FBC member Lauretta Roberts has a busy couple of months ahead.  She is chairing the Drapers/WGSN Fashion Summit, which takes place over two days on the 17th & 18th of November. The two-day business conference is designed to be the “live” and interactive version of Drapers magazine and the WGSN fashion and style forecasting service.

The Summit is the largest industry forum with senior representatives from brands and retailers converging to discuss prominent business issues. Supported and endorsed by the British Fashion Council, the Summit will be attended by 200 choice delegates from multiple and independent retailers, an array of fashion brands, consultants and key industry professionals.

Lauretta Roberts

Other FBC members involved include Harold Tillman, who sits on the Advisory Board and will be interviewed with Diane von Furstenberg by Hilary Alexander; FBC member and managing director of FCC, Frances Card also has a seat on the Advisory Board; FBC member and founder & chief executive of my-wardrobe.com, Sarah Curran is on the online panel; FBC’s co-founder & co-chairman, Courtney Blackman is a panelist for “The power of the style press” and sits on the Advisory Board; and FBC blog editor, Rebekah Roy joins Courtney on the press panel.

Harold Tillman, Sarah Curran, Frances Card, Courtney Blackman & Rebekah Roy

A host of star designers join the FBC crew and are taking stage with the best in the business from multiple sectors. Barbara Hulanicki, Diane von Furstenberg, Lulu Guinness, Giles Deacon, Betty Jackson, Amy Molyneaux & Percy Parker of PPQ, Nick Robertson, Marigay McKee, Sir Stuart Rose, Tom Chapman, Mary Homer, and Colin McDowell are amongst the speakers, panelists and Advisory Board members.

Interviews, open discussions and debates will touch on nurturing emerging talent, fashion marketing and branding, online fashion retail, consumer insight, ethics and sustainability, and trends for SS10 and AW10/11.

“We have completely revamped the Fashion Summit this year, shaking up the content, the format and the speaker list to include a stronger voice from the design industry while retaining the industry leaders in multiple and independent retail. It’s going to be one of the most exciting events in fashion this year.” - Lauretta Roberts, Chairman of the Drapers/WGSN Fashion Summit

FBC members are offered a substantial discount to attend the event.  Woohoo!  Details to follow shortly.

Myka Volney Press Director

As mentioned in a previous blog, FBC member Michael Herz is the guest editor of the current A/W 2009 issue of .Cent magazine.

Well, we spotted another FBC member in the magazine as well. FBC Board member/designer/illustrator Daisy de Villeneuve contributed an illustration to ‘The Myths, the Legends & the Folklore’ section.

…and FBC co-founder & co-chairman, Courtney Blackman is in a photo with Michael in the back!

From the buzz of London Fashion Week’s Somerset House to the relative calm of Belgravia’s Il Bottaccio, the fash pack decamped to FBC on Thursday 24^th September. Aquascutum’s head of womenswear, Michael Herz interviewed guest speaker Nathan Jenden - creative director of Diane von Furstenberg and his own label - about the challenges of designing for two labels, the attitude of the runway and the merits of London vs New York and Paris.

Nathan Jenden & Michael Herz

Born in London, Jenden studied at Central St Martins and the RCA and worked for John Galliano and Kenzo in Paris where he found the formal codes of French fashion didn’t quite resonate with his own less-strict ways of doing things.

Setting his sights on New York, he was offered jobs by Richard Tyler and Tommy Hilfiger before working for downtown designer Daryl K in 1998. Three years later an opportunity arose to work for Diane von Furstenberg whose 70s wrap dresses were starting to regain cult status. Jenden’s first introduction to the Belgian socialite happened at a Vanity Fair dinner. Finding himself at a table breaking bread with Debbie Harry, Mick Jagger and Harrison Ford, he decided this was to be his future (well you would, wouldn’t you?). In his first season as creative director, he brought models-of-the-moment Erin O’Connor, Alek Wek and Devon Aoki to add some much-needed edge to the DVF runway.

Nathan Jenden

Despite his close relationship with von Furstenberg (“she’s my friend and I will always be hers”), Jenden decided he needed to tell his own story and create a collection under his own name. In 2006 he launched his label, which is now a permanent fixture on the London Fashion Week show schedule, while he continues in his role at DVF. It’s a juggling act of the highest order as DVF is based in New York while Nathan Jenden is designed in London. Why not produce both collections in New York? Jenden acknowledges the difficulties but maintains the importance of keeping both labels separate. “I did my first two shows in New York and it was just crazy. Its important, the separation of the two brands. They have nothing to do with each other.”

Nathan Jenden & Michael Herz (centre) with FBC Co-Founders Alison Whelan & Courtney Blackman

Quentions from the floor brought up the subject of the recent popularity of static presentations and fashion films to promote new collections. Jenden is a firm fan of the fashion show format. “I have a vision of what I want the show to be - the attitude, the mood. The show is the show, the fairy dust on top of the collection. It should be fun, it should be upbeat. People are finding different ways to do fashion shows, doing films, doing it online, but I think watching twenty fit girls will always be better than watching it on a phone.”

Navaz Batliwalla FBC Member & Guest Editor

Photos by Dave Wise of Dave Wise Photography

FBC is excited to welcome tomorrow’s guest speaker Nathan Jenden, Creative Director of Diane Von Furstenberg and his own label Nathan Jenden. He will be interviewed by Aquascutum’s Head of Womenswear and FBC member, Michael Herz.

