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ATTIRE

WWW.ATTIREACCESSORIES.COM

AccessoriesJANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016ISSUE 56 Accessories

SHOW PREVIEWS• Spring Fair • Jewellery & Watch• Moda • Scoop WIN

products worth

£500 RRP

courtesy of Nadia

MinkoffPLUS• EXPERT ADVICE• INDUSTRY NEWS• BRAND NEW PRODUCTS

PURE LONDON

A guide to the show’s

accessories and footwear sector

TOO HOT TO SANDALOur summer shoe picks

PRECIOUS CARGOThe best travel

accessories

CITY CHICLooking ahead to London Fashion Week

ATTIRE 5

CONTENTS

ContentsREGULARS9 Editor’s letterWhat to look out for this issue

10 Industry newsGet the low-down on the latest

happenings in accessories retail

17 On with the showAll of the latest trade show news,

dates and developments

20 BTAA NewsPaul Yates brings us a round-up of

the association’s current news

23 CompetitionWin products worth £500 RRP

courtesy of Nadia Minkoff

24 Brand spanking newThe hottest new products to hit the

fashion accessories market

141 All the answersOur industry experts answer your

retail queries

PROFILES91 Nordic starEdblad founder and designer Catherine

Edblad discusses the Swedish label’s take on

Scandi-chic, the popularity of its jewellery

line and charitable initiatives

109 High and mightyMighty Purse’s founder Ana Slavka reveals

what inspired the tech-led fashion accessory

range and how the brand is staying ahead of

the pack

123 All tied upPopband London’s Managing Director,

Louisa Booth talks about what led to the

product’s conception, celebrity fans, and the

brand’s best-selling packs

129 A known sourceManaging Director of Arctic Circle

Diamonds and Sales Director of Hockley

Mint, Judith Lockwood shares her insight

into the Fairtrade movement in jewellery

design, and how retailers are an essential part

of this ethical revolution

133 Taking flightRetailer and jewellery maven Maggie

Calmels invites us into her Battersea

boutique, Blackbird London

154 Silicone roundaboutFounder of jewellery label Essemgé, Sophie

Martin-Glinel talks about city inspiration,

evolving the brand vision and her love of

modern materials

24

109

123

23

91

6 ATTIRE

48 Insurance solutionsBrokers TH March address queries and

concerns about insurance

97 Success baggageA look at the best luggage and travel

accessories on the market

117 Walking on sunshineThe hottest footwear for summer

137 Why user experience mattersDavid Fairhurst advises on how to

guarantee that search engines and your

website’s visitors will love you

144 In a New York minuteGive your boutique some East Village

cool with a mix of shabby chic and mid-

century industrialism

146 It’s good to talkDids Macdonald, CEO of Anti Copying

in Design, discusses the benefits of the

company’s Mediate To Resolve initiative

148 Finding a balanceIt’s not easy to juggle the demands of

work with the demands of home, says

Louise Dicks, Marketing Manager at

Richard Designs

FEATURES

31 Ladies and gentlemenA comprehensive guide and preview

to Pure London’s accessories and

footwear sectors

51 Spring feverA sneak peek at Spring Fair

79 Chain reactionA preview of Jewellery & Watch

101 NEC timeLooking ahead to the midland’s biggest

fashion trade event, Moda

113 First ScoopWhat buyers can expect from the next

edition of Scoop

114 Double ScoopFuture highlights at Scoop London

127 A front row perspectiveA look at this season’s London Fashion

Week line-up

SHOWS

144

117

31

79

113

51

ATTIRE 9

EDITOR’S LETTER

Attire Accessories’

2016 trade show

coverage begins with

our exclusive preview

of Pure London (page

31). Our continued

partnership with the

show means that we

bring you a comprehensive exhibition

guide, complete with information on all

of the latest re-edit developments, a full

accessories and footwear sector brand

listings and extensive exhibitor profiles.

With a new jewellery initiative, and an

expanded line-up in the footwear sector, it’s

bound to be the London-based event’s best

edition to date.

There are also extensive guides for our

new media partners, Spring Fair (page 51)

and Jewellery & Watch (page 79) – two

jam-packed showcases which combine

to make the season’s biggest retail buying

event. We’ve also taken sneak peeks at

the Moda (page 101), Scoop (page 113)

and Scoop London (page 114) line-ups,

bringing you all the latest developments

and sector changes. And how could I

forget: the country’s most prominent

sartorial occasion London Fashion Week

will return for a second season to its new

Soho location with a raft of fledgling

design upstarts (page 127). With a

mixture of heritage labels and up-and-

coming names lined up to showcase their

latest pieces, all of the events covered in

these pages are vital for retailers who want

to stay relevant and promote diversity in

their offerings.

With a new year comes resolutions, and

one of mine is to be more conscious of

where my clothes and jewellery come from.

In the past, ethical fashion was often exiled

to the un-chic outskirts of the industry

but with the launch of brands like Arctic

Circle Diamonds in the past year, all that’s

changed. I spoke to the label’s Managing

Director, Judith Lockwood to see how

retailers can carry the Fairtrade movement

forward in 2016. Turn to page 129 for

advice on stocking Fairtrade jewellery.

Along with our regular news, interviews

and product features, readers have the

opportunity to win products worth £500

RRP courtesy of luxury jewellery and

accessories designer, Nadia Minkoff.

Happy New Year,

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

ATTIREAccessoriesAll’s fair in trade

Attire Accessories is solely owned, published and designed

by KD Media Publishing Limited. Whilst every effort

was made to ensure the information in this magazine was

correct at the time of going to press, the publishers cannot

accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions,

nor can they accept responsibility of the standing of

advertisers nor by the editorial contributions. The views

expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.

Attire Accessories is published six times a year. Subscription

rates for overseas readers are £75 per annum (incl. p+p),

Cheques should be made

out to KD Media Publishing

Limited and sent to

Attire Accessories, Pantile

House, Newlands Drive,

Witham, Essex

CM8 2AP.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFAlexandra North +44 (0)1376 535 611

MANAGING EDITORRosie Orgles

EDITORLaura Sutherland

+44 (0)1376 535 613

[email protected]

CHIEF SUB EDITOR Tim Nelson

SALES & MARKETING MANAGERMichael Richards

+44 (0)1376 514 000

ACCOUNT MANAGERClaire Rogers +44 (0)1376 535 600

[email protected]

PRODUCTION MANAGERScott Brothwell +44 (0)1376 535 616

[email protected]

DEPUTY PRODUCTION MANAGERSarah Young +44 (0)1376 535 616

[email protected]

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERVicky O’Connor

GRAPHIC DESIGNERStephanie Hodder

PRODUCTION ASSISTANTCharlotte Potter

WEB DEVELOPMENT MANAGERStuart Weatherley

SUBSCRIPTIONSKay Tilbury, Olivia Horrod

+44 (0)1376 514 000

KD Media Publishing Limited

Pantile House, Newlands Drive,

Witham, Essex CM8 2AP

www.attireaccessories.com

ISSN 1758-0919

Cover image courtesy of Mighty Purse

www.lovebrandsuk.com

Laura

Editor’s pickWho can resist beautiful materials and clever design?

This deceptively compact camera bag from Gillis

London comes with detachable panels to separate and

protect all of your camera parts, as well as any other

gadgets you may need on your travels. The sumptuous

finish of the leather and the complementary hardware

are enough to get me saving up for a Canon SLR.

Travel accessories,

page 97

Summer shoes,

page 117

Laura Sutherland

10 ATTIRE

FIND OUT WHAT’S NEW IN FASHION ACCESSORIES RETAILING

Industry news

ROSA RED CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF JEWELLERYA decade ago in north Glasgow, Rosa Red, a fashion jewellery company which designed and created

jewellery that was wearable, distinctive and affordable, was born.

Unveiling their 21st collection, founders Marie McAleer and Ann Atri share the secret behind

their success. Accessorising an outfit can immediately add an accent of glamour and revitalise a look,

and this is what Rosa Red found when they launched the brand 10 years ago. Since then, they have

created over 400 designs of fashionable and affordable suites of jewellery which has been featured on

This Morning with an endorsement by Gok Wan and Loose Women. The Rosa Red mantra is that any

woman of any age can feel glamorous in a Rosa Red design. The label’s latest range captures the bright

fashion colours of spring and summer, while easily sitting alongside neutral classics in gold and silver.

For more information on the label, visit www.rosared.co.uk

READERS’ POLLWhat we’ve learnt

from the latest

reader poll at

www.attireaccessories.com

How many trade shows do you attend

a year?

One to two shows: 44%Three to four shows: 45%Five or more shows: 11%

Babette Wasserman wins NAJ’s Designer of the Year awardBabette Wasserman, the British

jewellery designer known for

her distinctive designs of semi-

precious women’s jewellery and

men’s accessories, proved her

staying power and wide appeal,

having won Designer of the Year

2015 at the National Association

of Jewellers Awards, one of the UK

industry’s most prestigious awards.

Babette Wasserman, who has been in the industry since 1997, is an

indisputable trendsetter across both men’s accessories and women’s jewellery.

She often pioneers ideas seasons before the rest of the industry catches up,

focusing on architecture engineering and innovative mechanisms such as the

reversible two-faced saucer cufflinks back in 1998, or the intertwining of fine

jewellery techniques with fashion flair, turning jewellery into expressions of

everyday luxury.

This uncanny ability to start trends has earned Babette Wasserman a very

loyal customer base and a strong international presence. The brand is now

sold in over 200 stores, including some of the most exclusive department

stores in London, Paris, New York, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Istanbul and across

30 countries.

Babette Wasserman says: “I’m hugely grateful to have won this Award and

want to thank all those who have voted for us, in particular my dedicated team

without whom this would not have been possible. For me, wining this award

is another great moment in the story of my brand. I am proud and lucky that

17 years on from creating my brand, I am still loving designing season after

season beautiful wearable jewels within an industry that I love.”

This latest award builds on previous industry accolades such as Finalist

Brand of the Year at the UK Jewellery Awards 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011,

Professional Jeweller Hot 100 Trendsetter and the Company of Master

Jewellers’ Best Designer 2014, 2013 and 2012.

For more information on the designer, visit www.babette-wasserman.com

GA Chairman to help independent retailers stay competitiveThe Giftware

Association’s

vice-chairman,

Henri Davis, will

hold a series of

half-hour seminars

at Scotland’s

Trade Fair and

Spring Fair where

independent

retailers can find

out how to use

economic, business

and product

trend information

to grow their

businesses. They’ll

cover retailing on the high street and online.

“These days, it’s more important than ever for

retailers to stay competitive,” said Henri Davis. “I’ll

be looking at how they can do that by interpreting

social, design, economic and local business trends

to make sure that they’re equipped to offer their

customers what they want.”

The seminars at Scotland’s Trade Fair will take

place at the SECC in Glasgow on 24th January and

25th January. For confirmation of starting times and

locations, visit www.scotlandstradefairs.co.uk

12 ATTIRE

Jewellery & Watch unveils the 2016 Buyers Power List shortlistJewellery & Watch has revealed the

highly-anticipated shortlist for its annual

Buyers Power List awards, in association

with Pandora, alongside Bransom and

Clarity & Success. Potts has also been

confirmed as a sponsor of the event, an

ever-expanding printing, packaging and

direct mail company that work with

jewellery brand Pandora.

In order to recognise and celebrate

the hard work, dedication and success of

individuals and buying teams across the

UK jewellery and watch retail market, the

awards are divided across six dedicated

categories: Best Independent Retail

Buying Team (less than five stores), Best

Multiple Retail Buying Team (five stores

or more), Best Department Store Buying

Team, Best Individual Retailer, Best Watch

Retailer, and Best Heritage Site, Museum

or Gallery.

The initial round of nominations, which

was open to the public via the Jewellery &

Watch website, has resulted in a prestigious

shortlist of some of the most respected

names across the industry. In no particular

order, the full shortlist is as follows:

Best Independent Retailer

Allum & Sidaway

Baker Brothers Diamonds

Christopher George Jewellers

Drakes Fine Jewellers

EC One

Forum Jewellers

Hugh Rice

Wongs

Best Multiple Retail Buying Team

Beaverbrooks

Ernest Jones

F Hinds

Goldsmiths

Fraser Hart

Pia Jewellery

Best Department Store Buying Team

Harvey Nichols

House of Fraser

Debenhams

John Lewis

Harrods

Selfridges

Fortnum & Mason

Best Individual Retailer

Alison Aldridge, Neil & Barker

Adelle Thompson, Beaverbrooks

Ashley Pugh, W. Bruford and Inspired

by Brufords

Charlie Pragnell, Pragnells

Dominic Wakefield, Wakefield Jewellers

Helen Dimmick, Green & Benz

Natalie Blagg, Fraser Hart

Paul Rice, Hugh Rice

Best Watch Retailer

H Samuels

Hamilton & Inches

Watch Finder

Watches of Switzerland

The Watch Hut

Identity: The Jewellers

Best Heritage Site, Museum or Gallery

V&A

The National Gallery

Historical Royal Palaces

British Museum

As voted for by the industry and peers

of the nominees, this ranking system

will identify the best buyers of 2016. The

winners will be revealed at a champagne

reception in Birmingham’s leisure complex,

Resorts World, on 8th February, 2016.

Other sponsors for the esteemed

occasion include Bransom Retail Systems

and Clarity & Success. They will join

over 400 brands exhibiting at Jewellery &

Watch, including Alex Monroe, Steliosk,

Anako, Rebecca, Shiela Fleet Jewellery,

Chicago Marcasite Jewellery, PJ Watson,

Colomer & Sons, Nomination, Daniel

Voir, Mark Milton, Disney Couture,

Manja, Drakenberg Sjolin, Lebole Gioielli,

Fei Liu, Kattri and Ferrara Gife Gioielli.

For more information on the Buyers

Power List, visit the website

www.jewelleryandwatchbirmingham.com

CATH KIDSTON TO PRESENT GA’S 2016 GIFT OF THE YEAR AWARDSThe iconic designer Cath Kidston has agreed to become The GA’s new ambassador and will present The

Giftware Association’s 2016 Gift of the Year Awards at Spring Fair at the close of the opening day of the

show on Sunday, 7th February.

She’s world famous for her polka dot and floral designs and, until recently, acted as Creative Director for

Cath Kidston Ltd.

Sarah Ward, Chief Executive of the association, says, “This is a terrific coup. Cath is revered in the gift and

home industry and her involvement with Gift of the Year is testament to the esteem in which the industry’s

most prestigious competition is held.

“We’re delighted that she wants to become a part of the great community that is The GA. Her presence

will give great encouragement to all those who take part in Gift of the Year, irrespective of whether they are successful or not.”

There’s been a notable increase in Home Accessories, Card and Wrap and Branded/Character entries for the 2016 competition. The Kids

and Under £10 categories have continued to attract heavy supplier support, while the Hot Novelty and Festive and Seasonal categories are

also more popular than in previous years.

Cath Kidston will present the awards on the Trends Catwalk in Hall 20. The winning and highly commended products can then be viewed

on The GA’s stand in Hall 5, F84-G89, throughout the show.

Change the contents of your handbag in seconds

Average wholesale prices £1.40 + VAT

RRP £6.99 - £10.99

Minimum order 30 pieces in any mix of any colour

[email protected] 869889

14 ATTIRE

Fairtrade campaigner Greg Valerio is awarded MBEGreg Valerio, jeweller, activist and Fairtrade campaigner has been

awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Years’ Honour list 2016 for his

work in Fairtrade Gold and with gold mining communities in South

America and Africa.

A jeweller since 1996, Greg first saw the exploitation of the

jewellery supply chain in India – slavery, child labour and people

working in terrible conditions. This experience motivated him to

become an activist in the jewellery industry and by 2004 he had

managed to deliver the world’s first traceable gold, from mine to

wedding ring.

In 2011 Greg worked with the Fairtrade Foundation to launch the

world’s first Fairtrade gold from artisanal and small-scale miners in

Peru, Colombia and Bolivia.

Greg says, “This award belongs to all of us and I hope that it will

embolden us all to keep fighting for fairness in the jewellery trade.

Jewellery and justice are not incompatible and lost to each other.

The great challenge we now face is to forge a new luxury jewellery

narrative that connects the aspirational emotion of the purchase with

the dignity of the source. This is true luxury jewellery, a legacy of

peace, justice and prosperity for the communities at the source and a

celebration of design, creativity and love in the gift that is given.”

In 2012, Greg helped deliver a Comic Relief funded pilot

project for Fairtrade International to apply Fairtrade principles to

small-scale mining groups in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The

groups underwent their first ever Fairtrade audit in 2015 and it is

hoped several will achieve accreditation in due course. Bismarck

Onyando, gold miner from MICODEPRO in Kenya, one of nine

cooperatives which took part in the African pilot, said of the honour,

“We’re happy to hear that Greg Valerio was awarded an MBE in

the Queens Award. We are celebrating this great honour with him.

Congratulations to you my friend Greg!”

In January 2015, Greg worked with the Fairtrade Foundation and

other global Fairtrade markets to launch a bridal campaign, I Do, to

encourage 100,000 brides and grooms to ask for Fairtrade gold when

they buy their engagement and wedding rings.

UK CRAFTSMANSHIP TOPS THE IJL CHRISTMAS BUYING SURVEY RESULTSLast year, International Jewellery London (IJL) in conjunction

with Domino Jewellery, commissioned the first IJL Christmas

buying trends survey of UK jewellery retailers. Of the key

findings, the one trend that stood out is the importance of UK

craftsmanship – with 80 per cent of respondents stating that

British craftsmanship is an important factor when purchasing

precious jewellery to stock in-store.

The survey of retailers drawn from independent, online and

multiple outlets, looked at not only the importance of UK

craftsmanship, the priorities in selecting Christmas lines and

the most popular Christmas products, but also the strongest

performing price points, and whether or not Christmas buying

habits have changed in the last five years and what impact this has

had on business.

Event Director, Sam Willoughby, comments: “This industry

survey provides an interesting insight into Christmas buying

trends and highlights the importance of design and craftsmanship,

as well as price point.”

For Andrew Sollitt, Sales and Marketing Director at Domino

Jewellery, the survey has provided a useful endorsement for his

company’s most recent and ongoing marketing campaign. He

added: “We were truly delighted to see the results of the IJL

survey, as its findings strongly underline the importance of UK

manufacturing heritage and our Created & Crafted campaign

flags our UK production capabilities whilst also focusing on the

design and detail of our products and the attention we pay to

creating unique and fashionable contemporary jewellery. It would

seem that the retailers who were

surveyed – and their customers –

also share these important values.”

When choosing new Christmas

lines, ‘how interesting the design

is’ was the highest scoring amongst

respondents, followed by ‘how

original the piece is’ (only they will stock it), ‘how ‘on-trend’ the

piece is’ and ‘how classic the piece is.’

Meanwhile, pendants are the products which retailers most

focus on at Christmas, followed closely by earrings, rings and

necklaces in descending order – with wristwear the least popular.

Unsurprisingly, price-point is another major factor when

purchasing Christmas lines – with 98 per cent of respondents

surveyed stating that it’s the most important factor in selecting

Christmas lines, with a further 75 per cent saying the strongest

performing price points fall into the less than £500 category.

However, a healthy 11.5 per cent state that up to £2,000 performs

most strongly at Christmas with 9.6 per cent claiming £1,000 and

3.8 per cent saying £1,500.

And finally, when it comes to the consumer – it’s all about

the surprise factor. When questioned about whether jewellery

was bought as a surprise gift or whether the recipient had some

involvement in the selection of the piece, well over half of

respondents – 57 per cent – said gifts were purchased as a surprise,

with 28.6 per cent of pieces requested by the recipient in advance

but purchased separately.

IJL will run from 4th - 6th September, 2016 at Olympia. For

more information, visit www.jewellerylondon.com

VAUDE IS GERMANY’S MOST SUSTAINABLE BRANDLuggage label Vaude received the highest honour of all at the German Sustainability Awards: being named Germany’s most sustainable

brand of 2015.

The brand has consistently pursued a sustainable corporate philosophy, passionately incorporating the ethos into all of its business sectors.

Vaude’s CEO Antje von Dewitz said of the win, “We’re delighted and proud of the award. It’s a wonderful recognition and at the same time,

an incentive for us. As a strong outdoor brand, we want to continue promoting harmony between people and nature for business enterprises.”

The jury panel’s verdict on the chosen winner was effusive, “At all levels of value creation, sustainability is placed in the foreground. Vaude

sets standards for sustainable products with initiatives such as the Green Shape label or its Fair Wear Foundation for

fair working conditions. Despite the small size of the company, the Vaude brand is a strong, successful and trusted

name amongst all of its stakeholders.”

Brand Agility is Vaude’s UK distributor. For more information on the brand, visit www.vaude.com

Please visit our website

www.jewellery-world.co.uk to view the many thousands of products you can purchase online

or visit our showroom at:

JEWELLERY WORLD

ATTIRE 17

NEWS & EVENTS

SISTERS JULIA AND SYLVIA HAGHJOO ARE CHOSEN AS THE TESTIMONIAL BLOGGERS FOR GDS 2016Sisters Julia and Sylvia Haghjoo are the new testimonial bloggers for the shoe

trade show GDS 2016, which will takes place in Düsseldorf in February. This is the

first time GDS has enlisted sisters as ambassadors for its international shoe and

accessories trade show. They follow in the footsteps of fellow famous-name bloggers

like Maja Why, Alice M. Huynh or Nina Schwichtenberg of the Fashiioncarpet blog.

The sisters have written their successful blogs, N°93 and HUG YOU, for six years,

covering fashion, beauty, lifestyle and travel. For three days these two trend leaders –

who boast more than 100,000 Instagram followers – will be reporting on the latest

shoe trends and must-haves of the coming season at the show.

Sylvia Haghjoo says of the appointment, “We’re very pleased that GDS and the

online fashion magazine styleranking have selected us as ambassadors this year to

cover the trends at the trade show – this will definitely be exciting and create exposure for us beyond our blogs – great!”

“After the high-reach testimonials we enjoyed over the past three seasons we are again focusing on exciting online opinion leaders with the

aim of reaching even more fashion addicts via Social Media channels,” says Kirstin Deutelmoser, Director at GDS.

Enlisting the Haghjoo sisters is just one of many blogger activities staged by the shoe show GDS in cooperation with styleranking. On

the third day of the trade show – now known as Blogger Friday – selected fashion bloggers present their own runway show. The bloggers,

including the testimonial bloggers, are given the opportunity here to select their key pieces from “in” labels and to then stage them in a show

they have developed themselves. Furthermore, in excess of 100 fashion bloggers meet at the IV. FashionBloggerCafé, shoedition – which can

be followed online at #fbcshoedition.

Kirstin explains, “We’re holding this networking event with the aim of providing invited fashion bloggers with a platform for expert

exchange. In addition to this, we are supported by many famous companies that contribute to making this event a success. This way the

influencers are introduced to exciting labels and partners which creates a win-win situation for all parties involved.”

GDS 2016 will take place from 10th - 12th February, 2016. For more information, visit www.gds-online.de

On with the showCHECK OUT ALL THE IMPORTANT NEWS AND DATES FOR YOUR BUSINESS DIARY...

Ambiente celebrates Italy in 2016This year Ambiente is taking place from 12th - 16th February

in Frankfurt am Main, in Germany, and Italy is its partner

country. More than 4,800 exhibitors showed their new products

and innovations in 2015 with 135,000 trade visitors from over

150 countries. The world’s leading consumer-goods fair is also

distinguished by a wide variety of events, promotional programmes

for young designers and companies, product trend presentations and

awards ceremonies.

Following in the footsteps of Denmark, France, Japan and the

USA, Italy is now the fifth country to partner Ambiente. Some 400

Italian companies in all sections of the show, Dining, Living and

Giving, will be presenting themselves and their goods and services.

They include well-known brands such as Alessi, Bialetti, Dialma

Brown, Ghidini Cipriano and Guzzini.

Renowned Italian designer Paola Navone will be curating in

the Foyer of Hall 4.1 alongside a special exhibition, Dolce Vita,

representing an extensive selection of Italian products. For those

short breaks, Italian style, there’s the inviting Café Milano Milano,

also designed by Paola Navone, in Hall 4.1.

For further details on the show, visit www.messefrankfurt.com

18 ATTIRE

Diary dates

Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring

24th - 26th January, 2016

SECC, Glasgow

www.scotlandstradefairs.co.uk

Scoop

31st Jan - 2nd February, 2016

Saatchi Gallery, London

www.scoop-international.com

Spring Fair

7th - 11th February, 2016

NEC, Birmingham

www.springfair.com

Jewellery & Watch


NEC, Birmingham

www.jewelleryand

watchbirmingham.com

Pure London


Olympia, London

www.purelondon.com

London Fashion Week

19th - 23rd February, 2016

Brewer St. Car Park, London

www.londonfashionweek.com

Moda

21st - 23rd February, 2016

NEC, Birmingham

www.moda-uk.co.uk

Scoop London

21st - 23rd February, 2016

Saatchi Gallery, London

www.scoop-international.com

THE BRITISH CRAFT TRADE FAIR CONFIRMS AUTUMN SHOW PLANSThe organisers of the British Craft Trade Fair (BCTF) have

confirmed an autumn version of this iconic trade fair to take place

at The Old Truman Brewery in Brick Lane, London from 11th - 13th

September, 2016.

BCTF is one of the UK’s longest established trade fairs and is now

in its 40th year, representing British designers who want to profile

and sell their fabulously creative work to independent home and gift

retailers, galleries, heritage shops, as well as interior designers and

architectural practises that are looking for commission pieces of art

for public and private projects.

BCTF holds a distinct role as the only trade fair that solely

represents British design and has become increasingly popular with

attendees and visitors can be confident that all the exhibitors will be

selling British-only brands.

The Old Truman Brewery covers a large footprint and the

buildings and chimneys of the original brewery are a dominant

feature. Typically Victorian they capture the atmosphere of this

trendy up and coming part of London and make the perfect

backdrop to a southern version of this fantastic home and gift fair

which to many buyers is ‘their favourite and most original trade fair.’

