Fashion Business Club

For more information on this event contact FBC member Michaela Wenkert:

info@ladydoubleyou.com

Jonathan Saunders

It was a true success; ladies wore their pearls and studs, men wore their furs, and Jonathan Saunders brought himself and the knowledge he’s acquired in the fashion business over the past six years.

Gaining momentum with a 2004 Vogue cover, Saunders appreciates the help that the British press has had on his popularity in the United Kingdom. He said, “the British press acknowledges and appreciates UK designers…it’s our newness and the notion of us creating our work.”

Jonathan Saunders & Dolly Jones

Dolly Jones, editor of Vogue.com, board member of FBC, and interviewer for FBC’s final 2009 meeting, was quick to ask Saunders whether the press had the influence to make or break a designer and his collection; Saunders reply: “You have to be aware of public perception, but if your too conscious of others, you loose your own vision.”

But the press aren’t the only people in a designer’s life who have a major impact on what he sells. Saunders antidotes of past relations with buyers made it clear to FBC how much he “[doesn’t] have to please everyone…but from loyal customers [learns] [his] own style range, a very specific style learned from [his buyers].”

With loyal customers, from the mid-lands of North America to the sandy shores of Dubai, Saunders interprets the different aesthetics of his consumers. And with all the High Street collaborations, Saunders believes in taking the most valuable knowledge from them. “It’s not a dumbing down, and not because it’s about making more money, but purely from what I’ve learned in the process.”

How does the man behind the fashion keep it all together? The Scotsman- and audience- laughed that whiskey had something to do with it. Of course, ambition was a close second.

Clare Morgan receives her CRYSTALLIZEDâ„¢ prize from Jonathan Saunders

We’ll be seeing Saunders more in the future as the designer has confirmed that he will be staying in the UK for the next fashion season. The designer also did the honour of selecting an FBC member for the raffle that Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ Lounge offered. Clare Morgan, owner of Clamor Fashion Agency, went home with a £200 gift voucher to spend in the Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ store. The rest of us took home Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ magazines. Taking into account all the glitz and the glamour of crystals and the invaluable knowledge that Saunders was able to bestow, it was a great closing for the year.

Jonathan Saunders and Dolly Jones (centre) with FBC co-founders and co-chairs, Alison Whelan and Courtney Blackman

The next FBC meeting with be held on 28 January 2010 and FBC member and fashion & business expert Frances Card will be interviewing Liberty’s creative director, Tamara Salman, so save the date! In the meantime, Happy Holidays and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

If you’re interested in joining FBC, please send an e-mail to our membership director, Rita Nazareno: membership@fashionbusinessclub.net

Daniella Cagol Guest Editor

Photos by Dave Wise for FBC

For the last meeting of 2009, we’ve enlisted one of London’s most commercially successful designers to impart his wisdom: Jonathan Saunders. A graduate of Central St. Martins, Jonathan won the Lancome Colour Award, went on to consult for some of the largest and most prominent print fashion houses in Europe, and recently returned to the London Fashion Week schedule.

Jonathan Saunders

FBC board member and editor of Vogue.com, Dolly Jones will lead the talk and we will gain a firsthand understanding of the inner-workings of Jonathan’s business, and learn about the dynamic working relationship between a designer and an editor – who effectively has the consumer power to make or break a collection.

“Understanding the finer points of the designer and editor relationship can make all the difference to a fashion business.  Those who make the connection tend to succeed – and FBC is all about helping our members succeed.” - Alison Whelan, FBC co-founder and co-chairman

The meeting will be held on Thursday the 26th of November at the Swarovski CRYSTALLIZEDâ„¢ Lounge from 3:00 – 4:30pm. A fantastic backdrop for an FBC meeting, Swarovski’s marketing operations manager and FBC member Stine Brogaard says, “a sparkling space devoted to the innovation, inspiration and relaxation, the Swarovski CRYSTALLIZEDâ„¢ Lounge provides the perfect platform for a successful fashion forum.”

See you there!

Courtney Blackman Co-Founder & Co-Chairman

handbag.com has launched it’s first Online Fashion Awards and FBC’s co-founder and co-chairman, Courtney Blackman sat on the expert panel, nominating and shortlising the contenders along with handbag.com’s fashion director, Belinda White; fashion editor of fabsugar.co.uk, Laura Street and founder of The Online Fashion Agency, Leon Bailey-Green.

