Yorkshire clothing designer set to bring 'unique' fashion brand to China

A Yorkshire man’s fashion company is looking to start exporting to China after being selected for a new showcase of British brands in Beijing.

Knitwear by Ross Barr, which won a startup grant from The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme in 2015, is being displayed in department store, The British House, near Tiananmen Square.

The British House highlights UK businesses to help them capitalise on China’s appetite for British goods.

Ross Barr-Hoyland, the founder of Ross Barr who is a self-taught clothing designer, uses Scottish wool fleeces, which are dyed and spun by West Yorkshire Spinners in Keighley, before being manufactured in Leicester.

The company’s first garment, a double-breasted cardigan, The Spencer, has sold worldwide and was worn by supermodel David Gandy for the Campaign for Wool Week in London in 2015.

To help develop sales in China, Ross Barr-Hoyland has appointed overseas trade specialist, Chamber International.

Ross turned to Chamber International after attending an event staged jointly with Hong Kong Trade Development Council in Leeds this summer about opportunities for UK businesses being created by China’s ‘new silk road’.

He said: “I aim to build an authentic British brand to help revive British textiles, combat the decline in former industrial heartlands and provide opportunities for people in these areas.

“I was introduced to The British House by the Department for International Trade. It is an honour to be featured alongside well-known names. I’m looking forward to working with Chamber International to see how we can develop sales in China and along the ‘new silk road’ as it develops. As far as I’m concerned the sky’s the limit.”

Ross Barr, based at Entrepreneurial Spark, has generated sales throughout the UK, continental Europe, China, Japan, South Africa, Australasia and South America for The Spencer and has developed two other garments, The Elliott and The Hoyland, which are also picking up overseas sales.

The British House was founded by Ms Yimei McCabe, a supporter of British business who is China adviser to Cambridge Institute of Sustainability, which trains policy, financial and business leaders from China, the World Bank, and EU.

The British House features British fashion, homeware, art and education, including brands such as Turnbull and Asser, Johnstons of Elgin, Heals, Duke and Dexter and John Smedley.

Ross Barr’s garments will be displayed in the Men’s Dressing Room, alongside other clothing and accessory brands.

Jamie Powell, group retail and marketing director for The British House, added: “Ross Barr is one of our young designers with an innovative product which supports UK manufacturing. We hope to offer Ross a platform for new business in Beijing and internationally.”

Matthew Grandage, Chamber International China affairs associate, concluded: “Britain has a well-deserved reputation for being at the global forefront of fashion and clothing design. China’s middle-class and wealthy consumers are increasingly seeking out boutique, quality brands with a story to tell, rather than just the major international labels.

“Ross is quick off the mark in realising the importance of this, and we look forward to working with him to bring his unique knitwear to customers around the world.”

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