Fashion Business Club

Marigay McKee in Roland Mouret with Dolly Jones in Roksanda for Whistles

Thursday 25th March 2010 marked another successful Fashion Business Club meeting at the Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ Concept Store and Café. Interviewed by FBC board member and editor of Vogue.com, Dolly Jones, the fashion and beauty director at Harrods, Marigay McKee is the cake and the cherry on top where all things fashion and business are concerned.

FBC co-founder Alison Whelan chatting with Harrods’ Jason Broderick

Her great eye and style is the reason so many Londoners look as good as they do and her well-groomed appearance is representative of “looking the part”. This meeting in particular was a great inspiration as Marigay is a successful businesswoman, a mum AND a true believer in treating others fairly.

FBC member Helen Clinch of HEMYCA with FBC photographer, Dave Wise

Taking the time to communicate and share is rewarding and garners further commitment from staff. “Positive karma brings a positive attitude. Charm and charisma is the most underused weapon in business today.” Sound like fashion’s answer to Mother Teresa? Maybe, but this saint works hard and plays hard.

FBCers: creative consultant Sim Scavazza with journalist, stylist & consultant, Navaz Batliwalla

She took us on a historical journey and brought to our attention the evolution of shopping in department stores. We have gone from the 80’s being a decade where each store was like a school, the shop staff were the teachers and the shoppers the students. Then in the 90’s we all liked being pampered. Personal shopping became the new craze and department stores were like hospitals. The personal shopper/stylists were the doctors and we were the patients. This side of the millennium it has been taken to another level. The department store community has now become the most important place of all, home.

FBC members Nana Aganovich and Brooke Taylor of Aganovich giving a quick sound bite for FBCtv to co-founder, Courtney Blackman

Marigay let us in to a little secret on what’s hot for next season. Look out for the return of the trouser suit, glamorous dresses and smaller bags for women. Menswear continues with the schoolboy look and has some influences of shabby chic. You heard it at FBC first.

How does she do it all? Truth be told, she has a small army of great friends, staff, a loving family and an agency sent from above called ‘Beck & Call.’

The next Fashion Business Club meeting is scheduled for 27th May 2010 at Swarovski CRYSTALLIZEDâ„¢ where Joseph Velosa, CEO of Matthew Williamson will be interviewed by FBC member and editor of the Business of Fashion, Imran Amed.

For information on membership, contact Rita Nazareno: membership@fashionbusinessclub.net

Gabriella at the Alexandra Shulman/Dolly Jones FBC meeting, courtesy of Vogue.com

As vice president of international sales and business development for power brand, Diane von Furstenberg, FBC member Gabriella Piccinni was invited to talk about what it is like working for a global fashion company and what her strategy is for expansion. At a seminar organised by Harrods and the BFC Colleges Council, Gabriella shared her years of acquired knowledge to heads of colleges, tutors, and students at the Harrods auditorium.

Gabriella says, “it was important to get involved as students and teachers need to know the business side of the fashion industry. Logistics, distribution and a sales team are all key factors to any designer’s expansion, as is knowing the retailers and understanding the markets where they sit,” and Gabriella’s advice to future designers: “stay humble, know your retailers and don’t let your ego take over when your brand first becomes successful. Keep it real and you will make it happen.”

Lauretta Roberts

One of our members with the most insider knowledge on fashion and retail has launched a blog dedicated to shopping.

Titled SHOPSNOOP247, Lauretta Roberts doles out her wisdom from years in the industry as the former editor of Drapers and the current development director at WGSN – the online fashion and style forecaster…and she really likes to shop.

Why did you set up SHOPSNOOP247?

“Well, people kept telling me to do it as I’ve been Tweeting about my shopping exploits for some time and I am a journalist so I do enjoy writing and it’s a great outlet. Also there are a gazillion fashion blogs out there as we know and some of them are fantastic but I couldn’t find one that was just about good shops – most of them have a personal style focus. So that’s my niche I hope. I’ll be recounting my experiences of finding good product but also good service and interesting store environments and so on. It’ll be mainly fashion shops, as that’s where I spend most of my time, but I am becoming increasingly interested in homewares too, so you’ll get an element of that.

I hope I’m disciplined enough to keep it up! I shall put up some of my favourite blogs too, so will link to FBC!”

FBC board member, Daisy de Villeneuve is doing her first solo exhibition, In Her Shoes, at Liberty! With cult status in Britain and abroad, the designer/illustrator/author is looking forward to occupying Liberty’s 4th Floor with forty new works in pen and ink featuring things like clothing, handbags, perfume bottles, necklaces and shoes in her trademark style.

Daisy will also be launching her own label: D de V London, with a range of luxury scented candles. Each candle from the Daisy Rose collection will feature artwork from her show and will be available exclusively at Liberty until the show finishes. Then they’ll be available all over the UK!

