Interview with Joseph Velosa, Co-Founder and CEO of Matthew Williamson at FBC

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Interview with Joseph Velosa, Co-Founder and CEO of Matthew Williamson at FBC Posted: 17 Jun 2010 04:47 AM PDT LONDON, United Kingdom — When Alison Whelan and Courtney Blackman asked whether I’d like to conduct an interview at London’s Fashion Business Club, the first interviewee I suggested was Joseph Velosa, CEO and Co-Founder of Matthew Williamson. You see, Joseph is one of the unsung heroes in British Fashion and BoF has always been about featuring the people who make fashion happen from behind the scenes, to show the professional side of the industry, and to learn from their experiences. In this way, our mission is entirely complementary to that of FBC. Joseph graciously accepted the invitation and didn’t disappoint. Late last month, FBC members packed into the Swarovski Crystallized Lounge in central London to hear what he had to say about building a fashion business from scratch, taking on investors, and extending the brand into new categories through close partnerships and collaborations with H&M, Bulgari and Harrods. It was a refreshingly down-to-earth discussion that BoF brings to you exclusively in this video of the interview highlights today. Fashion Business Club meets six times a year in London, bringing bright-minded fashion business professionals together. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

BoF Daily Digest | Troubled American Apparel, Resort’s commercial power, Mulberry’s Asian growth spurt, Ted Baker upbeat, Craft and clout Posted: 17 Jun 2010 04:06 AM PDT Dov Charney of American Apparel | Source: Dov Charney Why American Apparel is going out of fashion (Independent) “After years of headlines about sexually charged advertising and accusations of sexual harassment on the part of the company’s eccentric founder, Dov Charney, American Apparel looks like it is going down the way it came up: in a blaze of controversy.” A Winter Break Is Now the Longest Season in Fashion (NY Times) “A resort collection used to be the equivalent of staring at pictures of Bali when you lived in Kansas…. But now, like so many other things… resort has become a huge commercial entity.” Handbag maker Mulberry sees more growth on Asian demand (Reuters) “Luxury fashion firm Mulberry Group shrugged off economic gloom, saying it expected further sales growth ahead after a strong set of full-year results… retail sales in the first ten weeks of the current year were up 36 percent.” Ted Baker upbeat as revenues climb (Guardian) “[Ted Baker] is upbeat about its prospects despite the current consumer uncertainty and the prospect of tax rises and spending cuts. The company has announced an 18% increase in revenues… with the UK doing well and its overseas markets continuing to improve.” Crafts, Clothes and Clout (WSJ) “Towering brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton may dominate ad pages and storefronts, but small designers are gaining a bigger foothold in fashion. What Sundance did for indie film… web sites like Etsy are doing for the little guys of design.”