Fashion Business Club

SECOND ANNUAL WGSN GLOBAL FASHION AWARDS ANNOUNCE OPEN ENTRY

WGSN will once again honour fashion’s most inspirational and innovative at the second annual Global Fashion Awards in New York City. The Global Fashion Awards were created by WGSN in 2010 to recognise and reward those who are pushing the boundaries of fashion, propelling the industry forward and setting the style agenda on a global scale. The second annual WGSN Global Fashion Awards open entry launches today and is a call for all individuals and businesses working across the fashion industry around the world. Entries can be made online via www.globalfashionawards.com.

“The WGSN Global Fashion Awards celebrate the fashion industry as a completely connected, global platform.  In order to be successful in this universe, one needs the talents and expertise of a wide variety of players, from designers to business leaders, retailers to editors and marketers to models – it takes a whole village…but a very chic one”. Fern Mallis, Founder of New York Fashion Week

The shortlist will be announced in London at a party on the 20th of June at the St Martins Lane Hotel and the winners will be announced at a ceremony that will take place at the Global Fashion Awards’ larger and more fabulous new venue, Gotham Hall in New York City on the 20th of October in front of an audience of fashion’s most influential industry insiders.

“As a creative company, we are constantly looking for new experiences. Getting in contact with new realities, markets, cultures and interesting people is our every day basis. Since WGSN has clients all over the world, the Global Fashion Awards exposure and event was great for us and our clients who joined us on the journey”. Fernanda Pigatto, Institutional Relationship Manager, La Estampa

This year’s categories will again encompass all major business and creative disciplines in fashion including design, retail (off and online), buying, visual merchandising, store design, marketing and ethical practice. The WGSN Global Fashion Awards are the first and only awards that recognise these achievements on a global scale.

The winners will be selected by an expert panel of judges, made up of some of the most prominent people in the fashion and style industries, including designers, buying directors, stylists, merchants and marketing executives. The judges’ panel was carefully selected by WGSN to ensure impartiality and global expertise. The 2011 panel includes:

Chee Au, Chief Creative Officer, Shanghai Tang

June Haynes, Senior Vice President of Retail, Valentino USA

Graeme Fidler and Michael Herz, Creative Directors, Bally

Orsola de Castro, Founder and Curator of the British Fashion Council’s Estethica

Dolly Jones, Editor, VOGUE.COM UK

Simon Kneen, Creative Director and Executive Vice President of Design, Banana Republic

Averyl Oates, Buying Director, Harvey Nichols – Menswear, Womenswear and Accessories

Jana Ririnui, Founder and Director, Academy of Freelance Makeup

William Tempest, Founder and Designer, William Tempest

Daisy de Villeneuve, Illustrator, Designer and Writer

Rebekah Roy, Fashion & Celebrity Stylist

“The landscape of the fashion industry has become more transparent and open. The Internet and social media have fostered new relationships, opportunities and means of operation for fashion businesses and exposed the fashion marketplace to a new global consumer. As the largest and foremost style and design forecaster, WGSN is charged with finding and honouring the world’s idea-makers – the ones whose actions and influence inspire the fashion industry and the broader consumer market”. Susanna Kempe, CEO of WGSN

For more press information on the WGSN Global Fashion Awards and to register your interest, please contact Courtney Blackman. Email: courtney.blackman@forwardpr.com Phone: +44 20 7839 5059

About WGSN

WGSN is the global authority on style and design. The company identifies and analyzes current and future style trends and provides its customers with state-of-the-art online tools that that can be used to create commercially successful products and services. WGSN defines and shapes wining style and design for over 36,000 customers globally. WGSN customers include many of the world’s leading apparel, style, design and retail companies including Levi Strauss & Co., Adidas, Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products, Benetton Group, and Marks and Spencers, among others. WGSN is head quartered in London and has offices all over the world including Milan, New York, Hong Kong, Seoul, Los Angeles, Melbourne and Tokyo. For more information, visit www.wgsn.com. Follow WGSN on Twitter: @wgsn.

To mark Fashion Business Club (FBC)’s 5^th anniversary, the fashion professionals network invited German sequin master; Markus Lupfer to talk to FBC board member and VOGUE.COM UK editor, Dolly Jones at London’s Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™.

The first thing that strikes you about Markus Lupfer is his humility and down-to-earth nature. Despite his global success as a fashion designer and the droves of celebrity devotees endorsing his brand, he remains businesslike, approachable and engaging.