Says Daisy, “I’m very excited to be showcasing my artwork at Liberty especially because it’s one of my all-time favourite British department stores. It’s the perfect place to launch my D de V London collection!”

The exhibition runs from 29 March through to the end of April, so get yourself to Liberty and get started on your own D de V London collection.

Congratulations, Daisy!

Check out FBC committee member David Wise’s latest story  “The Dream of Alice” published in Haute Magazine (NYC).

On March 25th FBC members are invited to private evening to order Jonathan Saunder’s AW10 collection.

Marigay McKee & Dolly Jones

Thursday the 25th is the day! Legendary fashion and beauty director of Harrods, Marigay McKee will be interviewed by FBC board member and editor of Vogue.com, Dolly Jones.

How is the business of Harrods changing? What are Marigay’s daily challenges? How does a new or established brand attract the attention of the most famous store in the world?

Find out exclusively at the FBC March meeting at the Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ Concept Store and Café at 3pm.

Members, have you RSVPed?: rsvp@fashionbusinessclub.net

FBC member Michael Herz stepped down from his position as head of womenswear design at Aquascutum (owned by FBC member Harold Tillman) on the 4^th of March after a very successful ten-year run, and was immediately, and not surprisingly, snapped up by another luxury label that’s been around since the 1850’s, Bally. Michael will be taking the reigns as the new creative director for womenswear, while his menswear counterpart from Aquascutum, Graeme Fidler will also be shifting over to head up the menswear.

Everyone at FBC is very happy for Michael and we caught up with him to get a few words, “I find it really exciting. It is so different to what I’ve been doing, but not. The role is multi-faceted, pulling all aspects of what I’ve done before into one position. Bally has a strong support system in place, which is really important to have…and seeing as the company is headquartered in Switzerland, it’s great, because I really want to learn to ski!”

We can’t wait to see Mr. Herz’s first collection for Bally, and to see him on the slopes of Zermatt.

Spring is nearly upon us and there’s no better way to welcome the warm weather than by marking our diaries with the up-and-coming FBC event starring Dolly Jones, Vogue.com editor and FBC board member, interviewing guest speaker Marigay McKee, fashion and beauty director at Harrods, next Thursday, March 25th at the Swarvoski CRYSTALLIZED™ Concept Store and Cafe.

Having moved up the Harrods ladder – Marigay went from a senior buyer for perfumery and cosmetics in 1999 to womenswear in 2005, and to fashion director in 2007. Being FBC’s next guest speaker, Marigay says: “It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to be involved with FBC. The arena they provide for discussion of our fast-moving industry is an ideal platform for the development of fresh and innovative ideas.”

Marigay McKee

As an ambassador for Harrods, Marigay has built up a reputation not only in the UK but in ‘fashion-able’ and ‘beauty-full’ circles, worldwide. She’s leads more than 2,000 employees, oversees over 1,000 fashion brands and lines, and represents almost 50 per cent of the elite store’s turnover. Dolly, who is excited to introduce Marigay to FBC members next week says: “She has become an icon of the international fashion scene herself and has made one of the most high profile jobs in fashion all her own. Hopefully we’ll be able to give some insight as to what it’s like to be her to the FBC audience.”

And insightful it will be.  FBC members will get the scoop on how Marigay started off in the industry and how she has managed to achieve a retailers dream job at one of the most esteemed department stores in the world. From challenges that she’s come across – and overcome – to the new projects that lie ahead for the brand, Marigay will share that intimate world of Harrods, behind the golden ‘H.’

Alison Whelan, FBC co-founder and co-chairman says: “The Harrods brand and Marigay are a formidable buying team when it comes to fashion and beauty- and what better time is there for Dolly to interview Marigay than straight after this season’s shows? Let’s get ready for an inspiring talk about what makes Harrods tick.”

FBC at Swarovski CRYSTALLIZEDâ„¢

RSVP ladies and gent’s, this is definitely one FBC event not to be missed! The meeting will be held Thursday, March 25th at 3:00pm at the Swarvoski CRYSTALLIZED™ Concept Store and Cafe on Great Marlborough Street.

The Vogue.com Street Chic team will be present photographing what FBC members are wearing. You have a little over a week to plan your ensemble!

RSVP: rsvp@fashionbusinessclub.net

In association with media partner:

Today FBC members Daniela and Annette Felder of FELDER FELDER are holding their private order day for AW2010.

If you saw their London Fashion Week show, you won’t want to miss out! All prices are wholesale + VAT.

6:00 – 8:00pm at Goodley PR, 41 Dover Street, London W1

Cash, cheque and bank transfer accepted.  For more details, contact: sales@felderfelder.com