspect of this case please contact me by email on: Louisa.hetherington@rpc.co.uk or by telephone on 0203 060 6620.

Louisa Hetherington FBC Member & Senior Legal Advisor at Reynolds Porter Chamberlain

With London Fashion Week only a few months away, the new venue, Somerset House is playing host to all sorts of events.  Vogue.com’s fashion editor Julia Neel who attended and wrote a fabulous review of our Alexandra Shulman / Dolly Jones meeting, held a glamorous soirée there last week in defiance of the global financial woes and to celebrate her birthday.

Rebekah Roy, Jessica Bumpus, Annette Felder and Julia Neel

The new Bombay Sapphire Dusk Bar on the riverside terrace was the backdrop to delicious cocktails and a very well dressed crowd.  FBC member, Annette Felder of Felder Felder was there, as was fashion stylist, Rebekah Roy.  Rebekah and I shared a taxi with Vogue.com fashion features editor, Jessica Bumpus, who attended and wrote up our last Felder Felder / Daisy de Villeneuve meeting at the ICA!

 Courtney Blackman Co-Founder & Co-Chairman

Sapphires Model Agency wins the unofficial prize for best collaborations this year - at least the one’s we know about. We love the spirit of agency directors, Ian and Neely who attend our FBC meetings from Birmingham without fail and will always drop us a line with new and interesting information about their business.  

After the success of their recent event with Harvey Nichols, Sapphires have been working with famed yellow department store, Selfridges to provide models and photography for their summer press shoots and in store displays.

Just two years old and their client list already includes House of Fraser, New Balance and Superdrug. Sapphires are a boutique agency offering a truly bespoke package with a down to earth  outlook and recession friendly prices. 

Do you have a campaign, event or look book to shoot? Neely and Ian work out of London and Birmingham and can visit you at your office or atelier. Visit: www.Sapphiresmodel.com to view some more of their models, or ping Neely on neely@sapphiresmodels.com

Sapphires is definitely the place to find a gem.

Alison Whelan Co-Founder & Co-Chairman

We work in an industry that’s outwardly focused and always finding the right outfit to wear to an event can be challenging - with added pressure if it’s your own do.  That’s where FBC comes in handy.  FBC  board member, Daisy de Villeneuve recently had two of her pictures (one of long black gloves and one of a red handbag) shown in a pop up gallery on Mayfair’s Mount Street.  As one of the evening’s key figures, Daisy was expected to do a fair amount of schmoozing and posing for the cameras, so getting the right outfit was essential.  Daisy is a great fan of Diane von Furstenberg, and it so happens that the brand’s international business director, Gabriella Piccinni is an FBC  member and was more than happy to arrange for Daisy to pop into the shop to choose a dress to wear.

Gabriella Piccinni and Daisy de Villeneuve

Daisy went for a classic wrap dress in a geometric print, and Gabriella was there on the night to support, as was FBC member and fashion stylist Rebekah Roy (accompanied by her client, William Tempest) and FBC press director Myka Volney…and Rebekah was wearing a borrowed outfit from Nico Didonna, a label looked after by FBC member Alison Lowe of Felicities.  

Myka Volney, Daisy de Villeneuve, Rebekah Roy and William Tempest

Access to fabulous clothes – just another reason to join FBC.

Courtney Blackman Co-Founder & Co-Chairman

Leon Bailey-Green, Miriam Lahage and Nicky Hambleton-Jones

Back in April The Independent published the Online Fashion 100, compiled by online fashion retail consultant, Leon Bailey Green.  The list featured a handful of FBC members, and last Wednesday evening a celebration took place where the 2009 Online Fashion Star was announced.  FBC member and CEO of online retailer, koodos.com, Miriam Lahage took the prize.

Navaz Batliwalla

Frances Card with Antony Hawman of Drapers

Other FBC members in attendance included freelance fashion stylist, journalist and consultant, Navaz Batliwalla; fashion consultant, Frances Card, fashion stylist and blogger, Rebekah Roy; Felicities managing director, Alison Lowe; and Drapers editor, Lauretta Roberts.

Lauretta Roberts

The event was sponsored by Fashshot.com, and Nicky Hambleton-Jones announced Miriam’s victory.  Well done, Miriam!