To register and for more information, visit www.bctf.co.uk

New Craft Gallery to launch at Scotland’s Trade Fair SpringNew to Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring for 2016 is the Craft Gallery – a specially created section of craft exhibitors that have been personally

selected by Craft Scotland and Springboard Events for their quality and craft credentials.

These include Textiles from Chantal Allen, Fraser Knitwear, Redcastle Pottery, Linda Lovatt, jewellery from Eileen Gatt and more.

Debuting in the Launch Gallery is a group of young, innovative companies chosen for the quality and originality of their products. These

include Amy Britton’s Harris Tweed accessories, Lisa Marcella jewellery, Clanbags, Scott & Robson cards and Hummingbird Sculptures.

New for the 2016 show are some big and small names such as RJB Stone, Emma Ball Designs, Earth Squared, Harris Tweed and Baastools.

Established exhibitors are back in their droves with some great new product launches promised from Portmeirion, McLaggan Smith Mugs,

Two Skies jewellery, Sami Thorpe cards, Peony Scarves, Wilderness at Heart, The Just Slate Company, Chris Lewis Silver, Bomb Cosmetics

and Kit Heath jewellery.

In total there will be about 500 exhibitors across gifts, homewares, textiles, clothing, jewellery and fashion accessories.

Held at the SECC, in the centre of Glasgow, from 24th to 26th January 2016, it is easy to access from motorway, train and airport with

many large hotels close by.

For more information, visit www.scotlandstradefairs.co.uk

H a n d b a g s & A c c e s s o r i e s .

Niche Trading (UK) LtdT: 01494 525180 | 07481 518201E: [email protected]@gorjusaccessories.co.uk

EXHIBITIONS

Spring Fair, NECHall: 20 Stand: 20J03

7 - 11 February

Moda Accessories, NECHall: 20 Stand: Z51

21 - 23 February

UNIT 8 , BRITANNIA INDUSTRIAL PARK, DASHWOOD AVENUE, HIGH WYCOMBE, HP12 3ES

www.gorjusaccessories.co.uk

NEW 2016 COLLECTIONMix & Match Pendants & Chains

web: www.maytalisuk.co.uk email: [email protected]

20 ATTIRE

BTAA NewsChief Executive Paul Yates brings us all the latest developments from the British Travelgoods & Accessories Association memberswww.btaa.org.uk

Niche Lane unveils new rangeWhen Niche Lane was established, it set

out to create beautiful, hand-crafted leather

bags, with a modern feel yet still with a

nod to vintage details. The design team has

endeavoured to make sure that the styles

are not only appealing fashion accessories,

but also practical; allowing easy access and

offering adequate storage within – all of the

label’s bags come with pockets or dividers

to keep belongings organised. All of the

latest range of bags are made from 100 per

cent, full-grain buffalo leather.

If you’d like to make wholesale and

stockist enquiries, please email

[email protected].

The launch of the Pocket Shopper The Very Lovely Bag Company launched

their eco-friendly Pocket Shopper this

autumn. With the recent introduction of

the 5p carrier bag, the UK-based company

saw a gap in the market for foldable bags

that were both practical and attractive.

This newest edition to the brand’s range

is small enough to slip into your back

pocket when folded, but expands to fit all

of your shopping. The Pocket Shopper is

lightweight but durable and strong enough

to carry at least 20lbs of supermarket

goodies. Retailing at only £3.99 and

available in five bright, water-resistant

fabrics; it’s the perfect mix of fashion

and function. Find out more at

www.verylovelybags.com

Sunita Mukhi wins the 2015 Commonwealth Fashion awardCongratulations to Sunita Mukhi on

winning the Commonwealth Fashion

award 2015, which the Founder of the

Commonwealth Fashion Council, Daniel

John Hatton, presented to her.

Sunita said, “I’m immeasurably

humbled and honoured to receive the

Commonwealth Fashion Award. I would

like to offer my sincerest and heartfelt

gratitude to the Commonwealth Fashion

Council for this prestigious honour. Having

been born and bred in Malta; coming from

Indian heritage; formerly living in Africa

and now having become a resident in

Britain, I’m delighted to acknowledge, with

profound pride, that I consider myself truly

a citizen of the Commonwealth.”

For more information on Sunita’s

designs, visit www.sunitamukhi.com

An introduction to HYDESTYLEHYDESTYLE is a UK-based genuine

leather accessories brand established in

2011. Over the years it has built on its

reputation for high quality bags combining

tradition, fashion and value produced

with an attention to craftsmanship.

HYDESTYLE offers a line of the finest,

stylish leather accessories for all sexes,

driven by ethically sourced materials.

For trade account and enquiries, contact

Nudrat Anwer via email at info@hydestyle.

co.uk or call +44 (0)20 3667 3035.

For more information, visit the website

www.hydestyle.co.uk

Vendula makes it big in ChinaVendula had a successful time at Pure

Shanghai in October. The brand has

now taken on six distributors in different

provinces across China. The first Vendula

London concession store has also just

opened in Westlake, Hangzhou. There will

be four more stores in December, followed

by another 25 in 2016.

Find out more about the company by

visiting the website www.vendula.co.uk

Finding the right fitThe trade show season has come around

once again, with every exhibition

offering something different, whether

it’s a focus on high fashion, volume sales,

mid-price, design-led or artisan-maker

products. For many companies, the

overall cost of exhibiting can be a huge

part of a company’s marketing budget, so

it’s vital that you do your research before

committing to a stand, as opting for the

wrong show means your money could be

wasted.

My advice is to visit the show

beforehand, assess the type of companies

exhibiting, products being showcased

and the buyers attending. Speak

to exhibitors at the show. I visit all

the accessory stands at every show

throughout the year and often when

people say they are having a poor show,

it’s because they’re at the wrong show

for them.

All companies want more sales and

the BTAA has created two initiatives

to help members increase them. The

e-product newsletter contains new

products, brands and news from BTAA

members and the BTAA Supplier of

The Month Newsletter is an in-depth

focus on a single BTAA member.

These publications are e-mailed to

every department store, multiple and

independent accessories buyer in the UK

and Ireland.

Finally, I’d like to welcome new

BTAA members, Glen Appin of

Scotland, Jardine Of London, Nadia

Minkoff, Ollie & Nic, Swanky Swans,

Bagitali, Hide Design, J P Wilmac,

Koruma, I-CLIP, Covert Clip, Niche

Lane, Gallops, and Where I’d Rather Be.

For further information on joining

the BTAA, call +44 (0)121 237 1107 or

e-mail [email protected]

A

Paul Yates,

Chief Executive, BTAA

Spring Fair Hall 4 Stand A62

Moda Stand K1Spring Fair Stand 20J21-H20

Torquay Show

MODRECt: 0191 258 4451 w: www.modrecinternational.com

I-CLIPt: 00496322954809 w: www.i-clip.com

BRITISH BAG CO.t: 01572 842 333 w: www.mmands.co.uk

ASHWOOD

t: 0121 359 5656 w: www.ashwoodleather.co.uk

THE VERY LOVELY BAG CO.

t: 01709 300 220 w: www.verylovelybags.com

NICHE LANE

t: 029 214 04256 w: www.nichelane.com

Spring Fair Hall 6 Stand U19

Top Drawer Gallery Stand 505

Pure London Grand Hall Stand MW323

Spring Fair

Hall 20

Stand 20F04 - 20F12

ModaStand K2

Top Drawer Stand 302

Pure LondonStand T46-MW500

AshwoodSpring FairStand 20L14

S i F i

Stand 220L1420L14

NICHE LANE

HELPING YOUR BUSINESS GROWThe BTAA wishes all its members every success at the upcoming trade shows.

The BTAA supports trade suppliers with:• Marketing, advertising & promotion of your

company & brands to UK retailers •

services •

trade shows • Unlimited commercial & personal legal

advice• £100k legal cost cover for each employee

dispute or tax investigation• Databases of UK retailers, agents,

distributors, designers, manufacturers & suppliers

• Business consultancy & advice• Access to grants for exhibiting overseas &

• Up to date industry information, statistics & sales leads

• Discounted meeting room/conference facilities

• An opportunity to lobby government on issues facing your industry

• Networking with other members, suppliers & retailers

• Design Protection• Credibility in the marketplace* There are ceilings based on stand size & number of employees

Top Drawer

London Olympia 17th - 19th January 2016

The Torquay Leather

& Accessories Trade Show

Livermead House Hotel, Torquay 17th - 20th January 2016

Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring

SECC, Glasgow24th - 26th January 2016

Spring Fair International

NEC Birmingham 7th - 11th February 2016

Pure London

London Olympia 14th - 16th February 2016

Moda

NEC Birmingham 21st - 23rd February 2016

Just give us a call on 0121 237 1107 and become a member TODAYwww.btaa.org.uk | @BTravelAA

SUNRISE BAGSt: 0845 094 3040 w: www.sunrisebags.co.uk

Jewellery Display Specialists

www.jewellerydisplays.com

0800 3286073

Custom Designs

Bespoke Manufacture (In UK)

Recovery Service

Online Store

Box Commissions

Bespoke Displays

POS Plaques

SPRING/SUMMER 2016 BROCHURE

OUT NOW

MAYFAIR TRUNK COMPANYUnit 1 Harbourland Business Court, Boxley Road, Maidstone, ME14 3DN

Tel: 01622 758505 | Fax: 01622 754414 | Email: [email protected]

ATTIRE 23

COMPETITION

Fashion accessories label Nadia Minkoff is

giving Attire Accessories readers the chance

to win handbag and jewellery products

worth £500 RRP.

Nadia Minkoff London is a

quintessentially British brand that was

founded in 1988 with the dream of

designing high quality accessories using the

finest materials and innovative techniques.

The label offers a niche lifestyle range for

those who are inspired by fashion, but also

dare to be fashion leaders, as well as the

magpies of the world who can’t resist a bit

of sparkle.

Designer Nadia’s love of natural

materials, colour, travel and all things

vintage has always influenced her creatively,

but arguably her greatest inspiration is her

beloved home city, London. Every single

bag from The Mayfair to The Richmond

has been created in tribute to London’s

diverse neighbourhoods, distinctive

landmarks, ethnic diversity, architectural

history and overall ambience.

By using the finest raw materials – soft

leathers, fine linings and Swarovski crystals

– combined with innovative techniques

and vintage inspiration, Nadia Minkoff

London creates timeless luxe pieces that

age beautifully and wear well, the kind

you want to keep and hand down the

generations as heirlooms.

Over the years, the brand’s collections

have been showcased in London, Tokyo,

Singapore, New York, Düsseldorf,

Amsterdam and Copenhagen, with its first

scheduled London Fashion Week catwalk

in collaboration with clothing designer

Nico Didonna held in February 2013. In

2014 the brand was a shortlisted Finalist at

the Drapers Awards in the Best Accessory

Designer category and in 2015 won the

runner-up accolade for Most Enterprising

London Business by the Federation of

Small Businesses, in recognition of its

original proposition and the place it holds

in the London fashion scene. In November

2015, the brand became a finalist for the

Dot London Awards in the Best Lifestyle

Retailer category.

Together with a small specialised

team, Nadia Minkoff London continues

to produce its entire jewellery range in

London as well as a substantial part of the

handbag range. The company also continues

to produce successful own-label ranges for

some of the leading UK brands such as

Jaeger, Austin Reed, Hobbs and Liberty,

with all initial designs created in the

company’s North London premises.

When asked on the plans for 2016’s

collections, Nadia says, “This season,

we’ve chosen to stick to trans-seasonal

colours – tan, black and light grey with the

addition of soft cream – in both solid and

blocked colours – as well as ensuring we

have some finer details by using contrast

colour edging, contrast top stitching and

hand-made leather tassels. We’ve also seen

a huge increase in our jewellery sales. It’s

wonderful to know that we can sell such a

premium, UK-made product so well. I’m

delighted to see that we’ve found

our own niche as well as an increasing

global following.”

So what trends does she predict in

jewellery in the New Year? “Friendship

bracelets seem to have really captured the

imagination; it’s all about stacking these

fine bracelets to make an ever-growing

collection. It seems that no matter how

many variations we have, there’s still a

hunger for all of them. New additions to

our range are a collection of pastel pearl

and crystal necklaces in delicate sherbet

yellow, pink and mink and light grey

highlights and a selection of new rings in a

variety of cut crystal shapes.”

Looking to the future for the label, she

says, “Every path we pursue is a journey,

and I’m happy to say that I’m still as excited

about my journey today as I was when

I started. Every new season brings with

it a wealth of discovery and possibilities

and with London being as diverse and

wonderful as it is, I’m always brimming

with ideas and looking forward to creating

new pieces that I hope will feel timeless to

their owners.”

To find out more about Nadia Minkoff ’s

ranges, call +44 (0)20 8202 1442 or visit

www.nadiaminkoff.com A

WIN!

For your chance to win, answer the

following question:

In which year was the Nadia Minkoff

label founded?

a) 1986

b) 1988

c) 1998

Visit www.attireaccessories.com and fill

in the online competition form to enter

the draw.

Deadline for entries is 7th March, 2016.

Terms and conditions apply.

Products worth £500 RRP courtesy of Nadia Minkoff

24 ATTIRE

OUR EXCLUSIVE ROUND-UP OF THE NEWEST PRODUCTS AROUND

Brand Spanking New

Sea Gems

Pure Origins earrings

+44 (0)1736 335 840

www.seagems.co.uk

£30 RRP

Pranella

Hand-made pompom beach basket range

+44 (0)7710 943 115

www.pranella.com

£39-£69 RRP

Opticaid

Glasses tin

+44 (0)113 239 1400

www.opticaid.net

£6.99 RRP

Daisy Jewellery

Hand of Fatima Good Karma hoop

earrings

+44 (0)20 3214 3175

www.daisyjewellery.com

£119 RRP

ll y

h op

Periea

Natasha handbag organiser

+44 (0)1438 869 889

www.periea.com

£8.99 RRP

Really Good

Queen of Fabulous nails bag

+44 (0)1235 537 888

www.reallygood.uk.com

£15 RRP

Julien Zigerli X Lunettes Kollektion

Sunglasses clip-ons in purple

+49 (0)1728 941 601

www.lunettes-kollektion.com

£150 RRP

Laceys London

Parthina brogues

+44 (0)20 7739 0398

www.laceysfootwear.com

£75 RRP

D

HLaceys London

Parthina brogues

26 ATTIRE

Mighty Purse

Emerald green wristlet

+44 (0)20 7702 0203

www.lovebrands.uk.com

£104.95 RRP

International Collection

Hanging Cat ear studs

+44 (0)1273 689 582

www.intercollection.com

£7.99 RRP

Newgate Watches

Fashion watch collection

+44 (0)1691 679 994

www.newgatewatches.com

£119 - £130 RRP

Maya Magal

Chain pendant

+44 (0)20 7404 4713

www.mayamagal.co.uk

£95 RRP

Bohemia Design

Luna necklace

+44 (0)131 555 2485

www.bohemiadesign.co.uk

£14 RRP

Elliot Rhodes

Crystal cuff

+44 (0)20 7379 8544

www.elliotrhodes.com

£109 - £229 RRPO My Bag

Fly Violet Maxi satchel

+44 (0)7510 968 857

www.omybag.nl

£279 RRP

Nicola Sexton

Sasso court shoes

+44 (0)1284 760 011

www.nicolasexton.com

£149 RRP

Elliot Rhodes

Crystal cuff

+44 (0)20 7379 8544

www.elliotrhodes.com

£109 - £229 RRP

28 ATTIRE

Moda in Pelle

Karleo clutch

+44 (0)113 239 2379

www.modainpelle.com

£59.95 RRP

Harriet Sanders

Bella bag

+44 (0)1242 525 836

www.harrietsanders.co.uk

£55 RRP

Zatchels

Belvoir tote

+44 (0)116 253 9672

www.zatchels.com

£77 RRP

Flossy

Deia slip-ons

+44 (0)20 3735 8197

www.flossyshoes.com

£20.99 RRP

Lamb 1887

Hampton tote

+44 (0)1924 836 941

www.lamb1887.com

£250 RRP£250 RRP

Ash Footwear

Rocking sandals

+44 (0)20 7323 1020

www.ashfootwear.co.uk

£249 RRP

Popband London

Mambo hairband multi-pack

+44 (0)7770 755 559

www.thepopband.com

£8 RRP

Matt & Nat

Abiko clutch

[email protected]

www.mattandnat.com

£65 RRP

OrliInspired Jewellery

A collection of beautiful designer jewellery, with a combination of stylish, modern and classic designs.

www.orlij.com 0141 616 3334

[email protected] IN BRITAIN

www.bronte.nl - [email protected]

by

ATTIRE 31

PURE LONDON

ATTIRE 31

PURE LONDON

BRAND listingsYour comprehensive guide ATTIRE

Official media partner

Accessories

GALLERY

show guideA preview of

fashion accessories

and footwear

exhibitors Plus• Pre-show round-up• Exhibitor profiles• Product showcase

Little Moose, www.littlemoose.co.uk

32 ATTIRE

A

In briefShow: Pure London

Venue: Olympia, London

Dates: 14th - 16th February, 2016

Website: www.purelondon.com

Twitter: @PureLondonShow

Ladies and gentlemenPure London returns with a clutch of first-time exhibitors and an all-new menswear sector

More than 700 brands will join the

exhibitor line up at Pure London in

February, with a whole host of first-time

exhibitors adding to the mix. Collections

will range from inspirational eveningwear

and young designer dresses to premium

accessories, an exciting range of menswear

and statement fashion pieces.

The exhibition will showcase the finest in

capsule collections from emerging brands,

while the launch of Pure Menswear will

cater for mid-to-premium high-end brands

with an original and exciting mix of labels

for the sector’s debut season.

Within the wider womenswear offering

is Pure Premium; an area that will house

over 40 high-end names, each offering

distinctive, bespoke and couture collections

for autumn/winter 2016, as well as short

order for spring/summer 2016. This season,

Premium Footwear will also be presenting

in this section of the show.

Following its highly-acclaimed and

applauded inauguration at the August 2015

edition of Pure London, the Premium

Footwear area will return again this season,

offering a fresh and an exciting showcase

layout of must-have collections from a

variety of high-end footwear companies.

With niche, quality designs set to inspire

independent buyers looking for something

different, the line-up for Footwear Brands

includes C.doux, Audley, Imelda’s Secret,

United Nude, Camper UK, Chie Mihara,

Cocorose London, Marita Moreno, Paco

Herrero, CREL and Slack.

Making their comeback to Pure London

are Danish labels b.young, Fransa, Cream,

Inwear, Part Two, Soaked in Luxury and

ICHI. The exhibition expects a great range

of innovative fabrics and prints from the

brands. b.young will be providing hero

pieces filled with energy and feminine

patterns, while Cream and ICHI create

flattering fits and silhouettes for the

sophisticated woman. Also adding to the

mix will be first-time exhibitors Delirious

Eyewear, Hemera, Harber & Dasher,

EllesD, Lily & Carter, Pauline B, LuckyLU

and Zoe Vine.

The Pure Footwear and Accessories

offering will showcase everything from

expert millinery and cutting-edge handbags

to avant garde shoes and this season’s most

trend-led fashion jewellery. Returning

names include Zandra Rhodes, Adele

Monroe, Bandit, Kazuri Beads, Nour,

Helen Moore, Love My Soul, Reeves &

Reeves, GI Jewellery, Kirsteen Stewart, Pia

Rossini, Lacoste Footwear, Peter Kaiser,

Unisa, Ravel, Moda in Pelle, Birkenstock,

Aspiga, Manas, Fly London, Peach

Accessories and Smeidi London.

Adding a wholly new element to

the show, Pure Menswear will launch

in February as a hub for breakthrough

menswear designers. Targeted at fashion

boutiques and other independent retailers

who want to launch into the menswear

market, exclusive trend-led pieces will

be presented from labels and designers

exhibiting at the show for the very first

time. These brands include 1 Like No

Other, Waven, Guide London, Haber

& Dasher, Hanro, Wolsey, Zeha Berlin,

NEED Japan, Shackleton, D-Rock, Eric

& Sophie, Claudio Lugli, Peter Gribby,

Jacksin, SLIMS Sportswear, ETO

Denim, Blow Ties, Guide, Lighthouse

Clothing, Duke Clothing, ADAMIST,

BALMEDOR, Noi, Clavon’s Wear,

Affliction Clothing and Noble Wilde.

Pure London will take place from 14th -

16th February 2016. For more information

and to register, visit www.purelondon.com

Contemporary, luxurious leather handbags and accessories designed with a British spirit, for the woman

with effortless style.

www.bellandfox.com07789 883607 | [email protected]

Tommy Tou: Genuine Australian SheepskinGift-boxed Accessories & Lindy Lou Umbrellas

www.lindy-lou.com [email protected]

ATTIRE 35

PURE LONDON

Brand listings

// Delirious R23

Abarca Q149

ABOÛT ACCESSORIES by

Wolfram Kopka T115

Adele Marie T141

Adorable Things Ltd V46

Aglory W45

ALEX DORE V6

Alex Group S.r.l. W35

ALPE Q162

amilu T145

Antonella Galasso Srl T91

Aoife Harrison T117

Ashiana T2

Ashwood Leather T46

Aspiga Q1

Audley N11

Bandits T86

Bcharmd T151

bell&fox T95

Belle & Flo X4

Bessie Glory W4

Big Metal T217

Birkenstock Q189

Black & Sigi V13

Black Cashmere Y40

Blaze Design W6

Bohemian Jewellery

Tattoos T135

Boho Betty T107

Brave Lotus V4

Brazi Druse Jewelry V44

BULAGGI T146

By London X10

c.doux / Slack M20

c.doux / Slack M20

Cadari London T181

Camper UK N27

Caprice Q186

Cara Q10

Caramel T88

Caroline Gardner T201

cashmere rebel london V21

CATHs Belgium T67

Celia Gould T101

Charis di Kim

Seung Hyun R33

Chic &tique Y8

Chie Mihara N36

clashd T129

Cocorose London N28

Design Six T258

Diana & Co T206

Disaster Designs T270

ECCO UK Q202

Eliza Gracious X16

Envy Jewellery X13

Enzo P Couture Q205

Estella Bartlett T53

Etnika T175

F & J Collection Y39

F & J Collection Y47

Fiorelli T236

Firelog Ltd T160

Fluffi London Y35

Fly London Q40

Fraas UK T62

FRANCS-BOURGEOIS T83

GI Jewellery T97

GiftsPage Limited V1

Girls & Pearls T239

Glen Prince T248

Golunski T252

HADAKI - DamnDog T260

Handbag Clinic T57

Hata V5

Heio T63

Helen Moore T244

Holly Young Millinery V19

Hultquist Copenhagen Q4

Icon Watches T207

IMELDA’SECRET N19

Industrial Jewellery by

Hila Rawet Karni T119

IRALS R59

Iutta Worldwide V18

Java Plum V2

JCM LONDON Q190

Jewelcity W34

Juno Accessories T198

Kamoa Q152

KAPITAL CAROUSEL

BARCELONA T87

Kapre T176

Kat’Art R19

Kazuri Beads Y10

Kelly Craig Collections T156

Kirsteen Stewart W3

Kompanero T208

Kris-Ana T179

Kusan Accessories T71

Lacoste Footwear Q177

Ladies Who Lunch V3

Lady Muck of Whitstable X8

LAURA VITA Q145

Lily Lyn R21

Little Moose W20

Lochcarron Of Scotland T58

Lofina Q151

Long & Son Trading Ltd Y11

Louise McLeod jewellery V48

Love My Soul T211

Loverocks T131

LYDC London/

Anna Smith T170

LYDC London

/Anna Smith T170

Caprice

Eliza Gracious

Little Moose

36 ATTIRE

Malissa J T223

Malissa J T224

Manas Q196

ManiCay T106

Marita Moreno N21

Martina V Q157

Matanah W8

Max & Ellie T152

Mayshad Paris T103

Miss Shorthair W36

MM Sisters W26

Moda in Pelle Q6

MOOGU DESIGN SRL T111

MUA.unique handmade

jewellery V40

Nali T246

Neosens Q198

Nex Tex T169

Nica T234

Nicole Lee T202

NODOVA V16

nooki design T197

Nour London T100

Nouv-Elle T205

Ollie & Nic T149

One Hundred Stars T78

Otzki R7

Paco Herrero N41

Pampeano T125

Parkside Accessories Y27

Passigatti T90

Peach Accessories X3

Peter Kaiser Q102

Pia Rossini Ltd T186

Pia Rossini Ltd T191

Pikolinos Q173

Pom Pom Poodle

Luxury Accessories X27

Popband London Y20

Powder Design Ltd T212

PRANELLA Q2

Pritzy Choice W25

Prochaine /

Ligia’s Accessories T75

Prochaine /

Ligia’s Accessories T75

Purple Collection Y23

Ravel Q188

Reeves & Reeves T121

Reve Le W37

RI2K T225

Rodgers & Rodgers T81

ROSE + NINE Q206

Ruby & Ed Limited T54

RUBY FEATHERS R25

Rukhsana Jewellery

London X11

Sand Storm T219

Santacana

Complementos Q208

Saz Shoes Ltd R1

SC SOLO LINE GRUP

SRL R61

Scerade Srl R67

Seeberger Q194

Sence Copenhagen T59

Sendra Boots Q5

Shepherd of Sweden/

Sulman Q28

Shepherd of Sweden/

Sulman Q28

Sherene Melinda T105

Ska Shoes Q170

Smeidi London W5

Smith & Canova T140

Spinnwood W21

Sticks and Stones T76

STILGEWANDT by Gisa R63

Strata T173

Street Level W48

Subella London Q192

Superbia Fashion Q126

Superga Q18

Suzanne Bettley/

Peter Bettley T228

Suzanne Bettley/

Peter Bettley T228

Tantrend Bijoux S.L. T216

Ten Points Q67

The Alpaca Wardrobe V34

The Chatelaine Charm

Belt Company R17

The Lunch Bag/Hven T150

The Lunch Bag/Hven T150

Tilley and Grace T172

TLG Brands Ltd T235

Toolally Jewellery X29

TRIA ALFA R27

Ubu Paris Q210

Ukwenza T233

Unisa Q181

United Nude N6

UnPaired Design Studio W9

Urban Knit X25

Vendula London T166

Vivante by VSA W46

Vodivi’ T99

Volum T84

Wish Handmade Jewellery W11

Witaya Handmade

Fashion Jewelry V9

Yoshi T210

Yull Q125

Zandra Rhodes Handbags T137

ZAXY Q82

*Stand numbers correct as of 04/01/2016. For all show stand numbers, please visit www.purelondon.com/brands

Belle & Flo

Helen Moore Industrial Jewellery

ATTIRE 39

PURE LONDON

I-CLIPMW323

+49 6322 9548 03

www.i-clip.com

I-CLIP is one of the most versatile card wallets on the market, as it can

hold banknotes and receipts – and of course, credit cards – all at the same

time. The label offers an impressive range of colours and natural leather

textures. The whole range is manufactured in Germany, using genuine

calf, deer, ostrich or caiman leather (from controlled farms). The I-CLIP

wallet is a smart functional accessory to keep cards safe and in pristine

conditions, while maintaining a sophisticated trend-led look day to day.

