The Rt. Hon Stephen Timms MP meets with FashionCapital UPDATE
11-04-2008
Enter boutique once again played host to an MP, this time it was Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform, who came along to talk to and congratulate Jenny Holloway about the part the Enter Boutique is playing at Vicarage Fields in raising the profile of new and emerging talented designers in and around the Barking and Dagenham area.
Deeply impressed and not at all inclined to dash off, the Minister was glad to listen and talk at depth with the assembled group of students, designers and dignitaries. The event provided an opportunity for Fashion Enter to also thank the assembled guests for all their help and support during the last nine months in the Barking showcase particularly to John Middleton of The London Thames Gateway Development Corporation and the Barking & Dagenham Regeneration team.
The whole event lasted for almost 1.5 hours and was relaxed and informal with the Minister being introduced to a wide cross section of people including representatives from Barking College, Eastbury Comprehensive School, The British Fashion Council (congratulations to Michael Goodmaker on his new post!), City Fringe Partnership, Nigel Rust from LMAS and Angelina Purcell.
Two local papers were on hand to also promote the work of the guests and pictures were taken accordingly of the Minister networking. The Minister in particular was anxious to invite questions regarding the regeneration and promotion of the Barking project and beyond, with its implications for his national role.
Fashion Enter has a long history with the Minister who launched https://www.fashioncapital.co.uk/ in 2001 at the debut event of Profile. During the Minister's address he commented on the growth of https://www.fashioncapital.co.uk/ (now ranked 11th in the world for the word "fashion" on the Google search engine) and the continual development of the Profile fashion event which has now been invited to attend New York during NY Fashion Week with partners Nolcha. He also stressed the importance of fashion as an important sub sector of the creative industries and engagement of companies working together to benefit communities as a whole.
Jenny Holloway commented "It is wonderful to have the support of the Minister Stephen Timms who is genuinely a fully committed and hard working MP. Over the years his support for our work has been invaluable to the success of our projects and initiatives and it with deep appreciation that the Minister attended today. As always we will keep the Minister fully informed of our work".
With special thanks to:
Allan Lazell Head of Skills, Learning and Enterprise LBBD; Judy Chapman, Executive Director of B&D Enterprise; Simon Green, General Manager Vicarage Fields Shopping Centre; Derek Levy, Principal Regeneration Officer LBBD; Mark Bradbury, Deputy Director LTDGC; David Cleall, Head of Culture and Creative Industries Barking College with TopShop winners Jadi Orange; Bobbi Kumari, Head of Textiles Eastbury Comprehensive Secondary School with her highly creative students; Erin Bunting, Sector Development Officer City Fringe Partnership; Michael Goodmaker, Project Manager British Fashion Council; Nigel Rust, Manufacturing Specialist LMAS and Angelina Purcell MBE Consultant Ex Chief Executive of Croydon Business.
Many thanks to Feride and Ismail for making the whole event run smoothly and Simon Green for providing the refreshments.
Article and Photography by Rodney Compton .
