Day Two at Profile

The only real word to sum up Profile 4 is DRAMA! You had to be there to experience the fun, excitement and the sinister Black Widow Spider but that’s exactly what the LFF wanted. An event that would be talked about and also generated real business for the talented designers and multitude of trade sponsors exhibiting.

Profile 4 attracted quality buyers who were very well represented and made themselves known to the designers that they were interested in. Many thanks to Nicola Mellor senior buyer Casual Ladieswear and Contemporary Buying for Selfridges.

Caren Downie – head of buying for TopShop came to the Gala performance after a long day in the office to support the Profile 4. Caren was delighted with the standard of designers, the catwalk theatre itself (even if she was a bit scared in the finale!) and could not believe the exceptionally high standards of the catwalk designers.

Also thanks to Simon Longland Accessories buyer for Liberties and Jo Hooper Product consultant for both Etams and Allders and of course the exceptionally well represented team from our retail sponsors House of Fraser,  Designer at Debenhams and Hobbs.

The small boutiques were very well represented; to name a few Vanilla, Chelsea Collections, Re-Bourne, Top Hat and Nails, Tee Shirt Junction, Eileen Coyne, Jacaranda Boutique, Jenny Lundberg (Carnaby Street), Lavender Room, Wish, Image D’Or, Ribbons and Pearls, Miss Sixty, Hobbsons and special thanks to Kanematsu, Haruko Tanaka and Defro Corp.

It was the first time the LFF had partnered Profile with a regional network The Welsh Clothing and Textiles Association. Huw Williams, Marketing Director, organised for 8 Welsh Designers to be showcased at Profile 4. This is what Huw had to say!

“Last year I went to Profile 2 at Carlton Towers as a visitor. I could see instantly that the concept of Profile, networking designers and retailers together along with Business Support Organisations was 100% right so over the last eight months I have worked on a plan to become a partner with LFF for Profile 4. We carefully selected 8 designers and for some it was their first exhibition. Can you imagine how pleased the WCTA is that every single designer we have brought has made genuine retail contacts and three have actual orders. We did not expect this level of buyer activity and we are all extremely pleased to be a partner in this exceptionally well produced show. As for the Catwalk Theatre,,,,I can see why it is called a Theatre and not just a catwalk. It was terrific…really terrific.”     

Without a doubt Clare O’Connell from Pinky Accessories was the star of the designers. With three confirmed orders and 8 contacts for buyers meetings that’s a definite success!

“I am truly ecstatic with the Profile 4 and it has grown so tremendously from last season at Profile 3. I think the new venue is just perfect, really accessible from three tube lines and the view of the Thames from here is fantastic. I could not believe how many buyers attended and I am glad to see so many buyers arrive with their Pure badges still on! The timing of this event has certainly worked for me and with 11 real contacts for business I could not be happier!”

Yvonne Ntiamoah from Konadu said “If there was one real contact I wanted from this Profile 4 it was Selfridges. With my training on patterns with Vivienne Westwood every single piece of my collection is carefully fitted to ensure I have the ultimate fit and I now have a meeting with Selfridges arranged. It’s just perfect positioning for my collection. I am delighted. Thank you to the team at LFF for arranging this brilliant event – I know how hard you must have all worked to make this such a success.”

The winners of the Gala performance were:

Ladieswear Luigi by Louis De Gama, (House of Fraser

Menswear Cracked Corn by Russel Delany and Daniel Mee, (Debenhams)

Accessories Ann Ann by Ann Chui, (Hobbs

Congratulations to the winners and every designer who exhibited at the event.

It was also wonderful to receive this email which was sent at 12.40 last night from Penny Denby from the Women’s Company ‘Thank you very much for inviting us this evening. Not only was it a lovely evening and fantastic show for the designers, models and effects it certainly got us thinking about possibilities! You and the LFF team must have worked incredibly hard to make it such a success. Congratulations.’

The feedback from the stall holders was very good. One young woman who wasn’t one of the chosen ones for the show told us it had been a brilliant experience for her having a stand and that she would be back the next time! It was good too standing at the back we were close to two of the winners and you could see the real excitement they were experiencing. Great that there is so much talent about.

So when you have recovered from the last couple of days and the weeks of planning that went into it perhaps we could all meet to talk about possibilities – maybe for Spring 2005. Meanwhile I will start to gather information on venues. Best wishes Penny Co-founder The Women’s Company – mixing business with pleasure Profile 4 was without doubt the most successful to date and a special mention of thanks to Michelle, Teresa and Sheela from Mr Eds PR who gave the event 150% to ensure it’s success and, of course Helen, Roz, Christian and Paul from Rah Productions who created real drama at the Catwalk Theatre.

Jenny Holloway