These characteristics are clearly assets that he brings into his business, allowing him to be both groundbreaking and experimental with unique ranges that remain wearable everyday basics. It is crucial for Lupfer that he never isolates his stockists or perhaps most importantly: his customers.

Despite confessing to being ‘a bit shy’ and preferring to operate behind the curtain of his own business, his thoughtful responses to Dolly’s questions revealed that he is clearly a skilled communicator and careful listener. Indeed, attention to detail and intricate finishing have come to define and differentiate his brand and Markus confirms, “Embellishment has become the signature of the label”.

Dolly Jones & Markus Lupfer

When asked if his upcoming tea at The Sanderson arranged for London Fashion Week in February perhaps indicates a desire to return to the catwalk, Markus is clear to define his priorities. “You have to make things bigger, louder, more extreme for the catwalk,” but Markus focuses on fashion that works on the shop floor, advising, “Think about your customer. If the shop has an issue, help them with it. Without the shop floor you don’t have a business.”

Whilst Markus has not yet found a direct replacement for the catwalk, he continues to inform the market by building relationships and making himself and his brand accessible to existing and prospective customers.

Customer centricity is not something that he simply pays lip service to; for Markus Lupfer it is a way of life. In conversation with Dolly who said, “…you strike me as a very international person – do you think that’s the secret to your success, the fact that you are multicultural and always travelling?” Markus replied, “I think that it is really important to travel. If I look at it from a business point of view… it’s colder here but quite often my markets are in hotter climates. It is important to look at other countries and see what they like to wear”.

He is evidently tuned into the varying tastes of his diverse markets, creating ranges that are culturally as well as geographically specific. This awareness and proactive response to customer needs is perfectly summed up in his tailoring of certain products for Harrods in the build up to Ramadan.

Markus Lupfer’s creations have become synonymous with celebrity wardrobes and this plays a key role in the broader marketing of his brand.

Dolly: “You worked with Olivia Palermo fairly on in her career, that makes you a spotter of new talent”

Markus: “You need to strike a balance between the likes of Rihanna and new, up and coming [talents].

Dolly: “Who’s next on your radar?”

Markus: “There is someone coming up soon… we’ll see!”

A balanced representation from established global stars and relatively undiscovered new talent reflects a very deliberate effort to remain inclusive and accessible, despite clearly appealing to the luxury end of the market.

As a German designer, now based in the UK he is asked to discuss what the British fashion scene has done for him. “I came here to study and that was really crucial I think because I studied for 2 years in Germany where fashion culture was very correct and followed rules. Then when I came here it was all about ‘Who are you?’ ‘What do you want to achieve?’ I think the UK [fashion scene] is the strongest in the world”

Markus Lupfer talking with Frances Card of Matches and Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™’s Stine Broggard

Where he does see flaws and room for improvement in the UK market is on the ‘sell side’ and rightly emphasises that, “ability to sell your collection will make or break your business.”

At the end of a very informative interview, which flows more like a conversation between two old friends – questions are opened up to the floor.

Unsurprisingly, the first question is prefaced with a comment about how refreshingly humble and candid Markus is, despite his huge success. He is then asked if he would ever consider a ‘diffusion line’.

In his response, he explains that his business is structured to serve three separate markets and price points, again reaffirming his dedication to accessibility. Sticking to this formula is considered more relevant for him and avoids overcomplicating things for his stockists.

A further questioner mentions seeing the German designer at Harvey Nicholls, being the face of the brand during Vogue’s ‘Fashion’s Night Out’ where he seemed to be enjoying the customer direct experience. “Generally I am happy to do it” he doesn’t instinctively want to be on centre stage but explains, “I love to see who my customers are”. Being more closely linked to retailers than their customers, it is a rare insight for him to meet them and receive direct feedback.

Markus Lupfer talking with Tala Samman of My Fash Diary and FBC co-founder Courtney Blackman

Finally, Courtney Blackman (co-chairman and co-founder of FBC) asks about his views on social networking sites and new models of communication, and Lupfer, ever keen to reach out to his customers is excited by the social networking phenomenon and confirms he is a regular Tweeter, and that he has a film in the pipeline.

