9 Things we Learned from Whistles CEO Jane Shepherdson. As part of our Fashion Means Business blog series in celebration of the launch of our Fashion Business School, we asked CEO of Whistles Jane Shepherdson CBE to give us some of her wisdom to help all you LCF students on your way to fashion business greatness!
And she definitely didn’t disappoint, here are 9 things we learned… 1. The UK does fashion brilliantly “I’ve spent my entire life basically taking the creativity and talent of our British design and turning it into something commercial. Fashion is a huge industry and one of the great things about it is that it’s something we, in the UK, are really really good at!
2. “Without a strong creative vision your brand will just float around on the winds of trend, it will be inconsistent, your customers won’t trust you and will end up becoming dependent on price.” 3. “You need to be able to create differential, you need to be able to create something that’s different to everything else out there and you need to be able to deliver it. 4. 5. 6. Whistles launches menswear collection. The inaugural collection is being rolled out in 24 shopsIncludes sophisticated separates but also a few susrprise statement piecesRyan Gosling and Ben Whishsaw amongst celebrity inspirations for collection By Naomi Greenaway Published: 16:00 GMT, 1 September 2014 | Updated: 16:00 GMT, 1 September 2014 It's long been the sophisticated woman's go-to fashion brand and this week Whistles is finally dipping a toe into the menswear market.
The high street giant is rolling out its new men's collection in 24 shops round the country. But Whistles' first foray into male territory isn't all understated sophistication as one might expect. Amongst the clean-cut lines and smart separates are a few surprising numbers - most notably this £235 crew-neck sweater in fuchsia pink. This pink fluffy jumper (left) and bright blue stripey number (right) are amongst the more surprising elements of the new Whistles menswear collection She also added that it's all about 'looking cool, without looking like an a***hole.' Whistles supports Smart Works Clothing Charity. Whistles to launch sportswear range with Frame. Edwin Europe - Whistles x Edwin. Whistles announces charity collaboration - Design - Fashion-news. Jane Shepherdson at Whistles: peep-peep show. BY Sally Williams | 13 September 2008 The fashion chain Whistles seemed to have run out of puff, but with Jane Shepherdson - the woman who breathed fresh life into Topshop as its brand director - it is dancing to a lively new tune, says Sally Williams.
Fashion by Clare Richardson. Whistles launches in US with Bloomingdale's. Fashion Jobs in London and Fashion News in the UK Fashion jobs, Fashion news and all other possible Fashion information fashion professionals need.
Fashion design jobs in the UK and a Fashion News archive and links to international fashion jobs. Fashion designer, store manager, design assistant, fashion manager, fashion buyer, fashion marketing, stylist, junior stylist, pattern maker, pr executive, product developer and many other fashion jobs in the UK. Whistles to focus on international growth - Design - Fashion-news. Jane Shepherdson, chief executive at women's wear retailer Whistles has revealed plans to open more than 30 stores overseas during the next 5 years.
She hinted that a possible IPO or private stock sale may occur sometime in the near future to fund the brands store expansion during an interview with the Telegraph, in which she backed calls by Business Secretary Vince Cable to demand quotas for women on FTSE 100 company boards and examine all women-shortlists. Since Shepherdson left her former role as Brand Director at Topshop and joined the company back in 2008, she has managed to redirect the brands focus and lifted it into the higher end of the fashion spectrum. Now that the company has a number of UK stand alone stores as well as concessions in department stores such as Harrods, Harvey Nichols and John Lewis, Whistles is examining the possibilities of expanding overseas and opening its first stand alone stores. Whistles conquers the 'middle market' of British womenswear. While Marks & Spencer announced a 6.8% drop of general sales last month, another corner of the British high street has been quietly flourishing.
Whistles, the clothing brand set up by Lucille Lewin in the 1980s, announced this week that it had bought back the majority of its shares from the Icelandic government, a move which has underlined its growing strength. Whistles, which has been independent since parting ways with the retail group Mosaic in 2008, has gone from strength to strength despite a tough economic climate. How Whistles Reemerged as One of the Most Exciting Contemporary Brands in Fashion. 2008 was not an easy year for many in the fashion industry -- least of all, perhaps, for Jane Shepherdson.
