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Fashion Forward photo gallery
The bold and the beautiful were out in force at the Coutts-sponsored Fashion Forward event last month.
The British Fashion Council’s (BFC) Fashion Forward initiative supports emerging talent and provides designers with funds to show their collections during London Fashion Week and mentoring support.
Fashion Forward winner Louise Goldin and Coutts CEO Michael Morley
Coutts private banker Nick Campbell, Mo Oshodi, head of buying at ASOS, Danielle Talian, buyer, womenswear at ASOS and Coutts PBA Cecil Talian
Erin O'Connor and Hilary Riva
Coutts CEO Michael Morley, Fashion Forward winner Louise Goldin and British Fashion Council chairman Harold Tillman
Stuart Rose and Nicola Copping
Jeweller Stephen Webster with wife Assia (left) and guest.
Louise Goldin
Coutts chief executive Michael Morley welcomed over 200 fashion industry professionals, including retail magnates, models and designers, to Coutts’ Garden Court, before BFC chairman Harold Tillman announced Louise Goldin as the 2010 Fashion Forward recipient.
The Londoner, known for her directional knitwear designs, was chosen by a panel of industry experts, including Simon Ward, joint CEO of the BFC, Sarah Mower of Style.com and Coutts’ Alan Marshall, senior client partner.
Alan was involved in looking over the prospective winners’ business plans and was impressed by what he saw. “Some excellent thought had gone into their plans and I am encouraged to see a number of them making profits in a difficult climate,” he confirmed.
“Fashion Forward is a fantastic initiative that these designers really appreciate, allowing them to showcase their designs at LFW. Coutts being involved really emphasises us as a bank with soul and creativity!”
The initiative has changed for 2010, with only one recipient taking the £30,000 prize; in previous years this was shared by a couple of winners.
Previous Fashion Forward winners include Erdem, Marios Schwab and Christopher Kane. And to celebrate their achievements, Coutts has created a special window display featuring their design successes.
During his welcome, Michael spoke about Coutts’ role as a bank. “Coutts has not always been thought of as a fashionable bank as far as its business model is concerned. Running a conservative balance sheet, keeping its assets liquid and only lending out a third of its clients’ deposits were not business metrics designed to quicken the pulses of the leveraged players and financial analysts of the last 25 years.“
He continued: “But of course many fashions come and go and in 2010, liquidity and capital and being a conservative bank for over 300 years have suddenly become the height of fashion.”
Coutts is a sponsor of London Fashion Week 2010.
By Rupa Sudra
Photography courtesy of Alistair Guy
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