Barbara Hulanicki wows London Audience

Last Night more than 300 people, drawn from the Fashion Retail Industry, from Academia, and from one time employees of BIBA in the 1970s, packed into the Old Cinema in Regents Street, now part of the main offices of the University of Westminster. The event was organised by the recently launched Fashion Retail Club to host Barbara Hulanicki.

The audience was amazed not only by the creative versatility Barbara has shown over the years, illustrated in a short documentary, but by her unstoppable energy and inspiration which still flows from her. Her inventive way of thinking demonstrated to older and younger members of those hearing her thoughts and ideas, the unique value of unique design. She eschewed the notion that it was a worthy act to take someone else's design and merely tweak it, particularly when those from whom it was taken had probably done the same.

Her advice to young design students was salutary: be willing to get a job with the right company sweeping up and get good at sweeping up to get promotion towards a design job. And don't think one is going to be a celebrity.

The event was sponsored by River Island and represented there by their CEO Richard Bradbury and a number of his colleagues. Also present were representatives of a wide range of Fashion Retailers, all expressing interest and support for the future of the Club. The V & A were represented as were other Universities.

THe Fashion Retail Club is planning to stage another major event with a fashion Icon in the Autumn and in the meantime focus on smaller events involving more direct interaction between Fashion Industry Leaders and members of the Club. It is also close to completing the first stage of its mammoth website development to enable the registration of their profiles by students and alumni members from all educational institutions who are or wish to be involved in Fashion retail.

Corporate membership will be possible very shortly too and will complete the jigsaw of interested parties, comprising the the industry, academia and those who have graduated or will shortly.

Lorraine Harper who chaired the event, said afterwards, "It was a great start and exciting to have so many come. But we have much we want to do to take the club to where it can be self-financing and be of great service to its corporate and individual members alike." Lorraine having worked at BIBA in the 1970's also showed no lack of energy and dynamism in leading the Club to a formidable place in the Retail world

The evening was opened by Co-President of the Club (Alumni) Michelle Anderson who has just been promoted to Junior Buyer at Moss Bros. She told the audience what a huge boost it gave to the new Club to have such great support.

Anna Luisa Jones the Student Co-President closed the proceedings saying how the student community had had high hopes for the Club but its progress already had surpassed their wildest dreams. The Co-Presidents were supported by over 20 Board Members all with specific roles to achieve the evolutionary development of the Club.