Models at Sapphires: Thea, Yulia & Beatrix

FBC members Neely Reyes and Ian Warren of Sapphires Model Management have been invited to the House of Commons in praise of their business success; they were the selected model agency for a catwalk show and celebrity portrait auction with Harvey Nichols; they’ve worked exclusively with Selfridges and the Fashion Summit 2009; they landed a global Uniqlo account placing one their high-profile models, FBC board member, Daisy de Villeneuve; and Neely was recently asked to judge a fashion design competition over London Fashion Week.

Neely Reyes & Ian Warren

Well, they are at it again and have been invited to be guest speakers in the Expert Studio at the Fashion Fusion Expo 2010. Ian says,”We’re really excited to explain to people how an ethical modelling agency works and how the fashion industry as a whole can benefit from an agency like Sapphires.”

They will be talking about how to become a model, ethics in the industry, what to avoid and watch out for when signing to an agency, and health and wellbeing of models. Neely adds, “We’re really pleased to be speaking in the Expert Studio at the Fashion Fusion Expo. As an ethical modelling agency we’re looking forward to talking to people about the reality of working in the industry, health and wellbeing, and how to avoid scams.”

Ian and Neely’s presentation is at 4:00pm on Friday the 12th of March at the Old Truman Brewery.

Tickets to the event are £10 and can be purchased through: www.fashionfusionexpo.co.uk

For details about Sapphires or to book models, please contact: 0844 844 5404 or contact@sapphiresmodels.com

I normally round up FBCers at London Fashion Week, but decided to do Paris this time to mix it up. So, who was there and doing what?

Daniela & Annette Felder

Twin FBC members/designers Daniela and Annette Felder of FELDER FELDER went to Paris as part of the BFC’s London Show Rooms with an opening brunch hosted by American Vogue & Style.com’s Sarah Mower. Excellent.

Bryce Aime AW2010

FBCers Martyn Roberts and John Walford of Fashion Scout assembled the Fashion Scout Paris Showroom and FBC member Bryce Aime was amongst the ten designers on exhibit.

Giovanna Velasquez and me both wearing Magenta 8

FBCer and creative director of Magenta 8, Giovanna Velasquez exhibited for her first time at Atmosphère’s, and FBC member and fashion and fine art photographer, Vanessa Warren went along to help set up and photograph her stand - très  FBC.

The On|Off showroom at Galerie Cadain

FBC member Lee Lapthorne showed his own collection at the Haynes Showroom and had his On|Off showroom filled with twelve British designers; and Lee and his team threw their heavily attended Custard Party. Highlight: Lee rocking out big time to the live music.

Jaeger London (owned by FBC member Harold Tillman) showed at Hotel Castille and FBCers Ashish Gupta of Ashish and Jonathan Saunders also had showrooms as part of the Brits in Paris initiative.

Gabriella Piccinni, FBC member and vice president of international business for Diane von Furstenberg was in Paris…conducting international business on behalf of DvF.

Aganovich AW2010

…and last but not least FBC members Brooke Taylor and Nana Aganovich of Aganovich exhibited in Paris per usual, and a treat for us - they’ll be back in London for the next FBC meeting with our guest, Harrods‘ fashion and beauty director, Marigay McKee, who will be interviewed by FBC board member and editor of Vogue.com, Dolly Jones.

25 March 2010

3:00pm

Swarovski Crystallized

Details: membership@fashionbusinessclub.net

FBC member and former head of womenswear design for Aquascutum, Michael Herz, has resigned from his post along with menswear designer, Graeme Fidler.

With a decade under his belt at the luxury heritage label (after stints with Marc Jacobs and Alber Elbaz), and resounding positive reviews after his AW2010 collection, it is clear that Mr. Herz will be missed at the brand that was purchased last year by fellow FBC member Harold Tillman and run under the directorship of Belinda Earl.

What’s next for Michael?  There is lots of speculation. Stay tuned to find out. For a creative talent as big as his, it will no doubt be big.

Read what our media partner Vogue.com has to say: Vogue.com

Illustration by Holly Berry

Fashion Business Club isn’t just about networking with people in the fashion industry.  Its members, each with different and ever growing agendas, are constantly evolving the creative industries as well as the social ones- including inspiring young people in the community to get involved with politics through fashion.

FBC board member Daisy de Villeneuve by Barry Lategan

Daisy de Villeneuve, an FBC board member, is on the judging panel for Think Act Vote, a campaign dedicated to motivate people in taking what they believe in and using that in the forthcoming election.  In collaboration with Komodo, an ethical fashion label, Think Act Vote will search for an earth friendly (carbon neutral) campaign t-shirt from contesting up and coming designers, artists, and illustrators.  The only credential? The t-shirt will have to include the slogan: Think Act Vote in order to get the message across to the public. Daisy de Villeneuve says: “Thick Act Vote is a fantastic way to encourage young people to get voting- if you don’t vote then you can’t complain about the result!”

And that’s the truth.  Coming from founder, Amisha Ghadiali: “If politics were a fashion label, you wouldn’t wear it. We want to use creativity to create a community around the choices we make for our future.”Amisha is also an associate director at the Ethical Fashion Forum, of which FBC co-chair Courtney Blackman sits on the board.

The deadline for submissions is 12 noon on Sunday 7th March where the winner will be announced at a launch party in April and then produced by Komodo.  As ethical hero Katherine Hamnett puts it: “Use it before you lose it.”

FBC board member Daisy de Villeneuve partnered up with Vauxhall Fashion Scout (run by FBC members Martyn Roberts and John Walford) and Vogue.com (edited by board member Dolly Jones) over London Fashion Week to draw live from the catwalks of David Koma, Hermione de Paula and William Tempest.