BELLE & FLOX4

+44 (0)1892 824 396

www.belleandflo.co.uk

Spring will be in the air at Pure London with a full range of new

designs from Belle & Flo. Pastels are set to fill up the stand across

a range of shimmering crystal, semi-precious and long metallic

necklaces. The colour palette for the season covers pink, peach,

mint, baby blue, soft grey and refreshing lemon yellow. The brand’s

popular leather range has been adapted for seasonal wardrobes with

subtle spring shades entwined in leather. Another new product that

will be showcased at the exhibition is a leather ring – a predicted

best-seller, embellished with matte metal and crystals.

Belle & Flo will also be expanding on its highly successful scarf

range with a spring/summer collection featuring stunning pastels

with delicate dragonflies, flowers and spots patterns.

ELIZA GRACIOUSX16

+44 (0)7767 785 822

www.elizagracious.com

Eliza Gracious is launching new jewellery lines with fine chain

detailing and an expanded freshwater pearl selection, including

combining pearl with leather. The label focuses on attractive designs

with competitive pricing, allowing for great margins, while also

offering gift packaging and display stands, as they’re known to

help create sales. As experienced retailers, the team behind Eliza

Gracious understands that it’s hard to buy exactly what you need

when faced with large minimum orders, so the brand doesn’t set

a minimum-order value at shows. At Pure London, retailers can

benefit from free branded packaging for orders over £200 and free

delivery for orders over £300. All stock items are delivered within

two working days.

Exhibitor profiles

ELIZA GRACIOUSX16

+44 (0)7767 785 822

li i

40 ATTIRE

NÜ DENMARKJ70

+44 (0) 20 7702 0203


NÜ Denmark by Staff

Woman is a leading Danish womenswear label offering cool,

relaxed, raw and comfortable collections, with a touch of boho-chic.

Launched in Denmark in 1997, the brand’s collections are sold in

leading stores throughout Europe.

NÜ means ‘naked’ in French and ‘woman’ in Chinese, which fits

perfectly into the design team’s vision of a raw simplicity created

by combining pure, natural materials and ethical production. Based

upon an earthy and tonal colour palette, the brand’s collections

offer wearers an organic and understated look. Yet beneath this

subtlety lies intricate detailing, embroidery, stitching and skilled

pattern cuts, which comprise the unique NÜ Denmark signature.

The label is distributed by Love Brands Ltd in the UK. Love

Brands Ltd is a multi-brand and Drapers award-winning fashion

distribution agency based in Wapping, London. Set up in 2010,

and using their extensive network of European suppliers, Love

Brands Ltd offers a completely new approach to running a fashion

business. A distinctive aspect of their business is the ability to

offer brands a strategic multi-channel platform, across wholesale,

franchise and retail concessions.

JEWELCITYW34

+44 (0)1464 444 200

www.jewelcity.co.uk

Welcome the warmer months ahead

with accessories that will add a

splash of colour to your boutiques.

This season is all about detailing for

Jewelcity, with hand-beaded jewellery

in pretty of turquoise and fuchsia

shades. Inspirational messages are

engraved in classic forever-wear

pendants and beaded bracelets.

Other highlights from the range

include opulently embroidered

scarves in complementary colours and

handbags featuring edgy laser-cut

detailing. All of Jewelcity’s designs are

available in a range of colours

and finishes.

MODA IN PELLEQ6

+44 (0)113 200 7334

www.modainpelle.com

Affordable luxury footwear brand Moda in Pelle will introduce

its spring/summer 2016 collection. Crafted from Italian leather

and suede with an emphasis on design and detail, the label creates

the perfect marriage of style and comfort to deliver the new

fashion essentials for the season. Spring/summer 2016 celebrates

statement footwear: the perennial wooden sandal features a bold,

block heel that can be effortlessly teamed with lightweight denim

or ’70s-inspired suede.

Meanwhile, the everyday slider is given a luxury makeover,

embellished with metallic sequins for sheer indulgence or bold

monochrome stripes for a modern retro twist, and sky-high

flatforms and wedges are given a ’90s refresh across the collection

with a new sense of uncomplicated style and sophistication.

Vibrant colour pops make a refreshing debut this season

in citrus yellow, hot-pink and pillar-box red, complete with

matching clutch bags and spring accessories, while subtle

shades of tan, beige and blush offer modern classics for the

everyday wardrobe.

www.el izagracious.com tel : 07767 785822

See our exciting new range of fashion jewellery

Top Drawer Stand 260 - Spring Fair Stand 19C15

Pure London Stand X16 - Moda Stand X19

ATTIRE 43

PURE LONDON

REEVES & REEVEST121

+44 (0)1460 221 630

www.reevesandreeves.com

From its base in the depths of the Dorset countryside, Reeves &

Reeves is launching a number of stylish and exclusive collections

for 2016. Known for creating inspirational and charming designs

that are contemporary in style with an effortless fashion edge, the

label will launch its new Finesse range at Pure London. With

elegant fine lines and attention to detail, the design team anticipate

it becoming a key best-seller for the new season.

For spring/summer 2016, Reeves & Reeves will present sterling

silver jewellery collections, with touches of 18ct gold vermeil

in both yellow and rose gold throughout, maintaining the high

quality standards of previous seasons. The competitively priced

collections are timeless enough to appeal to a wide audience, while

demonstrating a distinctive quirkiness. Reeves & Reeves can also

work with retailers and stores on own branding, to add that extra

detail to ensure a point of difference.

HELEN MOORET244

+44 (0)1884 860 900

www.helenmoore.com

This January, Helen Moore introduces its Impressionist range, a

capsule collection for spring/summer 2016. Inspired by art and

high fashion, it comprises a series of beautiful contrasting colour

palettes and new designs, making each item a must-have accessory

for the new season. The new line comprises a waistcoat, vixen scarf,

asymmetric scarf, clutch bag, tote bag and coin purse in a variety of

three multi-toned colours.

CAPRICEQ186

+44 (0)7734 247 669

www.capriceshoes.co.uk

The new Caprice collection

will feature an extensive mix of

different leathers and new stylish

materials in the same colour

range. So instead of creating a

loud collection which tries to

capture the attention through

clashing colours and materials,

the design team paid a lot of

attention to detail to ensure that

the upcoming season will see

the brand’s most fashionable

footwear line to date.

S

s.com

44 ATTIRE

LITTLE MOOSEW20

+44 (0)1273 930 053

www.littlemoose.co.uk

Book a ticket to Wonderland via a trip through the rabbit

hole courtesy of Little Moose at Pure London this spring. The

quirky British jewellery brand have turned their attention to

Lewis Carroll’s classic tale Alice in Wonderland – which has

just celebrated its 150th birthday – for its latest range, creating

a magical collection of quirky, imaginative jewellery featuring

croquet flamingos, Cheshire cats, white rabbits and more.

With a plethora of quirky designs with a whimsical feel,

Little Moose is fast becoming the must-have jewellery brand for

shoppers looking for something a bit different.

PRANELLAQ2

+44 (0)1912 132 552

www.pranella.com

Pranella will launch its

beach-to-bar collection at

Pure London. The vibrant

range covers all aspects of

luxury holiday dressing,

from 100 per cent cotton

maxi kaftans to fully

embroidered mini beach-to-bar dresses. The collection is buy-in-

season, with forward orders being taken online now. The beachwear

range also includes beach baskets and hand-made bags adorned

with globally-sourced jewels and pompoms.

Pranella has created two distinct collections for spring/summer

2016. The Miami collection is inspired by the fast pace and

electric buzz of the west-coast life. All of the label’s jewellery is

hand-made in the UK using natural and semi-precious stones

which are individually chosen by our design team. Each piece

of Pranella jewellery is original and bursting with character and

colour. Meanwhile, the Wild Winds collection is inspired by the

rugged and natural life of the Native Americans, focusing on

neutral colour palettes, incorporating wood, shell turquoise and

leather into the range. The muted tonal range is in direct contrast

to the Miami line’s bright hues, giving customers a wide choice of

colour and styling.

COCOROSE LONDONN28

+44 (0)20 8829 8919

www.cocoroselondon.com

Boutique footwear brand Cocorose London is passionate about creating

elegant shoes with a strong point of difference. The designer label is

renowned for its revolutionary foldable shoe concept, premium presentation

and for its collaborations with iconic British brands, The Royal Ballet

and BAFTA.

Cocorose London’s autumn/winter 2016 collection has been inspired by

the future and our galaxy. Designer Janan Leo has explored the use of 3D

leathers and glow-in-the-dark stars, combining this with the luxurious, disco

feel of glitter and burnished metallics in garnet, bronze and pewter, offset by

highlights of hot pink throughout. The collection is cool and edgy, yet

effortlessly chic, with rich colours and textures, embroidery, sequins and

beaded fringing, to create a luxe aesthetic.

LITTLE MOOSEW20

+44 (0)1273 930 053

www.littlemoose.co.uk

SPRING/SUMMER 2016

Spring Fair | 7-11 February 2016 | Stand 20M41NEC Birmingham B40 1NT

Pure | 14-16 February 2016 | Stand T252 GalleryOlympia W14 8UX

M Golunski & Co Ltd

Tel: 01384 78326Email:

Web:

46 ATTIRE

INDUSTRIAL JEWELLERY BY HILA RAWET KARNIT119

+44 (0)7810 644 837

www.industrial-jewellery.com

Industrial Jewellery specialises in

crafting one-of-a-kind, high-end

pieces that incorporate a wide variety

of industrial materials. Hila’s work

transforms springs, ropes, rubber and

other unusual materials to the point

where designs require a second or third

glance before the observer can truly

recognise the origin of its elements.

SKUNKFUNKK70

+44 (0)20 7702 0203


Skunkfunk brings sustainable style to mainstream fashion with plans to source

100 per cent of its fabrics from sustainable sources by 2020. A contemporary

womenswear brand which heeds ethical values as much as it flaunts its style

credentials, Skunkfunk offers a collection with a conscience which appeals to the

modern consumer. Family-owned and designed in Bilbao, this niche lifestyle brand

prides itself on its supply chain transparency as well as its directional fashion. The

collection also includes a strong lifestyle component, consisting of premium quality

bags and accessories which complement the womenswear collection. All of the

label’s products are made using an original pattern-cutting process which aims for

zero waste.

Skunkfunk is distributed in the UK by Love Brands Ltd, a multi-brand and

Drapers award-winning fashion distribution agency based in Wapping, London.

Set up in 2010, and using their extensive network of European suppliers, Love

Brands Ltd offers a completely new approach to running a fashion business. A

unique aspect to their business is the ability to offer brands a strategic multi-

channel platform, across wholesale, franchise and retail concessions.

ZAXYQ82

+44 (0)20 7377 2570

www.zaxy.com.br

Zaxy sandals has been driving footwear fans

wild in Brazil and has now expanded globally.

Young, light-hearted and fun, the label supports

the consumer’s freedom to experiment with their

look. With Zaxy’s new spring/summer 2016

collection on show at Pure London, buyers will

be able to check out an array of bright colours

and diverse patterns. Butterfly-themed graphics

and 3D appliques express the brand’s femininity

and delicacy, while new urban, sportier styles will

appeal to women with a more active lifestyle.

48 ATTIRE

AQ

AQ

AQ

Attire Accessories readers put their insurance queries, concerns and questions to leading broker TH March

I plan to exhibit at various shows this year;

should I inform my insurance company

about this?

Yes, it’s always a good idea to inform your

insurance company, as there can be insurance

implications and various problems that

might occur arising from misunderstandings

over the level of cover provided under

standard insurance policies.

For exhibitors, there’s the risk associated

with attendance at the trade fair itself and

you need to make sure you have the

following covered:

• Stock and trade stands, fixtures and

fittings – does your policy extend to cover

attendance at trade exhibitions? If so, is the

extension sufficient to cover the values at

risk there?

• Commercial policies are traditionally

subject to an under insurance condition

which means that if you insure for 50 per

cent of the value taken to the exhibition, any

claim that you make will be reduced by 50

per cent.

• Public liability – notify your insurers that

you plan to attend trade exhibitions, as there

may be exclusions within your policy.

• Exhibition event organisers can demand

a minimum level of cover of £5 million.

Whilst this can be purchased separately, it’s

often cheaper to increase the limit under the

annual cover rather than take out small

extensions to cover the

individual exhibitions

you attend.

• Loss of profits –

does your policy

provide cover for loss

of profits arising from

problems at the event?

Most policies will not

and do require specific

extension. This cover

isn’t widely available

but some insurers will

give cover. For example

a fire on your stand

causing damage to

property, which leads to a loss of profit

arising from the event, can be insured. Again,

you’ll of course need to have told your

insurers that you’re attending events.

When dispatching goods sold at my show

stand or from my premises, what should I

be aware of and what needs to be included

in my insurance policy?

The extent of your insurance can include all

shipments of goods within the UK whether

by your own or hired vehicles, haulage

contractors, and post and delivery services.

It’s important to be aware that many carriers

restrict their liability for loss or damage to

the goods they carry. This could potentially

leave you seriously out of pocket in the event

of a claim. Although, arranging your own

insurance protection can solve this problem.

Overseas shipments (imports and exports)

can also be insured from place of origin to

destination. Insurance is usually offered by

freight forwarders and monetary limits may

apply in all or part depending on methods of

transport – often there are more than one,

i.e. road, air and sea.

What is Business Interruption Cover –

should I have it?

Imagine you’ve been flooded. Clearly your

business insurance policy will cover flood

damage to premises and stock. If you also

have business interruption cover, which I

believe to be vital, additional costs such as

hiring temporary premises will be met. This

means you’ll be able to continue trading

during the subsequent repair and clean-up

period enabling you to maintain both cash

flow and customers.

Business Interruption Insurance will also

replace the gross profit for your business for

the period that the business is interrupted by

an insured risk (such as a flood). This covers

the recovery of customers phase.

Business Interruption cover will cushion

you from the blow and may even be the vital

factor that saves your business. Many who

don’t have such cover will go out of business

within 12 months of a major incident.

Many people who have been flooded want

to know if their premiums will automatically

go up. The answer to this isn’t simple.

However, if your business is located in an

area that’s not normally at risk and you’ve

simply fallen foul of unusual weather

conditions; you may experience only a

temporary increase in premiums. Each case

is highly individual and this is where a good

broker will be your most valuable asset,

because we will be acting on your behalf,

fighting your corner to achieve the best

possible outcome for you and your business.

Visit TH March at Spring Fair on stand

S49 in Hall 17, where Neil and the team will

be happy to talk through your insurance-

related queries.

Further information:

TH March is a chartered firm of insurance

brokers. Established in 1887, the company

has offices in London, Birmingham,

Manchester, Glasgow and Sevenoaks, as

well as its National Administration Centre

in Yelverton near Plymouth.

To find out more call +44 (0)1822 855

555, email [email protected], or visit

the website www.thmarch.co.uk

A

INSURANCEsolutions

Neil McFarlane,

Managing Director

of T.H. March

& Co Limited

Contact us to receive our trade catalogue:Warren House, Hinton St George, Somerset TA17 8TQ

Tel +44 (0)1460 75686 www.classiccanes.co.ukAlso on Facebook and Instagram

The Walking Stick SpecialistsFine quality walking sticks,

seat sticks and umbrellas for ladies and gentlemen.

International Spring Fair: Hall 20, Stand K10-L11

ATTIRE 51

PURE LONDON

ATTIRE 51

SPRING FAIR

The Healthy Back Bag Company,

www.thehealthybackbag.co.uk

Spring feverThe UK trade calendar’s biggest event returns with an even bigger line-up in 2016

52 ATTIRE

Breaking new groundSpring Fair 2016 is one of change, with the introduction of The Wish List, a refreshed layout and a wealth of new design talent

DOORS OPEN!Spring Fair, the UK’s leading gift and

home exhibition, organised by i2i Events

Group, will get 2016 trading off to a flying

start with a raft of new developments and

hundreds of thousands of new product

launches across several sectors.

The show will open its doors from 7th

- 11th at The NEC, Birmingham, where

it’s co-located with Jewellery & Watch

Birmingham, the UK’s biggest specialised

jewellery exhibition. Volume Halls will

open one day early on 6th February.

Some 3,000 of the best British and

international suppliers, including hundreds

that are new to Spring Fair for 2016, will

present up to 300,000 new products at

the show across 14 categories: Body &

Bath, Children’s Gifts, Toys & Gadgets,

Contemporary Gift, Christmas Gifts, Floral

& Seasonal Decorations, Fashion Jewellery,

Accessories & Luggage, Volume Gift &

Home, Greetings & Gift, Home, Gift, Retail

Solutions, The Summerhouse, Kitchen,

Dining & Housewares, Licensed Gifts and

The Party Show.

The wealth of new design talent and

innovative companies that have chosen to

exhibit at Spring Fair for the first time in

2016 include Look at Image Plus, Hearth &

Heritage, Olive & Belle, Adrian Higgins, The

Little Bells, Cream Cornwall, Fayre Maiden,

Mellow Duck, Lady Primrose, Burhouse

Beads, The Sunday Girl, Bojje, Greenkey

Garden & Home, to name just a few.

As the largest retail event taking place

in the UK buying calendar, each sector of

Spring Fair forms a specialised show within

a show, whilst also offering the best cross-

over buying opportunities available to the

UK retail trade.

AROUND-THE-CLOCK BUYINGTens of thousands of buyers from around

the UK and the world attend the show,

including the majority of the top retail

brands. Around 44 per cent of visitors do

not attend any other trade event and 75

per cent of all visitors place orders with

suppliers as a result of their attendance at

Spring Fair.

Not only is Spring Fair the prime

new-product sourcing opportunity for

retailers, it also offers unrivalled networking

opportunities, cutting-edge trend insights and

business content, whilst serving as the ideal

export hub for overseas traders.

Along with leading department stores,

multiple retail chains supermarkets and

independent gift retailers the exhibition offers

the best new product sourcing opportunity

for post offices, convenience stores and

newsagents, garden centre gift shops, heritage

sites and tourist attractions, interior designers

and the many thousands of online retailers

– large and small – who constitute the UK’s

booming ecommerce sector.

To help serve the online community, this

year sees the introduction of The Wish List

on the show’s website, a 24-hour-a-day,

year-round product-sourcing platform.

The new Wish List functionality gives

buyers the opportunity to save and print

‘shopping lists’ of their favourite items from

a comprehensive database of Spring Fair

exhibitors’ products.

The powerful search and select

mechanism also provides great insight into

trends as the hottest products rise through

the ranks and make it onto more and more

wish lists via thousands of unique users.

Monitoring trends throughout the year

IN BRIEFShow: Spring Fair

Venue: NEC, Birmingham


Website: www.springfair.com

Twitter: @SpringAutFair

ATTIRE 55

SPRING FAIR

has also confirmed that licensing is still

big news in the home and gift markets,

with licensed products selling well across

all major categories, from children’s

gifts and greetings cards to tabletop and

housewares. A dedicated Licensing section

of the Spring Fair website helps bring this

important aspect of gifting to the fore, with

countless hot properties to choose from,

including: Star Wars, The Great British Bake

Off, Doctor Who, Katie Alice, Me to You

and Minions.

A FRESH PERSPECTIVETo ensure the exhibition is continually

refreshed and updated to reflect the needs

of both exhibitors and visitors, several

sectors have been re-edited for 2016.

These changes will incorporate an improved

layout to encourage footfall to the Atrium

side of the show via an express entrance in

Hall 9, where the Season’s Club will also

be located. The express entrance will help

channel visitors to Halls 6, 7, 8 and 20 as

soon as the show opens.

Linking walkways between Halls 4 and 8

and Halls 5 and 9 will further improve the

flow of visitors around Spring Fair and help

them make the most of the fantastic cross-

over buying opportunities.

The Atrium will be an essential

destination for visitors, who are sure

to make a beeline for the exclusive

Summerhouse showcase in Hall 8, as well

as the e-commerce Theatre in Hall 6, one

of the most important educational hubs of

the show. Strategically positioned around

the e-commerce Theatre will be exhibitors

in Retail Solutions, where store owners can

take their pick from a range of essential

services and solutions ranging from

payment providers and Epos systems to

website designers, logistics and shop-fitters.

Spring Fair Portfolio Director, Nick

Davison comments: “This is my first year

at the helm of Spring Fair, having spent

the past few years developing sister shows

Autumn Fair and Glee, and I’m incredibly

excited about the 2016 exhibition.

“Consultation with our customers

revealed the need for certain modifications

to the hall layout and access points to

improve footfall, so we’ve implemented

a raft of new changes to meet those

requirements in 2016. I would like to thank

everyone involved for their support of the

show and helping to make our plans a

reality. I am committed to delivering the

best possible event for all our customers.

We’re all now looking forward to a great

show, where everyone who attends will see

some fantastic new products from both

their existing and new suppliers.”

FASHION FORWARDThe Fashion Jewellery, Accessories and

Luggage sector presentation for 2016 will

be characterised by growth in luggage,

handbags and other leather goods, plus an

upswing in clothing as gifts stores seek to

further diversify their fashion accessories

offering. Scarves are another staple offering

of many higher end gift stores and fashion

boutiques, and there will be a huge choice

for retailers at the show.

Spring Fair will host over 200 companies

in this sector, including many that are

exhibiting there for the first time and a

number from overseas, such as Ollie &

Nic, One Button, Raspberry, Nicole Lee

USA, Mi-Pac, Mousqueton, Lisa Angel,

FGX Europe, August Denmark, Hidesign,

Labante, Alex Max, Vintage Satchel

Company and Davidt’s.

They join a host of major companies

who regularly exhibit within this sector of

the show, including Jayley, Nova Leathers,

Brakeburn, Checker Leather, Nour,

Woodbridge, Suzie Blue, Ninet Bijoux,

Balagan and Ashwood Leather.

One of the most popular features of

Spring Fair, the Fashion Catwalk, will

once again be located in Hall 20, where

runway shows featuring exhibitors’ hot

new accessories, jewellery and luggage will

be interspersed with inspirational trend

presentations. Catwalk shows will run three

times a day for the duration of Spring Fair.

With 14 different sectors represented at

the show, Spring Fair also offers the best

cross-over buying opportunities of any

trade event taking place in the UK in 2016.

Alongside Fashion Jewellery, Accessories &

Luggage, Hall 20 will also host the largest

and most varied presentation of Body &

Bath products to be found under one roof

anywhere in the UK.

Adjacent to this will be Jewellery &

Watch Birmingham, a specialised fine

jewellery and watch show co-located with

Spring Fair at The NEC, where it will

occupy Halls 17 and 18.

To register for the show, visit the website

www.springfair.com A

ATTIRE 57

SPRING FAIR

58 ATTIRE

Classic Canes20K10-L11+44 (0)1460 75686www.classiccanes.co.uk

2016’s Spring Fair International marks the 27th consecutive

appearance of walking stick specialists Classic Canes at the

show and to celebrate, the company will be launching 27

brand new products.

New walking sticks from Classic Canes will include floral

extending Chelsea canes in pretty spring shades of pink,

peppermint and lilac, which make excellent spring accessories

and Mothering Sunday presents. Other new models include

silver lamé and gold evening canes, collectors’ novelty canes in

the shapes of a snake and Sherlock Holmes, Twinkle engraved

derbies for everyday use, an elegant blue-and-white patterned

folding cane featuring paisley and butterflies, and a range of

everyday height-adjustable canes in seven fashionable colours.

Also new is a collection of chestnut hiking staffs laser-engraved

with country motifs: a pheasant, a stag’s head, a horse, a

Labrador Retriever and a countryman.

Miss Milly19C18+44 (0)1905 622 509www.missmilly.co.uk

Miss Milly is a fast-

growing British brand

offering pretty, colourful

jewellery and scarves.

The brand will return

to Spring Fair with a

plethora of new lines in

on-trend, seasonal shades. Visitors should look out for pastels and

tropical brights, including shimmery iridescent and metallic resins.

Buyers can choose from statement necklaces, floral designs and

delicate bracelets made for layering. Fantastic prices and excellent

quality are backed up by an efficient, friendly customer service,

allowing retailers to order while browsing at the show or online

now – branded packaging and display stands are also available. The

minimum order level is £50 with no minimum-order quantities.

Delivery is charged at £6.95, with carriage being paid for orders over

£250 on the UK mainland.

The Healthy Back Bag Company20J19+44 (0)20 7812 9800www.thehealthybackbag.co.uk

Spring/summer 2016 sees

the launch of the new season

collection of Healthy Back

Bags featuring a refined mix of

romantic neutrals, cutting-edge design and citrus brights which

provides a seasonal update through trend-led colour, pattern and

print. The range has been built around three key trends: Summer

Romance, Industrial Chic and Tribal Energy.

Key additions to the line this season include a Citron shade

in the Great Outdoors collection across all three styles within

this popular range: the brand new Neo Dimensional bags which

combine cutting-edge fabrics and printing technology and two

fresh suede-effect Tropical Garden bags, which bring together

the softest fabrics with fashion-led colour palettes.