The 5^th anniversary reached its conclusion with music from three fashionable DJ’s called The Collection led by Jeffrey Louis-Reed from Audio Sushi, champagne and ‘FBC Cocktails’ made especially by the Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ bar staff. Markus joined in the celebrations, taking the time to chat to FBC members making the most of the opportunity to talk to one of London’s foremost fashion business minds.

Written by FBC member Alice Stone of Lily and Lionel

Photos by FBC photographer Venetia van Hoorn Alkema

Markus Lupfer

Designer extraordinaire Markus Lupfer will be the next fashion star to grace FBC with his presence at the upcoming bi-monthly meeting on the 27th of January. Markus Lupfer will be interviewed by FBC board member and editor of  VOGUE.COM, Dolly Jones. The meeting will also mark FBC’s 5th anniversary.

Markus’ sparkly sequined creations have become somewhat of a trademark, worn by global fashionistas such as Rhianna, Beyoncé, Anna Friel and Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meister. FBC co-founder Alison Whelan says ‘I cannot think of better way to celebrate 5 years of FBC than with the sequin genius, highly colourful and charming Markus Lupfer.‘

FBC co-founder Courtney Blackman adds, ‘In 2010 FBC interviewed an infamous stylist, a maverick fashion buyer and a multi-faceted model, and the year came to a close with FBC at the forefront of fashion as one of the most influential clubs. In 2011 for our 5th birthday, we pick up from this dynamic position by inviting designer Markus Lupfer to be interviewed by FBC board member and editor of VOGUE.COM, Dolly Jones. Markus is an influential and inspiring personality in the fashion industry that has collaborated with an array of mega brands from the High Street and on more exclusive projects with a handful of luxury labels. The diversity of these projects is proof of his entrepreneurial might. His designs exhibit exceptional talent and his famous knits have been spotted on just about everyone. FBC and I are proud to be welcoming Markus and even more so that he will be launching FBC’s 2011 calendar of events.’

FBC board member and editor of VOGUE.COM Dolly Jones will be interviewing the multi-awarded designer on issues such as to how he came to achieve such success, what defines a labels creative direction and the strengths and threats creativity faces by the Internet.

If you would like to attend please let us know by contacting: membership@fashionbusinessclub.net, or if you are press please contact Penelope Sacorafou at press@fashionbusinessclub.net

Alice Stone

On Thursday the 27^th of January, fashion designer Markus Lupfer will be interviewed by FBC board member and editor of VOGUE.COM, Dolly Jones at Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™. The meeting will also mark FBC’s 5^th year in business.

Guest editing on the day, will be FBC member and master of the accessory, Alice Stone, from fast-growing accessories label, Lily and Lionel.

Lily and Lionel is an online boutique that Alice launched only two years ago. The site stocks the label’s own scarves, belts and bags, and you can also find Lily and Lionel products at Whistles, Matches (where FBC member Frances Card is the commercial director), Start, Anthropologie, the V&A and more.

Alice is the company’s founder and director, as well as the creative director of Lily and Lionel. Who are Lily and Lionel? Alice’s grandparents who lived in London’s East End. Lily worked as a seamstress and Lionel in garment production.

Alice will be writing the official FBC review, which will appear on the FBC Blog shortly after the meeting on the 27th.

Would you like to attend the meeting? Contact membership@fashionbusinessclub.net or if you are a member of the press, press@fashionbusinessclub.net

Today kicks off The Drapers Fashion Week. What initially started as a two-day event, The Drapers Fashion Summit, has now been extended to four days of insight, information and inspiration. Fashion Business Club (FBC) is proud to be a part of it and here’s what’s in store:

Monday, 15 November 2010 – WGSN Live

FBC member Lauretta Roberts is the digital development director of WGSN and today offers an exclusive trend day with WGSN’s global experts in fashion and style to identify and shape buying decisions for 2011, providing essential insight for strategy and exclusive consumer and product trends for next season.