The former Topshop brand director, once described as "the most powerful woman on the high street," had just become chief executive of (and a substantial investor in) a fading British brand called Whistles. Days before the brand was scheduled to unveil its relaunch, Lehman Brothers collapsed. Whistles Launch First Unisex Collaboration. After successfully adding a menswear range to their artillery for autumn/winter 2014, Whistles have revealed their first offering to please both sides of the fence.
Teaming up with niche Scandi rainwear brand Stutterheim (fans include Kanye West and the ELLE fashion team) the result is two sleek yet simple raincoat designs. Buy the navy with orange and white stripes for yourself, and the grey with white and black stripes for your boyfriend to craftily acquire both. We’re all familiar with Whistles' dreamy, directional collections, but for those who don’t frequent the menswear section (or venture to Stockholm) too often, Stutterheim is a Swedish rainwear brand, founded in 2010 by Alexander Stutterheim. Inspired by his fisherman grandfather, the coats are simple, timeless and, oddly, sexy. Whistles x Trekstock. Our exclusive Whistles x Trekstock collaboration comprises five must-have accessories created by our guest creatives graphic designer and illustrator Kate Moross, jewellery designers Kate Hillier, Maria Francesca Pepe, Bex Rox and fashion designer Holly Fulton.
‘I am delighted that Whistles is supporting Trekstock; the charity’s approach is refreshing and heartfelt and they are able to introduce and share a sensitive subject, cancer in young people, in a way that is accessible and sensitive to their audience. The pieces are beautifully designed and I hope we can help raise awareness and donations a result of this collaboration’. Jane Shepherdson, Whistles CEO All proceeds will be donated to the super worthy Trekstock charity to aid their vital research into cancers that affect young people. Shop the entire collection here. Whistles and the Gang: Exclusive collaboration & in-store knitting event. Comprised of a community of knitters worldwide, Wool and the Gang maintains a strong focus on ethical and sustainable production, as each piece is knitted by one of the 'gang'.
The exclusive Whistles collaboration kit features, 1 x pre-knitted hat in mint, grey or classic black, alongside a knitting needle, yarn and a ‘how to’ beginners instruction manual. Need more help? We’ve also created a instructional video to guide you through the monogram process, available to watch here. If you are feeling a little rusty or would like some beginners tips, head to select stores on Saturday 6th & 7th of December, where members of Wool and the Gang will be on hand to guide you through the process or sew your own chosen monogram.
There will also be pom poms, in 3 colours, available exclusively for the events, to purchase or have stitched in-store onto your hat. New designer collaboration: Markus Lupfer for Whistles. The London Fashion Week designer has teamed up with the high street retailer to create a collection of luxurious winter-appropriate pieces – from hats and scarves, to silk pyjamas and jumpers. Cashmere is used heavily throughout – from intarsia cashmere scarves and hats, to hot pink cashmere mittens. There are also small leather goods (we’re thinking perfect stocking fillers), including an iPad case emblazoned with neon hearts, a make-up bag and an iPhone holder. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below The Markus Lupfer for Whistles collection is in stores and online now. Whistles Unveils Its Best Accessories Collaboration Yet.
MOXHAM X Whistles Necklace London designer Madeleine Moxham has teamed up with Whistles to create the perfect range of accessories. Fusing MOXHAM'S clean aesthetic with Whistles' signature style, the pieces exude Scandi cool, despite being born and bred in London. Clean, minimalist and fresh the combination of metal, leather and woven fabrics make these pieces versatile for both night and day.
Whistles Limited Edition Line Launches Online And In Store. 24 August 2012 Sarah Karmali BRITISH brand Whistles is launching its first Limited Edition line. With an emphasis on exclusivity, select pieces from the collection will only be produced in batches of 20. The first range will feature 70 luxury pieces spanning both contemporary daywear and eveningwear, with key fabrics including leather, cashmere, silk crepe and jacquard.
"We decided to stretch our creative wings this year and allow ourselves the luxury of designing a small tightly-edited collection of what we consider to be the most covetable pieces of the season, in the most luxurious and desirable fabrics," said Jane Shepherdson, Whistles chief executive. "When we had created it, we realised that we couldn't do without it, and it became our Limited Edition. The range will launch exclusively online at www.whistles.co.uk on Tuesday August 28, before making its first in-store appearance at the South Molton Street boutique on September 6, to coincide with Vogue's Fashion's Night Out.