Peace of Mind19F20-G21+44 (0)1225 777 749www.pom925.com

Spring is the perfect time

to try something new. In

January, Peace of Mind

launches their new initial

necklace and birthstone

charm collection, just in time

for Valentine’s Day. Adding

a heart charm or loved one’s

birthstone to one of Peace

of Mind’s simple necklaces

takes seconds and creates a

very thoughtful and original

gift that can be added to

again and again. With fresh

new colours in the scarf

range and clean lines and

subtle textures skilfully displayed in the brand’s latest silver and

silver-plated jewellery collections, Peace of Mind will be offering

buyers a fresh and exciting selection at Spring Fair.

Exhibitor profiles

See the full S/S 16 collection: www.suziebluejewellery.co.uk

Beautiful and Unique Fair Trade Scarves and AccessoriesTel: 01425 461 594 | Mob: 07906 627 691 | Email: [email protected]

www.cooltradewinds.co.uk

Find us at

TOP DRAWER

SPRING FAIR

ATTIRE 61

SPRING FAIR

Gorjus20J03+44 (0)1494 525 180www.gorjusaccessories.co.uk

Gorjus will be

exhibiting its 2016

collections at Spring

Fair. These include

its current in-stock

leather and tapestry

ranges, as well as

the fashion fabric

bag styles. There’s

also an extensive

selection of leather

purses in vibrant as

well as subtle, muted

tones, all available for

immediate delivery.

Over the past few years the brand has increased its leather offering,

with the Finchley collection proving very popular. Produced in a

high quality vegetable-tanned leather but with a very reasonable

price tag, a further two styles are being introduced to this best-

selling range for 2016. There will be even more fresh leather lines

introduced later in the year, all of which will be available for buyers

to view and order at Spring Fair.

Really Good6J22-K23+44 (0)1235 537 888www.reallygood.uk.com

Really Good’s The Bright Side

range has been revamped,

using bright and bold repeating

patterns and fresh colours to

add sparkle and spirit to the

collection’s signature old block printing style. One thing that hasn’t

changed is the quirky quotes emblazoned on each piece. Created

by champion of silver linings and explorer of words, Rachel Bright,

the collection is a smorgasbord of girlie gifts, with each carefully

chosen sentiment complementing its product. Some of the brand’s

best-selling lines have been updated to reflect current trends like

the selfie and, while also making room for practical touches too,

with details such as the tights pouch for carrying a spare pair of

tights, and the miniature torch – ideal for searching the depths of

your spring season oversized tote, and even the hair grips pouch,

perfect for keeping a multitude of hair accessories safe.

Intelligent Retail19B09+44 (0)845 680 0126www.intelligentretail.co.uk

For independent

retailers wanting

the most up-to-date

e-commerce website,

it’s worth checking

out Intelligent Retail

at Spring Fair. The

company’s experts

can design and

implement your

website and link it

to a Connect till in

your shop – making

it so easy to sell in-store and online. Offering intelligent EPoS,

intelligent e-commerce, website design and promotion, all linked

together with central stock control, Intelligent Retail has already

helped hundreds of retailers sell successfully in-store and online. By

using the brand’s systems, indie shop owners can work efficiently to

increase profits with central stock control and reports.

Eliza Gracious19C15+44 (0)7767 785 822www.elizagracious.com



combining pearl with leather. The label focuses on attractive

designs with competitive pricing, allowing for great margins, while

also offering gift packaging and display stands, as they’re known to



when faced with large minimum orders, so the brand doesn’t set a

minimum-order value at shows. At Spring Fair, retailers can benefit

from free branded packaging for orders over £200 and free delivery

for orders over £300. All stock items are delivered within two

working days.

62 ATTIRE

Ladycrow Silks20B43+44 (0)1356 630 222www.ladycrowsilks.co.uk

Ladycrow Silks is a family-run

company with a passion for

creating attractive, desirable

gifts. At Spring Fair, the brand

will be highlighting its spring/

summer 2016 collection, which

features luxurious gossamer silk

scarves and stylishly shaped silk

satin scarves. Its original British

pewter jewellery collection

continues to grow and now includes necklace and earring sets and

satin-finished pewter rings to complement the existing range of

rings and brooches.

Earth Squared19B04-C03+44 (0)1620 824 392www.fairtradewholesale.co.uk

Earth Squared returns with its popular plain wool and tweed

ranges in a softer palette for spring. Spring Fair visitors can

expect to see tweeds in soft pinks, pale blues and heathery shades

complemented by earthy tones in grey brown and green. As well

as the brand’s signature tweeds and wools, it will be introducing

two new finishes this season, with a line of quality nylon styles and

a range of matte-coated fabrics in stylish fresh prints and colours.

Taking a totally new direction in durable and lightweight nylon

with a utility feel in bold, urban colours, this range is designed

for the demands of everyday life with all the usual Earth Squared

attention to detail.

Taking the lead from customer demand for a cohesive

connection between ranges, the design team has been working hard

to produce a collection that works as a whole for the retailer, as well

as being appealing individual items for the consumer.

Opticaid4B61+44 (0)1132 391 400www.opticaid.net

Opticaid is showcasing its new spring/summer 2016 ready reading

glasses, sun readers and sunglasses at Spring Fair. Among the many

new styles are Belfast and Balmoral with fashionable round lenses.

Barcelona, Toulon and Yale with their preppy-inspired deeper

lenses will appeal to the majority, as will the ladies’ bright and

colourful frames called Kowloon Floral, Jakarta Fuchsia and Tatton

Cobalt. Opticaid continues to expand its range of metal frames

with lightweight polycarbonate lenses, with new styles including

Georgia and men’s frames, Oslo and Strasbourg. All of these styles

retail at the competitive price of £12.99.

Also on show are the new eye catching glasses tins. These

lightweight storage tins come with a scratch-free interior and

include a microfibre cleaning cloth.Blousey Brown20N26+44 (0)1458 442 371www.blouseybrown.co.uk

Blousey Brown offers a

wide range of leather bags

that make ideal everyday

accessories for those with

a strong sense of personal

style. Key seasonal colours

and attention to detail are

universal themes reflected

across all of the label’s

styles. Cost prices are very

competitive, ranging from

£10.95 to £59.95.

Blousey Brown, now in its

fifth year of operation, is a brand of Satchel Design Company Ltd.

which is based in Somerset, and has been manufacturing handbags

and leather goods since 1989.

www.longandson.co.uk [email protected] 0207 702 3888

Long & Son Trading, 90-92 Roding Road, London Industrial Park, London E6 6LS

One of the largest Lady handbags importers/wholesalers/manufacturers.

Torquay Bag ShowLivermead House Hotel

17th - 20th January 2016

Spring FairNEC, Birmingham

Hall 20, Stand K087th - 11th January 2016

Troop London LtdUnit 10 Vision Ind. Park

Kendal Avenue,London W3 0AF

Tel: 0208 144 0884Fax: 0207 681 1615

email: [email protected]

ATTIRE 65

SPRING FAIR

Belle & Flo19A21+44 (0)1892 824 396www.belleandflo.co.uk

Spring is certainly in the air for Belle & Flo, with a full range of

fresh products in a colour palette of pinks, peach, mint, baby blue,

soft grey and zinging lemon. Pastels are set to fill the stand at

Spring Fair with a range of beautiful crystal, semi-precious and

long metallic necklaces. The label’s popular leather range has also

been transported into spring with soft neutral shades entwined in

leather. The latest addition to this line is a selection of leather rings,

featuring a combination of soft matt metals and crystals. Belle

& Flo will also be unveiling a spring/summer range of scarves,

adorned with dreamy pastels and embellished with dragonfly,

flower and spot patterns.

NV Bags and Accessories20J30+44 (0)1454 320 650www.nvbags.co.uk

Initial sales of NV Bags and Accessories’ spring 2016 collection

have been very encouraging. Following on from the success of the

label’s patent bags in autumn/winter 2015, new colours and styles

have been added to the collection along with a good selection of

handbags suitable for all summer occasions. The ENVY brand is

renowned for its variety of colour, shapes and materials, and this

season is no exception, whilst still maintaining affordable prices

and quality. The company’s new Woodlands brand is continuing

its success with new floral prints and fresh hues in its core range,

making it ideal for retailers seeking the ‘country’ look.

I-CLIP6U19+49 6322 9548 03www.i-clip.com

I-CLIP is one of the most versatile card wallets on the market, as it

can hold banknotes and receipts – and of course, credit cards – all

at the same time. The label offers an impressive range of colours

and natural leather textures. The whole range is manufactured

in Germany, using genuine calf, deer, ostrich or caiman leather

(from controlled farms). The I-CLIP wallet is a smart functional

accessory to keep cards safe and in pristine conditions, while

maintaining a sophisticated trend-led look day to day.

Tempest Designs19E12-F13+44 (0)1656 842 102www.tempestdesigns.co.uk

Tempest

Designs is

launching

lots of new

jewellery for

2016. As usual,

hundreds of

new lines have

been added

to the label’s

ever-growing

collection,

including

elegant leather

jewellery with

muted tonal

combinations

of different

metallic

platings and

leather. There’s

also a range of hand-crafted stand-out pieces and artisan-style

gift jewellery which would make great additions to up-market

boutiques and gift shops’ stock. The brand is also branching

out from its well-established jewellery background into casual

handbag designs, which are the latest add-ons to Tempest’s

selection of more than 5,000 products.

66 ATTIRE

Timesource20M04+44 (0)1778 343 000www.timesourceltd.com

Timesource is excited

to preview its spring/

summer 2016 Henley

collection of handbags

and watches at Spring

Fair. Contemporary

totes, chic cosmetic

bags, and matching

purses make an elegant

story for that all-

important add-on sale.

Snake trims make a

glamorous appearance

and subtle colour-

blocking continues to be

a strong trend for the Henley brand. The Henley watch line will see

the launch of an all-new collection of spring/summer styles with

matching straps and dials for the new season.

Goodlookers4C62-D63+44 (0)1634 713 900www.goodlookers.co.uk

Goodlookers is excited about the launch of two original product

ranges that are destined to catch the public’s eye this spring;

ScreenSpecs and Changers which both come with full-colour

display boxes. ScreenSpecs are retro-inspired glasses that are

equipped with innovative lenses that filter out around 40 per cent

of the ‘blue light’ that’s emitted from computers, smartphones

and tablets. This can help reduce headaches, eyestrain and other

eye-related problems. Available as reading glasses and with non-

prescription lenses, these trendy specs help to provide people of all

ages with a gentler daily experience in front of the screen. Changers

reading glasses are also a first for the fashion and gift trade, as they

feature photochromic lenses that darken when exposed to sunlight,

and lighten in lower light conditions. Perfect for both reading on

the beach and at bedtime, these convenient ‘retrospecs’ are readers

and sun readers in one!

Also new for spring are more than 40 new additions to the

brand’s successful reading glasses and sun readers collection, many

new sunglasses made with sustainable bamboo, and a host of quirky

new glasses cases.

Talbot Fashions19F21+44 (0)1273 776 415www.talbotfashions.com

Talbot Fashions’ new sterling silver brand Silver Tide will make a

debut at Spring Fair. The range comprises gemstone pendants and

earrings with highly polished silverwork. There are four gems in

the range: amethyst, blue goldstone, moonstone and turquoise. The

stones are individually chosen and hand-finished to a high quality

in 925 silver.

Carrie Elspeth19C20-D21+44 (0)1446 771 271www.carrieelspeth.com

Carrie Elspeth’s new collection for spring 2016 is a celebration of

colour and light. These elegant new ranges blend Carrie’s much-

loved style with sophistication and a delicacy of touch that sets

them apart from the crowd. Carrie offers accessible jewellery

making a bold statement without shouting.

Alongside this exclusive new collection is a vibrant gift range of

hairbands which double as funky bracelets: Carrie’s Colourbands.

All of Carrie’s jewellery continues to be lovingly hand-made

in Wales.

lb hi

68 ATTIRE

Blooming Brollies5B52+44 (0)1423 340 904www.bloomingbrollies.co.uk

Blooming Brollies’ Clifton Umbrellas will be rebranding as

SOAKE for 2016. SOAKE will still offer the same high

quality products and service that the company has offered for

the last eight years, but with the inclusion of lots of new

products and licenses.

The brand has got the latest developments in umbrellas

covered, with its new clear collection of dome and handbag

umbrellas, the new Rachael Taylor mini collection, new Julie

Dodsworth handbag umbrellas and the super-smart new

SOAKE men’s collection. So whatever the weather has to throw

at you, with Blooming Brollies’ umbrellas your customers spirits

won’t be dampened.

The label offers a great retailer support programme, including

FOC POS units, and in most cases next-day delivery on orders

– if orders are placed before 2pm. Blooming Brollies umbrellas

are all available to buy in single units with a guarantee to get you

started off.

Spikes & Sparrow20G28+44 (0)20 7702 0203 www.lovebrands.uk.com

Spikes & Sparrow is a Dutch brand recognised for its women’s,

men’s and business bags. International success stems from the

company’s belief that a bag is not a disposable product, but is more

like a good friend which stands the test of time. A strong following

has been built upon the brand’s design and quality credentials

with customers appreciating how the leather improves with time.

This priority means that only the highest quality leather and

haberdashery are used in Spikes & Sparrow bags, which is evident

in the design: sturdy, functional, wearable and timeless. All Spikes

& Sparrow bags have a highly recognisable vintage look, which sits

well in fashion boutiques and department stores.

The label is distributed by Love Brands, which is a multi-

brand and Drapers award-winning fashion distribution agency

based in Wapping, London. Set up in 2010, and using their

extensive network of European suppliers, Love Brands Ltd offers a

completely new approach to running a fashion business.

Peony20N01+44 (0)1923 218 995www.peonyonline.co.uk

The new spring collection from

Peony is both competitively

priced, offers excellent quality,

and features some delightful

colour stories that merchandise

so well. Cool peppermint,

delicate rose, cornflower, dove

and stone are just some of the

base shades which feature in

the company’s new and

exclusive designs.

Whether bought as a self-

purchase or a gift, these scarves

are easy to wear, in fashion-led hues and featuring inspired

patterns. For a copy of the fresh Peony Spring Catalogue, email

[email protected].

Mighty Purse20G28+44 (0)20 7702 0203www.lovebrands.uk.com

The Mighty Purse fuses

fashion and functionality

through its simple, chic and

savvy Smartphone-charging

accessories range. It can be

used as a clutch purse or

inside your hand bag, and

contains a lightweight battery

that can fully re-charge any

Smart device; you can then

simply recharge via any USB

port. It’s that simple. The

products on offer from the

brand includes wallets, fancy

wristlets, clutches and options

with detachable straps, including seasonal on-trend styles available

in premium leather and vegan leather. Selling from an in-stock

position, Mighty Purse’s award-winning UK distributors Love

Brands Ltd are able to deliver on short orders too.

Pearls of the Orient (Wholesale) LtdTel: 01483 202232 Fax: 01483 203680Email: [email protected]

Website: pearlsoftheorient.co.uk

Visit us at Jewellery & Watch at NECHall 18 Stand F04

ATTIRE 71

SPRING FAIR

Just Trade19C13+44 (0)20 7358 8500www.justtrade.co.uk

Just Trade specialises in

beautifully designed, hand-

made jewellery using silver,

brass, tagua and cotton.

The label’s products are

hand-crafted in fair trade

projects in marginalised

communities, using locally

sourced, ethical materials

where possible.

By combining

traditional craft skills

with expert knowledge of

contemporary jewellery, the

brand’s artisans produce

original, characterful

collections that sell

internationally. Just Trade

will be launching several

new ranges at Spring Fair

in 2016.

Troop London20K06+44 (0)20 8144 0884www.trooplondonuk.com

The Troop brand

was established

in 2004 with one

key aim – to create

lasting travel pieces

from fabrics that

should go on to

become not just a

style statement, but

a cornerstone of

their owners’ lives.

Founded in London, the range was designed to meet the needs

of a multitude of lifestyles, from the urban crusader to the global

traveller. Using natural fabrics such as cotton canvas and Italian

leathers, the brand’s designs feature simple, clean and sophisticated

details. Available in a timeless colour palette of charcoal black,

classic khaki and rustic browns, the bags’ natural washes are

complemented by distressed gunmetal and antique-finish fittings

and hardware, adding to the character of the collection.

Comprising high-quality materials and skilled craftsmanship,

Troop London’s travel accessories are built to last.

One Button20G40+44 (0)116 279 3715www.onebuttonuk.com

One Button’s 2016

jewellery and Hem &

Edge scarf and accessory

collections are jam-packed

with quirky style, striking

shapes and super-soft

textures – all topped off

with lashings of bright

and vintage colour.

The brand’s Ditsy story

contrasts with its bold

Graphics line. Meanwhile,

the Daydreams collection inspires One Button’s wild and carefree

Traveller theme with bounteous blooms.

Clere Vision4C41+44 (0)1635 297 911www.clereconcepts.co.uk

Clere Vision has been creating and distributing good quality,

fashion reading glasses since 2003. With two collections every

year, buyers can be sure that there will be on-trend ranges with the

colours and styles for the coming season on show at Spring Fair.

There are nine ranges in the new collection, so whether it’s

checks, stripes, floral, animal print or abstract designs that retailers

are looking for, it can be found in the Clere Vision spring/summer

2016 range.

The Giraffe style comes in two colours with extra-long arms,

making them particularly good for men. This feature also means

that they are extremely comfortable and secure to wear, with the

added bonus of the wearer being able to wear them around the

neck when not in use.

72 ATTIRE

Bolla Bags20G21+44 (0)1202 820 138www.bollabags.com

Bolla Bags is keeping

things simple for

spring/summer 2016.

Set to showcase the

latest colours and

new styles at Spring

Fair, beige tones

will be prominent

for the label, as well

as the ever-popular

country browns and

tans. Splashes of colour

are ready to hit the

shelves, with turquoise,

pink, purple and red

to brighten up the

usual traditional colour

schemes. The brand’s focus for 2016 is still very much continuing

the theme of ‘affordable luxury’; high quality manufacturing at

affordable trade and retail prices.

Accessories by Park Lane19D15+44 (0)1423 868 362www.parklaneonline.com

Accessories by Park Lane has 150 new lines to showcase at Spring

Fair for the new season, bringing the jewellery label’s offering to

more than 500 styles. Fresh designs feature tones of rose gold and

silver plating, offering a very new perspective of popular sentiment

jewellery. Along with the array of sophisticated new jewellery lines,

the brand is launching brand-new light blue packaging.Alexander Thurlow & Co19C32-D33+44 (0)20 8766 6466www.alexanderthurlow.com

Alexander Thurlow will be showing its new spring/summer 2016

range at Spring Fair this year. Strong themes this season are lots

of bright colours and floral shapes and designs. The company has

developed a strong reputation for quality and style, and invites

retailers to check out their exciting new season range either online

or at forthcoming trade shows.

Little Shop Of5C57+44 (0)20 8699 3231www.littleshopof.co.uk

The Little Shop Of opened in April 2009 to sell The Little Book

of Earrings. The book came about after Jackie McLaren had

searched for years for a neat way to store and organise her earrings.

The company was after something that would hold the earrings

securely but could also be kept in a drawer for safekeeping or, when

travelling, could be carried in a suitcase.

The company also offers the Little, Little Book of Earrings; The

Little Book of Necklaces; and is now introducing The Little Book

of Rings to its offering.

w

Acce

Fair fo

mo

ander Thurlow & CoD33

8766 6466nderthurlow.com

low will be sh

air th

www.malaleather.com Tel: 01827 67401 Fax: 01827 67046

2 Bridgeside Trading Estate, Kettlebrook Road, Tamworth, B77 1AG

ATTIRE 75

SPRING FAIR

Pranella19D18-E19+44 (0)191 213 2552www.pranella.com

Pranella has created two distinct collections for spring/summer

2016. The Miami collection is inspired by the fast pace and

electric buzz of the west-coast life. All of the label’s jewellery is

hand-made in the UK using natural and semi-precious stones

which are individually chosen by our design team. Each piece

of Pranella jewellery is original and bursting with character and

colour. Meanwhile, the Wild Winds collection is inspired by the

rugged and natural life of the Native Americans, focusing on

neutral colour palettes, incorporating wood, shell turquoise and

leather into the range. The muted tonal range is in direct contrast

to the Miami range’s bright hues, giving customers a wide choice of

colour and styling.

Hansson20K02+44 (0)7900 267 200www.hansson.dk

Hansson will be exhibiting at Spring Fair again in 2016,

showcasing all of the sumptuous Hansson collections in fine

leathers, including many new ranges for the spring/summer 2016,

as well as the timeless quality collections that its customers favour.

One new line for spring/summer is the Nordic Blue collection of

ladies’ handbags and accessories. After an excellent autumn season,

the canvas range from Underwood & Tanner looks even stronger

for the spring. For more information, email [email protected].

Bewitched Accessories20M01+44 (0)7770 861 135www.bewitched-accessories.co.uk

Bewitched will be showing its exciting new range of accessories

at Spring Fair, with highlights set to include a fabulous new

Moroccan style print with a pretty new shopper style bag. The

brand’s weekenders have been very popular, so for spring, wheels

have been added to make the luggage even more desirable.

The label’s also introduced some striking new plain scarves to

complement print dresses and outfits. Bewitched also has a

selection of bag styles in a variety of pretty summer colours.

Faye UK20K41+44 (0)20 8813 8545www.lekolondon.com

Faye UK is one of the leading

handbag suppliers in the

UK and Ireland. Specialising

in clutches, handbags and

foldaway ethical totes, the

label also supplies a range

called Eco Chic: lightweight,

waterproof bags in eye-

catching fabrics. Other lines

include the Tapestry bag

collection and a two-

dimensional look range of

novelty totes.

76 ATTIRE

Shrieking Violet19D04+44 (0)20 8521 9151www.flowerjewellery.com

Shrieking Violet designs an original range of silver jewellery hand-made with real flowers. Some of their most popular collections include rose, poppy, forget-me-not, purple haze and mixed flowers. New designs include cat pendants, silver bead bracelets with flower charms, funky colourful bracelets, anklets and chokers. Shrieking Violet jewellery is a thoughtful gift and affordable impulse purchase. Free display, point of sale and gift packaging.

Boing19D24+44 (0)1628 789 999www.boing-inc.com

In 2015 Boing had an amazing turn around in the gift market with

its vibrant tactile climbing rope bracelet range. With the launch

of the brand’s new website and designs in November last year, it’s

been projected into a whole new arena of gifts and jewellery, with a

contemporary high-end look and feel. Boing’s new range in leather

with clasps made using solid silver, rose-gold plate and ruthenium

offers an image that customers aspire to.

Shruti Designs/Junction 187D04-E03+44 (0)1985 847 774www.shrutidesigns.co.uk

Shruti Designs is starting 2016 with a great selection of products

from its stable of wonderful British designers; including a lovely

vintage rose pattern from Susie Faulks and a host of highly

commercial patterns which feature on a wide range of products

from Lisa Buckridge, while Casey Rogers fans will be very happy

to see a range of fun and quirky characters and themes. Look

out too for the updated Coastal collection, a must for any

seaside town retailer. Meanwhile the company’s new, expanded

Garden range will be a big hit, judging by the high level of

pre-orders. Shruti Designs hasn’t forgotten the home either, with

plenty of new ceramics and of course, bed throws. The massively

popular Mary range of oilcloth is being launched in a new range of

shades for spring.

Vizati18H05+44 (0)1323 485 605www.vizati.com

For spring 2016, Vizati will be offering a huge amount of new and

very different dichroic glass jewellery, all of which is made by them

in the UK. There will be everything from numerous new pendants

and earrings to adjustable rings, bracelets, bangles, cufflinks,

brooches and more. Attractive packaging and wonderful prices

combine with superb colour and texture to give serious eye catching

appeal to any shop window.

N.V. BAGS & ACCESSORIES LTDT: 01454 320 650 E: [email protected]

See us at Spring Fair, Hall 20 Stand J30

SPRING FAIR

19C18

TOPDRAWER

405

Simply gorgeous jewellery and scarvesTelephone: 01905 622509 • Online: missmilly.co.uk

SEE US AT Top Drawer Spring, Scotland's Trade Fair Spring and Spring Fair

Order at www.fairtradewholesale.co.uk Call us on 01620 824 392 Email [email protected]

L O V E I T !Our expandable bags are the perfect companion for

everyday shopping and last minute getaways.

co-ordinating purse sized carrier.

Visit Eco Chic at Sping Fair to discover our SS16 collections. Hall 20 Stand No: E40T: 0208 813 8545 | W: www.fayeuk.com | E: [email protected]

ATTIRE 79

PURE LONDON

ATTIRE 79

JEWELLERY & WATCH

Edblad, www.edblad.com

Chain reactionWith a new vision and branding for 2016, Jewellery & Watch will offer an

eclectic showcase of the industry’s finest

80 ATTIRE

In briefShow: Jewellery & Watch

Venue: Hall, NEC, Birmingham


Website: www.jewelleryandwatchbirmingham.com

Twitter: @JewelleryWatchB

Shine on

Jewellery & Watch sees phenomenal

international customer growth for 2016,

increasing by 17 per cent year on year.

There’s been a significant surpass in last

year’s numbers and Jewellery & Watch

are extremely excited to bring new brands

to the show. This includes over 16 new

Italian brands, the majority of whom are

fine jewellery.

Organised by i2i Events Group, Jewellery

& Watch is established as a sourcing

ground for the latest in international

jewellery and watch collections, and this

season will be championing brand new and

innovative design across all of its sections.

The February edition will offer previews

of new collections from over 400 brands,

many of which have chosen to launch their

spring/summer 2016 and autumn/winter

2016/17 collections exclusively at the show.

Daniel Vior SL is heading to Jewellery

& Watch for the first time with its detailed

and discreet designs, all of which are crafted

in the Eixample district of Barcelona.

Daniel Vior’s 25 years of experience as

designer and craftsman is reflected in the

technicality of the jewels, making each

gemstone one of a kind.

Fellow Spanish brand Isabel Moore will

exhibit meticulously hand-crafted pieces

from quality materials such as stainless steel

for hard-wearing and long-lasting jewellery.

Adding to the line-up will be British

companies, Anakao and Alex Monroe.

Anakao prides itself in producing timelessly

luxurious and fearless jewellery. Alex

Monroe will also exhibit its Language

of Flowers collection, inspired by the

Victorian era.