Alice, Bunty, Courtney, Dolly, John, Mark, Harold

Tuesday, 16 and Wednesday 17 November 2010 – The Drapers Fashion Summit

The Drapers Fashion Summit is being held at London’s May Fair Hotel, with two days of visionary speakers from across the fashion world. Fashion’s elite will be joining together in a creative forum to debate and discuss the key themes and issues that are having an impact on the industry today. Along with Mary Portas, Ed Vaizey and Caroline Rush, FBC members who are speaking include Alice Stone, founder and director of Lily and Lionel; Bunty Stokes, country sales manager for Vente-Privée; Courtney Blackman, FBC co-founder and managing director of Forward PR; Dolly Jones, FBC board member and editor of VOGUE.COM; John Buni, managing director of Tailor Made London; Mark Bage, creative director of Coggles, and FBC member Harold Tillman CBE, chairman of the British Fashion Council and owner of Aquascutum and Jaeger will also be contributing. “It’s the Summit’s 10th anniversary and it’s fantastic that so many FBC members are lending their time and expertise to help make it great.” Courtney Blackman, FBC co-founder & co-chairman.

Thursday, 18 November 2010 – Fashion Study Tour

As one of the fashion world’s most influential cities, this is an opportunity to take in some of London’s most inspiring stores with WGSN guides.

For more details, visit: The Drapers Fashion Week

FBC is very pleased to have been an official partner of the inaugural WGSN Global Fashion Awards. The awards were conceptualised by FBC member Lauretta Roberts, WGSN’s digital development director, and executed to perfection by a WGSN team from around the globe.

The awards ceremony took place on the 18th floor at the Waldorf Astoria in New York on the 10th of November. Hosted by Nigel Barker, one of our proudest moments was when FBC member Harold Tillman CBE was recognised for his 40 plus years in the industry with the John Rocha designed, Waterford crystal trophy marked with Outstanding Contribution to Fashion. The award was much deserved as Harold is chairman of the British Fashion Council and owns two of Britain’s most iconic heritage labels: Jaeger and Aquascutum.

Nigel Barker, Harold Tillman and Barney’s Simon Doonan

FBC blog editor and celebrity fashion stylist, Rebekah Roy was responsible for nominating her longtime client, London-based fashion designer, William Tempest in the category of best Emerging Brand or Retailer. With a shortlist that included strong brands from around the world, William came out on top and won the award. William also was charged with dressing FBC co-founder Courtney Blackman, who wore a one-of-a-kind William Tempest dress to the awards ceremony, then changed into a piece from his SS11 collection for the after party. Courtney was representing the Global Fashion Awards through her PR agency, Forward PR and was there in the capacity of official FBC envoy.

Sarah Curran (2nd from right) with her team: Luisa de Paula, Fiona McIntosh, Jean-Marc Bouhelier and Lauren Stevenson

The winners of the Global Fashion Awards were selected by an expert panel of judges, made up the most influential people in fashion and style, including FBC board member and editor of VOGUE.COM, Dolly Jones, who was present at the ceremony in New York along with FBC members Sarah Curran, founder & CEO of my-wardrobe.com and executive headhunter, Orlando Martins of Oresa Limted.

Congratulations to Lauretta Roberts for creating a truly amazing event. We’ll look forward to the 2011 Global Fashion Awards!

Visit the GFA website for full details and results from the evening: WGSN Global Fashion Awards.

See Lauretta on the 25th of November at Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ for the next FBC meeting, where she will interview the legendary Yasmin Sewell. For details contact: membership@fashionbusinessclub.net or press@fashionbusinessclub.net

FBC’s media partner VOGUE.COM is hosting Fashion’s Night In, where shoppers will be the first to shop exclusive collections created especially for the event.

FBC board member and VOGUE.COM editor Dolly Jones says that VOGUE.COM is, “delighted to be in a position to undertake this enterprise and to bring the world of online fashion into the hands of dedicated shoppers for this unique and exciting occasion. It’s a first for the online community and we’re incredibly proud to be its host.”

Among the participating leading e-tailers will be my-wardrobe.com. On the night, shoppers will be able to see inside the wardrobes of some of the industry’s most stylish women and they will be able to click-to-buy looks straight from a live catwak show streaming on the site. Shoppers can also look forward to gifts with purchase and fabulous competition prizes.

FBC member and my-wardrobe.com founder and CEO, Sarah Curran comments, “We are thrilled to be working with VOGUE.COM to pioneer the launch of the first ever Fashion’s Night In. Following the success of the global Fashion’s Night Out, Fashion’s Night In is going to be a unique event in the fashion calendar, which brings together leading e-tailers on a global platform for one night only, celebrating the phenomenal growth of fashion e-tail.

Our focus has always been centred around the customer experience and for Fashion’s Night In, we are creating an exceptionally unique and unforgettable online shopping experience for the my-wardrobe.com shopper.”

Also participating, FBC blog editor and fashion & celebrity stylist Rebekah Roy will be a special guest in my-wardrobe’s Style Surgery, giving advice to my-wardrobe customers and FBC board member Daisy de Villeneuve will be filmed for MY-TV, showing her favourite wardrobe itmes, her must-haves for the season and choosing an item from my-wardrobe for the AW10 season that shoppers can win during Fashion’s Night In.

Matches, where FBC member Frances Card is the merchandise director, will launch Lulu Kennedy’s debut Lulu & Co collection exclusively online during the event and ten per cent of the night’s sales will go to KidsCo.

FBC members can look forward to the big night on November 1^st and for more information on Fashion’s Night In visit www.vogue.co.uk

In just over a month FBC co-founder and co-chairman Courtney Blackman has managed to organise several fashion shows through her PR agency Forward PR, an FBC meeting featuring FBC board member and VOGUE.COM’s Dolly Jones interviewing Laura Bailey, be hailed style icon and if all this was not enough, she is about to moderate a debate called Fashion Meets Tradition for SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS on the 20th of October before flying off to New York for the WGSN Global Fashion Awards (FBC member Lauretta Roberts‘ initiative). To describe Courtney as busy is surely an understatement.

The discussion will include contributions from authoritative guest speakers such as FBC member and fashion & celebrity stylist, Rebekah Roy, fashion designer Maria Grachvogel, Swarovski’s director of trend and design, Ute Shumacher and Rasha Khouri from Dia Boutique.

“I’m really looking forward to moderating the Fashion Meets Tradition with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS seminar at Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™. We have the most amazing panel that spans the globe with a designer from London, a manufacturer from Dubai and a top fashion editor from Lebanon, and a host of media is being flown in from the Middle East to mix with the best of London’s fashion industry. It’s a hugely important event that will explore culture, history and how traditional wear it is being brought to life in the contemporary world through modern design and embellishment. I can’t wait!” – Courtney Blackman

The seminar follows the private view launch party of the stunning Jawaher (Jewel) exhibition the evening before on 19th of October, featuring a fashion spectacular alongside an exhibition of creations from global designers. FBC’s venue partner, Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™, run by FBC member Stine Brogaard, will be lavishly decorated in styles reminiscent of an Arabian palace with an exotic Bedouin tent. Opulent mirrors, mosaics and drapes bedecked with crystals will complement interactive floor media, and sensory reactive crystals will further add to the enchanting, ultra-luxurious atmosphere.

Interested in attending the preview evening on the 19th or the seminar on the 20th, or both? Please contact Chloe Wheywell at SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS: chloe.wheywell@swarovski.com

Our last FBC meeting where Laura Bailey was interviewed by FBC board member and editor of VOGUE.COM, Dolly Jones had a guest photographer capturing the event in stylish stills: Sam Atkinson.

Sam says, “It was great to have the opportunity to photograph the FBC event with Laura Bailey, not only hearing true fashion professionals discussing important industry issues, but I made some valuable business contacts.”

Sam Atkinson is a relative newcomer to the London fashion scene. Sam has an insatiable passion for photography and fashion and found it difficult to find an outlet for his creativity, trying his hand at many things across the years, finally finding that the medium of photography enabled him to express himself and satisfy the frustrated artist within. After a long stint living and working as a photographer in sleepy Devon, an opportunity arose to work for three months with Rankin Photography. Since then Sam has been working freelance and is also concentrating on shooting a new portfolio of work with stylists such as Scott Robert Clark for the launch of his new website.

Shoes from the last FBC. Laura Bailey and guest both in Nina Dolcetti

Sam also runs a retouching business www.thevisionlibrary.co.uk, specialising in high-end fashion and editorial retouching services.

Sam certainly comes from a creative and talented background, he is also cousin of milliner extraordinaire Piers Atkinson whose creations were popping up all over London Fashion Week this season!

Keep an eye out for the launch of his new online portfolio in December, which will include fashion, portraits and his unique take on events photography www.samatkinsonphotography.co.uk

FBC was treated to an inspiring afternoon off from the madness between London and Paris Fashion Week. FBC Board member and editor of  VOGUE.COM, Dolly Jones talked to internationally renowned model, Laura Bailey about modeling, motherhood and the stories behind the fashion.