Thursday, Sept 24
3:00-4:15pm
Il Bottaccio, 9 Grovesnor Place
Nearest tube: Hyde Park Corner

If you’d like to attend the meeting, please email: membership@fashionbusinessclub.net

FBC members Nana Aganovich and Brooke Taylor of Aganovich will be holding their presentation of the Spring/Summer 2010 Collection “0.2″ from 10am to 8pm on Thursday, 1stof October 2009 in Paris.

If you’re interested in attending, please contact:

People’s Revolution: alexandre.boulais@peoplesrevolution.com

+33142717054

Victoria Holt, creative director of Fred & Ginger and FBC member exhibits at Somerset House during London Fashion Week.

Rebekah Roy at London Fashion Week, February 2009

As London Fashion Week nears, FBC members get busier and busier. FBC member and fashion stylist Rebekah Roy is one of our busiest members each season, and this season is no different. On Friday the 18^th, Rebekah is styling the Ones To Watch at Vauxhall Fashion Scout (VFS) - run by FBC members Martyn Roberts and John Walford. Styling a show for one designer is no small feat, so pulling together the looks for four designers, Ada Zanditon, Dean Quinn, Hermione de Paula and Marko Mitanovski, is a challenge, but if anyone can do it, Rebekah can.

“I’m looking forward to all the shows that I’m working on. It’s really an honour to be surrounded by such talented people and of course London is known for that. The Ones To Watch has become an important show, as new talent needs to be seen and get the exposure and support that it deserves. We had some great talent last season so we’ve set a high standard.”

Ada Zanditon with FBC member Sim Scavazza at the last FBC meeting (photo by Dave Wise)

On Saturday the 19^th, Rebekah is styling Jasper Garvida’s presentation at On|Off – run by another FBC member, Lee Lapthorne, and styling knitwear designer, Alice Palmer’s show; and on Sunday evening it’s a presentation by Harriet’s Muse.

Rebekah’s busy Fashion Week finishes on Monday night with the hugely anticipated William Tempest show to which Rebekah comments, “I’ve known William since he first graduated and last season I styled his show for the Vauxhall Fashion Scout Merit Award. This season is his second show and I’m very excited about styling it – the clothes are just as amazing as last season. The one thing that I know with William is that he’s in this long term - he’s only 23 now so I can’t wait to see what he’s doing when he’s 40!”

For more details visit:

Vauxhall Fashion Scout

On|Off

See you just after Fashion Week on the 24 of September at Il Bottaccio, 9 Grosvenor Place where Nathan Jenden of DVF and Nathan Jenden will be interviewed by FBC member and head of womenswear design at Aquascutum, Michael Herz.

Courtney Blackman Co-Founder & Co-Chairman

FBC member and head of womenswear design at Aquascutum, Michael Herz, is guest editor for the .Cent Magazine A/W 09 issue! The magazine hits stores 17/09/09 and also includes an incredible list of contributors to make the issue one you absolutely must have.

See Michael interview fellow fashion designer, Nathan Jenden of DVF and Nathan Jenden on the 24th of September at Il Bottaccio, 9 Grosvenor.  If you’re interested in attending and are not a member, send an email to: membership@fashionbusinessclub.net

See you there,

Myka Voney Press Director

FBC member and managing director of Felicities, Alison Lowe extends an open invitation to visit the Felicites showroom during London Fashion Week from the 18^th-22^nd of September, 9am – 6pm daily.

See collections from Afshin Feiz, Harriet’s Muse, Jacob Kimmie and brand new label, e.g…

e.g… is aimed at the metro-sexual woman and the collection is heavily influenced by 80s power-dressing. Check out the SS2010 collection on their website: e.g… and enter to win £500 worth of e.g… clothing!

Alison looks forward to meeting you during Fashion Week. To drop in, the address is: Studio 5, 11 Plough Yard, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3LP

…and to make an appointment, contact Alison’s team on: info@felicities.co.uk

Nathan Jenden

On the 24^th of September, just after Fashion Week, Fashion Business Club (FBC) will welcome Nathan Jenden, creative director of Diane von Furstenberg (DVF) and Nathan Jenden as our guest speaker. The meeting will take place at 3:00pm at Il Bottaccio, 9 Grosvenor Place. A few minutes walk from Hyde Park Corner, Il Bottaccio was voted Coolest Reception Venue 2009 by the COOL Venue Awards – perfect for FBC.

Nathan will be interviewed by FBC member and head of womenswear design at Aquascutum, Michael Herz who says, “an Englishman living abroad, showing his own line in London is an interesting concept. Interviewing Nathan will show FBC members what it’s like to work on a global scale for two internationally renowned labels.”

As creative director of DVF since 2001, the British-born designer received his BFA at Central Saint Martins, and his masters from the Royal College of Arts. Nathan previously shared his talents working at Daryl K, Tommy Hilfiger, Kenzo and John Galliano, before landing one of the most coveted roles in fashion at DVF.

The AW2009 Nathan Jenden Collection: Frostbite

While continuing to work for DVF, in February 2006, Nathan launched his own label during New York Fashion Week. His first collection, Angel Heart, was noted for its stunning jet beaded jackets, ruffled puff-sleeved shirts, and form fitting trousers, and was praised by fashion critics and consumers alike.

Members, don’t forget to RSVP: rsvp@fashionbusinessclub.net

Interested in applying for membership or attending as a guest? Send a note to: membership@fashionbusinessclub.net

See you there!

Courtney Blackman Co-Chairman & Co-Founder