Other British brands to the show include

Cornerstone Creations, Stelios Karantonas,

Kattri, H.Azeem, Manja Jewellery and fine

jewellery brand PJ Watson.

With a distinctive take on contemporary

jewellery, Italian brand Ferrara Gife Gioielli

will showcase its collection of delicately

crafted pieces, embellished with woodland

flowers and birds amongst natural pearls.

Also bringing Italian design to the show is

Rebecca Jewellery. Using Swarovski crystals

and elegant pearls, the label will showcase a

wide range of sparkling designs.

Pilgrim, The Jewellery Store, Kat B

London, Cornerstone Creation, Badger

& Baird, Barbara Yarde Jewellery and

Rhiannon Lewis Jewellery are just a few

names to exhibit for the very first time

in February.

The Watch section is set to be equally

exciting, showcasing the latest classic and

contemporary watch and clock designs

from a host of British and international

brands. Colomer & Sons will also make its

debut at the show. Creating watches, drawn

upon traditional inspirations and timeless

designs, the brand manufacture the pieces

to create modern and elegant watches made

from quality fabrics at valuable prices.

To further promote the abundance of

new collections and names at the show,

Jewellery & Watch 2016 has rebranded.

The new branding focuses on The Art

of Jewellery; with close-up imagery

highlighting the texture, detail, intricacy

and artistry of the designs. Inspiration

behind the rebrand comes from a current

swing in the industry towards fashion-led

jewellery trends, which have started to

make an appearance in fine and precious

jewellery designs.

The biggest change is the faceted search,

introducing further sophisticated and real

time functionality on the website. The new

Top 100 Most Viewed Products on the

website will allow the exhibitors to tag their

products shown, making it easier for buyers

to search for specific products using a

number of key criteria such as product type,

material, stone, occasion and even price

point. This new search system will provide a

shop window for the exhibitors.

The host of new brands at the show will

join an impressive line-up of returning

names, including jewellery brands and

designers Clogau, Domino, Hockley Mint,

Corona, Mark Milton, Fei Liu, Endless,

Gecko, Uno de 50, Dower & Hall, Hot

Diamonds, Lucy Q, Alex Monroe, Reeves

& Reeves and watch brands Royal London,

Storm, BERING, Lotus, and Oxygen.

For more information and to register

for the show, visit the website

www.jewelleryandwatchbirmingham.com

Jewellery & Watch rebrands with a focus on the artistry of the industry

A

ATTIRE 83

JEWELLERY & WATCH

Lily Charmed18DQ62+44 (0)1753 424 160www.lilycharmed.com

Lily Charmed will be showcasing its range of original sterling

silver and gold plated charm necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

The collection varies in style from the traditional to the quirky and

the labels’ designs make ideal gifts for any occasion. The label is

also excited to be showcasing its new range of packaging and

message cards. The company is keen to work with retailers on

individual designs and message card packaging to create even

more differentiation.

Pearls of the Orient18F04+44 (0)1483 202 232www.pearlsoftheorient.co.uk

Pearls of the Orient is looking

forward to bringing colour to

Jewellery & Watch Birmingham

with its spring/summer

collections. Its of-the-moment

range of semi-precious stones

set in gold vermeil with cultured

pearls provide the perfect selection

of tonal options for any retailer’s

pearl range. The label’s stunning

pearl bracelet with amethyst drop

is a lovely pop of colour to have in-store as we enter the spring/

summer months. With brighter, warmer days to come, Pearl of the

Orient’s ever-popular charm collection is the ideal go-to accessory

for gift ideas, with the best-selling starfish bracelet ticking all the

right consumer boxes. The brand offers affordable prices and no

minimum order.

Sea Gems18K04-L05+44 (0)1736 335 840 www.seagems.co.uk

Sea Gems will

be offering

buyers and

retailers

exciting new

launches

of stylish,

UK-designed

jewellery and gift collections at Jewellery & Watch. The Pure

Origins silver jewellery brand is contemporary in design, with

easy, wearable pieces that are fun and personal, with whimsical,

romantic and nature-inspired design stories. Many new additions

to the ever-popular Celtic Lands silver range see intricate, ancient

motifs set with gemstones or highlighted accents of gold vermeil.

The vibrant fine enamel jewellery ranges Mackintosh, Celtic, floral

and wildlife designs complete this diverse heritage collection &

has received phenomenal growth.

Cavendish French18F10-G11+44 (0)800 731 4389www.cavendishfrench.com

Cavendish French

is an independent

contemporary

jewellery label

with stunning

collections of

sterling silver and

stone set pieces.

The brand works

with designers and

workshops across

the world to create

original designs.

Cavendish French support you with branded in-store displays to

help maximise your sales. The label’s 2016 collection includes bold

statement pieces and finer simple everyday jewellery in plain silver.

In the Celestial collection, there are new micro-pavé-set cubic

zirconia pieces with the quality and look of fine diamond jewellery.

84 ATTIRE

Banyan Jewellery18G48-H49+44 (0)845 338 1752www.banyanjewellery.co.uk

Banyan is thrilled

to be bringing

its innovative

new ranges to

Jewellery & Watch

Birmingham. The

fair is Banyan’s first

in the exhibition

diary for 2016

and the label is

confident that it can

build on the hugely

successful 2015

ranges to ensure

that 2016 will be its

best year yet, both commercially and in terms of design. Unveiling

expansive new collections, Banyan continues with its winning

formula of original, hand-made design at the most competitive

price point.

Hazel Atkinson18DQ38+44 (0)115 941 1110www.hazelatkinsonjewellery.co.uk

Hazel’s new range Spectrum is a bold statement of contrasting

purple, orange, and blue hues and sunshine yellow, exploding in

a sensational stripy pattern,

offering eye catching and

tantalizing jewellery for all

ages. Hazel’s striking hand-

crafted anodized aluminium

designs have proved to be

best-sellers for years, and

their popularity continues on

into 2016. Retailers would

be sure to stand out from

the crowd with a display of

Hazel’s creations. Each one-

of-a-kind piece is designed,

painted, manufactured and

finished in the designer’s

Nottingham studios.

Alex Monroe18DQ56+44 (0)20 7378 6061 www.alexmonroe.com

For spring/summer 2016, jewellery designer Alex Monroe is

taking us on a tropical adventure with a concept collection.

The designs reflect a botanist’s journey hunting for new

species in a rainforest landscape, rich in flora and fauna,

carefully examining exotic bird and pineapple specimens using a

magnifying glass or loupe. This fun range is full of eye-catching,

conversation-starting pieces.

Delicate leaf and flower rings can be stacked to create the

wearer’s own tropical imagining, while glamorous palm leaf

earrings are made for balmy earrings, and varying chain lengths

are ideal for layering quirky necklaces.

The Plant Hunter’s Paradise collection is available in silver,

yellow gold vermeil and mixed metals.

Essemgé18C38+44 (0)7810 513 338www.essemge.com

Essemgé is an exciting

young jewellery brand

set up by Sophie

Martin-Glinel. The

designer-maker

offers innovative

contemporary mixed-

media jewellery which

is heavily influenced

by London’s urban environment. The designs are bold and edgy,

with a fresh take on traditional, classic jewellery shapes. Using

and repurposing industrial materials such as aluminium and

silicone, and mixing them with silver, Sophie creates eye-catching

covetable pieces. Playing on colours, textures and volumes yet

keeping the designs simple and versatile makes Essemgé jewellery

attractive choices for both women and men who choose style over

fleeting fashion trends.

Haze l A tk inson Jewel ler y

Handmade In The UKtel 0115 9411110www.hazelatkinsonjewellery.co.uk

SHOWING AT

Scotland Trade ShowStand J62

Spring FairJewellery & Watch

Stand 18DQ38

See our full range of designs at Jewellery & Watch 2016

www.lilycharmed.com | [email protected] | +44 (0)1753 424160

Stand DQ62

ATTIRE 87

JEWELLERY & WATCH

Dganit Hen Jewelry Design18D33+44 (0)7662 930 988www.dganit-design.com

Every piece of Dganit Hen

jewellery is hand-made.

Combining silver, gold and

precious stones within the

collection, the range reflects

a painterly approach. The

silver pieces undergo a

special processing to create

a raw and natural look. The

precious stones – which are

sourced from locations all

over the world – make up a

rainbow spectrum of shades,

while the designer’s use of

gold touches resemble the easy stroke of a paintbrush. The jewellery

is produced with great precision to give each design a distinctive,

one-off finishing touch.

Midhaven18F02+44 (0)1299 851 524www.midhaven.co.uk

Tribal Steel by Midhaven

Ltd is a well known and fast-

selling range of more than

200 leather and stainless

steel bracelets that appeal

to men, women, and teens.

It features many unisex styles and is available in an array of more

than 30 colours and in nine sizes. The collection’s emphasis is on

soft, quality leather in great designs with clean lines in this season’s

colours. Whether your customers are looking for simple masculine

styles, feminine wrap-around designs or best-seller pieces to

personalise, you’ll find it in this extensive range.

Midhaven offers great customer service and an exhaustive

selection of jewellery with attractive suggested retail prices ranging

from £8 to £50. Volume enquiries also welcome. Retailers can

choose individual styles from the brochures or order a selection

online based on their preferences. They can spend £200 or more to

get a free point of sale, as well as branded hessian pouches.Gecko Jewellery18K30-L31+44 (0)1376 532 000www.geckojewellery.com

Leading jewellery supplier

Gecko is delighted to be

showcasing a record number

of collections at this year’s

Jewellery & Watch, with

a total of eight of-the-

moment collections to be

launched. The award-winning

company provides wonderful

ranges for men, women and

children, from best-selling

brands Fiorelli Jewellery,

Fred Bennett, D for diamond as well as its in-house collections

from Elements and Beginnings. This year will see Gecko focus

attention on the bridal market, with Elements and Fiorelli Silver

collections that demonstrate elegance and radiate a delicate,

feminine appearance, ideal for brides and their bridesmaids. Once

again the best-selling children’s jewellery brand, D for Diamond,

offers adorable pieces perfect for gifting, including brand-new

silver keepsakes, each set with a sparkling diamond.

Reeves & Reeves18A13+44 (0)1460 221 630www.reevesandreeves.com

Known for creating inspirational and

charming designs that are contemporary

in style with an effortless fashion edge,

Reeves & Reeves will launch its new

Finesse range at Jewellery & Watch. With

elegant fine lines and attention to detail,

the design team anticipate it becoming

a key best-seller for the new season. For

spring/summer 2016, it will present sterling

silver jewellery collections, with touches of 18ct gold vermeil

in both yellow and rose gold throughout, maintaining the high

quality standards of previous seasons. The competitively priced

collections are timeless enough to appeal to a wide audience,

while demonstrating a distinctive quirkiness. Reeves & Reeves

can also work with retailers and stores on own branding, to

ensure a point of difference.

Midhaven18F02+44 (0)1299 851 www.midhaven.

Tribal Steel by Mid

Ltd is a well known

selling range of mo

200 leather and sta

steel bracelets that

to men, women, an

It features many un

than 30 colours and

soft, quality leather

s & Reeves3)1460 221 630reevesandreeves.com

n for creating inspirational and

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t fine lines and attention to detail,

ign team anticipate it becoming

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/summer 2016, it will present sterling

88 ATTIRE

Rodney Holman18H02+44 (0)1285 656 132www.rodneyholman.co.uk

Established over

35 years ago,

Rodney Holman

has become one

of the leading

distributors

of highest

quality fashion

jewellery. With

an emphasis on

fantastic designs

– many exclusive

to the brand

– combined

with unrivalled

customer care, the company offers an extensive and ever-evolving

range of pieces to suit all tastes. Jewellery & Watch visitors

will see the cute new Pug brooches – designed, developed and

distributed exclusively by Rodney Holman.

Edblad 18C14+44 (0)7786 659 398www.edblad.com

Swedish label Edblad is aimed

at women who take an interest

in design and aesthetics and

dress accordingly. It offers

collections for the modern woman: to her, luxury is synonymous

with authenticity and she aims for quality in her garments and

accessories so that they become sustainable investments. Edblad’s

jewellery is a balance between style and easy-wear effortlessness.

Pieces are high quality and exude a soft elegance that reflects

the wearer’s active life and strong personal style. With the new

jewellery line Charmentity (charm + identity), wearers can create

their own one-of-a-kind piece of personal significance. To ensure

that customers have as much choice as possible when making their

individual design, all letters of the alphabet are available, as well as

various symbols of hope, love and happiness.

Lido Pearls18E14-F15+44 (0)1245 360 949www.lido-collection.co.uk

Lido Pearls will be launching

an exciting new range of

striking statement necklaces

with elegant matching

earrings at Jewellery & Watch.

The collection will be available

in rhodium as well as rose

gold-plated sterling silver.

The well-established brand

offers classic sterling silver

pearl and gemstone jewellery

suitable for both special

occasions such as weddings, as

well as more subtle everyday

wear. Reflecting Lido Pearls’

reputation for elegance at

affordable prices, wholesale prices for the latest line start at £20.Prism Design18DQ13+44 (0)1225 864 505www.prism-design.co.uk

Taking inspiration from classic cloth patterns and stitching found

in quality men’s attire, Prism Design has added a selection of black

laser-engraved fine details to its range of men’s wedding rings.

Titanium has grown in popularity as a wedding ring option, due

to its superior tensile strength, light weight and lustrous silver grey

shade. “For a man’s choice of wedding ring, designs need to be

subtle and thoughtful,” says designer Mike Nelson, adding, “We’ve

tried to convey a feeling of timeless quality to the detailing on our

latest designs.”

Retail prices for this collection start at £150. Contact Prism

Design for more information via email at [email protected].

Tel: 01489 795555Email: [email protected]

You’ll SPRING FAIRHall 18

ATTIRE 91

PROFILE

Nordic starEdblad founder and designer Catherine Edblad discusses the Swedish label’s distinctive take on Scandinavian style, the popularity of its jewellery line and charitable initiatives

Tell me a bit about how the Edblad label

was started.

My husband, Hans Edblad, ran an interior

design company back in the mid ’90s.

When we started working together, which

was around the same time that we got

together as a couple, we called the company

Edblad & CO. His surname was Edblad

and my initials were CO. When we got

married we changed it to just Edblad.

What was the aim of the label when it was

first established?

We wanted to create a brand that reflects

our lifestyle. We spend time between our

house on a small island as well as at our

office in town. We aspire towards products

that work in both environments; durable

quality creations with clean lines and an

artistic feel.

How were the initial products developed,

and what was the response?

Our first products came from Hans’

previous company. However, the company

really began to grow when we launched our

first jewellery collection at a trade show in

Stockholm. We attracted approximately 80

new customers, but at the time didn’t have

the capacity to deliver to everyone who

wanted to buy!

What challenges were overcome when the

company was starting out?

In the beginning it was very difficult

financially. Our wish all along has been to

grow organically with our own capital

and we have reinvested everything into

the company. To have your own company

means constant challenges.

What sets you apart from your

competitors in the lifestyle industry?

We have a distinctive Scandinavian design

which is high quality and fairly priced.

Our company’s ethos is also to be good to

everyone we work or deal with in every way,

from our employees and customers through

to our charitable initiatives.

How important is the location and history

of the company to its success?

It’s very important. We have grown from

having a small factory on the island

92 ATTIRE

where we live and a shop in a boathouse

– where I initially worked by myself

every weekend – to having a growing

presence internationally. Edblad’s first

customers have since become our strongest

ambassadors. We’ve grown little by little

and a loyal customer base has matured

and strengthened with our expansion. Our

reputation has taken us from our little local

boathouse to today, and we now have more

than 700 stockists, as well as 10 stores of

our own.

How has the product offering changed

over the years and how would you describe

your current collection?

We offer a much larger selection today

which includes jewellery, home lifestyle

accessories and our latest fashion offering.

We started designing clothes a few years

ago, which is very exciting. Jewellery is still

the most popular and broadest range of

all the collections we offer. To do what we

love the most means that the lines we offer

develop with us.

How often do you launch new lines?

We launch four jewellery collections

per year and two fashion and interior

collections. Our spring and autumn

jewellery lines normally offer the greatest

variety, but as Christmas is the biggest

selling time of the year, the Christmas

range tends to offer almost as many pieces.

What are the current best-selling designs?

Tell me about your recent campaigns.

We always sell a lot of our Monaco series,

which we’ve also just launched in yellow

gold. The Thassos mini range is another

autumn best-seller. We always tend to want

to sparkle a bit more when it gets dark

outside and the Thassos mini offers that

extra sparkle. At the moment I’m proudest

of my personal favourite, the Ryder bangle.

It’s a good ambassador for our Architect

collection, which we launched in autumn

last year.

Which trade shows do you attend and

which one works best for you?

We attend shows in the UK, Sweden and

Denmark. The Formex show in Stockholm

is very good for us as well as IJL in London

and The Jewellery & Watch at Spring Fair

in Birmingham.

When was the website launched and how

does it support the business?

We’ve had a website since the company’s

launch. Today, many shoppers move

between the website and the shop, visiting

the website before buying in-store. They use

the website as an updated catalogue.

What have been the key milestones for

you since starting the business?

The first big milestone was to employ

a sales representative in Sweden. In the

beginning, we only sold at two trade shows

a year. Between shows, the customers had

to contact us themselves if they wanted to

ATTIRE 95

PROFILE

buy. To this day, I can hardly believe that

it worked.

Starting our first shop was another

important step, as it gave us a greater

understanding of what our stockists need,

as we found ourselves in the same position.

The next milestone in our expansion

came three years ago when we built a larger

warehouse, production unit, outlet shop,

restaurant and head office a few miles north

of Stockholm.

At around the same time we made the

decision to start selling internationally and

we started to work with distributors and

agents in Finland and the UK. In the UK

and Ireland, we’re now stocked in more

than 200 shops and departments stores.

How do you view the current market

and what trends, both in product and in

business, do you see emerging over the

coming months?

Never underestimate the customer.

They know what they want and are very

critical of the products on offer. Great

designs, durability and the right values are

important parameters. More shoppers buy

with these principles in mind and want

products they can keep and use for a long

time. The throwaway culture of recent years

is going out of fashion.

To wear thin, graceful jewellery is now

an emerging trend, and often in layers,

with several necklaces, bracelets and rings

being worn at the same time. More is more

in the number of pieces worn but not in

actual bulkiness, you could say. Yellow gold

is coming back again now after several

seasons of silver and rose gold dominating

jewellery trends.

What are your future plans for the brand?

We want to become better at everything

we do! Continuous improvement is the

Edblad catchphrase. We’ve won several

prizes for our entrepreneurship and growth.

We’d love to be even more recognised for

our indispensable designs and innovative

products. Being renowned as the best

company in the world to work for and

satisfied customers are also always our

priorities. Can we do even more good with

our charity work on top of all that? If we

could that will give us great fulfilment.

We’re very happy with our international

growth. The British and Irish consumers

like our designs and we look forward

to launching our spring/summer 2016

collection at Spring Fair with the help of

our UK distributors, Nordic Agencies.

Contact

Edblad

+44 (0)7786 659 398

www.edblad.com

A

ATTIRE 97

TRAVEL ACCESSORIES

Bagabook+44 (0)7821 895 381

www.bagabook.com

Ideal for short and long haul

journey’s, Bagabook’s concept

affords the travelling reader the

flexibility to carry a variety of

size and thickness of books,

with an attached bookmark,

magnetic clasp for easy

closure and a discreet back

pocket for small personal

belongings, keeping all

the necessities close at

hand – including space for

passport and boarding pass

or train ticket – so that the

reader is ready to go at a

moment’s notice.

Bagabook comes in

conservative designs such as

the classic black Retro model,

or the detailed cotton satin

World Map style. For the more flamboyant dresser, the Candy Stripe

or Bouquet prints add a touch of flare to commuter life.

O My Bag+44 (0)7510 968 857

www.omybag.nl

Made from sturdy faded

green canvas paired with O

My Bag’s signature eco-

leather straps and trim in

camel, the brand’s Andie’s

Getaway tote is the perfect travel accessory. The size of the bag can

be adjusted with a simple clip mechanism, so that it can be used as

an overnight bag or for a weekend away. The exterior zipper pocket

provides quick and easy access to your passport, wallet or tickets, ideal

when you’re on the go, as well as an interior storage pocket, allowing

you to keep items to be separated within the bag. It also comes with

durable leather handles, a crossbody strap and warm brass hardware.

Another style that’s fit for an adventure is the top selling Weekender,

a roomy bag that’s the perfect size to fit all your day-to-day

essentials. This style is available in burgundy and black canvas and

comes with eco-leather handles, a crossbody strap and warm brass

hardware. Within the bag there are two compartments, one for a

laptop (fits a 13” or 15” Mac) plus a zipped pocket. On the outside, a

zipper allows easy access into the back compartment of the bag.

Meanwhile, the ladylike Fly Violet is a sophisticated, multi-functional

satchel that is roomy enough to accommodate everything needed

for a weekend away. It comes with a crossbody strap, short handles

and a handy luggage tag. The super-soft midnight blue edition is an

elegant yet practical travel companion. Finally, where would a seasoned

globetrotter be without a good passport wallet? The minimal design

and O My Bag’s sturdy signature eco-leather makes it a great choice

for the true adventurer. Available in camel and black, it has six card

slots – perfect for carrying a few cards, boarding passes as well as that

all-important passport.

Success baggageWe take a look at the best luggage and travel accessories on the market

Pranella+44 (0)7710 943 115

www.pranella.com

Pretty and practical, Pranella’s new range

will take travellers from beach to bar with

ease. The vibrant collection covers all aspects

of luxury holiday dressing, from 100 per

cent cotton maxi kaftans to fully embroidered mini beach-to-bar dresses.

The collection is buy-in-season, with forward orders being taken online

now. The beachwear range also includes beach baskets and hand-made

bags adorned with globally-sourced jewels and pompoms.

avel accessory. The size of the bag can

p mechanism, so that it can be used as

the best luggage ries on the market

98 ATTIRE

Gillis London+44 (0)7973 115 826

www.gillislondon.com

New to the UK travel

market, Gillis London

offers original bag and

luggage styles made

from high quality

leathers, waxed canvas

and dual-coloured

denim developed exclusively by

the company. As well as offering

exquisite designs unlike any

others in the sector, the brand

puts an emphasis on the

importance of great customer

service and reliability.

The Wellington Overnight

doctor bag style is spacious, with

a big main compartment with a

padded insert for a laptop, open

pockets for miscellaneous storage,

large zipped back and front pockets, strong wide YKK zippers, grab

handles and an adjustable shoulder strap with movable pad. Metal

studs at the base to prevent degradation of leather and padding.

The distinguished piece is made from thick leather and bolstered by

strong metal fittings.

Meanwhile, the Marlborough large rucksack is made from Gillis

London’s exclusive waterproof waxed canvas. This backpack is an

over-packer’s dream, with room to allow extra packaging capacity

in the main compartment, two large outside zipped front pockets,

zipped rounded opening to allow for maximum access to the interior,

padded wide shoulder straps and comfortable wide reverse side that

rests easily on the shoulders and back. Metal studs at the base to

prevent degradation of leather and padding. It’s bolstered by strong

metal fittings and thick leather trim.

A key highlight of the collection for photographers – whether

professional or simply holiday snappers with great equipment – the

Trafalgar Travel mini camera bag is a multi-functional case with

removable tray inside, ideal for protecting expensive, fragile gadgets

while in transit. Cameras and lenses fit comfortably in various

pockets separated by flexible dividers. The tray can be removed with

the cameras and lenses still stored in it. Spacious and utilitarian, the

bag can also be used for other purposes like a standard travel bag – it

has a large pocket with flap in the front suitable for an iPad and

tablets. It also has a zipped pocket at the back.

Vaude+44 (0)131 554 5555

www.vaude.com

A family-run business with a passion

for the outdoors, Vaude understands the

importance of the journey, whether you are

striving to reach the summit or practising

your skills on the mountain slopes. The

brand has been pioneering the technical

design of outdoor clothing, accessories and

bags since 1974 and continues to search for new advances that will

ensure its products provide the best results in all weather conditions.

Vaude’s collection of luggage and bags is the ideal blend of style and

practicality, offering a fantastic choice of accessories that have been

especially designed for the rigours of the natural environment. The

company has created luggage, bags and suitcases of all sizes to suit

any type of journey and provide travellers with easy and convenient

places to store all of their essentials when away from home. Brand

Agility is Vaude’s supplier in the UK.

Mighty Purse+44 (0)20 7702 0203


The Mighty Purse fuses fashion and functionality through its simple,

chic and savvy Smartphone-charging accessories range. It can be used

as a clutch purse or inside your handbag, and contains a lightweight

battery that can fully re-charge any Smart device; you can then

simply recharge via any USB port, it’s that simple. The products on

offer from the brand includes wallets, fancy wristlets, clutches and

options with detachable straps, including seasonal on-trend styles

available in premium leather and vegan leather. Selling from an in-

stock position, Mighty Purse’s award-winning UK distributors Love

Brands Ltd are able to deliver on short orders too.

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Michael’s Bridal Fabrics are now able to offer the Spring/Summer 2015 range of Ramon Santaeularia’s buttons and accessories. Their wide range includes mother-of-pearl buttons, Swarovski buttons and accessories, as well as many

other natural materials.

2015 Show Dates:Premiere Vision - Accessories 16th - 18th February

Textile Forum 9th - 10th March

01322 380 480 [email protected] www.michaelsbridalfabrics.co.uk

ATTIRE 101

PURE LONDON

ATTIRE 101

MODA

Gaby’s, www.gabyjewellery.com

NEC timeThis February, Moda will continue to build on its reputation as an essential buying destination

102 ATTIRE

Birmingham-based trade show Moda is to

launch a new format for 2016, including a

new layout and the launch of a number of

new product zones. Changes being brought

in from February onwards include the

relocation of Moda Footwear within the

NEC, and the introduction of Boutique, a

dedicated platform for directional women’s

footwear brands.

Already confirmed within the new

Boutique area are Lisa Kay, Hoegl, Alpe,

Ruby Shoo, Lemon Jelly and Peter Kaiser.

The fresh developments within the show

coincide with its strengthened line-up,

which will see a second showing from

debutantes from the August edition.