Laura Bailey never set out to be a model with a conscience, in fact after leaving university she came to London with dreams of working backstage in the theatre. The world had other plans for Laura, who had a fairy tale spotting while walking down the Kings Road. What started off as a summer job turned into an extraordinary career.

In addition to modeling, Laura writes for several magazines and blogs and is an ambassador for Banardos, Oxfam and the Fairtrade Foundation. On how this has all happened Laura says, “I am not about the plan. Opportunities have presented themselves, and then the different projects  interweave and spin off together.”

Laura’s most recent adventure into eco-fashion is as a designer for Made. She came to Made as a journalist and a customer, tipped off by friends. Laura wanted to tell their story, which she ended up doing though creating a collection in their factory in Kenya. “If you are ever lucky enough to go and see how sustainable production genuinely changes lives, I urge you to. It was really, really moving.” Aside from that, Laura enjoyed the experience of creating something that is now for sale in London through a label that understands fashion and creates products that are ethical.

Laura has also visited Nepal with People Tree, and this autumn is heading to Ghana and Liberia with Oxfam. The Oxfam trip is not strictly about fashion, but about the education and health of young women. “It is removed from fashion, but actually not, as to me it is all connected.”

Dolly and Laura are working together on the Green Style Blog recently launched on VOGUE.COM, where Laura Bailey along with friends Livia Firth and Sheheradaze Goldsmith, share tales of all things eco-chic. ”I always wanted to write, so find it strange that I found a way to do this through modelling. When it comes to the Green Style Blog, I love the opportunity, it is a conversation, a journey, where we ask questions along the way.”

Laura understands the irony on championing a green lifestyle. “As a model I am with one leg trying to sell products and then with the other saying buy less.” But she believes everyone can do it, whether politically, through thrifty-ness or saving up for special things to pass down through generations, “I grew up in a way that was naturally green but without the labels. I have never been an ‘It Bag Girl’ or bought ‘One Night Stand Dresses.’  I have always been more of a vintage, long-term shopper, happy to pick up £5 vintage bargains. ” On buying new ethical fashion “The success of ethical fashion needs to be in terms of style and not eco credentials.”

Laura loves fashion now more than ever. She is interested in the story, the craft, and is constantly inspired by her friends who work in it. This is where a lot of her motivation comes from to stay a busy working mum. She dreams of having a more conventional life about once a week but it passes quickly. How does she fit in all her project and her family life?  ”My system is chaos, I sometimes work all night as I don’t want to miss a football match, a ballet recital or anything. But I never wanted a normal life, and although I could happily play with the kids all day, I think I am probably a better mother through being inspired and working.”

Watching Laura speak, it is clear to all FBC members that she has a passion and appetite for adventure in fashion and beyond. This year she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.  ”I can’t resist a dare, and it was something I always wanted to do. It was so much harder then I ever would have imagined it to be. It feels like the worse hangover of your life for four days as you stumble around like a alcoholic invalid until you reach the top, but in the excitement of it, you quickly forget the pain, like with childbirth. Although I am not doing it again!”

The conversation then moved onto ethical fashion, where the amount of FBC members dying to ask questions, made it a long discussion. The most recent London Fashion Week signaled hope for sustainable fashion and the mainstream fashion industry working closer together. Laura said ”I think consumers are more interested in the story behind the product now. The first Sustainable Fashion Show [part of Prince Charles's START initiative] that took place during London Fashion Week  - it wasn’t perfect but it was a huge step forward. It all feels so exciting – the process being so transparent I mean. I do find all the labels, like eco warrior ect., very unhelpful. They detract away from the cause itself. It is about what the designers and the media are doing, but also about the consumers asking the right questions to the big businesses and then the big business responding, like with M & S and fairtrade.”

Through the questions it came out that being tagged an eco-designer closes doors, and that although Estehica provides a great platform for designers, it would work better if the playing field saw sustainable fashion mixed in with all fashion, and simply judged on the beauty of the product with ethics as an additional value.  As more of the mainstream fashion world gets into the sustainable side of things, this can only change for the better.

On why all fashion isn’t eco, Dolly said “It’s because it hasn’t been highlighted before, so we need to get as many people as possible to join in the conversation, as more and more people think about it, more will do it.”

The members of FBC seemed convinced and conversations over bubbly turned to ‘How can we all work together to make the industry that we love more sustainable?’

Photographs by Sam Atkinson