Fashion Business Club

FBC member and managing director of Felicities (a boutique PR agency), Alison Lowe has been growing her business at a steady but remarkable pace since launching it in 2003.  Alison’s experience extends from B2B to fashion and she’s worked with some amazing clients including fellow FBC member Lee Lapthorne at On|Off, House of Fraser and fashion desinger, Afshin Feiz.

In the last 6 months, Alison has won accounts for 11 new designers, and Felicities recently held a launch event for one to commemorate her new bespoke range, The Jewelled Spine by Catharina Eden. “We  are really thrilled to be working with Catharina as she launches this fabulous new bespoke collection,” says Alison.

View video here:  Catharina Eden

The Felicities showroom will be open during London Fashion Week (18th – 22nd September) from 9am-6pm each day.  If you would like to stop in, send an email to: info@felicities.co.uk

Felicities

Studio 5

11 Plough Yard

Shoreditch

London EC2A 3LP

Meet Alison at the next FBC meeting on the 24th of September at Il Bottaccio, 9 Grosvenor Place.  FBC member and head of womenswear design at Aquascutum, Michael Herz, will interview Nathan Jenden, creative director for Diane von Furstenberg and Nathan Jenden, followed by business networking.

For more information on becoming a member, contact Rita Nazareno:  membership@fashionbusinessclub.net

 

I was able to have a brief word with Victoria Holt of Fred & Ginger Lingerie about her new SS2010 campaign!

What was the inspiration behind the shoot?
VH – The Spring Summer 2010 “My Fair Lady” collection was inspired by the 1950’s Fair Ground so I wanted the lighthearted/playfulness to come across in the images. I always love to have a story running through my brochures with the interaction of two characters. Marc Rogoff, my photographer had suggested using a clown as an accompaniment to the model which I instantly refused due to the connotations of them being quite sinister, in my mind. A mime artist seemed the perfect substitute. With so much facial expression they can get the message across to the reader instantly. Also, the contrast of his black and white costume makes the lingerie collection really stand out, which I love.

What made you use a mine artist?
VH – The Mime artist is a direct descendent of the commedia dell’arte character Pedrolino also Pierrot, he was the lowest status and worked as a baker boy, the white face is the bakers flour. I wanted him to be deeply in love with my model who is too concerned with her own beauty to even notice him … until the end when all she is left with is his flower, a memory of what she has lost at the price of her own vanity.

I feel the images have captured my story beautifully which is the proof of a great team working successfully together. And the charming surroundings make for a perfect backdrop.

Can you tell us about the “Black Label”?

VH – The “Black Label” was an entirely different concept. I wanted to portray seductive-glamour and sophistication but with a real fashion edge. Something I’ve never done before. We were lucky in the fact that the location had two distinct looks upstairs and downstairs. With the collection being black it seemed logical to create a very saturated black look. Marc came up with the concept of having an “object of desire” which is where the silver ball came in. This also proved a great source for light reflection adding further glamour and allurement to the images.

How was this shoot different from your previous  shoots?

VH – As the entire crew had changed from the previous 4 seasons I was quite apprehensive about this shoot. On top of this we were under pressure to shoot 2 collections in one day due to budget constraints. However, thanks to some good organisation and a fabulous team I was delighted with the results and have received some fabulous feedback already!

Click on the link to see Fred & Ginger Lingerie Behind the Scenes Video.

www.fred-and-ginger.co.uk

FBC member, freelance fashion editor and creative consultant, Navaz Batliwalla has been lending her skills to high street fashion brand, Oasis. She has recently created and illustrated the phrases that have appeared in Oasis’ in-store displays and shop windows nationwide as well as their Autumn/Winter look book.

Q: What’s your fashion background?
I have studied fashion since I left school, and have been designing and making clothes since I was a young girl. I have studied at the London College of Fashion, Surrey Institute of Art & Design, and Central St Martin’s. I have worked in the industry for 8 years as a designer, trend consultant and writer. Fashion has been the major part of my life, and always will be.

Q: What is the best part about your job in fashion?
Definitely the creative stage and seeing it all come together in the end. I also enjoy working with
other creative people, such as photographer’s, stylists, make-up artists etc.

Q. I love your Alpha A/W 09, could you tell me the inspirations behind the collection?
Thank you, I have always been inspired by strong women from past and present, Alpha is based on the Alpha Female, and ideas of female supremacy, fetishism, femme fatales, and seduction. These are consistent themes that run throughout all my work.