As the title suggests, the awards are all about the world of online fashion and what makes a website stand out in regards to functionality, design, product offering, as well as the integration of blogs, video and everything in between that makes you love your favourite online fashion domain.

Cast your vote now!

Anne Look FBC Member & Fashion Stylist

After just three years in business and hot on the heels of an impressive catwalk show at London Fashion Week, FBC member Bryce Aime has a brand new home for his eponymous label, and big plans for the future. Find out what’s in store for Bryce on Drapers.

FBC members and co-founders of PR agency Varg, Tove Westling and Caroline Almgren, are looking for the perfect fit.

They are on the search for a senior account director – someone who can start freelancing with the company now and slowly transition to an even more senior role when Caroline steps back to go on maternity leave.

Do you have what it takes? Or know someone who does?

Please send a covering letter and CV to Tove: tove@varg.co.uk or Caroline: caroline@varg.co.uk

Good luck!

Anne Look FBC Member & Fashion Stylist

It’s been a while since the Ford Models Supermodel of the World UK Search has been held in the UK, so who better to get involved with reviving it than FBC members? Members attended the catwalk finale, judged the finalists and where backstage making it happen!

…with William Tempest and Dolly Jones – photo by Anne Look

I was pulled in a couple of months ago to do the PR, but ended up co-ordinating quite a lot of it, and had the most incredible support from FBC board member Dolly Jones, editor of Vogue.com. She and her team were very generous with coverage on Vogue.com and Dolly was kind enough to donate her time to sit on the judging panel for the finale. Thank you, Dolly! FBC’s blog editor Rebekah Roy is one of the best catwalk stylists out there and she hit the ground running, not only prepping and styling the show, but pulling in the best of the best from Toni&Guy – Tim Furssedunn did the hair using label.m, and AOFM – Lan Nguyen did the make-up using MAC, and she got tights from Wolford. Rebekah, you are a star!

Rebekah Roy (centre) with two of her assistants

For clothing, I turned to FBC member Harold Tillman’s heritage label, Jaeger and they became the official clothes sponsor, providing 24 looks for the 12 finalists.  FBC member Georgina Goodman loaned the shoes, and our fantastically charismatic Frances Card made the most amazing and stunning host!

Frances Card

I sat between Iris Menier, European director of Ford Models and fashion designer William Tempest on the judging panel (if only to act as a living, breathing teleprompter for Frances) and we awarded Sadie Phelps the winner, who will go on to represent the UK in Sao Paulo in January.

Sadie Phelps (centre) with runners-up Daisy Toogood (left) and Sunnygirl Senjack (right) – photos by Dominic Clarke

FBC members came in droves!  In the audience sat FBC board member Daisy de Villeneuve, FBC membership director, Rita Nazareno and members: Anne Look (who was real-time mobile blogging),  Jimmy Ho, Caroline Almgren, Alison Lowe, Anne-Louis Fogtmann, Lenka O’Neill, Giovanna Velasquez, Issie Gibbons, Karen Brost, Kira Heuer, Natasha Frangos, Stine Brogaard, Tove Westling, Vanessa Warren and Victoria Holt.  If I’ve missed you out, let me know and I’ll add you in!

Anne Look post-show wearing a HEMYCA dress and Olivia Roat hat – photo by Magnus Arrevad

Thank you to everyone again for being involved, on every level. You all rock!

Courtney Blackman Co-Founder & Co-Chairman

FBCtv launched an independent and glittering logo yesterday on Drapers blog. Alison Whelan says, ‘Happily housed with the FBC brand, FBCtv is a great new opportunity for our business and we look forward to developing the initiative further for our members to enjoy.’

Full story here Drapers – FBCtv

FBCtv Goes Live

It’s not surprising to learn that Cheryl Cole is carrying an Atelier Annick handbag! They’ve been quite popular! Cheryl was spotted carrying the Atelier Annick Bebe handbag while on her way to the Radio 1 studio to promote her new single!

FBC member Annick Adjo has previously worked with luxury brands such as Giorgio Armani, Harrods and The Financial Times Newspaper. Amongst her roles at the FT, she mainly ran the Luxury Goods Department in Paris, dealing with PR and Marketing, while creating strategic partnerships between the paper and world renowned brands.

Atelier Annick
(44)2030 915 487
www.atelierannick.com

-Rebekah Roy FBC Blog Editor & Fashion Stylist