Courtney Blackman Co-Founder & Co-Chairman

Dear All:

FBCtv proudly present the film highlights of the Felder Felder / Daisy de Villeneuve interview at the ICA on Drapers:

http://www.drapersonline.com/5003653.article

Next date for members’ diaries is Thursday 30th July, see you all then if you haven’t already taken off for summer hols.

Alison Whelan Co-Founder & Co-Chairman

Tove Westling and Caroline Almgren are two of FBC’s newest members.  The  Swedes co-founded London’s Varg PR (which means wolf in Swedish), and launched in October of 2008.  Before setting up Varg, Tove was the in-house PR at Day Birger et Mikkelsen and Caroline was at one of the largest and most prestigious creative advertising agencies: Mother.

Caroline Almgren

Based just off Saint Martin’s Lane, Varg looks after some very cool labels. Day Birger et Mikkelsen was carried over to the agency and sits alongside Dagmar, Finsk, Hasbeens, Miss Bibi, Coggles.com, and Nakkna.

The Felder Felder/Daisy de Villeneuve meeting was the first FBC event for Varg and already they’ve been in touch with Daniela and Annette Felder for a possible collaboration, sharing manufacturing contacts with FBC member Angelika Huwiler of Zovala, talking with Neely Reyes and Ian Warren of Sapphires - a model and photographic agency, and Caroline and I swapped PR stories and shared ideas over breakfast. 

Varg is always on the lookout for potential fashion, accessory and lifestyle clients.  If you’re looking for representation, send an email to Caroline or Tove: caroline@varg.co.uk or tove@varg.co.uk

Courtney Blackman Co-Founder & Co-Chairman

FBC member, fashion stylist, and aptly named, Anne Look has recently been appointed as an ambassador to the Rod Aldridge Foundation.  Set up to empower, create opportunities, and build new partnerships for young people so they can realise their potential, Anne’s first assignment was to head up to the Darwen Academy in Preston to speak to the 14 and 15-year-old children who have chosen textiles and design as an elective subject.

Anne Look, the teacher

“I am not a natural public speaker so was very nervous.” But Anne quickly realised she knew more than she had given herself credit for and her passion for design and fashion styling had her teaching like a pro.

Anne relocated to London from Sydney where she had spent years training to become an Olympic athlete.  Drawn to the arts, Anne refocused her attention to creative direction. “Fashion provides me with an avenue to express and inspire.  I love the fact that clothing can change moods, opinions and as quite often the case with me – portray a sense of humour, adventure and fun!”

Anne Look at the last FBC meeting at the ICA

Anne is fun, and if you would like to get in touch, send her an email:  anne@annelookstylist.com

Courtney Blackman Co-Founder & Co-Chairman

London’s Fashion and Textile Museum held their launch party and private view of the new Undercover: The Evolution of Underwear exhibit and there were so many FBC members there, it was like an actual FBC meeting. FBC’s Alison Lewy is the museum’s commercial director, so instrumental in making the exhibitions happen, and Alison Lowe managing director of Felicities, looks after the PR for the museum and she and her team were there in force.

Alison Lewy will filmmaker Jako

Alison Lowe

Burlesque showgirl, Immodesty Blaize announced the winner of the Triumph Inspiration Award, where UK students competed for the best conceptual showpiece sets. Two FBC members sat on the judging panel: Dolly Jones, editor of Vogue.com and Martyn Roberts, co-director of Vauxhall Fashion Scout. 

Martyn Roberts and Biljana Poposka

Victoria Holt with Immodesty Blaize

FBC’s own underwear purveyor, Victoria Holt, CEO and creative director of cult lingerie label, Fred&Ginger was naturally in attendance, as was fashion label Motasem’s director, Sabina Ali; John Walford, co-director of Vauxhall Fashion Scout; and fashion stylist and blogger, Rebekah Roy.

Sabina Ali

John Walford with fashion stylist, Alexia Somerville

After the Fashion and Textile Museum, we headed to 24 Kingly Street where we met up with FBC board member and fashion illustrator, Daisy de Villeneuve for G-Shock’s secret summer party.

William Tempest, Blue Mae, Rebekah Roy and Rebecca Kingsland

Daisy de Villeneuve

If you would like to join FBC, download an application form from the FBC website’s ‘HOW’ page, or send an email to: membership@fashionbusinessclub.net

Courtney Blackman Co-Founder & Co-Chairman