Fashion Angel Hosts Networking Talk on Agents and Distributors with GCU London

On Wednesday 27th May, we hosted one of our infamous networking talks, focusing on working with Agents and Distributors, as a path to increasing sales. The event was held in the heart of Spitalfields at the GCU London British School of Fashion campus, and was the first in a series of talks we will be collaborating on.

The event was a sell out with around 60 attendees, including our Fashion Angel Business Club members,  both new and established fashion industry SMEs and GCU students & alumni .

Chaired by Fashion Angel founder Alison Lewy, the evening explored how to go about finding agent/distributors, what needs to be considered if taking this route, and the legal obligations you should be aware of.

The guest panel consisted of Daniel Morris, MD of accessory brand Pauls’ Boutique, Stephen Sidkin, Partner at Fox Williams LLP who specialise in fashion agency law and Bridget Boakye, Fashion Industry Sales & Branding Consultant.

Daniel Morris offered his advice on how to find a sales agent  “ You have to do the hard work, visit trade shows, look at who represents complimentary brands. For international agents, the UKTI and local Chambers of Commerce can be helpful in providing  contacts.”

Steven Sidkin also told the audience the importance of have a formal agreement or letter of exchange in place "Agreements must comply with the Commercial Agency Regulation 1993 act and it’s vital that your requirements and terms & conditions are in place to avoid complicated litigation if things don’t go to plan, or you want to exit the relationship."

Bridget Boakye also offered her advice on working with agents  “It’s all about building a good relationships and managing expectations – some brands take on agents too early on, and are not ready to support producing larger orders.”

The talk could have gone on all night but there was plenty of opportunity to ask the panel questions and also a chance to network afterwards with the delegates as well as the guest speakers.

Fashion Angel founder Alison Lewy said “ the event exceeded our expectations and feedback from attendees has been fantastic. We were so pleased to see the GCU students network with our community of fashion SMEs, and look forward to collaborating with GCU London on the next talks”

Our next event is the popular Getting it Made workshop, focusing on sourcing and managing production. Tickets available on our events page.

Decoded Fashion Summit - bringing the top fashion and tech innovators to London

Anyone interested in the ever increasing cross over between fashion and technology should be heading down to the next Decoded Fashion London summit taking place on May 20 - 21. Here you’ll discover the most disruptive tech from around the world impacting fashion today, to help you supercharge your strategy with the newest ideas in e-commerce, in-store, mobile, wearables & social.

This will be the third London edition, and if anything like the past two I've attended, it'll be a fascinating insight in to the world’s top fashion and retail decision makers, technology thinkers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and influencers. You'll get the chance to hear from the industry's innovators including: Amazon Fashion EU, John Lewis, Google, TOPSHOP, Harvey Nichols and more.

Start-ups & entrepreneurs can visit the Decoded Fashion Mentorship Hub - a key element of the event. The hub gives attendees access to inspirational, world-class fashion, retail and tech mentors, and the opportunity to build relationships with central figures from across the industry.

Over the two day summit, over 150 meetings will take place, giving start-ups, entrepreneurs a the opportunity to sign up for a limited number of face-to-face meetings with various executives from across the Fashion, Retail and Tech industries.

Each mentor will offer 10-minute sessions and provide candid feedback and advice to help move your company forward. For mentees these meetings are a unique opportunity to explore your messaging, value prop and even pricing with those who truly understand your target market. For mentors, it is a chance to find new talent, new partners and ideas that could innovate the industry.

With tech developments so important to our community of fashion entrepreneurs, we're hoping to see a lots of you there!

For more information, visit Decoded Fashion  or
book tickets here

Alison Lewy
@fashionangel1

Fashion Angel founder, Alison Lewy selected as one of the Maserati 100 List of Entrepreneurs

Fashion Angel's founder Alison Lewy, has been selected as one of The Maserati 100  - a definitive list celebrating Britain's most successful business leaders actively supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.

This selection is in recognition of the continuing support she gives to 100's of fashion entrepreneurs via  mentoring, training and access to funding.

Alison said 'I've always felt passionately that it's important for business leaders share their expertise with the next generation . I am delighted to be selected for this prestigious award and thankful to both Maserati and the Centre for Entrepreneurs for celebrating and encouraging entrepreneurship in this way. I have always found mentoring designer-makers and fashion  brands rewarding and inspiring, and it's so exciting to see so many of the entrepreneurs we've worked with, start and grow in to successful enterprises'.

The Maserati 100 List is a collaboration between Maserati and the Centre for Entrepreneurs. This collaboration is characterised by shared values in terms of the positive impact entrepreneurs have on the economy and society as a whole.  

Our Favourite Fashion Exhibitions for 2015

If you’re a fashion or accessory designer, this year's going to be a bumper one for you, with a plethora of fashion exhibitions opening at some of London's top museums.

Our favourites below, will give you an idea of what to look forward to:-

Thea Porter:70s Bohemian Chic 
Thea Porter was the original fashion bohemian – inspired by her Damascus upbringing , she was one the first designers to introduce striking Middle East prints to the UK market and built up a huge global fan base. This show, with over 150 exhibits,  charts her journey from London to Hollywood's high society
Fashion and Textile Museum
February 6 – May 3 2015

Shifting Patterns: Pacific Barkcloth Clothing
Sounds strange, but clothing and accessories out of barkcloth is a 5,000 year old tradition. This show features headdresses, clothing and masks from New Guinea to Easter Island and explores creative history of ancient civilisations
British Museum
February 5 – Aug 16 2015


Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty
This dazzling retrospective is an ode to one of London’s most extraordinary talents and will have over 200 exhibits on display – even more than the original 2011 New York sell out show.
V & A
March  14 – 19 2015

Fashion on the Ration: 1940s Street Style
The severe rationing during the Second World War encouraged the make do and mend ethos. This exhibition explores the extraordinary creativity that flourished as a result, and takes a peak in to the wartime wardrobe.
Imperial War Museum
March 5 – Aug 31 2015

3D Print Show
3D printing is pushing fashion’s boundaries and is being used for anything from intricate couture gowns to personalised trainers. This exhibition, at the Old Truman Brewery, features a catwalk display of 3-D printed creations
3D Print Show
May 21-23

Shoes: Pleasure and Pain
This exhibition explores the agony and ecstasy of extreme footwear and includes over 200 pairs ranging from gold-leaf sandals from ancient Egypt, Zaha Hadid architectural heels and Viviemene Westwood platforms that notoriously floored Naomi Cambell.
V & A 
June 13 2015 – Jan 13 2016

Riviera Style: Resort & Swimwear since 1900
From the English seaside to the Côte d’Azur and California, Riviera Style celebrates fashion at its most fun. With swimsuits and sarongs, brightly patterned beach cover-ups, boat neck Bretons and beach pyjamas, palazzo pants and playsuits, bikinis and burkinis, the exhibition features over 100 years of clothes for leisure.
Fashion and Textile Museum
22 May – 29 August 2015


If there are any others you think we should include, let us know.