Listen
Designers fly high at Scotland Week 2012
16/04/2012
New York’s most influential buyers and media turned out in force to meet 12 of Scotland's top designers in fashion and textiles last week, as an official part of Scotland Week 2012 (April 6 – 14).
The Scotland Re:Designed project, launched earlier this year in association with the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland, enables Scottish talent to work collectively; pooling resources to achieve strong business results. The collective exhibited their wares in a chic Chelsea gallery in Manhattan and welcomed buyers and media over an intense four days of activity.
During the initiative's launch in New York, a solid mix of traditional print and new social media influencers were on the scene. Designers held meetings, desk side appointments and interviews with US Vogue, Nylon, Style.com, Vogue.com, Blackbook, Bloomberg News and Conde Nast Travel + Leisure, The Bloggers Collective, New York Girl Style, Cinderella's Closet and The Huffington Post. Over 200 relevant industry contacts came through the doors.
Avril Graham, Executive Fashion & Beauty Editor of Harpers Bazaar USA, spent two hours discussing the collections with each designer, offering invaluable expert advice and contacts to the 12 exhibitors. She commented: “A wonderful showcase of fabulous artistic talents from Scotland. All very different and incredible testament to Scottish design.”
Exhibitors also met with many buyers from major stores like hip boutique Jeffrey, Saks, Barney's, some of New York's top interior designers and a variety of sales agents and stylists, all interested in presenting the talented 12 to the American market. Many leads were generated: a conservative estimate to date places the value of orders at well over £100,000.
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said:
“This project is a great example of the direction we've taken for Scotland Week in 2012, securing orders for Scottish businesses. The welcome that Scotland Re:Designed received from New York's fashion industry shows that with sustained efforts this initiative can play a valuable role in Scotland's creative fashion and textile economy. Scotland is a creative nation, and we've certainly enhanced our international reputation for quality design and textiles through this project.”
Belinda Robertson OBE, 'Queen of Scottish Cashmere' and UKFT Board Member, added:
“Scotland Re:Designed has been a great opportunity to debut our new Black Label bespoke collection in the US to a good calibre of press like Harpers Bazaar US and attracted buyers from Bendl's to Barney's.”
Caroline Parkinson of Creative Scotland commented:
“Seeing Scotland Re:Designed come to life in New York was hugely exciting and many great new business relationships are underway, benefitting the exhibitors involved and showcasing the best of Scottish fashion and textiles internationally.”
Scotland Re:Designed displayed at 558 West 21st, & 12th, Chelsea, New York, NY 10011 from April 9 – 12, and will be at The Lighthouse in Scotland from June 28 – July 1. Scotland Re:Designed received investment from the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland, the private sector and contributions from the participating exhibitors
Scotland Re:Designed in New York was part of the official Scotland Week programme 2012. Just completed its fifth year, Scotland Week is a week long programme of events in the USA and Canada. Kicking off with Tartan Day on Friday April 6, Scotland Week ran until Saturday April 14, with the finale of New York’s famous Tartan Day Parade.
Related information: