Alex Monroe

British jewellery designer Alex Monroe grew up in Suffolk surrounded by fields, rivers and the plants and creatures which inhabit them. He trained at Sir John Cass School Of Art in London, and uses nature to inspire his whimsical, intricately beautiful jewellery.

Established in 1986, his core aspirations remain unchanged; to make great quality, wearable jewellery, which is originally designed and well priced.

Nature has always been Alex’s greatest inspiration. Whether from travels in Pakistan, walks along the hedgerows of Suffolk or even the Tuscan hills, his designs always remain inherently English. Alex always makes the original by hand in sterling silver, which gives his work its distinctive signature of such exquisite detail. He uses his skills to craft jewellery that is slightly quirky, sometimes cute, but always very feminine. The jewellery is both pretty and humorous, but consistently wearable.

The appeal of Alex Monroe jewellery can be seen worldwide. Japan has long been a strong market and the jewellery sells well across America, Europe and Asia. The brand is now very popular in Australia, and China, and in Europe it sells from Norway to Greece.

In 2001, Alex decided to turn his sights on home and concentrate on building his brand in the UK. There are now over 100 shops selling Alex Monroe jewellery across the UK and Ireland. From little shops in the Orkney Islands, to the V&A Museum shop, the jewellery has become a firm favourite. Alex’s designs are now the top-selling brand in many outlets, including Liberty in London.

For his 20th Anniversary celebrations Alex held a fabulous party in the British Embassy in Tokyo. Back in London, Alex got together with Liberty to design a special collection of jewellery, with a posh breakfast for the press and a VIP evening in store. This was accompanied by a beautiful biographical booklet for customers.

www.alexmonroe.com

01 The One

In the year 1998 Anton Kraft had the idea of creating watches that are different from anything else ever seen: LED Displays and a new time reading system that will revolutionize the watch market. Despite the nonexisting technical resources or opportunities at the time he registered for a legal protection of his ideas.


In 2004 Anton Kraft teamed up with the owners of a production facility in Hong Kong, who brought the technical knowledge required for this journey. Because of the initial time reading system being based on the IT code for all computers - the binary code - with the numbers 0 and 1, the brand name 01THE ONE was born. In 2005 Time Technology Ltd. Hong Kong was founded and now operates the brand 01THE ONE.

Since then the brand has conquered large parts of Europe, North America and Asia.

www.01theone.com

Religion Clothing

Well known for its trademark Rock ‘n’ Roll inspired pieces, Religion initially launched in 1989 as a line of T-shirts and sweatshirts aimed at the rave scene. Located in East London’s edgy fashion epicentre, Religion quickly developed from a relatively underground label to a distinguished and unique brand within the International market place. Religion is all about irreverence and attitude, with Its trademark destroyed t-shirts and graphic prints, Religion draws its inspiration from new sensations and experiences, looking into elements of the past to create original garments, transforming them into vintage with venom. Music still continues to be a heavy influence behind every collection.

Religion’s innovative design strategy has made it a musthave for fashion fanatics. A huge celebrity following from the Pussycat Dolls, Jordin Sparks, Girls Aloud, Kate Moss and Kylie Minogue has catapulted the brands profile into the fashion and media spotlight.

2009 has seen Religion open their first UK stand alone store in Shoreditch, London. This retail store offers the complete collection from Religion with a range of exclusive accessories.

www.religionclothing.co.uk

Paul Smith

Paul Smith’s introduction into fashion was completely accidental.

At the age of 16, with no career plans or qualifications, Paul Smith was propelled by his father into a menial job at the local clothing warehouse in his native Nottingham. However his real passion was sport and his ambition was to become a professional racing cyclist, until aged 17 years when cycling-mad Paul was in a terrible accident.

Six months in hospital followed and during this time Paul made some new friends. After leaving hospital he arranged to meet them again and by chance the meeting place was a local pub that was popular with the students from the local art college.

They talked of Mondrian, Warhol, Kokoshka, David Bailey and listened to the Rolling Stones, Miles Davis and much more. It was then Paul knew he wanted to be a part of this colourful world of ideas and excitement.

