Fashion Business Club

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.

“High Tea at Hemyca”
to preview Hemyca’s  A/W 10-11 Collection
“Futurity”

at the Marble Arch Showroom
Tuesday 16th February from 2pm to 4.30pm ,

Hemyca will be shown alongside Elm Design, Peter O. Mahler, English Eccentrics and Steph Aman.

RSVP to press@hemyca.com

The collection will be available to view for the month of February. If you would like to set up a private appointment please contact FBC member Myra on 07780570301 or myra@hemyca.com.

Caroline Almgren is an FBC member and co owner of Varg PR. Caroline started working in PR and marketing at creative agency Mother as their Business Development Manager. Leading up to her move to London she ran a rock club in Stockholm, worked as a buyer and fulfilled a life-long dream of working as a professional show jumper in England.

FBC member Caroline will be attending the  exhibition as one of her client Dagmar will be exhibiting for the first time and you can spot her footwear client Finsk at Basso & Brooke catwalk show!

For more information about Varg PR contact FBC member Caroline at caroline@varg.co.uk.

For more information about Krystal contact FBC member kish@krystaljewellery.com.

Lee Lapthorne FBC member is a textile designer,  curator, catwalk show producer and creative director of The Doll and On|Off .

What’s happening at OnOff?
LL – At our new venue (Victoria House, WC1B 4DA) we have 16 catwalk shows and presentations this February 19 – 22nd, and 26 exhibition designers and artists. Our official party on 20th will feature none other that Neneh Cherry (last season Soul II Soul wowed the guests by performing live with Caron Wheeler) and a succession of secret gigs planned sometime over the event in aid of a charity working with children who survived the Haiti earthquake.

What are the highlights?
LL – We are really excited that J Maskery is following Pam Hogg’s successful come back steps in choosing On|Off to launch her new collection. And it’s our selection of debuting designers including On|Off Presents…(Friday 19th at 19:00hrs) that we are most excited about. Known for discovering and launching Mark Fast, Hannah Marshall and Richard Sorger, this season’s collections are focused and successful. Hosting Roksanda Ilincic’s show, known for her refined and beautifully crafted demi-couture pieces, is a huge honor for this season. Moreover, included in our exhibition are show pieces from Alexander Koutny’s Victoria Secrets catwalk show collaboration. Oh and not forgetting our limited edition travel wallets, this season designed by the renowned illustrator Richard Gray.

How long have you been producing shows for?
LL – I’ve been producing shows since 1996, but I am known for the creative shows I produced for Preen, Red or Dead and Robert Cary Williams (his famous ice dress, and the horse show were highlights). I’ve produced and directed shows that span the full spectrum of fashion from, to name a few, shows for Gucci, Hackett, Graduate Fashion Week, ‘Make me a super model’, ‘Britain’s Next Top Model’ and more, recently directing the vast Clothes Show Live and London main theatre shows.

What other project does On|Off have coming up?
LL – Due to the success of last season’s On|Off Paris Fashion Week showroom, we are managing our showroom for its second season, displaying the best of On|Off fashion collections for sale to international buyers. We are also producing short industry On|Off.tv films for the website and a unique blog. We are also currently researching ideas for new directions for the brand in support of the industry at large.

What’s your fashion background?
LL – I have an extensive fashion background, starting as a training manager for the Sears group in the late 80’s, to visual merchandising for Top Shop/Man and working in the creative team for shop refits whilst studying for my degree, graduating in 1996. I then won a bursary to study for my Textiles (for Fashion and Architecture) Masters, which I completed with distinction in 1998. In 1997 I worked for Zowie Broach on a pop video for the band Suede, who encouraged me to use my skills in producing and directing fashion shows. In 1998, I produced my first LFW show for Emma Cook and my production career grew from there… In 2001 I was invited back to the University I graduated from to run the MA Fashion Course for the UCE, where I gained the endorsement from Alexander McQueen to change its direction. I have continued to lecture in fashion and textiles at numerous institutions and I have helped to validate new University courses. I have just been appointed as the External Examiner at Central Saint Martin’s for the Textiles Degree course. I started On|Off in 2003, when no other initiatives like On|Off existed, supporting designers to showcase and sell their collections. I continue my hands on approach to support debuting designers showcasing at On|Off, such as Mark Fast and Yang Du. In 2009 I launched my own textiles range of mens fashion accessories with designer Clare Copland and our first collection debuted at Harvey Nichols Knightsbridge, London. I am currently working on a new fashion event, which will be launched in September 2010.

For more information visit On|Off.

FBC member Bryce Aime will be showing his A/W 2010 collection this London Fashion Week at OnOff on February, Saturday 20th at 11.30am.

For more information contact info@bryce-aime.com

FBC member Anna Brett is the MD of The Image Studio. Anna’s work is long done before the rest of us see it at London Fashion Week.They specializes in manufacturing high end fashion designer wear in central London. They’ve worked with some of London’s best talent including Vivienne Westwood, Marios Schwab, Peter Pilotto, William Tempest, Emilio de la Morena. The Image Studio won the Topshop Award Winner for Product Innovation.

Anna Brett – “We are extremely busy here at Image Studio Production, helping both established and hot new designers translate their creative designs for LFW into fabulous reality! Just wait until you see this seasons catwalks as we are already really excited about some of the new samples coming out!

For more information on The Image Studio contact annabrett.image@zen.co.uk.

Catwalk Show – Felder Felder
FBC Members Daniela and Annette Felder
Date: 19 February 2010
Time: 18:15
Bloomsbury Ballroom
37 -63 Bloomsbury Square
London, WC1B 4DA
ticket requests:
buyers: sales@felderfelder.com
press: sarah.hendrey@goodleypr.co.uk

Juliet Hutton-Squire editor of Adorn London and FBC member will be scouting for accessories at LFW – “I will be at London Fashion week as Press and Adorn London will have a full report with jewellery being the focus. I thoroughly enjoyed my first FBC meeting and am delighted to be a member. I will also be in Paris for a couple of days.”

What shows are you looking forward to this season at LFW ?
JHS – On the Catwalk, it has to be Vivienne Westwood, Nicole Farhi, Paul Smith, Mary Katrantzou, Central St Martins (for emerging talent). They always pay fantastic attention to detail and accessorise the outfits with jewels that give direction and influence the way we put our looks together for the season. Presentations: I can’t wait to see Maria Franscesca Pepe, Eley Kishimoto and Holly Fulton.

What shows can we expect great accessories and jewellery from at LFW?
JHS – I always love to meet up with Mawi, Erickson Beamon and Fred Butler at the exhibitions. I will be writing a full report on LFW with street style photographs too, the focus always being on jewellery and accessories.

Tell us a bit about Adorn London.
JHS -Adorn London’s new website is a virtual peep-show of all that’s hip and happening in the world of jewellery. The site is a ‘one-stop-shop’ showcasing a wide range of jewellery from High Street to Haute Couture, from Costume to Fine.

Juliet is giving a talk on ‘Consumer trends’ at the Jewellery Show in Birmingham next week as part of the new Catwalk café initiative.

For more information about Adorn London contact Juliet Hutton-Squire at editor@adorn-london.com.

London Fashion Week is quickly approaching and many, if not all of our members are participating in LFW.

Over the next few weeks FBC will be posting articles on what are members are doing during London Fashion Week!