Member Article

UKTI brings GREAT London menswear to US

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), in association with Spindle, are proud to introduce eight of the most exciting and innovative emerging British menswear brands to the US market with an exclusive event at Soho House New York, one of NYC’s most exclusive venues for creatives.

The event will give creatives, buyers and key influencers on both sides of the Atlantic the chance to celebrate the new designers who are reshaping British style.

From the locally-sourced seaweed in Haeckels skincare products to the traditional Welsh crafts adopted by Sarah Hellen, all of these brands bring something new to the table.

Menswear designer Clara Martin is on a mission to bring the London aesthetic to the whole world while milliner Tom Smarte is reviving a brand that dates back to the 18th century. STORY mfg. want to involve their customers every step of the way in their slow-made production process, while Eye Respect are educating consumers about what good eyewear truly means. Shoemaker Marcus De attribute the growth of their brand to their fiercely loyal customer base while the man behind La Menta will be the third generation of his family to work in fashion.

The US offers a huge opportunity for aspiring UK fashion designers looking to grow their business abroad, as demonstrated by the new Government initiative Exporting is GREAT. The initiative aims to inspire and support 100,000 additional UK exporters to sell their goods and services overseas by 2020.

Guests will have the opportunity to view each designer’s products up close at the event. It will feature music from New York-based London DJ Livin’ Proof. Having recently relocated to the Big Apple, Livin’ Proof says his new aim is to make the NYC crowd “feel like you’ve just stepped out of Manhattan and straight into any of the Dalston basement clubs.”

These eight designers will also be showing at Liberty Trade Fairs, which takes place from 26-28 January, where they will meet with buyers and media from the US and across the world. With support from UKTI London, many of these brands will be showing in New York for the first time with the chance to meet with buyers from some of the biggest department stores in the world, including Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue.

UKTI’s mission to bring the Best of British to the rest of the world fits in perfectly with Spindle’s ethos of unravelling creativity and promoting emerging UK talent.

Reanna Bowman, trade advisor for fashion companies at UKTI London said:

“London is home to a host of dynamic and forward-looking designers – the capital is a world centre for creativity and design talent, with ‘Brand Britain’ considered symbols of quality, tradition and style.

“It has never been a better time for London fashion designers to expand into the USA and UKTI can provide advice and support to anyone looking to this exciting market.”

Heather Falconer, Director, Spindle, said:

“Spindle’s aim is to promote British creatives on a global level, which is why we’re excited to partner with UKTI on this mission.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by UKTI London .