It was all sequins and furs, studs and silks to launch Fashion Business Club (FBC)’s 4th birthday! Dressed to the nines, each member put their best heel (or stiletto) forward and participated in making this FBC event one of the greatest!

The FBC Team: Laura McCluskey, Alison Whelan, Rebekah Roy, Dave Wise, Courtney Blackman, Myka Volney, Rita Nazareno

Frances Card, Director of Frances Card Consultancy, graced FBC with her fabulousness in honoring our special guest interviewer, Sarah Curran, CEO of my-wardrobe.com. Kicking off the interview in stellar attires and a positive attitude that filled Swarvoski CRYSTALLIZED™ to the brim, the two ladies got down to business, sharing with FBC the challenges and obstacles of moving fashion retail business from bricks and mortar boutique to the online world.

“Powder was my first boutique,” said Curran, “but the biggest challenge to moving that online was finding a price point for everyone…I didn’t want customers to feel excluded while at the same time making it a great experience…creating a community and a friendly environment.”

Easier said than done, no?  Curran ran FBC through all the logistical planning that takes place when designing a online retail boutique - from the editorial to photography, the models to product packaging; Each little detail of my-wardrobe.com has been thought over, processed, analyzed by the CEO herself.  “Maintaining a consistency of style is especially important online,” she said, but the biggest challenge, Curran laughs: “It’s finding a name, and then making sure it’s available!”

France Card & Sarah Curren from my-wardrobe.com

Card and many other loyal customers who have overseen the magnetic power that the site has will not disbelieve that the site, within six months, was outselling Powder.  But once you’re at the top, where does one go? “What is next for my-wardrobe.com’s global journey?,” asked Card, posing the question that many others in the audience wondered.

“Online retailing is so young,” said Curran, “We can change the way we browse things,  and being the most critical of the site, I am always wanting to make improvements.” And improvements they are! my-wardrobe.com is currently implementing catwalks and videos, allowing customers to browse items as a whole or individually, tagged and categorized to convenience and tastes.  “This is something not being done currently,” said Curran, “and it’s so different from what other sites offer.”

But for a woman, with a supportive team backing her up - including father and husband -,  my-wardrobe.com with all its success has been no easy feat.  “There are lots of risks,” Curran said, “But you have to have massive confidence.  And if you’re that dedicated, with each sacrifice, you will get there… If you want it, you have to believe and you have to invest [in online].  It’s by no means the cheaper alternative…You have to go in 100 per cent.”

And 100 per cent she did! With an amazing website, a dedicated family, and lavish styling account for her own fashion duds, Curran is surely a name that the fashion industry will have on its lips a lot more of in the future.  In the meantime, raise a glass of bubbly and toast to the wise words of the beautiful entrepreneur and FBC’s 4th birthday!

FBC members mixing & mingling at FBC's 4th birthday

The Fashion and Textile Museum are thrilled to announce that they are working in partnership with Clothes Show London, with its new residency at Earls Court 25-27 June 2010, to launch a competition to find the Young Accessory Designer of the Year.

Alison Lewy Commercial Director, Fashion and Textile Museum and FBC member welcomes this opportunity to support aspiring design talent in this way: “FTM is thrilled to be working in partnership with Clothes Show London to launch this new competition which reflects the ethos of the museum to support young design talent. The winner will have a unique opportunity to receive a package of high-level, professional industry led support from the FTM to ensure the on-going development of their business, as well as exposure for their brand.”

Competition Brief
The prestigious new award in partnership with the FTM, challenges designers to create an accessory product that encompasses the FTM’s brand values and is suitable for sale in the FTM’s shop (Shop@FTM) and the FTM’s online boutique.

Entrance criteria
The competition is open to aspiring designers who have been trading for fewer than three years.

The Prize
The winner will have the opportunity to receive the following:
• To showcase their product at Clothes Show London
• To launch and sell the winning product in the Shop@FTM
• Six months business support with industry advisors to help grow their business and make it sustainable
• To attend a professional CAD short course at the FTM
• Invitation to the Private View of the forthcoming Horrockses Fashion exhibition

All entries will be judged by FTM’s Commercial Director, Alison Lewy and Managing Director of Clothes Show London, Gavin Brown. The winner will be announced at an impressive awards ceremony in Clothes Show London’s spectacular Fashion Theatre at London’s Earls Court on Saturday 26th June.

Deadline for Entries
15th April 2010
Winner announcement at Clothes Show London on 26th June 2010

To enter visit  www.ftmlondon.org to download an application form.

FBC member and regular contributor to the FBC Blog, Anne Look is stepping up her own blog, Stylist and the City by collaborating with Glam Media.

What is Glam Media? From the horse’s mouth, it is the pioneer and global leader of vertical media-a new model that connects premium brand advertisers with millions of consumers online through large, growing, vertical content networks.

Says Anne, “Stylist and the City hasn’t lost its way! In fact, the writing is just as unchartered, the posts just as random, my life just as unpredictable and the fashions just as fabulous, fast, fruitful and on the pulse.”

Stylist and the City will get a makeover and changes to the look and layout will be effective immediately…as soon as Anne works out how to apply them.

If you’re a blogger and want to know more about vertical media, hunt down Anne at the next FBC meeting on the 28^th of January at the Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED^TM Concept Store and Café.

Courtney Blackman Co-Founder & Co-Chairman

Bryce Aime by The Mofo

FBC member Bryce Aime has photographed previously unseen pieces from his SS2010 collection with cult photographer, The Mofo (yes, that’s what he calls himself), in his signature voyeuristic style.

Bryce mixes 50’s Parisian chic with classic and futuristic body con structure and it’s apparently a collection you’ll either love or hate.  I love.  What do you think?

Bryce Aime by The Mofo

Bryce will be showing his AW2010 collection during London Fashion Week at On|Off (directed by FBC member Lee Lapthorne) on Saturday the 20^th of February, and we’re hoping to see Bryce next Thursday for our first FBC meeting of 2010, a celebration of our 4^th birthday, and a revealing interview with my-wardrobe.com’s founder and CEO, Sarah Curran at London’s Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ Concept Store and Café.

See you there!

Courtney Blackman Co-Founder & Co-Chairman

S.C.Vizcarra handbags by FBC member Rita Nazareno are now available at Suzannah boutique, including the lovely little handbag that Courtney Blackman Co-Founder & Co-Chairman has named “Blue Bell“!

Suzannah
6 Bristol Gardens,
London W9 2JG

Thursday night saw FBC members turn out for the launch of Daisy Lowe for Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™jewellery collaboration, held in the newly opened store in central London. The Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ lounge in Great Marlborugh Street is also the new home of the FBC and where the first meeting of the year (and 4th birthday) will kick off on January 28.  FBC’ers at the event included  FBC Co-Founder & Co-Chairman Courtney Blackman,  Marketing Operations Manager of Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ Stine Brogaard and Frances Card, Managing Director of Frances Card Consultancy. The collection focuses on Daisy’s love of the earth, fire, water, wind and spirit, featuring a specially created five pointed star to represent these elements. I caught up with Daisy and got her personal thoughts on the collection.

“This is something that’s very special to me, to be here tonight and to have had the chance to create a range. I hope that you, and others like it. It’s nice for people to see me as a creative and not only as a model. I’m really proud of this collaboration”.

*With Daisy’s love of nature and the preservation of the environment, Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ will be donating 20% of the proceeds from the sale of EVERY piece of the collection to Climate Concern, a UK based charity that educates and empowers individuals about climate change.

FBC blog chats with 1/2 of Felder Felder, FBC member Annette Felder about celebrities and their upcoming LFW show!

Felder Felder has always been a rock’n'roll label. How has the relationship with music artists come about?
Annette Felder - Mutually, we’ve been approached by quite a few stylists who thought FF would work really well for the artists they work with, which has resulted in some exciting collaborations and relationships.

How important are celebrities to your brand?
Annette Felder - It’s more about the celebrity’s personality or work, which attracts us and makes a celebrity interesting for Felder Felder.

Will you be showing at London Fashion Week?
Annette Felder - Yes, we will be showing on schedule at London Fashion Week, Friday 19th February.

What can we expect next from Felder Felder?
Annette Felder - Timeless and cool designs with a signature shot of rock’n'roll.

-Rebekah Roy Fashion Stylist & FBC Editor

Suzy Menkes, Zandra Rhodes and the Fashion and Textile Museum hosted the launch of My Favourite Dress, a book dedicated to dresses and the very favourites of Alexander McQueen, Diane von Furstenberg, Amanda Wakeley, Matthew Williamson, Zac Posen, about 75 other people, and one of our board members!