Within two years, Paul Smith was managing his first boutique in Nottingham and with the encouragement of his girlfriend Pauline Denyer (now wife) and a small amount of savings, opened a tiny shop in 1970. Paul started to take evening classes for tailoring and with the help of Pauline (an RCA fashion graduate), Paul was able to create what he wanted. By 1976 Paul showed his first menswear collection in Paris under the Paul Smith label.

Within 20 years of his introduction to fashion Paul Smith had established himself as the pre-eminent British designer. Paul Smith has the ability to anticipate, and even spark off trends not only fashion but in the wider context of popular culture. He manages to transmit a genuine sense of humour and mischief mixed with his love of tradition and the classics

Today there are 12 different collections; Paul Smith, Paul Smith Women, PS by Paul Smith, Paul Smith Jeans, Paul Smith London, R.Newbold (Japan only), Paul Smith Accessories, Paul Smith Shoes, Paul Smith Fragrance, Paul Smith Watches, Paul Smith Pens and Paul Smith furniture and ‘things’. Paul Smith rugs, china, spectacles and fragrance are made under license. Designed in Nottingham and London, the Paul Smith collections are primarily produced in England and Italy while the fabrics used are mainly of Italian, French and British origin.

In 2002 Paul Smith collaborated with Cappellini to create the Mondo collection of furniture inspired by observation and travel. In 2003 Paul designed an upholstery textile in partnership with Maharam, called ‘Bespoke’, which was inspired by classic pinstripe suiting.

The Paul Smith shops reflect the character of Paul and his designs, an unmistakable Englishness augmented by the unexpected. The shops house the Paul Smith collections and an extensive selection of jewellery, books, art, antiques and an array of interesting and beautiful products. Work of British designers is often showcased alongside Paul’s personal collections of art or curios.

Paul Smith is global - the collection is wholesaled to thirty five countries and has fourteen shops in England. Paul Smith shops are found in London, Nottingham, Paris, Milan, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, the Philippines, Korea, Kuwait, U.A.E. – and over two hundred throughout Japan. Paul remains fully involved in the Japanese business; designing the clothes, choosing the fabrics, approving the shop locations and overseeing every development within the company. Paul Smith also has impressive and diverse showrooms in London, Paris, Milan, New York and Tokyo.

Paul Smith continues to be an integral part of the company; he is both designer and chairman. Paul Smith is continually involved in every aspect of the business and as a result, Paul Smith Limited retains a personal touch often lost in companies of a similar size.


www.paulsmith.co.uk

Paige Premium Denim

Paige Premium Denim, LLC was founded in 2004 by fit model Paige Adams-Geller on the principle that you don’t have to be a size zero to look great and feel great in a pair of designer jeans. As the body behind such brands as 7 For All Mankind, Lucky Brand, Citizens of Humanity, Guess and others, Paige Adams-Geller realized it was time she used her expertise and unique values to create the “perfect fitting jean.” In a little more than a year, Paige Premium Denim landed its signature whipstitch on derrières all over the world. The fit model known for having “the best butt in the business” soon became known as the designer who makes “the best butt jeans” in the business.

After only three years on the scene (and counting!), Paige Premium Denim has entered over 2,000 doors from the United States to Europe and can be found in the top department stores as well as the most stylish and chic boutiques across the globe, including the flagship store on Robertson Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Headquartered and manufactured in Los Angeles—the designer denim capital of the world—Paige Premium Denim offers its signature styles of top-notch jeans as well as a new line of contemporary tops and bottoms, emerging as a strong and innovative leader in the fashion world. In constant development, Paige Premium Denim focuses on diverse fits to encompass all customers, allowing the company to expand beyond the usual women’s line. Offering a men’s, kid’s, maternity, and petite line, Paige Premium Denim has successfully created an inclusive, complete, and quality label.

www.paigepremiumdenim.com

Odd molly

On March 25th of 2002 freelance designer Karin Jimfelt-Ghatan and word artist Per Holknekt meet in Stockholm to discuss a design project for an advertising agency. They find an instant mutual understanding so strong that they set aside that initial project only to shape their own brand new designer fashion label instead.

Less than 30 minutes from that first coffee, Odd Molly was born. And only some 6 years down that line, a true international fashion sensation. The core idea of the company was to let uninhibited design intuition lead the way, bringing forward a fabulous and positive message to women. Key ingredients were to not only make look great, but also to make feel great, using the corner stones of love-courage-integrity. Ever since that day the product development has evolved in the most tremendous ways, still those key ingredients have remained the same.