Visit Vogue.com to see Daisy’s exclusive sketches and to see what she thought of each designers’ collection.

Board member Daisy de Villeneuve’s books and notebooks are now on sale at the Ultralounge in Selfridges! Published by Pocko, Daisy’s hugely popular He Said, She Said features her cool and stylish felt-tip drawings coupled with typewritten, humourous observations about friendship and love.

Daisy studied fashion and fine art in New York and Paris, and received a B.F.A from Parsons School of Design. Referred to as London’s ‘Queen of Cool,’ Daisy’s art has featured in numerous fashion magazines, galleries, unique exhibitions, Topshop shoeboxes, clothing, housewares, Oyster cardholders in conjunction with the British Fashion Council, and most recently she has appeared in advertising campaigns for Gap Europe and for Uniqlo - a project that was secured by fellow FBC members Neely Reyes and Ian Warren of Sapphires Model Management.

Daisy in ads for Gap Europe and Uniqlo

Daisy will be at the next FBC meeting and is happy to sign FBC members’ copies of her books.

25 March, 3:00 - 4:30pm

Swarovski Crystallized Concept Store & Café

Harrods‘ fashion and beauty director Marigay McKee will be interviewed by FBC board member and editor of Vogue.com, Dolly Jones.

Membership enquiries: membership@fashionbusinessclub.net

FBC member Neely Reyes Founder and owner of Sapphires Model Management alongside fellow FBC member Lee Lapthorne of ON/Off, are judges for the Internet search engine Ask Jeeves.

They are looking for talent  to create even more wardrobe options for iconic butler, Jeeves.

Jeeves is traditionally known for his suited attire, but in the run up to London Fashion Week Ask Jeeves and Nolcha fashion business services are asking all budding designers to send in their ideas for a new fashion forward look for their brand ambassador.

The winning design will be modelled by Jeeves on the Ask Jeeves homepage and supported by a theme design which will be added to the Ask Jeeves theme gallery.

The judging panel will look at all the entries sent in and select four finalists, with Ask Jeeves users selecting the final winning design.

Neely says: “I‘m excited to be judging the Dress Jeeves competition. The UK is filled with design talent and Jeeves makes the perfect model! I can’t wait to see what the entrants envision for the iconic British character.”

The competition launches on 10th February and runs to the 28th of February. For more information visit at www.uk.ask.com/dressjeeves from 10th February 2010.

How old is Hoopla PR?
Hoopla PR was launched in July 2009 by FBC members Mary Proto and Katie Poole.

Who is Hoopla PR?
Hoopla PR is a boutique agency based in Soho, London that specialises in fashion, beauty and lifestyle PR and sales. We like to source brands that we are passionate about who can present something quirky and unique to the press and buyers. We offer a professional but comfortable environment for our clients to be looked after and managed. We understand the importance of helping a business to grow and will help our clients in every conceivable area to achieve the full potential of their products in a competitive marketplace.

What type of clients do you look after?
We look after small designers and are eager to help them to increase their profile in the UK. We are also interested in housing larger designers who are looking for a fresh approach on how to tackle the UK market.

What will you be doing during London Fashion Week?
One of our clients Fannie Schiavoni has recently been awarded NEWGEN sponsorship and will be exhibiting from the 19th-23rd of February so we will be supporting her during LFW and are excited to view her new collection. She is holding a party on Tuesday 23rd February at The Arts and Theatre Club Soho from 8pm onwards. If you would like to attend please email mary.proto@hoopla-pr.com

As the city prepares itself for London Fashion Week, FBCers are gearing up, preparing themselves for the week ahead.

FBC co-chair and MD of Forward PR Courtney Blackman is launching Prophetik’s first fashion show at London Fashion Week.  Courtney also represents the jewellery label LeJu who is exhibiting for their sixth  season at London Fashion Fashion.

During London Fashion Week FBC editor and fashion stylist Rebekah Roy is styling several shows including Merit Award Winner William Tempest, Alice Palmer, Jasper Garvida, menswear designer Stefán Orschel-Read and Prophetik. She’s also been busy styling lookbooks with FBC members Jaime Cooke of Muks and Helen and Myra of Hemyca.

Prophetik will be opening the season at Vauxhall Fashion Scout run by FBC members and co-directors, Martyn Roberts and John Walford on Friday the 19th of September at 1:00pm.

To request at ticket request for Prophetik contact Sophie Gardner at: prophetik@forwardpr.com

FBC member Britt Lintner announces new executive appointments. Despite the UK’s slowest retail sales growth in 15 years, womenswear label Britt Lintner is bucking the trend by reporting record sales in January 2010 and announcing two new appointments to the executive team.

Catharine Patha joins as the Creative and Commercial Director, and Suzanne Lloyd as the Development and Production Manager. They join Britt Lintner, founder and Managing Director, and chairman Johanna Waterous, who spent over 20 years with McKinsey & Company, where she led the firm’s European Retail and Global Marketing Practices.

Catharine Patha has previously acted as Britt Lintner’s Art Director for the 2008 and 2009 campaigns and will be spearheading the launch of the company’s new e-commerce website due in late spring 2010.

Suzanne Lloyd joins Britt Lintner from 4 years managing a London based production agency working on behalf of overseas manufacturers. A graduate from the Parsons School of Design in New York (BFA Fashion Design), Lloyd developed a prodigious career in New York designing for Donna Karan, DKNY and Adrienne Vittadini, as well as for private labels including Barneys private label, Bergdorf Goodman, Henri Bendel. Lloyd has also freelanced as the Senior Designer for the launch of Pringle of Scotland’s newly re-branded “1815″ contemporary ready to wear.