British women splash out on luxury lingerie Jacqueline Gold, Ann Summers' chief executive, confirms that the store wants to "embrace the fashion-savvy look that is becoming the desired staple of lingerie wardrobes". If you want to make money in the UK retail sector, even in credit-crunch times, sell luxury underwear. The total UK lingerie market - which includes underwear and hosiery - was worth £2.48 billion in 2006, a growth of more than 13 per cent since 2002. All the major underwear retailers confirm that sales are up, year on year. But at the top end of the market the infatuation with expensive lingerie is expanding, with Agent Provocateur now a global brand and the introduction of designer lingerie labels such as Stella McCartney. "We have customers who will pay more for lingerie than for clothes," says Mary Flack, lingerie buyer at Fenwicks. The very word "lingerie" betrays the notion that it is something the French do and the British do not. Lingerie, like lipstick and chocolate, comes into the category of self-indulgence.
A brief history of London Fashion Week - Features - Fashion - The Independent The event was born in 1984 in a West London car park, with vibrant catwalk shows, exhibitions combining the strong industry focus that it has maintained to this day. It saw the debut of fashion icons such as Betty Jackson, Ghost, David Fielden and the unforgettable John Galliano. The event continued to prosper until the nineties, when the recession meant that only a handful of designers were chosen to show off their collections in a few rooms at the Ritz, in 1992. But in 1993, LFW regained its trademark vigour when Naomi Campbell strutted topless down the catwalk for the Philip Treacy collection. The late nineties saw debate over the fashion industry and anorexia, when a size 14 Sophie Dahl proudly walked down the runway and sparked controversy. Here we take a look at the back catalogue of London's biggest celebration of fashion; exploring some of the timeless trends and unforgettable personalities. Click on the image on the right to launch
Fleur of England : High Growth Knowledge Company An exclusive lingerie design house, establishing innovative trends in the lingerie market since 2000, Fleur of England continues to set itself apart from other labels with its exquisite design, luxury materials and attention to style. Fleur’s business had been growing quickly and she was experiencing a number of growing pains that comes with many High Growth Businesses, including making sense of the financial implications for her business as she grows, as well as the management of an increasing workload for her and her team. Fleur attended HGKC Connect, Learn and Grow Business Programme with a number of other business owners. During the course of the CLG Programme Fleur implemented a number of actions, including training all her team in the finances of the business and looking at the profitability of specific collections. Team HGKC worked with Fleur during the programme and with further coaching following the programme.
The fashion business Image copyright AFP We know that clothing is big business, but it may be surprising just how big. The fashion industry's contribution to the British economy is an estimated £26bn - that's twice the size of the car industry's and nearly as big as the contribution from housing, according to the British Fashion Council. It is not just dresses and handbags, but also design and manufacturing that make the sector the largest part of the so-called creative industries, which include marketing, etc. It's an important part of the services sector that makes up around four-fifths of the economy. I wrote then that it was a tougher sector to picture than say manufacturing cars which is tangible. But a couple of times a year during London Fashion Week, it is visible as models wear dresses that embody design as they sashay down the catwalk. In the five days of London Fashion Week, about £100m of orders are placed for that season. It's also an industry that has taken to social media to reach that market.
Ann Summers unveils Giles Deacon lingerie collection | Daily Mail Online Designer Giles is loved by Cara Delevingne and Kendall JennerThis is his second daring offering for lingerie giant By Bianca London for MailOnline Published: 14:15 GMT, 5 November 2014 | Updated: 18:33 GMT, 5 November 2014 Ann Summers has been given another high fashion makeover by the acclaimed British designer Giles Deacon, who counts Cara Delevingne as a fan. The collaboration is the designer's second offering for Ann Summers and the underwear giant describes the new range as 'unapologetically sexy and bold with a dash of naughtiness.' Giles Deacon, who worked for Bottega Veneta and Gucci before founding his own label, GILES, in 2003, once said that he 'didn’t design for wallflowers' and this mantra is certainly in evidence in this collection. Scroll down for video He's back! The Giles Deacon for Ann Summers collection is made up of lingerie and and fashion-forward 'sexcessories', including rose gold necklace and cuffs, lace eye masks and feather ticklers. One for the Christmas wishlist?
Fashion: Impact of The Recession - UK - Consumer market research report - company profiles - market trends - 2010 The clothing sector has survived the recession, with the market growing 1.4% in 2009 to £41.3 billion and by an estimated 1.5% in 2010 to £41.9 billion. While growth was limited due to weakened consumer spending, sales remained in positive territory. Mintel looks at what consumers’ attitudes to spending on clothes have been during this period and what the future holds. The clothing sector has survived the recession, with the market growing 1.4% in 2009 to £41.3 billion. Sales remained in positive territory, although growth was limited due to weakened consumer spending.Value retailers outperformed the market, with sales from these outlets growing by almost 6% in 2009 to reach £8.1 billion. This growth has been driven by consumers’ continued value consciousness and pressure on disposable income.Far from stopping spending on clothes last year, most people did not change their shopping habits.