Having exhibited for the first time ‒ or

made a welcome return after an absence

‒ in spring, Sebago, Cat, Hush Puppies,

Cloud Footwear, Jessica Wright Footwear,

Orca Bay and S.Oliver will all return to

Moda Footwear with new collections for

the autumn season.

Staple brands making a welcome return

meanwhile include Rieker, Dr. Martens,

Bugatti, Aigle, Peter Kaiser, Chatham

and Legero, all of whom will build upon

their positions as flagship exhibitors at

Moda Footwear.

“The brand line-up at Moda Footwear

continues to diversify season after season,”

says Event Director, Sean O’Connor.

“We’re delighted to see that so many of the

brands who showed with us for the first

time in summer will return for autumn,

demonstrating the distinct but equally

strong identity of the two seasons.”

Mini Moda will also build upon its

position as the national footwear show for

the children’s sector with a strengthened

line-up of kids’ collections. Italian brand

Lelli Kelly makes a welcome return to

the event for autumn, alongside returning

favourites Xti Kids, Froddo, Ricosta, Bo-

Bell and Bobux.

This February will also see the return of

an annual event: the Footwear Industry

Awards. Now in its fifth year, the ceremony

will take place at the nearby National

Conference Centre – formerly the

Motorcycle Museum – on 21st February,

and will recognise the achievements of

both brands and retailers within the sector.

Moda Footwear will show its support

for the event with its sponsorship of the

Ladies’ Footwear Brand of the Year award,

an accolade scooped by Gabor last year,

with a Highly Commended recognition

going to Rieker.

“Moda Footwear is happy to support the

Footwear Industry Awards once again,”

continues Sean O’Connor. “Having the

national awards ceremony at the national

trade footwear show is a perfect fit, and we

look forward to seeing the industry getting

the recognition it deserves”.

Within Moda Accessories meanwhile,

the revised layout will include new

adjacencies with womenswear for increased

efficiency of cross-sector buying. On-trend

collections will be showcased alongside

in-season womenswear collections, while

contemporary designs will be adjacent to

complementary collections in directional

womenswear area Moda White. Millinery

will relocate to a new position alongside

Moda Noir, maximising

the potential of the

buying synergy between

popular occasionwear

brands and the industry’s

leading hat labels.

“As well as benefitting

from being part of a

larger event, each of

the Moda shows also

has its own individual

requirements, something

which as organisers we

review every season,” says Nick Cook,

Portfolio Director of show organiser ITE

Moda. “The changes we’re making for

next year allow us to take full account of

the requirements of each of the industries

we represent, and introduce new features

which exhibitors and buyers have been

asking us for.

Demand from exhibitors wanting to

show both men’s and women’s collections

on the same stand has been growing for

several seasons, something which Moda

can now take account of with a new border

between Moda Gent and Moda Woman.

This new area allows us both to address

demand from existing exhibitors and bring

in new names who want to showcase the

full range in one location. It’ll also make

the show easier to navigate for stores

stocking both womenswear and menswear,

and highlight how much great product we

have at the show.”

Visitors to Moda will also have the

opportunity to experience the newly-

opened Resorts World complex this

February. Located on-site at the NEC, the

eagerly-awaited Resorts World concept

houses shops, bars, restaurants, a spa hotel

and a casino for a new dimension in on-

site entertainment features throughout the

three days of the show.

For more information and to register for

Moda, visit www.moda-uk.co.uk A

ALL CHANGEWith a fresh layout and new product zones, Moda’s developments are set to enhance buying efficiency

In briefShow: Moda

Venue: NEC, Birmingham

Dates: 21st - 23rd February, 2016

Website: www.moda-uk.co.uk

Twitter: @ModaExhibitions

ATTIRE 105

MODA

Tempest DesignsY59

+44 (0)1656 842 102

www.tempestdesigns.co.uk

Tempest Designs is launching

lots of new jewellery for 2016.

As usual, hundreds of new lines

have been added to the label’s

ever-growing collection, including

elegant leather jewellery with muted

tonal combinations of different

metallic platings and leather. There’s

also a range of hand-crafted stand-out pieces and artisan-style

gift jewellery which would make great additions to up-market

boutiques and gift shops’ stock. The brand is also branching out

from its well-established jewellery background into casual handbag

designs, which are the latest add-ons to Tempest’s selection of more

than 5,000 products.

Spikes & SparrowZ49

+44 (0)20 7702 0203


Spikes & Sparrow is a

Dutch brand recognised

for its women’s, men’s

and business bags.

International success

stems from the company’s

belief that a bag is not

a disposable product, but is more like a good friend which stands

the test of time. A strong following has been built upon the brand’s

design and quality credentials with customers appreciating how

the leather improves with time. This priority means that only the

highest quality leather and haberdashery are used in Spikes &

Sparrow bags, which is evident in the design: sturdy, functional,

wearable and timeless. All Spikes & Sparrow bags have a highly

recognisable vintage look, which sits well in fashion boutiques and

department stores.

The label is distributed by Love Brands Ltd, which is a multi-


based in Wapping, London. Set up in 2010, and using their

extensive network of European suppliers, Love Brands Ltd offers a

completely new approach to running a fashion business.

The Healthy Back Bag CompanyB20

+44 (0)20 7812 9800

www.thehealthybackbag.co.uk

Healthy Back Bags are a very

distinctive teardrop shape,

specifically designed to contour

to your spine and so reduce the

stress on neck and shoulders.

The designs come in hundreds

of different colours and fabrics.

They’re hard-wearing, fashion-

forward, packed with intelligent

pockets that help organise your

belongings and spread weight

around the body sensibly, and

can be worn four ways: on

either shoulder or crossbody

on either side.

They were designed to combat

the problems that can be caused

by a one strap bag, be kind to

the spine, and, of course, look stylish. These fashionable bags are

designed to distribute weight asymmetrically, meaning they are

comfortable for people of all shapes and sizes, and perfect for

healthy lifestyles.

Eliza GraciousX19

+44 (0)7767 785 822

www.elizagracious.com



combining pearl with leather. The label focuses on attractive

designs with competitive pricing, allowing for great margins, while

also offering gift packaging and display stands, as they’re known to



when faced with large minimum orders, so the brand doesn’t set

a minimum-order value at shows. At Moda, retailers can benefit

from free branded packaging for orders over £200 and free delivery

for orders over £300. All stock items are delivered within two

working days.

Exhibitor profiles

MOD

106 ATTIRE

Gorjus AccessoriesZ51

+44 (0)1494 525 180

www.gorjusaccessories.co.uk

Gorjus will be exhibiting its fresh collections at Moda. These

include its current in-stock leather and tapestry ranges, as

well as the fashion fabric bag styles. There’s also an extensive

selection of leather purses in vibrant as well as subtle, muted

tones, all available for immediate delivery. Over the past few

years, the brand has increased its leather offering, with the

Finchley collection proving very popular. Produced in a high

quality vegetable-tanned leather but with a very reasonable price

tag, a further two styles are being introduced to this best-selling

range for 2016. There will be even more fresh leather lines

introduced later in the year, all of which will be available for

buyers to view and order at the show.

BunkerH1

+44 (0)20 7702 0203

www.lovebrands.uk.com

Bunker was established by the

shoemaking Alcocel family in 1997 in

Spain, originally specialising in men’s

footwear. Today Bunker is recognized

as a leading Spanish designer footwear

brand distributed around the world.

Offering a fashionable collection of

men’s and ladies shoes and boots with a signature look, Bunker

offers retailers a covetable point of difference.

Positioned at the forefront of footwear design and inspired

by their own philosophy, the Bunker brothers produce ground

breaking styles each season. Bunker sets itself apart from the

competition through revolutionary designs, high quality products,

competitive prices and innovative and humorous advertising

campaigns. Bunker TV adverts have been a YouTube sensation

with over 400,000 views and counting, and serve as great leverage

for the brand’s stockists.

In the UK, Bunker is distributed by Love Brands Ltd, a multi-


based in Wapping, London.

DentsQ80

+44 (0)1985 212 291

www.dents.co.uk

Iconic English fashion brand Dents has been making beautiful

leather gloves since the reign of King George III. Yet, after 238

years, its reputation for fabulous craftsmanship and stunning

designs has never been higher.

For 2016, Dents has created a collection of luxurious leather

and exciting fabric and knit gloves, plus hats, scarves, bags and

small leather goods to lead the way in style trends for discerning

women and men across the world.

This season, there’s a host of really exciting new looks from the

label. For women, look out for the new cosmic luminance with its

exciting amethysts, jades, teal and lavender tones plus luxurious

velvets, fur and sequins together with contrasting metallics, patent

and lurex. Detailing and embellishment is featured strongly in the

range with buckles, studs, eyelets, zips adding interest, along with

layered textures and unexpected fabrics.

For men, fresh new styling has been added to proven favourites

to ensure a modern look, partnered with that iconic heritage that

makes Dents such a must-see each season.

Lacey’s LondonH2 & G39

+44 (0)20 7739 0398

www.laceysfootwear.com

Laceys London

is an independent

footwear design

house which was

established in

1983. Based in

Shoreditch, the

company has a

vibrant, eclectic,

commercial

portfolio of

labels across both ladies’ and men’s footwear, offering the market

a diverse selection. The brand’s portfolio includes its well-

established house brands such as Paolo Vandini, Roadhogs, Laceys

London and Laceys KIT. They also work exclusively with Los

Angeles label Jeffrey Campbell as its sole UK agent. Last year also

saw the brand launching its first celebrity collaborative collection

with The Only Way is Essex star Jessica Wright.

31st January - 1st FebruaryLUXURY SHOE BRAND SHOW

The Copthorne Tara Hotel, Kensington

14th - 16th FebruaryHILTON OLYMPIA HOTEL

The Battersea SuiteNote: We are not showing at Pure London,

we have personalised showing rooms

14th - 17th FebruaryMICAM SHOE FAIR

Milan

21st - 23rd FebruaryMODA FOOTWEAR

NEC BirminghamHall 17 Stand C2

6th - 8th MarchLONDON SHOE SHOW

The Copthorne Tara HotelKensington

13th - 15th MarchDUBLIN SHOE SHOW

The Camden Court Hotel

For more information on these venues or to arrange a personnel appointment contact

VENUTTI AGENCIESe: [email protected] t: 07778 865591

VENUTTI are showing their new Autumn/Winter 2016 collections at the following events

ATTIRE 109

PROFILE

High and mightyMighty Purse’s founder Ana Slavka reveals what inspired the tech-led fashion accessory range and how the brand is staying ahead of the pack

Tell me a bit about how the Mighty Purse

label was started.

The Mighty Purse was created out of pure

necessity, or more precisely, out of my

frustration at my phone always running out

of battery – especially at crucial times. For

example, while travelling or in the middle

of a phone conversation. Then, finding

myself unable to recharge it anywhere drove

me up the wall.

The idea of just buying an ugly power

bank and having it rattle around loose in

my bag, creating more mess and chaos

simply didn’t appeal to me. Not to mention

the prospect of going into an electronics

store and having to get my head around

which ones work with which phone. I

have no patience for technical jargon, and

having to read endless small print on the

packaging to understand the product is a

real turn off. Convinced other women must

feel the same way, I had this urge to make

a phone charger appealing to women. It

had to be practical, easy to use and most

importantly, stylish.

Another very important aspect of the

product was that the message had to be

clear and simple. All our tags state ‘The

purse that charges your smartphone’ – this

is all a woman needs to know.

My husband Stephan and I always had

a desire to become entrepreneurs and build

a company together and after convincing

him that this was what every woman

needs, he was on board and designed

the technical aspect of the purse.

Luckily he’s a tech geek with a great

business sense, so together over a bottle

of wine we made it happen by cutting,

stitching and pinning up a mock-up version

which eventually – after many further

samples – evolved into the real thing: the

Mighty Purse.


first established?

Stephan and I both value quality,

practicality and effortless style. We’re

passionate about developing products

that combine these three values to

help eliminate the small frustrations

of everyday life for our customers and

ourselves. Every product we develop is with

our customers’ everyday needs in mind.

Helping people by

incorporating practical tech – and some

non-tech – items into their lives without

compromising on style was and still is

our aim. We love it when customers say,

“Where was this all my life?”



It was decided that the Mighty Purse

shouldn’t be just a charger, but also a

good looking purse that can hold all your

essentials. Bearing in mind my experience

in fashion, we knew the look of the bag

was my job and the function of the bag was

Stephan’s job.

We had mock-up samples made by

a local shoe-maker who stitched the

leathers I gave him into little purses, we cut

cardboard in the shape of phone charging

batteries and then had them stitched into

a pocket inside the purses with fake cables

hanging out. Then we took those mock-up

samples and showed the collection at a

trade show to get some feedback and see if

110 ATTIRE

people were drawn to the concept.

We sold the idea, taking more pre-orders

than expected, and promised that the bags

would be available in eight weeks. At that

stage we did not even know 100 per cent

how the real batteries would look and work

as we were still negotiating with suppliers

and nothing was set in stone. However,

we had the orders and only eight weeks

to deliver on our promise. The pressure

was on and we knew we couldn’t let our

customers down.

Nine weeks later – with just one week’s

delay – we started shipping the goods,

which seemed like a miracle to us.

For the official launch of the Mighty Purse,

we booked twelve trade shows in major

cities around the world in one season. Not

knowing if the product was going to be a

hit, we took one of the biggest financial

risks at the beginning, however we knew

we had to expose the product to the market

quickly. Luckily the response and the sales

exceeded expectations.



The challenge was to make sure that the

purse worked with all types of smartphones.

The batteries come with a micro USB

cable which works with every model of

smartphones except Apple, so an adaptor

was required. We learned very quickly that

generic adaptors for Apple iPhones weren’t

going to deliver the quality we were after,

and this can cause a lot of issues with Apple

if they’re not Apple licensed. It was a timely

process to acquire the rights to be able to

include Apple licensed adaptors in the

purses. But it was well worth the wait as we

now have a reliable, good quality product

that we’re proud to sell to our customers.


competitors in the fashion industry?

Two key strengths of our product is that all

of our cables are concealed and integrated

into the purse, while still making the

battery itself removable, whereas some

of our competitors have created a similar

product where you add your own cables or

the battery is built into the lining of the

purse and non-removable.

The second strength of the purse is

that the Mighty Purse is MFi (made for

iPhone) approved, and we include the

Apple licensed lightning adaptor with

the purchase of the purse, whereas most

competitors have not gone through the

lengthy process of being approved by

Apple, nor do they sell the licensed Apple

adaptor with their product.

We hand-pick our materials and I spend

a lot of time with our suppliers making sure

the quality stays consistent. With ever-

growing collections and updated looks and

styles, I hope Mighty Purse will continue to

be the leader of the pack.



We’re based in Australia but being that far

down under hasn’t hindered our ability to

ATTIRE 111

PROFILE

Contact

Mighty Purse

+44 (0)20 7702 0203


expand globally.

The brand’s sales teams, distribution and

customer service have been established in

the UK, USA, South Africa, New Zealand

and several countries within Europe –

including France, Germany, Italy, Belgium,

The Netherlands and Luxembourg. Global

expansion is a continuous process.




A lot has changed since the launch of the

Mighty Purse, and we’re always looking

at improving the product each day. Since

the beginning, the sizing has increased to

accommodate ever-changing phone sizes;

the battery is thinner and sleeker but still

holds the same amount of power. We’re

Apple license approved, so we can include

the lightning adaptor inside the purse,

whereas before we had to sell the Apple

adaptors separately, which was more costly

for us and the end consumer.

Since the launch in 2013, we’ve expanded

the collection from the original 12 colour-

way wristlets to a wider range of colours

and materials in the wristlets and added

a range of cross-body bags in different

materials, as well as oversized clutches, tote

bags and vegan-friendly bags.


We launch two collections each year. As

we’re working with both seasons across

the northern and southern hemispheres,

we try to accommodate every country. Each

collection has a mixture of spring/summer

and autumn/winter colours.



The Original Mighty Purse wristlets are

still our best-sellers, but as we’re expanding

into the fashion world, we notice that our

other bag styles are catching up.

When we launched almost three years

ago, we targeted the gift and accessory

industry mainly, but recently we’ve found

more and more fashion stores asking for the

Mighty Purse and with this development,

we’ve found that the sales of our bigger

bags are increasing.

In the UK, we’ve found that the current

best-sellers are the winter colours such as

black, grey and brown due to the season.



In the USA, we attend several gift shows

each season, such as LA Mart, Atlanta

Gift Show and NY Now; all managed by

the rep groups we work with across the

country. In Europe, we show at gift shows

such as Ambiente, Nordstil and Vivienti

in Germany, as well as Maison et Objet

and Premiere Classe in France. In the UK,

we exhibit at both Spring and Autumn

Fair in Birmingham and Top Drawer in

London. In Australia we attend the Reed

Gift Fair twice a year. We’ve found all of

these shows to be successful, as they allow

us to focus on our target market retailers.

We’re also going to include some of the

fashion trade shows in our 2016 calendar.



We’ve had an online presence from the

start, however, as of October 2015, we had

a website redesign, making it more user-

friendly than before. Not only do our end

consumers purchase off our website, our

retailers refer to our website and soon we’ll

be launching a wholesale log-in.

What have been the key milestones for

the business?

Setting up international distribution

channels has helped us grow the business

and create brand awareness. Overcoming

the aforementioned challenges were all

landmark moments for us too.




coming months?

I believe wearable technology is going

to continue being a growing sector, with

never-ending opportunities as technology

changes so rapidly.

Generally companies and their teams

have to adapt faster and faster to changing

circumstances and to succeed we all have to

stay on our toes and make sure we listen to

customer demands and deliver.

The world is turning into a speedball,

which has its downsides but also many

upsides, which is what we like to focus on.

There’s always room for more opportunities.

What are your future plans for the Mighty

Purse brand?

We’re driven by what can be the next

necessity or must-have, and it’s our passion

to develop practical but stylish products.

So watch this space, there are lots of new

things in the pipelines. A

ATTIRE 113

SCOOP

In briefShow: Scoop

Venue: Saatchi Gallery, London

Dates: 31st January - 2nd February, 2016

Website: www.scoop-international.com

Twitter: @ScoopLondonShow

FIRST ScoopWhat to expect from Scoop this season

The 12th edition of Scoop in August

triumphed yet again. Attendance from

buyers both in the UK and overseas,

including independent retailers and major

department stores rose.

Always ahead of the game, this season

sees Scoop once again select brands that

combine commercial nous with quality and

style. Home-grown talent includes handbag

designer Florian and shoe designer Rose

Rankin, both based in London.

Defined by British heritage and

sophistication, Florian is a relatively new

accessories brand that includes leather

totes, shoulder bags, clutch bags and

evening bags, purses and scarves. Their

collection combines understated palettes

and strong feminine silhouettes, elegantly

infusing luxury into everyday functionality,

whilst combining great craftsmanship

with a focus on timeless design. The

London designers take pride in their

leather and know the exact process as to

how their goods are made and who they

are made by. Subsequently they make it

their responsibility to select only the very

finest hides to ensure their customers get

a lifetime of use from their purchases.

The naturally tanned leather used in

their products have been processed with

complete respect to the environment. Their

calfskins look, smell and feel sumptuous,

and they have been made to stand the

test of time, if anything they improve

over time and with use. Furthermore, all

their accompanying accessories – such as

decorative hardware and fastenings – are

of the highest quality to add an exquisite

touch to each leather piece. The hand-

painted handbags with motifs such as eyes

with long lashes and lips accompanied by

fun ‘Bite Me’ speech bubbles are loved by

bloggers and trendsetters alike.

Inspired by the rise of sports-luxe

trends and being a sneaker fan since

childhood, Rose Rankin decided to go

for her dream to create soft yet statement

sneakers for work to weekend. Born in

Ireland, now based in London, having

trained at Central Saint Martins, and made

in a family-run factory in Portugal, the

collection is characterized by understated

design and subtle detailing, combined

with a love of colour. Rose devotes time to

fabric, detail and craftsmanship. By weaving

retro with the new the brand produces fun,

bold pieces with clean lines that are both

luxurious and everyday.

Other accessories designers signed up

for the show include Antik Batik, Angela

Caputi Giuggiu, Black Lily, Candice

Cooper, Cluse Watches, Elliot Rhodes,

Estellon, Florian London, Hudson Shoes,

J Shoes, Matt & Nat, Melissa, Newgate

Watches, O My Bag, Rose Rankin, Seven

Boot Lane and Tissa Fontaneda.

A number of jewellery designers and

labels have also confirmed that they’ll

be exhibiting, including Pink Powder,

Retrospective Jewellery, From St Xavier,

Nina Kastens, By Boe, Darunotai,

Nordahl, SVP Jewellery, Maya Magal,

Chupi, Butterfly, Kirsten Ash, St Erasmus,

Mirabelle and Anna + Nina.

For more information on the show and

to register, visit the website

www.scoop-international.com A

114 ATTIRE

Taking place during London Fashion

Week, the second edition of Scoop

London will continue to provide an ideal

platform for new and emerging designers

for whom London Fashion Week remains

the most important date of the season.

Scoop London plays host to an array of

international labels that traditionally launch

their new-season lines after the main UK

trade shows have drawn to a close.

Previous visitors to Scoop London

include premium British retailers Net-A-

Porter, Selfridges, Harrods and Harvey

Nichols. International buying teams include

Biffi, Banner, La Rinascente and Luisa Via

Roma – all from Italy – in addition to Le

Bon Marche and Galleries Lafayette from

Paris, and United Arrows from Japan.

This season, Scoop London is thrilled

to announce the participation of iconic

fashion brands Cacharel, Antipodium

and Terry de Havilland, who are joined

by ones-to-watch Karl Donoghue, Nach

Bijoux and Maison Baluchon.

The Terry de Havilland brand dates back

over 50 years and was started by bespoke

shoemaker Terry de Havilland in London’s

East end. When the editor of Queen,

Annie Treherne, featured his shoes in

her magazine in the late ’60s they were

an instant hit. Today, Terry de Havilland

shoes are worn by some of the world’s

most fashionable women; Kate Moss, Cara

Delevingne, Lara Stone, and Rita Ora

to name just a few. Many of the designs

from the ’70s are in design museums

around the world. The most famous is the

instantly recognisable Margaux wedge.

Designed in 1973, it’s a design classic

that’s still in the collection today. In 2011,

Terry de Havilland was given a Lifetime

Achievement award by the fashion industry.

Now nearly 80, he left the business at the

start of 2015. Now, the footwear ranges are

stocked in some of the world’s best luxury

stores and it continues to grow into new

international markets.

Yorkshire born designer Karl

Donoghue moved to London in 1991 to

study fashion at Ravensbourne College

of Design. Following the notable success

of his graduation collection, a shearling

accessory range was launched under

his own label. This was followed by the

introduction of women’s ready-to-wear

for winter 2000, with an original vision

to change the perception of shearling,

leather and fur. Now at the forefront of

this specialised market, Karl’s continued

exploration into new materials and

textures forms the basis of the design

process. Working closely with a number of

tanneries, he develops ideas, colours and

finishes for each collection. Karl’s passion

and knowledge of skins as well as his

dedication to creating innovative pieces

has resulted in a number of collaborations

including with Katherine Hamnett and

Joseph. He also celebrated the launch of

a new diffusion range. Karl was awarded

the 2001 Export Award for Womenswear

and in 2011 proudly received a second

award for Great Brit, presented by HRH

the Princess Royal. This continued effort to

produce evocative outerwear pieces has also

resulted in celebrity clients including Kate

Moss, Olivia Palermo and Stella Tennant.

Stockists include Lane Crawford, Shanghai

and Hong Kong; Harvey Nichols, London

and Hong Kong and Selfridges and Liberty,

both in London

Nadia and Nancy Koch are the sisters

behind the French costume jewellery

brand Nach Bijoux. The label is the result

of a passion for accessories and a family

tradition – their father is the world leader

in miniature porcelain. Bathed in this craft

since childhood, using porcelain animal

figurines to create jewellery was obvious to

the Koch sisters. The jewellery is made and

painted by hand, and each piece is signed,

making it one of a kind. Nach Bijoux’s

work embodies a new concept in the world

of jewellery.

Maison Baluchon is a high-end

accessories brand specialising in bags,

clutches and notebooks, it was conceived by

designers Nathalie Vidal and Toma Bletner.

Since 2011, the brand manufactures

exclusively in the south of Champagne,

Chaumont and its surroundings. It’s this

French wilderness and forest landscapes,

full of authenticity that inspires Maison

Baluchon’s distinctive prints. Pattern-based

stationery and wallpaper as well as other

items are currently being developed.

For up-to-date information on newly

confirmed exhibitors and to register for the

show, visit www.scoop-international.com A

Double scoop In briefShow: Scoop London

Venue: Saatchi Gallery

Dates: 21st - 23rd February, 2016

Website: www.scoop-international.com

Twitter: @ScoopLondonShowThere are exciting new brands for buyers to look forward to at the second edition of Scoop London

www.mirabellejewellery.co.uk

Showing at: Top Drawer and Scoop

See the fabulous new range from Bewitchedfor SS16 at the fo l lowing trade shows:

SPRING FAIR, NEC7 - 11 Februar y

Hal l 20 M01

Alternatively please visit our website

www.bewitched-accessories.co.uk or call us for a catalogue on 01488 649520

Inspired by nature as ever we have a super cute new wildlife collection that ties in nicely with previous collections.

Beautifully modelled little animal heads of all our best beloved beasties come in pendants, earstuds and rings.

