British Fashion Council appoints Barbara Grispini as LONDON show ROOMS - Head of Project and Designer Brand Development Consultant.
Barbara has worked as a consultant to the British Fashion Council (BFC) for ten years, working on the international buyers relations programme for London Fashion Week. Since 2008 her remit has grown to provide business support for emerging talent and develop the pioneering LONDON show ROOMS showcase alongside BFC Strategic Consultant, Anna Orsini. This new role will see Barbara focus on driving forward the LONDON show ROOMS project as it moves into new markets and expands in media and buyer outreach and growing consumer awareness, focusing her keen curatorial eye for detail and showroom planning, merchandising skills, breadth of knowledge of international markets and close designers’ relations. Barbara will increase her contribution to BFC business support schemes, advising on UK and international sales strategies as well as designers’ product development, positioning, sell through analysis and planning. She will also continue to support the BFC on developing its outreach to international buyers for all initiatives including London Fashion Week and London Collections.
Anna Orsini, BFC Strategic Consultant, will continue to co-curate LONDON show ROOMS with Barbara working in a broader role supporting the CEO, COO and the BFC Senior Management team, co-curating Estethica and leading on the International Fashion Showcase - a partnership project with the British Council.
Caroline Rush, CEO, British Fashion Council commented “Barbara, with her acute vision, has been a driving force behind LONDON show ROOMS since its inception and I am delighted that she has agreed to play a stronger role moving forward as we develop the initiative into further territories, promoting British businesses. Barbara will continue to grow her role in the UK, advising designers on how to develop their brand and advising the BFC on developments within the international retail sector”.
"I am delighted for Barbara and more importantly for what this means for the existing and new talent that she works tirelessly to help. My business has benefited a great deal over the years from her support and insight." - Christopher Kane, designer.
The BFC launched LONDON show ROOMS in 2008 taking emerging talent to Paris during Paris Fashion Week to sell in a show room environment. The initiative was an instant success and has grown season on season, supported by Sarah Mower, BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent, who took the lead on galvanising high profile media support for London’s hottest rising stars. In addition to Paris, LONDON show ROOMS now moves to different markets with carefully curated groups of designers ranging from emerging talent, to London’s New Establishment and guest designer brands. Designers are selected based on optimum opportunity to engage local media, retailers, stylists and the broader fashion communities in LA, New York and Hong Kong respectively.
LONDON show ROOMS is supported by UKTI, ERDF, in New York through a partnership with the Centre for Fashion Enterprise, and in Hong Kong through commercial sponsorship by Li & Fung.
The next LONDON show ROOMS will showcase 24 menswear designers, from Saturday 30th June to Tuesday 3rd July 2012 in Paris at Le LOFT, off Rue Saint Antoine 28, Impasse Guéménée, 3 cour Bérard, 75004 Paris (4eme).
More information can be found at
www.britishfashioncouncil.com/londonshowrooms.