Fashion Business Club

It’s not hard to spot an FBC member (or several) on a daily basis at Fashion Week, so here’s what everyone was up to this season:

On day one I ran into two FBC members at 180 The Strand, who both happen to be fashion stylists, Anne Look and Francesca Marotta.  180 The Strand was home to On|Off, run by FBC member, Lee Lapthorne.

Over at Vauxhall Fashion Scout (VFS), run by FBC members John Walford and Martyn Roberts, FBC member and fashion stylist, Rebekah Roy started the week by styling one of seven shows and presentations.

FBC member and MD of Felicities, Alison Lowe (right) was back and forth from VFS to On|Off, where her clients were showing.

FBC’s membership director, and handbag designer, Rita Nazareno of S.C. Vizcarra was spotted pre-show at VFS with FBC’s administrative assistant, Laura McCluskey; and I saw the following FBC members in no particular order either at the BFC tent or On|Off:

Hatty Stevens, MD of Harriet Maria Creative Consultancy and Jimmy Ho, world domination visionaire

Angelika Huwiler – newly employed at Prada and FBC’s press director, Myka Volney

CEO of koodos.com, Miriam Lahage and Alison Lewy, commercial director of the Fashion and Textile Museum

Hannah Weimers, senior consultant at Angle Plc. and Navaz Batliwalla, freelance stylist, writer and consultant

Lauretta Roberts digital development director of WGSN and chairman of the Fashion Summit 2009 (right, with Drapers editor Jessica Price-Brown and commissioning editor Ana Santi)

FBC members Harold Tillman, Alexandra Shulman and Dolly Jones were spotted on lots of front rows, FBC member and MD of FCC, Frances Card was everywhere, and FBC member, fashion stylist and journalist, Gretchen Owen was at FBC members’ Daniela and Annette Felder of Felder Felder’s catwalk show, along with FBC board member, designer/illustrator/author, Daisy de Villeneuve.

FBC’s fashion designers didn’t disappoint. Bryce d’Anice Aime did a catwalk show, Michael Herz, on behalf of Aquascutum, did a presentation, and Nathan Jenden did a show just two days before his big FBC interview.

Victoria Holt, FBC member and founder & creative director of lingerie label, Fred&Ginger exhibited at Somerset House.  Apparently they were not supposed to have show cards in the Lingerie Boudoir, so here she is committing an illegal maneuvre with her Vogue card.

Surprise, it’s FBC committee member and fashion designer, Regine Mowill!

See you all on the 26th of November where Browns buying director, Erin Mullaney and fashion designer, Jonathan Saunders, will be interviewed by FBC board member and editor of Vogue.com, Dolly Jones.

Courtney Blackman Co-Founder & Co-Chairman

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

Rebekah Roy and William Tempest

Fashion’s Night Out sent a buzz across the capital and FBC members were there in the throes. At Browns, FBC member and fashion stylist Rebekah Roy stopped for a photo with her client, William Tempest, who was working the till, dabbling in folding, and bagging customers’ purchases.

Jessica Bumpus

Regular FBC attendee and Vogue.com’s fashion features editor, Jessica Bumpus was there with a very dashing photographer, doing Street Chic.

Daniela and Annette Felder

FBC members and fashion designers, Daniela and Annette Felder of Felder Felder, were working in the menswear department and Annette made sale! After the twins were relieved from their shop floor duties, they kept the Browns party going with their DJ’ing skills.

Jonathan Saunders and Erin Mullaney

Fashion designer, Jonathan Saunders and Browns buying director, Erin Mullaney were bopping around the multi-floored boutique. They will be our guests on 26 November, so save that date.

Everyone outside Browns

Who else was working at Browns? Roksanda Ilincic, Ben Grimes, Henry Holland, Osman Yousefzada (or just Osman now), Hussein Chalayan, Antonio Berardi and Marios Schwab – who signed my ‘Vogue Fashion’s Night Out’ t-shirt along with William, and packaged it up like a pro.

Lauretta Roberts and Antony Hawman

Next was a quick stop at Diane von Furstenberg, where FBC member Gabriella Piccini works as international business director, and where our 24^th of September speaker, Nathan Jenden serves as creative director. FBC member and digital development director at WGSN, Lauretta Roberts was there with FBC member and brand partnerships manager at My-Wardrobe.com, Antony Hawman, nipping in to see the collections and enjoy the amazing brownies!

New York-based FBC member, Mary Gehlhar’s new edition of her book:  The Fashion Designer Survival Guide, lists Fashion Business Club (FBC) amongst a myriad of global organisations in the ‘Business Resources’ section.  A top resource for designers who want to start and run their own fashion business, Diane von Furstenberg wrote the forward and Steven Kolb, executive director of the CFDA calls it, “a comprehensive overview of the business side of fashion that offers detailed practices and specific tools that are required to become a working designer.”

Mary was FBC’s guest speaker back in November of 2007, interviewed by Imran Amed, the editor of the Business of Fashion.  Mary gave a master class, sharing invaluable advice on setting up a business, selling to American department stores and working with factors; and she brought and signed copies of her previous edition for attendees. We’re hoping Mary will be back across the pond soon and stop in for a visit with FBC.

Don’t forget to RSVP for the 24 September meeting 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.

rsvp@fashionbusinessclub.net

See you there,

Courtney Blackman Co-Founder & Co-Chairman

The latest FBC blog at Drapers is now up and running:

http://www.drapersonline.com/blogs/

Alison Whelan Co-Founder & Co-Chairman

Our next meeting is Thursday the 24th of September at Il Bottaccio, 9 Grosvenor Place, where FBC member and head of womenswear design at Aquascutum, Michael Herz, will interview Nathan Jenden, creative director for Diane von Furstenberg and Nathan Jenden, followed by business networking.

FBC member and managing director of Felicities (a boutique PR agency), Alison Lowe has been growing her business at a steady but remarkable pace since launching it in 2003.  Alison’s experience extends from B2B to fashion and she’s worked with some amazing clients including fellow FBC member Lee Lapthorne at On|Off, House of Fraser and fashion desinger, Afshin Feiz.

In the last 6 months, Alison has won accounts for 11 new designers, and Felicities recently held a launch event for one to commemorate her new bespoke range, The Jewelled Spine by Catharina Eden. “We  are really thrilled to be working with Catharina as she launches this fabulous new bespoke collection,” says Alison.

View video here:  Catharina Eden

The Felicities showroom will be open during London Fashion Week (18th – 22nd September) from 9am-6pm each day.  If you would like to stop in, send an email to: info@felicities.co.uk

Felicities

Studio 5

11 Plough Yard

Shoreditch

London EC2A 3LP

Meet Alison at the next FBC meeting on the 24th of September at Il Bottaccio, 9 Grosvenor Place.  FBC member and head of womenswear design at Aquascutum, Michael Herz, will interview Nathan Jenden, creative director for Diane von Furstenberg and Nathan Jenden, followed by business networking.

For more information on becoming a member, contact Rita Nazareno:  membership@fashionbusinessclub.net