Odd Molly can today be found in the finest boutiques in over 1500 supreme locations in 38 countries. From Barneys in Tokyo to Fred Segal in Santa Monica and why not also the smaller corner stores of Dublin or Bordeux.

www.oddmolly.com

Nicole Farhi

Nicole Farhi enters its 27th year of business in 2009 as an established and thriving British designer brand.

Nicole brought her Turkish heritage, French chic and sophistication to England in the early 1970's and fused these influences with British eccentricity to create a style that is internationally recognized for its relaxed tailoring, knitwear, layering and chic detailing in the most luxurious fabrics.

A truly fashion lifestyle brand, Nicole has extended her reach to include Menswear, which in 2009 celebrates its 20th Anniversary, FARHI by Nicole Farhi diffusion lines, own brand stores, showrooms and concept restaurants in London, Milan and New York. In addition to the Ecommerce site, the collections are also available in concessions, department stores and boutiques worldwide.

Born in Nice and trained in fashion design, Nicole began her career in Paris as a freelance designer. In the early 1970's she moved to London to begin her long and close association with Stephen Marks. First they worked together at French Connection, for whom Nicole was the principal designer for over a decade. Then in 1982, Marks launched the Nicole Farhi label, giving Nicole the opportunity to design a collection which more closely reflected the clothes she herself wanted to wear.

Five years into the life of the new company, Nicole launched a collection of sporty, easy pieces, a diffusion line under the name FARHI, recently re-launched as FARHI by Nicole Farhi. Since then, the Nicole Farhi brand has grown to include shoes, small leather goods, perfume and jewellery.

When Nicole launched her now renowned menswear collection, it seemed an effortless transition. "I was designing women's clothes that had a masculine touch", says Farhi. Softly tailored suits and separates have now made her menswear as coveted and popular as her women's.

In September 1994 Farhi opened her flagship store on London's New Bond Street and underneath that, the first restaurant, Nicole's. Nicole's is contemporary and minimal in design and the modern European menu downstairs has an emphasis on fresh seasonal ingredients.

'202' was born in October 2002 in London's Westbourne Grove. 202 is a concept store that creatively combines all aspects of Nicole's business; the clothing range, homeware collection and a chic all-day caf�/brasserie. 202 was such an immediate success that it was followed up quickly with a second store in New York's fashionable Chelsea Market.

2009 also sees the 10th anniversary of Nicole Farhi Homeware. Nicole Farhi became one of Britain's first fashion designers to create a Home range that grew from her love of sculpting. Nicole sculpted unstructured handmade glassware and ceramics embodying her signature style of understated elegance. Each piece is beautifully designed but with its own character and touch of humour. The Clifford Street store is dedicated to home displays her homewear and other specifically selected labels along with collectable antiques which Nicole personally buys on her extensive travels.

Nicole's first fragrances have appeared recently, Nicole Farhi Femme and Nicole Farhi Homme. Following on from the success of these scents, Nicole went onto create her second fragrances Bleu Azur (for women) and Bleu Intense (for men) both perfectly reflecting her love of the Mediterranean. Bleu Azur has a fresh floral scent with citrus top notes of bergamot, lemon and grapefruit, while Bleu Intense has a fresh herbal woody fragrance with exhilarating top notes of mandarin, green galbanum, and sage. The heavy glass bottles for both fragrances were sculpted by Nicole in her own studio to reflect the glassware collection at Nicole Farhi Home.

Nicole Farhi now has 9 free standing stores internationally, concessions nationwide and wholesale customers in the US, Italy, Russia, Spain, Australia, Scandinavia and the Far East. There are also showrooms in London, New York, Paris, Milan and Madrid. Due to demand, April 2009 saw Nicole Farhi launch an ecommerce site to satisfy customers in the furthest corners of the globe.

Nicole Farhi has won many awards during her career, including in 2008, a Lifetime Achievement prize at the First Women Awards - which recognise female "glass ceiling breakers" in business and public life, Entrepreneur of the Year at London's Francais of the Year Awards and was presented with an honorary CBE (Commander of the British Empire) by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham in recognition of her services to the fashion industry.

Nicole Farhi supports talent in art, music and theatre and is married to the playwright David Hare.


www.nicolefarhi.com