See us at Spring Fair - Hall 18 - Stand D30-E31

www.martickjewellery.com

ATTIRE 117

SUMMER SHOES

Walking on SUNSHINE

Our pick of the summer season’s hottest footwear

ATTIRE 117

SUMMER SHOES

Cocorose London, www.cocoroselondon.com

118 ATTIRE

SO SO SANDALOUSBright vertiginous heels and strappy sandals for nights on the dancefloor

1. Geox: +44 (0)20 3227 0502 or www.geox.com; 2. Ash Footwear: +44 (0)20 7323 1020 or www.ashfootwear.co.uk; 3. Laceys London:

+44 (0)20 7739 0398 or www.laceysfootwear.co.uk; 4. Zaxy: +44 (0)20 7377 2570 or www.zaxy.com.br; 5. Moda in Pelle: +44 (0)113 200

7334 6. Nicola Sexton: 7. Caprice: +44 (0)7734 247 669 or www.capriceshoes.co.uk; 8. Clarks: +44 (0)121 711 2959 or www.clarks.co.uk;

9. Tamaris: +44 (0)1604 880 146 or www.tamaris.eu

21

34

65

7

8 9

ATTIRE 121

SUMMER SHOES

LAZY DAYSCasual lace-ups and sports luxe for daytime seaside strolls

1

1. Ash Footwear: +44 (0)20 7323 1020 or www.ashfootwear.co.uk; 2&7. Flossy: +44 (0) or www.flossyshoes.com; 3. Laceys London:

+44 (0)20 7739 0398 or www.laceysfootwear.co.uk; 4. Cocorose London: +44 (0)20 8829 8919 or www.cocoroselondon.com; 5. Geox:

+44 (0)20 3227 0502 or www.geox.com; 6. Tracey Neuls: +44 (0)20 7935 0039 or www.traceyneuls.com; 8. Zaxy: +44 (0)20 7377 2570

or www.zaxy.com.br; 9. Clarks: +44 (0)121 711 2959 or www.clarks.co.uk

2

3

4

5 6

7

8

9ear.co.uk; 2&7. Flossy: +44 (0) or www.flossyshoes.com; 3. Laceys London:

corose London: +44 (0)20 8829 8919 or www.cocoroselondon.com; 5. Geox:

( ) 7 5 l Z ( ) 7 77 57

NEW COLLECTIONMix & Match Chains & Pendants

web: www.maytalisuk.co.uk email: [email protected]

PROFILE

ATTIRE 123

ALL TIEDUPPopband London’s Managing Director, Louisa Booth talks about what led to the product’s conception, celebrity fans, and the brand’s best-selling packs

PROFILE

124 ATTIRE

Tell me a bit about how the Popband

London label was started.

Popband London was born in the way

all great products are conceived: I had an

everyday problem that required a solution. I

found that not only did all of the hairband

products on the market dent my hair

into a wave where they’d been tied, they

also ripped and tangled both mine and

my daughter’s hair. I started a search for

something that would treat my locks with

a little bit more care and I really wanted to

avoid that annoying tell-tale post-ponytail

dent that conventional hair ties cause.


first established?

We wanted Popband to be both practical,

yet fashion led, all while sticking to our

British roots.

We pride ourselves on quality and great

customer service; always treating our

customers the way that we would like to be

treated if we were in their position, and as

we have grown we’ve never compromised

on these principles.



We grew slowly and organically, going to

local shows, speaking to teens and women

of all ages for market research, to ensure

we were giving our customers what they

wanted. It turned out that all of the women

we encountered felt the same about the

inferior products on the market. With these

responses, we knew that we had a great idea

in development.

We still regularly hear from our

customers directly, as well as our famous

fans such as One Direction’s Harry

Styles, Victoria’s Secret model Alessandra

Ambrosio and the ladies from Little Mix to

name just a few. We also speak to fashion

editors all the time to stay ahead of the

high-street curve and to keep the brand

fresh and trend-focused.



Oh there have been so many challenges! Far

too many to go into. However, we’re lucky

that we have a focused, committed team

that believes wholly in the Popband brand,

product and company ethos.

Starting a business from scratch is very

hard for anyone, but it helps when you have

a great product.


competitors in the industry?

I think there are two main factors that

stand out: strong branding and high quality

products. We also have a superb design

team, which means that our customers are

always excited to see what’s coming next,

and never have to wait long to find out.

We’ve just signed off on our new spring/

summer 2016 range and think we’ll gain

even more fans once they’re unveiled.



The location is really important for us.

We’re quite well known locally and have

always appreciated the huge support that

we received – and still receive – in the early

days, we’ll never forget that kindness from

our community. Now that we sell Popbands

overseas, we make sure we shout about

being a British business, it makes us so

proud when we travel to be representing

our wonderful country.




We’ve evolved as the company’s grown,

changing the branding, packaging, POS

etc. Our motto is “never stay still, always

ATTIRE 125

PROFILE

improve.” Our current autumn/winter range

is so fun, with quirky five-pack themed

designs like Gingerbread, as well more

elegant sets like Working Girl and Winter

Berry. We’ll always make our more simple

designs such as Pop Ink and Glo though, as

they’re still so popular.


We launch two lines a year; autumn/winter

and spring/summer, meanwhile we keep

an eye out for surprises throughout the

year that inspire other accessory designs.

We’ll be launching new lines in early 2016,

such as plain headband sets, jewelled packs

and beauty bags. There’s so much to look

forward to in the New Year.



Leading up to Christmas it has definitely

been Christmas Jumper set! I love that

many of our customers want the basic

colours in our best-seller Ink, but at the

same time are also open to trying new

colours and pattern. It doesn’t matter how

miserable the British weather is, our Neon

Ink pack sells throughout the year. I guess

everyone needs a little neon in their life.



We attend many of the big London

shows, such as Pure London, Pulse and

Top Drawer. We’re also attending some

European shows in 2016. The first one is

the January edition of Who’s Next in Paris.



Our site was launched almost three years

ago to the day. The website keeps us in

touch with our customers while acting as

a shop front for retailers. It’s fun to play

around with the look and feel of it, and

sometimes upload competitions.

What have been the key milestones for the

business since starting out?

There have been many: the launch of our

website, our first big department store order,

Popband’s first Grazia mention. However, I

think the biggest moment for us so far was

when we took our children to watch One

Direction in concert and Harry Styles was

on stage with a Popband on his wrist!




coming months?

The market is strong for a quality product

at this accessible price, so we’ll continue

to offer this quality and value for money

– this is something we’ll never stray from.

Our brand is growing throughout Europe

and we intend to continue this while also

focusing on the American market in 2016,

and hopefully accelerate this growth. In

terms of design, we have some surprises for

our spring/summer range, but be assured

it’ll be bright, cool and fun with a signature

Popband twist.

What are your future plans for Popband

London going forward?

Our future plan for Popband is to extend

our product choice to include accessories,

all with the brand’s trademark colour,

personality and magic. We’re already selling

Popbands and Poplaces in the USA, and

this is a market we’ll be focused on. A

ContactPopband

+44 (0)7770 755 559

www.thepopband.com

ATTIRE 127

LONDON FASHION WEEK

This February sees London Fashion Week

host its second season at the Brewer Street

Car Park show space in the heart of Soho,

after the success of the venue’s debut in

September. This new central London

location fulfils the British Fashion Council

(BFC)’s goal to host London Fashion Week

in the West End, providing an epicentre for

a city-wide fashion celebration with close

proximity to major retail spaces.

The move to Brewer Street has seen

LFW increase its footprint across the

capital and marked the next stage in the

evolution of the biannual event, which has

previously been located at Somerset House,

the Natural History Museum, Duke of

York Square and Battersea Park. In a bid

to drive city-wide support for an industry

that employs nearly 800,000 people and

is worth £26 billion to the UK GDP, this

season’s LFW showrooms, catwalk and

event schedule will be accompanied by an

exciting programme of free talks open to

the public.

While LFW’s home is still relatively

new, the NEWGEN initiative – which

supports the very best emerging talents

and aims to build global, high end fashion

brands for the future – continues to act

as a promotional launch pad for young

designers. Since its inception in 1993, its

sponsorship has helped a host of household

names, including Alexander McQueen,

Christopher Kane, Erdem, Jonathan

Saunders, J.W.Anderson, Mary Katrantzou,

Nicholas Kirkwood, Roksanda Ilincic and

Simone Rocha.

This season, eight fledgling designers

will receive sponsorship: Ashley Williams,

Claire Barrow, Danielle Romeril, Faustine

Steinmetz, Marta Jakubowski, Molly

Goddard, Ryan Lo and Sadie Williams.

Each of the NEWGEN designers will be

allocated a dedicated pop-up showroom

space within the Designer Showrooms

at Brewer Street Car Park, each designer

will take residence after their show or

presentation to maximise sales potential.

The NEWGEN committee has also

selected Roberta Einer as One-To-Watch

for this season. The recent Westminster

fashion graduate will present an installation

in the NEWGEN area within the Designer

Showrooms. Faustine Steinmetz and Marta

Jakubowksi were both previously selected as

Ones-To-Watch before graduating to full

NEWGEN support.

Sarah Mower MBE, BFC Ambassador

for Emerging Talent, Contributing Editor

to Vogue USA and Chair of the NEWGEN

selection commented: “Thanks to the

sustained support from Topshop and

Sir Philip Green, NEWGEN has been

London’s prime generator of exciting

talent for over a decade. The long-term

pattern of success was again readable at

this year’s British Fashion Awards, where

former ‘graduates’ J.W.Anderson, Erdem,

Mary Katrantzou, Thomas Tait and

Jordan Askill swept the board. Emerging

Talent nominations were also won by

Molly Goddard and Faustine Steinmetz,

who are still in the NEWGEN scheme,

and will return with their remarkable

presentations in February. They’re joined by

Ashley Williams, Claire Barrow, Danielle

Romeril, Marta Jakubowski, Ryan Lo

and Sadie Williams, as well as recent

Westminster University graduate, Roberta

Einer, who steps into the One-To-Watch

slot. “On their behalf, I would like to

thank the NEWGEN committee for their

mentorship, commitment and enthusiasm,

and everyone who is inspired by backing up

our young designers and seeing them fly.”

Mary Homer, Managing Director,

Topshop commented: “Supporting

emerging talent is at the very heart of

the Topshop brand and we are incredibly

proud sponsors of the NEWGEN

initiative. Seeing the prestigious alumni

that the scheme has nurtured, as well as

the promising names that are currently

part of the programme, demonstrates the

intrinsic importance of NEWGEN to the

continuing development of home-grown

talent for a global stage.”

Register and view the show schedule for

LFW at www.londonfashionweek.com A

IN BRIEFShow: London Fashion Week

Venue: Brewer Street Car Park, London

Dates: 19th - 23rd February, 2016

Website: www.londonfashionweek.com

Twitter: @LondonFashionWk

A front row perspectiveA look at this season’s London Fashion Week

ATTIRE 129

FAIRTRADE GOLD

A known sourceManaging Director of Arctic Circle Diamonds and Sales Director of Hockley Mint, Judith Lockwood shares her insight into the Fairtrade movement in jewellery design, and how retailers are an essential part of this ethical revolution

Tell me a bit about how Arctic Circle

Diamonds was established.

The business was established nearly a year

ago, and came about through a very special

relationship we were able to form with the

Vancouver-based company that supplies

us with our diamonds. The Arctic Circle

diamond is fully traceable. This means that

our diamond is not only mined in Canada;

it’s also cut, polished and graded in Canada

– we even know exactly where it was

‘born.’ We know every step our diamonds

have travelled and every hand that has

touched them – this is really important to

us and our customers.

As our diamonds are so special and come

with a huge environmental and social story,

we believed it was essential to pair them

with a precious metal that shared its values.

All Arctic Circle diamonds are set in 18ct

Fairtrade gold at our business partners

Hockley Mint, positioned in the heart of

the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter – Arctic

Circle Diamonds is about the diamond, the

Fairtrade metal and British manufacturing

and craftsmanship.

Have you always been passionate about

ethical sourcing?

My Dad was a farmer and I grew up on

a farm in a small North Yorkshire village.

We had Jersey cows that we milked, we

had hens and fresh eggs, grew potatoes

and other crops that were sold at the local

market, so it’s fair to say that I’ve grown up

knowing about supply chains and always

been aware of where products came from.

Both Gary Wroe (my business partner)

and I are extremely passionate about the

sourcing of materials and products in

our business. We know where our gold is

from – currently Peru – we know how it

arrives here and we even know where the

other metals that go into our mix of gold

have come from. For example, the copper

that goes into our mix is recycled from

the old telephone wires from our Hockley

Mint building. As a consequence of all the

actions, ethics and beliefs we have, Arctic

Circle has accreditation from Positive

Luxury as ‘a brand that can be trusted’ and

Hockley Mint is Responsible Jewellery

Council (RJC) accredited.

What inspired you to visit Tanzania and

find out more about Fairtrade Gold?

As a business we work very closely with the

Fairtrade Foundation and had spoken about

making a visit to the Peruvian mine that we

currently work with. We then heard that

there was a possibility that the Nsangano

mine in Tanzania was likely to be the first

African gold mine to be awarded Fairtrade

accreditation, so we wanted to go there and

meet the mining community, see what a

difference Fairtrade was making to their

lives and look into the possibility of doing

business with the mine.

Accompanying us on the visit was a

BBC World Service Film Crew, a journalist

from Marie Claire and a writer for the

Business of Fashion, plus British jewellery

trade press journalists. It was important

to experience and learn first-hand from

this visit; to understand but also have

independent corroboration of the visit and

what was happening at this mine with the

move towards being Fairtrade accredited.

What did you learn from your experience

in the mines there?

The experience was truly humbling,

inspiring and emotional. We met the owner

of the mine, the miners and all the workers

who work tirelessly, bringing the ore to the

surface every day, before going through a

variety of processes to extract approximately

30gms of gold from one ton of ore.

It’s a really tough, hard job, but one that

has been made so much better through the

Fairtrade program. For example, the miners’

130 ATTIRE

Find out more about Fairtrade

Fairtrade Gold: www.fairgold.org

Hockley Mint: www.hockleymint.co.uk

Arctic Circle Diamonds:

www.arcticcirclediamonds.com

A

working day is now broken down into

eight-hour shifts, instead of being down

the mine for 24 hours at a time; health and

safety equipment is provided to all workers

(hard hats, gloves, boots, protective eyewear,

high-visibility jackets); the women have

rights; there’s environmental management

with water and mercury; the mine is tidy

and ordered. At Nsangano, the miners get

paid a fair price for what they do, meaning

that they can feed their families and offer

education to their children. The most

important factor is that no children work at

this mine.

When we left the Nsangano mine we

drove five minutes down the road and saw

an un-accredited mine. It was horrifying:

dirty, dark and disorganised. The workers

looked miserable, the equipment was old

and children were dragging sacks of ore.

The comparison was incredible.

With so many different definitions

of what fair trade standards are, what

requirements does Fairtrade gold have to

meet for certification?

With Fairtrade gold it’s

very straightforward for our retail jewellery

stockists and for consumers. This is because

every piece of our jewellery is hallmarked

with the Fairtrade gold hallmark. Arctic

Circle has what is known as a FLO-ID

certificate, meaning that it’s registered as a

manufacturer with the Fairtrade Federation

who uses Fairtrade gold, and that we

keep all of our Fairtrade gold separate from

other precious metals; therefore there’s

no chance of any contamination. The

Birmingham Assay Office, which hallmarks

all of the pieces of jewellery for us. A record

is kept of every gram of gold used, every

item manufactured and hallmarked, plus

where it is sent to.

Arctic Circle Diamonds pays a Fairtrade

Premium on each item, based on its weight.

This premium goes back to the mining

community to use as they please. For

instance, we know that the Peruvian mine

we work with built a dentist surgery and

employed a dentist with their premium last

year – it’s their choice how they use that

payment in their community.

All of this is evidence that everything is

done correctly and that customers should

have 100 per cent confidence when they see

Fairtrade brand signage and hallmark.

What advice do you have for independent

retailers and jewellers interested in

stocking Fairtrade Gold jewellery and

traceable diamonds?

I have very simple advice for prospective

Fairtrade – and Arctic Circle – retailers: get

in touch! Let’s get together over a coffee

and have a chat about moving forward

together. Anyone considering this decision

is still a pioneer in their market; they’re

demonstrating responsibility and sending a

message out about their business values and

beliefs to staff and customers. They will be

differentiating themselves from the other

retail jewellers in their town or high street

and we can help market this through our

PR company to their local press.

Don’t be afraid of the increase in cost.

With our brand, the price difference is

small and with the story of the total brand

we’re finding that margins are retained and

you will make full profit on each item sold.

Also, with such a strong and meaningful

story to share, your staff will understand

and be engaged in wanting to show and

talk about the Arctic Circle Diamonds

concept to customers.

I’d finally say to any retail jeweller

that they should be ahead of the

customer in terms of predicting trends

and expectations. Be proud to have

the knowledge of your stock’s traceable

elements, as your customers will be

asking questions soon, if not already.

Arctic Circle Diamonds

Ethical entrepreneur Liz Earle with Josephine

Aguti from Uganda’s first Fairtrade mine at

the Fairtrade Gold press day in London

Always changing...

always something new...

always something to love!

email: [email protected]

tel: +44 (0)1985 847774

www.junction18.com

Visit us at Spring Fair, NEC Birmingham,

February 7th - 11th 2016 and discover our

wonderful new ranges for Spring/Summer 16!

ATTIRE 133

RETAILER INTERVIEW

Taking flightRetailer and jewellery maven Maggie Calmels invites us into her Battersea boutique, Blackbird London

What was your career background before

opening the boutique?

I’ve had a long and happy career in

publishing – first in books and then

creating collectable magazines, which are

known as partworks in the industry. I still

have a more than full-time and very full-on

job as Editorial and Creative Director of

international publisher Eaglemoss, where

I’m responsible for commissioning and

directing the new product development.

Nevertheless, you’ll find me at the shop

most weekends.

What prompted you to launch

the business?

The launch of Blackbird London came

about as a merging of my personal interests:

a life-long love of jewellery, especially the

unusual and hand-made; and the desire to

start up an independent small business for

me and my family. My sons Francis and

James both work in the business, alongside

our resident designer-maker, Rebecca.

Can you tell me a little bit about the in-

house Blackbird London jewellery brand?

The Blackbird London brand was founded

in 2012 and the first jewellery range, called

Numerology, was a collaboration with

designer Daisy Morrison. It’s a striking

range of pendants, bracelets and earrings

based on stylised Roman numerals.

Numerology is an ancient science belief

system based on the relationship between

numbers and aspects of life. There are a

multitude of things that they can reveal

about personalities, as well as our talents,

strengths and weaknesses. There’s further

information on our website on how to

calculate your own significant numbers.

Next came the Ace of Hearts collection,

inspired by symbols familiar from playing

cards, and so named because it began with a

heart subtly designed with an inverted heart

inside – an enduring symbol of love and

protection. The club, spade and diamond

continue the theme, with each symbol

containing a variation of the inner heart.

Then, in autumn 2015 we launched five

fresh new design ranges from our new

in-house designer Rebecca Maddock.

These were all inspired by natural

materials and shapes – from the free-

form Curlicue and hand-beaten gold and

silver discs of Sun and Moon to the simple

elegance of Wishing Pearls, the delicate

lariat-style Gem Drops and the dramatic

geometry of the ’30s-inspired Deco

Diamonds designs.

We’ve found that our customers like

something original, so we also offer

bespoke options in-store, for example the

addition of birth stones to our numerology

range, mismatched sets and made-to-

order variations, commissioned designs

and a recycled range, Treasure Trove –

featuring reclaimed vintage charms.

How did you decide on the concept of the

shop, with the premises and location for

your store?

The concept for the store was to create

unusual and timeless jewellery designed

and made in the UK by us and to source

and promote the work of other up and

coming craftspeople.

The location is close to home and

deliberately not-on-the-high-street. We

bought the shop lease at auction, and

ended up on BBC’s Homes Under the

Hammer – an experience I’m not sure we’d

be keen to repeat.

134 ATTIRE

What accessory lines do you offer and

how does this support the rest of your

product offering?

In addition to jewellery we offer a mix of

scarves, hats, and some unusual bags, all

to complement our jewellery. In terms of

gifting products and treat items, we stock

some greeting card, candle and toiletry

ranges not available elsewhere locally.

How would you describe the presentation

of the shop?

Blackbird London is an eclectic mix of old

and new, with vintage cabinets and custom-

made metalwork designed and built by my

partner; Louis at Calmels Design – his

business is also based in the Battersea area.

What do you consider to be your core

customer base?

I see our customers as women rather than

girls, and definitely as women that want

something distinctive and a bit different

from the norm.

What are the key factors you consider

when sourcing new product lines?

Originality, a style that fits with our overall

image, good quality and value for money

are the most important factors to us

when buying in new ranges. We also give

preference to small local craftspeople and

ethically sourced and fair-trade accessories.

How important is product knowledge and

customer service in store?

It’s very important, and the team at

Blackbird are all passionate about our

products and in-house collections. We’re

still learning the evolving art of retailing –

but I guess that’s a life-long journey.

How important is an online presence to

your plans for the business?

Our location is quite quiet and so online is

very important to our future plans. We’re

in the process of updating our website and

optimising it for mobile usage and will be

adding a trade access for our wholesale

customers. Rebecca is starting to amass

quite a following on Twitter and Pinterest.

Our blog is another area of online content

we’re planning to improve.

Do you run any special events to attract

new customers?

We’re starting to participate in local fairs

and exhibitions, and run our own special

shopping evenings. We also hold pop-up

shop events to promote the work of other

designer-makers.

Who would be your ideal customer for the

boutique, and why?

I think we have quite varied stock – ideal

customers could range from Joanna Lumley

for our more dramatic bespoke designs to

food blogger and writer Ella for our whimsical

Curlicue and Wishing Pearl ranges.

What has been your proudest moment

since opening the shop?

Our first repeat customer! She liked our

Numerology range so much she came back

with a friend and bought more. Another

proud moment was our first trade show

– Top Drawer Autumn in 2015. Our

beautiful stand featuring movable metal

hexagon display stands was an original

design for us, made by my partner Louis,

who creates upmarket furniture, art pieces

and theatrical props in his factory – making

it a truly a family affair. And the icing

on the cake of the first day was our first

wholesale sale, to The Tudor Gallery.

How do you view the current state of

the market?

It’s very competitive, and tough to succeed

with hand-made items at low to mid-range

prices. However it’s important to us to

make good things that will last.

What advice would you pass onto

other retailers?

Stock Blackbird jewellery, please! I don’t think

we’re successful enough yet to give advice.

What are your future plans for Blackbird

London as a store and brand?

From a design viewpoint we’ll continue

to innovate, as well as to consolidate our

core signature design ranges. On the

sales side, we’re looking to find a network

of independent retailers to stock some of

our designs, and an agent to help us. A

ContactBlackbird London

+44 (0)20 7738 2105

www.blackbird-london.com

Gift Warehouse

Classic Digital Print Silk Scarf Collection from Gift Warehouse

www.giftwarehouse.eu 0115 946 1173

KARMKARM

Elizabeth Dickens

+44 1353 723675 • email: [email protected] • web: elizabethdickensveils.co.uk

ATTIRE 137

RETAIL TECHNOLOGY

David Fairhurst advises on how to guarantee that both search engines and your website’s visitors love you

Imagine this scenario. You have a brand new

high street shop. All of your shelving and

display units are well laid out in the best

way to entice customers to browse through

your wares. All good so far? Excellent. Now

imagine that for 70 per cent of your products,

you spray paint over packaging, making

details of what’s actually contained in that

packaging illegible.

No sane retailer would of course do the

above; it’d be the death knell for sales and

would lead to almost immediate bankruptcy,

but sit down and relax for a minute because

you might be shocked to learn that many

online retailers do exactly this with their

websites every day.

Virtual sales person

In your bricks and mortar store, you obviously

spend a lot of time making sure customer

service is at a high level and interaction with

customers is focused on maximising spend.

On a website you don’t have the provision of

a salesperson to answer potential customer

queries and have to rely on product and

supplemental information to do all of your

selling for you. In effect, the content on

product pages has to take on two tasks;

that of the product packaging and that of

sales person; getting product descriptive

information wrong is therefore a massive

blunder and will lead to poor sales.

Even worse, consider the fact that in an

online store, customers aren’t able to touch

and see the products you’re offering before

purchase. The best we can do on a website is

to provide large, detailed images and perhaps

some product videos for more technical/

dynamic products. Miss off the images or

provide low quality imagery, and conversion

rates drop even further than if a description

is missing.

What customers really want

A recent Which? report on online shopping

behaviour highlighted which online shops

were regarded as giving the best shopping

experience. More importantly, the report

laid out exactly why the panel of experts and

public thought each experience was good or

bad. It’s probably no surprise to learn that the

online shops which were consistently rated

with high feedback scores were those which

gave lots of product information and put no

barriers in the way of a purchase. The leader

of the pack here was www.ao.com, a specialist

in household appliances. AO were praised

for bountiful amounts of on-page content

including large, clear images, videos and

reviews as well as of course full descriptions

for each of the products.

We can therefore deduce that what online

shoppers actually want is as much product

information as possible, laid out in an easy-to-

absorb manner. This gives the online shopper

everything they need to know about the

product they might potentially be purchasing

and makes the possibility of that purchase

much higher. Add to this free delivery (with

the option of same day delivery in some cases)

and you can see why www.ao.com got voted

the best online shopping experience.

Take a step back

Now that we know what’s needed for a really

great online shopping experience, take a step

back from your own website and view with

Why user experience mattersDavid Fairhurst

Head of Creative

Online Marketing

Intelligent Retail

It’s probably no surprise to learn that the online

shops which were consistently rated with high feedback scores

were those which gave lots of product

information and put no barriers in the way of a

purchase.”

“

138 ATTIRE

the eye of a typical website user. Do your

pages give all the information you need as a

purchaser? Do you really want to purchase

after reading the description and looking

at the images? Are your delivery policies

enabling potential sales? If the answer is no,

then you really have to re-think how products

are presented on your website.

You really don’t need to spend too much

energy here figuring out what you need to

do – take a look at what the top websites do

and you’ll be on the right track; after all, large

companies spend massive amounts of money

developing websites and online strategies to

make sure online sales move forward; look

what these top companies do well and

then do what you can to mimic these

successful websites.

Most of all, if you currently have products

with poor quality images and descriptions

(or even worse, no descriptions and images at

all) then do your business a favour and rectify

this as soon as you can, because, otherwise,

that well-designed website you have won’t be

selling anything.

Why people shop online

Some traditional retailers bemoan the advent

of online shopping, thinking that traditional

high street sales are affected because online

traders are able to offer lower prices. In some

respects this is true. If overheads are lower,

goods can and do get offered at a lower price

point. For most online shoppers though, this

isn’t the main or only driving factor of

online shopping.