OPINION: Star Power Stylist Sarah Cook on brands profiting off the backs of celebrities. Celebrity exhibitionism has been occurring for decades, but how is this phenomenon developing in the now?Stylist and lingerie specialist Sarah Cook looks at the underwear as outerwear craze and the brands that are riding high on the backs of the big names. Stocking tops on show, corsets over cocktail dresses and bras instead of blouses. With varying levels of dignity, we have seen a good handful of female celebrities styling themselves to the extreme for decades. Story continues below When we consider those that have sported the trend in the past; Madonna, Cher, Janet Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, to name just a few, we can see one common factor; Music. 2010 was a big year for this trend, as we saw the ever expanding Lady Gaga brand grow. Red carpet aside, we can’t overlook the all important fashion battle between the judges of this year’s X-factor.
London Fashion Week - News Back to news list 12 September 2014 The purpose of the British Fashion Council’s digital pillar is to support the British fashion industry to become the world leader in creativity, business and innovation. It is important for the British designer community to drive forward sales and increase their profile on the global stage and innovating digitally is a perfect way to achieve this. The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: 'I am delighted to support British fashion, which continues to be at the forefront of innovation. From how our designers are working and presenting their collections, to the fast paced dynamism of the retail sector, fashion is utilising the latest technologies to ensure this important industry continues to generate billions for our economy. Today, market research firm Mintel has released the following statistics: Digital at London Fashion Week The British Fashion Industry
Debenhams underwear as outerwear trend hits high street - Apparel News United Kingdom The latest fashion for using underwear as outerwear has sent lingerie sales soaring at Debenhams. The retailer has seen an increase in sales in boudoir inspired lingerie and sleepwear compared to sales last year; the trend to wear underwear as outerwear is this summer’s must-have high street style. Debenhams brand, B by Ted Baker has seen an uplift of 132% in the sales of printed chemises since May with the floral garden print chemise proving most popular. A host of celebrities have embraced the trend including; Kim Kardashian, Ellie Goulding, Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Daisy Lowe, Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora. Bestsellers at Debenhams include camisole tops, skirt slips and lacy night dresses, many of which are being incorporated into women’s work-day outfits. Designer for Debenhams’ Reger by Janet Reger lingerie brand, Aliza Reger says: “Lingerie inspired clothing is a must for any stylish woman’s wardrobe this summer.
Lingerie is "highest-selling" womenswear category Victoria's Secret maintained its lead in the global women Lingerie was the highest-selling category in womenswear in 2013, according to the latest estimates from Euromonitor International. The underwear sector was valued at US$77.8 billion (£47.8bn) last year, accounting for 11% of global womenswear spending, but is set to see the greatest gains over the next four years, analysts have predicted. “In Western markets, notably the UK and the US, the category is being driven by fashion trends and self-indulgence. In emerging markets, growth is stemming from consumers opting for more premium quality products and brands," Euromonitor apparel analyst Ashma Kunde said in a blog. Story continues below Victoria’s Secret maintained its lead in the global women’s underwear, nightwear and swimwear categories in 2013, registering growth of 4.2%. The womenswear category was valued at US$684 billion (£414bn) in 2013, accounting for 48% of total global apparel sales.
The latest trend in lingerie: underwear-as-outerwear ©Catwalking From left: spring/summer 2014 by Gucci; Isabel Marant; Dolce & Gabbana; Stella McCartney ou’ve done the big dress (or the very small one), the shoes, the jewels – all the stuff that goes on top. Which makes now, the time between the hoo of Christmas and the ha of new year, the best time to consider what goes underneath. Lingerie is once again having a moment. Fashion is in the throes of revisiting all things 1990s, from grunge (see Dries Van Noten’s jewelled flannel shirts, Junya Watanabe’s denims and Vivienne Westwood’s artfully frayed knits) to the ubiquitous platform trainers (Giuseppe Zanotti, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Christian Louboutin). Maria Williams, head of lingerie buying at Net-a-Porter, says: “What we’re seeing is a breaking down of boundaries between ready-to-wear and intimates. It’s an attitude echoed by design duo Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. The trend has even crossed over to the high street. Of course, sex and fashion have never been strangers.
Lingerie sector will survive with innovation - Marketing Case Studies As the economy slows and consumers change their spending behaviour, brands are looking for ways to reinvent the market in order to attract new customers and increase revenues. The underwear and lingerie sector is leading the trend by reinventing itself, repositioning and even attempting to fill the gender gap. Between bras that glow in neon hues and a bra designed to be implanted under the skin’s surface, lingerie manufacturers can’t decide whether undergarments should be prominently displayed in glitzy ferocity or kept completely invisible from the naked eye. Over-the-top innovations in underwear include electrifying eco-friendly underwear, gender-bending lingerie for men and quirky cut-out panties to show off your best assets. Innovation in the sector isn’t anything new. Japanese online lingerie retailer, the Wishroom, is one such retailer looking to fill a very wide gap in the market and has recently brought to market a new range of bras.
Lingerie + Technology: Two Brand New Innovations Curvy Couture Cool Smoothies – Photo taken by me Day in and day out, without much thought, we benefit from lingerie innovations like laser cut, the lifting and shaping fabrics of shapewear, and more. But do we ever think about those innovations work? I know the consumer in me has been really curious about some of the intentional choices designers make to create better products for us. At the most recent market, I went back to Dora for a tutorial on the latest breakthrough from Curvy Couture. A detailed look at the material used to make Curvy Couture’s Cool Smoothies utilizing Wincool technology – Photo taken by me In addition to this technology making the piece breathable, the structure is designed without breast coverage, instead scooping around the sides of the breast providing support there. My curiosity did not end there. Empowered by You – Photo taken by me As mentioned in the review, like other brands, the panty is made from a soft, nylon/spandex blend and is virtually seamless.