Q. What are you presently working on?
I am working on my S/S 10 collection. For this collection I am using very neutral but cold colours, inky blues, off-whites, and greys, to emphasise the strong, femme fatale and alpha woman style. And I have just moved into my new central London studio which has kept me busy.

Q: How are FBC networking events important to you as an independent designer?
I find them extremely important, as a big part of this business is about networking and promoting your brand. I have met some very creative people who I hope to work within the future.

FBCtv presents a 5 minute edit of the Alison Whelan/Malika Dalamal interview recently held at London’s Swarovski Crystallized Lounge in Great Marlborough Street. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxc1Gjp2-K0

For the longer edit (and to see yourself on film…) we’ve split the interview into 2 x 10 min sections on YouTube. 

FBC DailyCandy Part 1 focuses on the interview:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW-fjXOqOFI 

DailyCandy Part 2  focuses on the audience questions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHZOdj02s5I

Enjoy and great to see so many members and guests present.

Next date for you diaries is Thursday the 24th of September for a designer on designer meeting, when FBC member, Michael Herz, head of womenswear design at Aquascutum interviews Nathan Jenden, designer of his own label and for Diane von Furstenberg.

FBC member Natasha Frangos will be presenting an accounts and tax update seminar at Haysmacintyre.  She will be touching on some tax planning initiatives for owner managed businesses following the budget.

September 21st, 3:30pm at Fairfax House
£30.00
For more info contact Natasha Frangos.

Q: What’s the story on fashion PR Alison Lowe? What’s your fashion background
AL – My background is in PR and Business Development but I have worked with fashion clients for the last six years. I think not coming from the industry has advantages as I can offer a different perspective and can offer a unique service looking at PR on a more commercial basis.

Q: What is the best part about your job in fashion?
AL- Being surrounded by fabulous clothes, accessories and people.

Q. What is a typical day for you?
AL – No two days are the same. It could be that I am preparing for a show; launching a new collection; managing a press day; researching new opportunities; writing releases or just a day in the office doing paperwork and research. The fact that there is no ‘typical’ day is what makes this industry so appealing.

Q: What other projects are you involved in?

AL- Felicities has a range of clients including high-end lifestyle brands, charities and music clients. We are currently working on an open-air concert tour with Jools Holland, John Barrowman and artists from the 80s – a great way to spend summer evening

Q: How are FBC networking events important in your job and the industry?

AL – To run a successful business everyone needs to network. Networking is about developing long-term relationships for mutual gain and creating a lasting impression with people so that they think of you positively when an opportunity arises – FBC provide their members fabulous opportunities to build industry contacts and to keep up-to-date with industry issues.

Malika Dalamal, London editor of Daily Candy and Alison Whelan co-founder and co-chairman of FBC, sweet talked their way through a packed audience at the Swarovski Crystallized^TM Lounge on Thursday the 30^th of July.





Alison Whelan & Malika Dalamal

Malika, looking very DC and gorgeous gave the low down on DailyCandy’s humble beginnings. Set up in 2001 by Dany Levy, who frustrated by long lead times for fashion magazines wanted something faster and leaner. Coming up with the idea, she pushed her first set of emails out to 700 friends and family who in turn forwarded them on – by the end of the first week DailyCandy had racked up 7,000 subscribers! 





The Audience 

Not much has changed in the overall look of the site – the much-loved illustrations have always been created by Sujean Rim – and the tone remains the same throughout the 13 cities DailyCandy thrives in. On the business side of things, life has definitely become like fairy tales and lemon drops – Dany sold a majority share to Bob Pittman of Pilot Group in 2003 for an estimated $3.5M, and then in 2008 the US communications giant Comcast paid a staggering $125M cash for the company.



Caroline Burstein, creative director of Browns shares her positive DailyCandy experience with the group

Anyone wanting to sample the DC sales spike needs to ensure exclusivity and have an excellent product or service – Malika, who is now an FBC member, likes to sample as much as possible before championing anything to her dedicated sweet spot of 29 year-old, female readers.



Champagne networking

At precisely 4pm our marvellous host Stine Brogaard, marketing operations manager of Swarovski Crystallized^TM, popped the champagne corks giving a sparkling boost to the networking session.  FBC members and guests were also treated to a Swarovski Crystallized^TM goody bag and 15% off anything that sparkled in the store downstairs. 
Sweets and sparkles – perfect.

 

Photos by FBC’s Dave Wise of Dave Wise Photography