Convenience. That’s the keyword here.

Online shoppers love the ability to shop

when they want and get goods delivered to

their door; if those products happen to be

substantially lower priced than high street

alternatives then this is a bonus.

So online shopping is all about

convenience, but if the correct information

isn’t present on a website then this not only

ruins the shopping experience but leads to

frustration and loss of sales.

In the Which? survey mentioned, customers

of the worst offending websites complained

about lack of information, products which

were grouped in the wrong categories and

navigation systems which were difficult to

use. A good, fresh website using the latest

technology will sort out everything except the

content, which is best left to a professional

copywriter, in most cases.

What’s needed is top quality, focused

text on all category pages, original product-

focused text on each product page and a

coherent content strategy (interest and article

pages, ‘how to’ guides etc.) which will grab the

attention of both search engines and people,

gaining links from other websites and social

media over time.

Get the content of your website right and

I guarantee search engines as well as your

website’s visitors will love you – and so will

your bank manager. A

Further information:

David Fairhurst is Head of Creative Online

Marketing at Intelligent Retail.

David has been involved with search engine

optimisation (SEO) and web development

since 1999 and has spoken at many different

retail and SEO conferences including Spring

Fair and SES London. Contact David on T:

+44 (0)845 680 0126.

Convenience. That’s the keyword here. Online

shoppers love the ability to shop when they want and

get goods delivered to their door.”

“

Contact Sterlina Milano [email protected] | 01902421320 | 07971544914

for a catalogue.

From£3.95

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1000s of product photosDetailed at-a-glance information on suppliers. Save your favourite suppliers for future visits

The directory is still free to use - no registration. All listings are thoroughly vetted.

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What’s New?

What’s Not New?

Q&A

ATTIRE 141

Charlie Gumley has worked with entrepreneurs

for more than 15 years, creating websites, running

workshops and styling brands. She is the author of the

best-selling How To Style Your Brand, everything you

need to know to create a distinctive brand identity and

writes the popular blog, www.thebrand-stylist.com

You can contact Fiona via the website

www.fionahumberstone.com

Adrien Nussenbaum is co-founder of Mirakl and

CEO of Mirakl Inc. With more than 15 years’

entrepreneurial and business development experience,

Adrien founded Mirakl with his business partner

Philippe Corrot in 2012. Since then it’s become the

leading provider of online marketplace technology to

retailers all over the world.

Contact Adrien by calling +44 (0)7908 537 033 or

via email at [email protected]

Vhari Russell is a life-long foodie, who loves working

in the food industry. She’s founder of the Food

Marketing Expert (a sales and marketing agency) and

co-founder of Grub Club Cambridge (a b2b food

networking group). Vhari is passionate about helping

producers get their products on retailers’ shelves and

getting their products the sales, profile and coverage

they deserve.

Contact Vhari by calling +44 (0)1480 276 555 or

via email at [email protected]

AQ

All the AnswersOUR EXPERTS TACKLE YOUR RETAIL-RELATED QUERIES

Instagram for businessI need to increase my social media presence – what are

the benefits of using Instagram?

Charlie says: Currently, Instagram is a favourite

amongst brands who are trying to engage directly where

their target consumer, especially if they’re under 30. If

this is your demographic, then you need to jump on it

and engage ASAP.

Instagram is a fantastic way to incorporate your brand

and products into a visual display of how you want your

brand to be perceived directly by your customers, and

the best bit, it’s totally free. At O.W.L, we specialise in

British heritage-inspired fashion watches, and this has

given us a rich palette to create engaging visuals and

build a current following of just over 4,500. Considering

we’ve been doing this seriously for six months, we’re

quite happy with the time invested.

As you build your followers, they’ll engage, retweet

and share your images through their social media. We’ve

seen a direct rise in Twitter and Facebook followers

by investing our time in Instagram and, of course, an

increase in our own web traffic and ultimately increased

sales through all channels. As well as direct website sales,

wholesale has also benefited from the brand’s increased

consumer awareness.

Instagram gives you the ability to tell your story

through daily updates of your projects to an interested

audience. It acts as a mini blog and has the effect of

humanising your brand or business, so don’t be afraid

to share your day-to-day life. People buy from people,

they don’t like faceless brands. By doing this, you’ll gain

credibility and further loyalty from your followers.

Another added benefit is that you can fine tune

your images by using #tags to direct them to the right

audience; for example if you wanted to hit a male

audience then use the #mensfashion then the product –

in our case #watches – and the people who have the big

followers are the #bloggers, so don’t forget to add them

to your posts too. The more you do this the better results

and likes you will achieve.

Be prepared to follow other people. However, my one

bit of advice is to choose wisely or your own Instagram

channel will get very full very quick. Aim to follow those

who you believe will help you spread your message the

furthest, and who'll complement your products and

your customer base. Think about your preferred brand

adjacencies, as your consumers are likely to be attracted

to these also.

John Kendall has been Banknote Education Manager

at the Bank of England for over 10 years. His team is

responsible for providing information and advice to

retailers and businesses on how to authenticate Bank

of England banknotes. They also help publicise the

issue and withdrawal of new and old banknote designs,

including the introduction of polymer banknotes in

the New Year.

Contact John by calling +44 (0)20 7601 4661 or via

email at [email protected]

142 ATTIRE

AQ

AQ

AQ

Finally, be consistent and make sure to

share your Instagram through your other

social media, using the simple interface

provided. It really isn’t that complicated, and

don’t be afraid to get creative with the built

in filters to enhance your images.

Online marketplacesI’m undecided about selling my products

on an online marketplace as well as my

company website. Do you have any tips?

Adrien says: Given that around 8 per cent

of all products bought online are bought via

an online marketplace, it makes absolute

sense for a seller to use these as an additional

sales channel. Looking beyond Amazon

Marketplace, gift sellers can use specialised

marketplaces, which have more qualified

traffic and offer a greater opportunity.

The key is in selecting the one that’ll

give you the best platform to sell. A good

online marketplace will be based on a solid

technical platform and have all the right

tools for its vendors, such as advanced

catalogue integration, and pricing tools, that

allow a seller to compare their price with

the current best price on each product. They

should also provide an account manager

with whom the seller can communicate on

how best to maximise their listing.

Once the seller has chosen their

marketplace, they need to make sure their

products get noticed. This means having

good quality photography that fits in with

the overall feel of the site and main retailer’s

brand, and also sticking to the principals

of SEO. Most consumers search using a

product brand name, so including that at the

beginning of a product’s title is an obvious

step and would be critical in getting picked

up in searches on that marketplace.

Stocking food itemsI’m considering stocking food offerings

such as luxury boxes of chocolates in my

gift shop. Are there any health and safety

regulations I need to consider?

Vhari says: Stocking food offers a great

way of increasing your pick up lines and

gift solutions. There are so many wonderful

products you can stock and as long as they’re

packaged and labelled, clearly stating the

best before end, product weight, producers

address and a full ingredients list and

allergen warnings.

I’d recommend keeping it simple and

stocking products that have great visual

impact. Ask you supplier if they can supply

you with samples for you to launch with and

encourage your customers to try before they

open up their wallets.

If the supplier offers displays and you can

fit them in your shop, use these as they’ve

been designed to offer visual impact and sell

stock. In many cases, they also offer great

countertop sales.

Make sure you rotate your stock and

manage the BBE (Best Before End) dates

as its can be costly to get this wrong. Follow

the manufacturer’s storage guidance advice

on the outer case. They normally recommend

a dry and cool location. You’ll also need to

be careful of any pests that may find food

attractive, so ensure you have pest control in

place if required.

Avoid putting product in the shop

window as the sunlight can affect the quality

of the product. When sampling, please wash

your hands and use blue food handling

gloves to handle the product.

Most importantly, enjoy stocking food!

Find out what makes the product special

and shout about it on social media.

Reducing fraudI want to protect my business against

taking counterfeit banknotes – do you have

any tips to help?

John says: There are steps you can take to

protect yourself and your customers. Manual

checks can quickly and easily be made using

the security features on banknotes whenever

notes are being passed in a transaction. Don’t

rely on checking just one security feature,

but check a few such as the feel of the

paper and the raised print, the watermark,

the holograms, the metallic thread and the

motion thread on the £50 note. If you have

any doubts, compare a suspect note to one

that you know is genuine.

The Bank of England provides a range of

free of charge training materials, including

a booklet, posters, banknote app, online

training course, deterrent stickers and two

short films. More information on these can

be found on the Bank of England website

www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes

Once a counterfeit note is suspected or

discovered, it’s your responsibility to notify

the police. This is because it’s a criminal

offence to knowingly hold or pass on a note

that you know or suspect to be counterfeit.

Q&A

A

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144 ATTIRE

Give your boutique some East Village cool with a mix of shabby chic and mid-century industrialism

In a New York minute

’50s cream wooden stool,

£29.95, Dotcomgiftshop

+44 (0)20 8746 2473

www.dotcomgiftshop.com

Large antique brass wall mirror,

£175, Rose & Grey

+44 (0)161 926 8763

www.roseandgrey.co.uk

Graphix coffee table, £119,

Made.com

+44 (0)3442 571 888

www.made.com

Decorative pineapple,

£29.95, The Farthing

+44 (0)844 567 2400

www.thefarthing.co.uk

Vintage-style fan wall

clock, £47.95,

Melody Maison

+44 (0)1302 741 000

www.melodymaison.co.uk

Brit Stitch, www.brit-stitch.co.uk

ATTIRE 145

WINDOW DRESSING

Newgate ice cream factory clock,

£57, The Orchard

+44 (0)845 643 0363

www.orchardhomeandgifts.com

Orvokki lamp, £115, The

Chandelier & Mirror Company

+44 (0)1892 541 355

www.chandeliersandmirrors.co.uk

Tulip glass light fitting,

£29.95, Dotcomgiftshop

+44 (0)20 8746 2473

www.dotcomgiftshop.com

Nick Cranston Luggage Tag

NYC wall art, £49, Oliver Bonas

+44 (0)20 8974 0110

www.oliverbonas.com

New York: A Portrait of a City edited

by Reuel Golden, £44.99, Amara

+44 (0)800 587 7645

www.amara.com

French shabby chic wall key cabinet,

£24.95, Gifts From Handpicked

+44 (0)845 519 2408

www.giftsfromhandpicked.co.uk

Wild & Wolf

’50s American diner

phone, £74.95,

Exit Interiors & Gifts

+44 (0)1423 858 111

www.exitinteriors.co.uk

146 ATTIRE

Dids Macdonald, CEO of Anti Copying in Design, discusses the benefits of the company’s Mediate To Resolve initiative

Is there an alternative to litigation if your

designs have been copied? Yes, definitely.

Mediation offers a user-friendly alternative

to the cost and time consuming experience

of having to go through an often debilitating

legal process. So, whether you’re a claimant

or defendant, the trick is to encourage both

parties to come to the table and talk before

either gets too entrenched in the legal process.

So how can one ensure that both parties

will attend mediation? Well, a good start is

to campaign industry organisations to adopt

mediation as part of their code of conduct in

the event of a member-to-member dispute.

For example, if ever there’s a dispute between

ACID members, it’s a condition for all

members, having signed our code of conduct,

to first go to mediation. It just makes sense.

Who wants to even enter into protracted and

costly litigation?

Angus Gardner, Managing Director

of Caroline Gardner Publishing, said, “A

lawyer friend of mine once said to me that

litigation should be reserved for life or death

situations. The fact of the matter is that the

process of litigation is both expensive and

all-consuming. Neither are good things for a

small business, and so I fully endorse ACID’s

Mediate To Resolve initiative, where matters

can be resolved with the help of a trained

and experienced mediator, quickly and before

costs have got too painful.”

Sadly, copying is part of the culture in a

competitive world such as the giftware sector

and often, those who copy most are the ones

who can afford endless litigation. They often

adopt the strategy that they can stonewall

legal challenge and perpetuate litigation so

that micro and small and medium-sized

enterprises (SME) innovators simply have

to give up the fight. But, help is at hand:

ACID will be announcing the extension of

its successful exhibition grass roots mediation

model and will introduce Mediate To Resolve

– an alternative to dispute resolution. This is

a mediation service without IP lawyers, but

with a highly skilled intellectual property

mediator. The parties jointly appoint a

mediator, who’s an independent third party,

to act as a catalyst to assist the parties to craft

their own solution to the dispute rather than

have one imposed upon them. The mediator

cannot force the parties to accept a decision

and the mediator will not offer one.

Nick Kounoupias, ACID’s Chief

Legal Counsel and also a mediator said,

“Mediation is generally pretty under-utilised

in IP disputes but in the vast majority of

cases mediation offers a quicker, cheaper,

less stressful, less distracting and far more

satisfying solution to a dispute than litigation,

and importantly enables parties to craft a

settlement that works for them rather than

one imposed by a court.”

Mediation has proven itself over the last

15 years to be an effective way of resolving

disputes without the need to go to court.

ACID’s statistics broadly reflect this trend;

of the 3500+ exhibition mediations that

ACID has handled to date, only about 30 per

cent were not settled on the day, with the vast

majority settling very quickly afterwards, and

only three going to court.

Nick added, “This process and the trust

placed on the mediator by all parties provides

the framework within which to reach a

solution and helps diffuse some of the tension

and upset that persists in litigation through

correspondence. At a mediation between two

designers and manufacturers this year, the

mediation ended a few hours later having

settled their differences and sharing a taxi and

a drink on the way back to their respective

train stations. So it does work. Give it a try.”

What advantages does mediation have

over litigation?

Flexibility: Mediation is a flexible process

conducted confidentially in which a neutral

person actively assists parties in working

towards a negotiated agreement of a dispute

or difference, with the parties in ultimate

control of the decision to settle and the terms

of resolution.

Your own settlement: Mediation enables

the parties to craft their own settlement and

agree terms of settlement that can exceed the

possible remedies made available by a court.

In contrast, a judge is constrained in the

remedies he can award.

Selection of neutral: The parties can select

their mediator, who can be trusted and

respected by both parties and is an expert in

his field.

Nothing to lose: By entering into mediation,

neither party loses their right to pursue other

dispute resolution methods such as litigation.

It can take place at any time, including during

litigation.

Confidential: The mediation is completely

confidential, unlike litigation, which is open

to public scrutiny.

Maintains relationships: Litigation by its

very nature is adversarial and often irreparably

damages relationships, whereas mediation

encourages communication and co-operation

between the parties and can often preserve

relationships and generate future business.

Court expects mediation: Recent cases

have shown that the court may deny winners

at trial their costs and expenses if they have

unreasonably refused to mediate.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE, CMG,

Minister for Intellectual Property,

commenting on the ACID scheme said,

“Mediation and other Alternative Dispute

Resolution mechanisms offer many

advantages over litigation and can be

particularly valuable in IP cases. ACID’s

Mediate To Resolve service gives access to a

quicker, cheaper and better means of resolving

problems. My congratulations to ACID for

this vital piece of work and all they do to

improve their service.”

It’s good to talk

A

Further information

To find out more, visit www.acid.uk.com

One of the most respected brands in the UK Dante have been supplying fashion Jewellery to independents, multiples and department stores for over 25 years.

Each season we design a brand new collection of items that compliment the season’s fashion trends.

For more information of a catalogue www.DanteJewellery.com or 01260 226 588

STOP PRESS

We have a great opportunity for an experienced Agent to represent us in the Midlands.

“Great with colour”Dante

148 ATTIRE

It’s not easy to juggle the demands of work with the demands of home, asserts Louise Dicks, Marketing Manager at Richard Designs.

One of the most difficult things I’ve found

about working in a family business is the see-

saw pull between home and work life. At the

time of writing this feature, we’re at the end of

a very busy 2015. While planning and putting

improvements in place for 2016, I find myself

thinking not only about the goals I want to

strive for at work, but also how I can manage

this work/life balance better. It must be the

same for many of us in the bridal industry, as it

is a problem that seems particularly prevalent

in family businesses, and entrepreneurs with

very young families.

PREPARE FOR CHANGE

Going into 2015, I had a clear idea of what

I wanted to achieve, but as tends to happen

in life, there were a few spanners thrown in

the works. My sister-in-law Jennifer, who

works with me in the sales and marketing

department of Richard Designs (her

organisational skills and personable ways

favouring the sales side, and my creative

and rather haphazard ways favouring

marketing), was off for most of the year on

maternity leave. I remember it was around

March or April when I was knee-deep in

show season and I exasperatedly said to my

mum and brother ‘I just don’t understand

why I am struggling so much to keep up

with everything’. They plainly and calmly

responded, “Well, Louise, you are doing

two jobs you know.” From then on I tried

– sometimes unsuccessfully – to be a little

kinder to myself and just do the best I could.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Several other big changes and improvements

made their way into my work life in 2015,

many of which our customers will see

come into fruition this year. Some of these

developments were unexpected and could

not have been planned for. While this was all

happening, my personal life didn’t slow down

either; in February my boyfriend proposed

and became my fiancé, and all of a sudden we

had a wedding to plan.

In September, we got some difficult news

about a family member who is unwell.

Among all of these unusual events and

changes in direction, we’ve shown that we

can pull together as a family and cover for

each other when one of us needs a helping

hand. It’s highlighted how wonderful every

member of staff who works with us is, they’re

trustworthy and reliable, and very much

appreciated – now more than ever.

LOSS OF CONTROL

It’s difficult when you’re someone who likes

to be in control (which I think most business

people tend to be), to put your trust in others,

and to step back and re-prioritise your family

even when you’re busy at work. I’ve learnt that

most of the time things run along just fine,

and that people can surprise you when you

let them.

Unfortunately, I’m one of those who feel

more comfortable when in control, but I’m

taking steps to work around this. We’re

going to 12 trade shows next year, and I’ve

committed to being at just five of them. In

contrast, in 2015 we attended nine shows and

I missed only one, due to it overlapping with

another show in the US at the same time.

I’m more prepared to accept that maybe

not everything will be done in one

year, but to plan things in for

2017 and beyond as well,

and I’m trying hard to be

‘in the moment’ each

day, as we all know the

days go quicker than

ever, each year we

get older.

Finding a balance

It’s difficult when you’re someone who likes to be in control (which I think most

business people tend to be), to put your trust in others, and to step back

and re-prioritise your family even when you’re

busy at work. ”

“

148 ATTIRE

ATTIRE 149

BUSINESS BALANCE

STAND ON CEREMONY

Of course, planning our wedding will need to

take a front seat for part of the year. However,

in my efforts to be a relaxed bride I think

I’ve worried those who know me, who keep

asking if I’m ever going to choose a dress, or

– even worse – if I don’t actually want to get

married. This, I suppose, is part of my quest

for balance: if I don’t let it take over my life

then I can step back and keep several things

in view at any one time. Unfortunately it’s

being interpreted negatively – I’ll put that on

the list to improve for 2016.

When I need a reminder of how to keep

my life balanced, I look to other members of

my family and those in the bridal industry

and beyond who are managing this every day.

I’m inspired by those who prioritise the most

important moments at work and home, and

who use the fear of failure as a motivation,

not a setback. I think back to when I was a

child and my mum managed to look after four

children under the age of five, while starting

and growing her own business. She’s an

inspiration to me and my siblings, and I hope

we can continue with the positive attitude and

sheer hard work that she demonstrated to us

whilst still being firmly focused on family.

ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES

I wanted to share with you a few words I

recently read from one of our stockists in

the US, who’s an inspiring entrepreneur with

a young family, and not just a successful

boutique, but a growing line of bridal gowns

as well:

“When a swimmer reaches the end of a lap

and hits the side of the pool to turn around,

it’s called a ‘kick-flip’. Without mastering

this abrupt stop and change of direction,

the swimmer could end up with a mouth

and nose full of water. But this move is an

important one. The kick-flip is a moment

of rest for the swimmer, giving them a

much needed break, if only for a moment.

Successfully mastering this technique will

improve the swimmer’s overall endurance in

the race.

“Failure is a lot like a kick-flip. In our

search for success, we often hit walls.

Sometimes we run into them gently and other

times they knock us unconscious. The more

we hit them, the better we get, the more we

learn and the stronger we become. You can’t

just read a how-to article on kick-flips and

know how to do one. You have to practice –

over and over and over.”

I hope that this year you don’t knock

yourself out on too many walls, but if you do,

that you get stronger each time.

We’re working hard to make sure we

are doing everything we can to support

our stockists this year. If there’s

something we’re not doing that you would

like to see, just drop me an email at

[email protected]. A

ContactRichard Designs

www.facebook.com/

richarddesigns

www.richard-designs.com

I’m inspired by those who prioritise the most important moments at work and home, and who use the fear of

failure as a motivation, not a setback. ”

“

Elizabeth Dickens

+44 1353 723675 • email: [email protected] • web: elizabethdickensveils.co.uk

ATTIRE 151

NEXT ISSUE

Next issueMARCH/APRIL 2016

Plus:• Brand new products

• Expert advice

• Industry news

Attire Accessories magazineISSUE 57Available from: 7th March, 2016

Advertising deadline: 19th February, 2016

Ahead of the curveA sneak peek at London Fashion Week

French connectionAn exclusive Who’s Next and Premiere Classe post-show review

In the grainA look at this season’s leather accessories

A shore thingBeach accessories best-sellers

Carry onGet a handle on the latest handbag trends

Golden girlsOur pick of the best women’s jewellery

www.whosnext-tradeshow.com

www.goodlookers.co.uk

The INDX factorWhat’s in store for the popular accessories show

www.indxshow.co.uk

Specs appealThe hottest eyewear on the market www.goodlookers.co.ukmarket

152 ATTIRE

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ww

w.h

arri

etsa

nd

ers.

co.u

k

www.midhaven.co.uk

ATTIRE 153

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5 It’s packed with informative features to help boost your business

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PLUS• EXPERT ADVICE

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Accessories• Top Drawer Spring

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Sweet CLARITY

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for 2016

The season’s

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SHOW preview

A PRETTY

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

ISSUE 56

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PURE LONDONA guide to the show’s accessories and

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PRECIOUS CARGOThe best travel accessories

CITY CHICLooking ahead to London Fashion Week

154 ATTIRE

What’s the inspiration behind the

company and its products?

I’m very much influenced by the urban

environment of the City of London where

I used to work. I set myself the exciting

challenge of using and repurposing

industrial materials such as silicone and

aluminium to make bold and edgy pieces

of jewellery.

The aim is to offer a fresh take on

traditional, classic shapes, such as draped

and layered necklaces which will appeal

to those looking to stand out with quality

hand-made and distinctive adornments.

How was the first collection developed?

The initial collection was very different

from what I design today. The influence

was the same, minimalist and graphic, but

the brand identity was weak, the message

unclear. I had to rethink how to reach

my dream customer more effectively.

That’s when I decided to move away from

traditional

silversmithing,

but apply the

same jewellery

techniques to a

selection of less

orthodox mixed

media instead.

Were there any

problems when setting up the business?

How did you overcome these issues?

For me the most difficult part was to try

and find my way in the jewellery industry,

where unwritten rules and codes make it

fascinating but also extremely difficult to

navigate. These main difficulties would

include – in no particular order – sourcing

a good jewellery photographer, creating a

reliable network of fellow makers, getting

as much positive exposure as possible and

selecting the shows where my products

would be found by the right market.

How would you describe the current

Essemgé collection?

Essemgé currently has four collections:

Create Your Style, Drapé, Graphic and

Romantic, each with a clear individual

concept whilst retaining the same strong

brand visual. The collections are constantly

evolving, with the designs being refined

as I experiment with new ideas. The latest

developments have been streamlining the

colours available to a capsule selection of

easy-to-wear tones, launching daintier

versions of existing designs and offering

silver as a metal alternative to aluminium.

These changes have enabled the label to

appeal to a wider audience of women and

men alike.

How often will the company be launching

new lines?

As mentioned earlier, collections are

constantly evolving. However, being

essentially a one-woman band, at least

so far, means that it’s difficult to develop

a complete new line in less than a year.

Variations and additions to existing designs

are introduced more frequently; perhaps

twice a year.

Is the collection aimed at a particular type

of retail outlet or consumer?

The brand is aimed at people looking for

quality and individuality. To retain the

brand’s ethos of UK hand-made designer

jewellery with high quality materials,

Essemgé is currently best suited to boutique

shops and galleries.

Are you exhibiting at any trade fairs over

the coming months?

I’ll exhibit at CRAFT London in January

next year, Jewellery & Watch Birmingham

in February and British Craft Trade Fair in

April. Although these events are very big

financial commitments for Essemgé, they’ll

give the brand a vital platform to raise the

brand profile and allow me to meet with

existing stockists, as well as reach out to a

new audience.

When did you launch the website and how

important is it to the business?

The website was launched very early on.

Though it was very DIY – my cousin

helped me set it up, despite neither of us

having any IT expertise – it helped launch

Essemgé as a serious professional business.

Despite its many flaws, the biggest of

which being less than perfect images (still

a work in progress) it proved invaluable

when applying to exhibitions, industry

bodies for memberships, or PR marketing

opportunities. It was recently relaunched

after a complete overhaul by a professional

web developer. I feel confident that it’s now

a much better reflection of what Essemgé

is about.

What are the long-term plans for the

Essemgé brand?

My aim is to make sure that Essemgé

becomes recognised as a leading innovator

that will have contributed to designer

silicone jewellery’s credentials, by

demonstrating the beauty of the material,

when used creatively, and popularising it

with consumers. Quite an ambition, but

you always have to set yourself challenging

and exciting goals. A

Contact

Essemgé

+44 (0)7810 513 338

www.essemge.com

Silicone roundaboutFounder of jewellery label Essemgé, Sophie Martin-Glinel talks about city inspiration, evolving the brand vision and her love of modern materials

b d fil d ll h

el nd her

Please come and visit us at:Torquay Show, 17-20 January

Livermead House Hotel, TorquayScotland Trade Fair, 24-26 January

SECC, Glasgow, Stand H37Spring Fair, 7-11 February

NEC, Birmingham, Stand 20M38-N39

Rowallan by Checker Leather Ltd. Unit 2, Western Industrial Estate, Crathie Road, Kilmarnock KA3 1LUtel: 01563 541709 - email: [email protected] - web: www.rowallan.com

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