Fashion Capital - 19 Fashion-Enter Designers Meet TopShop Concessions Buyer

19 Fashion-Enter Designers Meet TopShop Concessions Buyer

What a result! 19 of the 35 Fashion Enter designers that participated in the Manufacturers Workshop at TopShop managed to showcase their work and hold a meeting with Belinda Manfo, the Concessions buyer for TopShop.

The original meeting was scheduled for two hours but four hours later we were still at Topshop. We first had an excellent over view from Stephen Morgan (SAFT) the Technical Manager followed by a presentation by Eimear Hawker, Senior Garment Technologist. Belinda Manfo then gave a review of what the salient requirements are when she reviews and sources new concessions. Finally Caren Downie, the Director of Buying, very kindly came in to speak to the designers for about 30 minutes too.

We then went off to Oxford Circus where the most amazing stylist, Caroline Stenning, gave us an overview of TopShop today and its 396 stores!

Without doubt it was our best event to date resulting in positive outcomes for at least 9 designers with other designers working on additional requirements for Belinda Manfo.

Here is some of the feedback we received Sharon Edgy from ‘Hunky Dori’ Jean Gems:

“Thank you so much for squeezing me in on Wednesday, it was invaluable and we were all very lucky to be given such a unique opportunity. I found it fascinating listening to the logistics of it all. It was mind boggling, scary and exciting all at once! You know they're big but I don't think any of us quite realized the sheer scale of the operation. The thought of actually supplying them is terrifying but if you're given the chance somehow you would just have to do it. I thought they were very professional and for them to take time out of what must be very stressful jobs was really good of them.”

Joanna Blake:

“I am mailing to say I had a great experience going to the TopShop workshop as well as the visit to the factory. I found both trips extremely useful and would definitely like to go to further workshops.”

Harshalan from Harsh:

“Thanks for this great meeting today. I had an excellent meeting with Belinda and Stephen and I have follow up work to do. This is just what we needed!”

I have to say a personal very big thank you to Caren Downie who so kindly agreed to the extended agenda. 35 designers attended (there were only supposed to be 20!) and TopShop provided jelly beans and water for all. A great event, TopShop really is a great company to work with and thanks to City Fringe Partnership for enabling the event to take place. More to follow…