The book, compiled by Gity Monsef, Samantha Erin Safer and Robert de Niet, echoes the exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum by the same name and our board member Daisy de Villeneuve tells the story of her favourite: a turquoise vintage dress from Rellik with a Chinese-inspired print.  “I took part in the book because Samantha and Gity asked me to be involved.  I’d worked with Gity before when I had my solo show at The Fashion and Textile Museum a few years ago.  I still have the dress. I bought it in 2000 and it has come in pretty handy,” says Daisy.

Daisy de Villeneuve & William Tempest

After the event, where we ran into Vogue.com’s fashion features editor, Jessica Bumpus and fashion designer, William Tempest, we snuck out for snacks and drinks with Samantha and Gity.  Not only did they create an amazing book, those gals know how to have fun.

See you on the 28^th, where my-wardrobe.com founder and CEO, Sarah Curran will be interviewed by FBC’s Frances Card at Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED^TM.  We’ll also be celebrating our 4^th birthday with cupcakes from Cakehole and chocolate from Godiva!

Will Daisy be wearing the turquoise dress?  You’ll have to attend to find out.

Courtney Blackman Co-Founder & Co-Chairman

Happy Birthday FBC!

An interview with Courtney Blackman and Alison Whelan, co-founders and chairmen.

What inspired you to start FBC?
CB - Alison was inspired to start FBC as the visionary and wrangled me in to make it happen. I thought it was a brilliant idea and LOVE making things happen!

AW - The inspiration behind FBC has always been about bringing people together. In essence it all began with Courtney and I coming together. Courtney invited me onto ASW and whilst checking out the site I noticed people working in the petroleum industry making plans to meet up. I thought it would be a great idea to start something similar for the fashion industry. Luckily, Courtney thought so too (otherwise not much would have happened).

How has it grown in the past 4 years?
CB - Four years ago there were 25 of us crammed in a little room on South Molton Street. Now there are over 120 of us schmoozing around the Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ Concept Store and Café, listening to the biggest names in the fashion industry being interviewed by our board members: Dolly Jones and Daisy de Villeneuve. In addition to the board, we have an amazing team of nine strong that make FBC happen, and we have our our television production company: FBCtv

AW - Membership has grown and I’m really happy about that BUT what really thrills me is seeing members renew - I know we are doing something right when people keep coming back. Professional interest has grown too - Courtney has worked had to secure the fashion establishment logo’s you see on our invites and it really started to turn around when Alexandra Shulman agreed to be interviewed.

What does FBC do for its members?
CB - FBC was designed to bring established fashion business people together so they can learn from each other, work with one another, and be inspired by the speakers. We basically wanted to bring the industry closer together.
AW - Everything we build, we do for our members benefit - the meetings, the committee, the board, the blog, the venue, the speakers, the database and now FBCtv.

What changes can we expect over the next year?
AW - Well I’m depending on countless dress changes courtesy of Ms. Blackman! We are working on a revised business plan for FBC, renewing media partnerships and sponsors. Expanding FBCtv through new distribution channels and developing an online networking prototype. We’re also looking at franchising FBC and first term investment. The changes are all external developments, the heart of FBC will always remain the same - we’re bringing people together.

CB - We’re in talks to make FBCtv bigger and better and to increase the distribution, and we’re designing the prototype for FBC’s dedicated advanced social networking online portal.

The next meeting will be held Thursday, January 28 at FBC’s new venue partner for 2010: the Swaravski CRYSTALLIZED™ Concept Store and Café on Great Marlborough Street. Come and celebrate with us and enjoy some organic and fairtrade cupcakes from Cakehole!

Photos by Dave Wise for FBC

FBC is celebrating its fourth successful year in business and gearing up for the first meeting of 2010 by welcoming guest speaker and FBC member, Sarah Curran, founder & CEO of my-wardrobe.com, interviewed by FBC member and fashion business expert, Frances Card of the Frances Card Consultancy.

The meeting will be held Thursday, January 28 at FBC’s new venue partner for 2010: the Swaravski CRYSTALLIZED™ Concept Store and Café on Great Marlborough Street.