Fashion Business Club

The Sanderson’s Long Bar

The Sanderson celebrated their tenth anniversary and our board member Daisy de Villeneuve, was invited to sit on the executive committee along with industry mainstays including Jasmine Guinness, Olivia Inge, Nicholas Kirkwood, Richard Mortimer and Todd Lynn. All were at the event, centered around The Sanderson’s Long Bar and outside space where Florence + the Machine performed.

A photo booth was set up for added fun and we played a little game called ‘have your photo taken with two of FBC’s board members.’

We started easy with fellow FBC member and vice president of international sales and business development at Diane von Furstenberg, Gabriella Piccinni and handbag designer Ethan Koh. We then got Brian Jones, senior vice president of sales for the Morgans Hotel Group to join us; then model/actress, Camilla Rutherford for a Charlie’s Angels-inspired session, complete with wind machine. We capped it off with an FBC board members only shoot. Daisy is wearing Diane von Furstenberg and I’m in Jasper Garvida, with bags by FBC’s, Rita Nazareno and her label, S.C. Vizcarra.

*Overdone trend of the evening: very high knotted hair, on both women and (long-haired) men.

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.”

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

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

Lauretta Roberts (in Jaeger) and Harold Tillman

The two-day Fashion Summit 2009, chaired by FBC member Lauretta Roberts, happens on the 17th and 18th of November, and a VIP reception, held at Taman Gang has officially kicked it off!  A whole host of FBCers dressed up to help Lauretta celebrate what will be the biggest event in fashion this year!

Rebekah Roy, Keely Stocker, Frances Card, Antony Hawman, Bunty Stokes

FBC member and chairman of the British Fashion Council, Harold Tillman was there along with FBC members Rebekah Roy (fashion stylist); Frances Card, MD of FCC and Drapers blogger; and Bunty Stokes, country sales manager for Vente Privee…who got photographed with Drapers’s Keely Stocker and my-wardrobe’s Antony Hawman.

Chris Davidson and Lee Lapthorne

FBC’s Lee Lapthorne, Director of On|Off came along with Chris Davidson, and FBC member and head of consumer PR for EdenCancan, Jonathan Kirkby was there with Nick Ede.

Nick Ede and Jonathan Kirkby

FBC members and co-Directors of Vauxhall Fashion Scout, John Walford and Martyn Roberts got photographed with fashion designer, Anne Tyrrell upon arrival.

John Walford, Anne Tyrrell, Martyn Roberts

FBC board member and editor of Vogue.com, Dolly Jones wasn’t able to come along, but we got three Vogue.com ladies in her absence: Jessica Bumpus, Lauren Milligan and Julia Neel.

Jessica Bumpus, Lauren Milligan and Julia Neel

Who’s the odd one out?  It’s Aquascutum’s head of menswear, Graeme Fidler.  He’s the only non-FBC member in the photograph below with Aquascutum’s head of womenswear, Michael Herz, and Gabriella Piccinni, international business director for Diane von Furstenberg.  Come on, Graeme, join the club already!

Courtney Blackman, Michael Herz, Gabriella Piccinni, Graeme Fidler

FBC member and founder & creative director of Fred&Ginger, Victoria Holt, popped along with Jenny Packham (she was Jenny’s senior fashion designer before founding Fred&Ginger).

Victoria Holt

We had our own FBC corner, where William Tempest snuck in as an honourary member for the evening and chatted all things FBC with stylist, journalist and consultant, Navaz Batliwalla; VFS’s Martyn Roberts; fashion stylist, Rebekah Roy, FBC board member, designer, illustrator and author, Daisy de Villeneuve and me.

Navaz Batliwalla, Martyn Roberts, William Tempest, Rebekah Roy, Daisy de Villeneuve, Courtney Blackman

The party was a huge success and at one point was so crowded, you couldn’t really move!  Congratulations, Lauretta!

Courtney Blackman Co-Founder & Co-Chairman

Photographs by Christopher Dadey

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

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

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

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