Superdry, Johnstons Cashmere, Pittards, Barker Shoes and LXY Brands picked up prizes at this year’s UK Fashion & Textile Export Awards, which were held in London today (13 May). The UK Fashion & Textile Export Awards have been presented since 1986 and recognise outstanding sales performance beyond the UK domestic market. This year, as usual, the Awards were presented to the winners by HRH The Princess Royal, President of the UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT), the event’s organiser. This year’s Awards also included the first Lifetime Achievement trophy, which was presented to the king of men’s nightwear Derek Rose, and another first was for textiles, which was won by leather specialist Pittards. The Gold Award, for long-standing export excellence and sponsored by HSBC Commercial Bank, went to Northamptonshire-based Barker Shoes. In addition, a Chairman’s Award was presented to John Wilson, former director general of UKFT, who is retiring at the end of June, and is now a deputy chairman of the organisation.Full details of winners and sponsors:
Accessories (Pure/Drapers)
Linda Farrow – vintage sunglass specialists, creating designs for Dries Van Noten, Matthew Williamson, Yohji Yamamoto
Chairman’s Award (UKFT)
John Wilson OBE – former director general and now deputy chairman UKFT
Contemporary Urban (The Brandery)
Superdry – one of the most sought after cool brands, part of Supergroup, which has just floated on the stock exchange.
Designer Business (Prêt à Porter)
La Petite Salope - contemporary feminine, fashion label sitting alongside luxury brands such as Lanvin and Balenciaga in overseas stores
Footwear (ITE Moda)
LXY Brands – creates collections under licence for Zandra Rhodes and Rio Ferdinand
Gold (HSBC Commercial Bank)
Barker Shoes – exports to over 50 countries worldwide. Two new flagship stores in London opened to boost awareness of overseas buyers.
Heritage (ITE Moda)
Johnstons Cashmere – the UK’s last remaining vertical woollen mill, creating fabrics for Burberry, Hermes and Bergdorf Goodman in the US to name but a few of its customers. Based in Elgin
High Octane Glamour (London24.com)
Ariella – an exporter of glamorous British fashion for more than 40 years
Lifetime Achievement (UKFT)
Derek Rose – the king of nightwear
Lingerie (Salon de la Lingerie)
Damaris – high fashion, avant garde lingerie.
New Exporter (Vogue.com UK)
Bolongaro Trevor (pictured above) – founders of All Saints now have their own company for edgy, contemporary designs for men and women.
Small Business (WGSN.com)
Lie Down I Think I Love You - handbags and shoes from vintage scarves and powder compacts
Textiles (Textile Forum)
Pittards – Yeovil-based leather specialists.
