Services Archives - Melanie Jones PR

Fashions Finest Returns For LFW And Welcomes Partnership With Fashion Enter

Fashion Finest launched with a bang in Nigeria earlier this year. Now the popular trade event returns to UK shores this September in time for its 16^th season during London Fashion Week.

Fashions Finest takes place on 15^th of September &16^thof September 2018 during London Fashion Week at The Grand Connaught Rooms, 61-65 Great Queen Street, Holborn, London.

As one of the largest off-schedule shows, it has been a key instrument in providing the launch pad, which has developed and nurtured designers both nationally and internationally to high acclaim.

This season Fashion Enter has partnered with Fashion Finest. Fashion Enter is an award-winning social enterprise that has been supporting start up and scale up designer brands since 2001 offering high-quality strategic business mentoring alongside sampling and production in its North London ethical factory. Over the last 18 years, it has been apparent that many designers lack the technical skills available to understand their collections in terms of construction, patterns and factory negotiations. To support designers in 2015 Fashion Enter opened the Fashion Technology Academy to ensure that all technical skills and accredited qualifications are on offer to all designers.

Deborah St Louis – Director, Fashions Finest says: “This season at Fashions Finest, Fashion Enter will be on hand to help you succeed in all ways possible. Many designers do not understand the complexities of technical skills or what ethical production really means. This is planned as an ongoing partnership as we have found many of our designers can benefit from access to ethical quality production at an affordable price point and with no minimum order requirement. The option is there to tap into resources as much or as little as needed. I believe it’s vital that manufacturing is retained within Britain and therefore benefiting economically here.”

Jenny Sutton – Development Director, Fashion Enter commented: –

“We are delighted to be partnering with Fashions Finest for this season’s off-schedule London Fashion Show. Fashions Finest is an excellent platform for emerging brands and combined with our skills training and development at the Fashion Technology Academy with courses in stitching, pattern cutting, and bespoke tailoring. We are confident that together we can offer the rising stars in the industry the right level of support and exposure they deserve.”
There are varied training opportunities at the FTA, plus business support services for designers from mentoring, master classes and networking events.

Fashions Finest host an array of catwalk events supported by extensive pop-ups and tailored exhibition space showcasing carefully curated designers not just from Britain, but from all over the world. Fashions Finest prides itself on being a key player in bringing exceptional talent to the main-stage; ensuring that opportunities for both recognition and reward, are more widely accessible and distributed.

“Let’s Talk Fashion Business” launched by Fashions Finest on 17^th September 2017 was developed to be an interactive Q&A discussion forum lead by a team of notable industry panelists whose primary goal is to enable emerging brands to successfully navigate the industry turning ideas into profit. Fashions Finest “Let’s Talk Fashion Business” has proven itself a successful solution, filling a neglected void; an extremely successful provision which remains in high demand. The popular and regularly oversubscribed Let’s Talk Fashion Business panel is back and themed Beyond Representation Inclusivity and Fashion follow the link to register to avoid disappointment. (free event)

In line with Fashions Finest global access ethos, there are a limited number of tickets, which are made available to the general public and can be purchased via this link: http://www.fashionsfinest.com/tickets.

Each season Fashions Finest offers catwalk training and model master classes for aspiring models venturing into the industry. Their team of trainers combine over 35 years experience between them and have worked (or walked) on internationally recognised shows across the world.

Purchase via the link below:
CATWALK TRAINING & MODEL MASTERCLASSES DURING LFWSS19
Alternatively initial deposit and installment options available, for further information & questions Email: info@fashionsfinest.com

Free beauty treatments are available for guests over two days from Fashions Finest partners Berkshire Beauty.

Fashions Finest thanks its sponsors and media partners:

Fashion Enter, British Style Society, Ragged Cult, AOFMPro, R+Co, BerkshireBeauty,

Youth Engagement Concepts

Youth Engagement Concepts (Y.E.C) utilises a sporting framework to mentoring and apply it to other areas of life. By using sport as the hook for engagement Y.E.C. are able to deliver a number of inputs including academic and non-academic courses, health and physical fitness awareness, building self and educational aspirations and more.

José Hendo

José Hendo – Designer With A Conscience

José Hendo winner of the Radical Designer Award and shortlisted for BEFFTA’s Female Designer, describes herself as ‘a designer with a conscience’.

Her most prolific work to date is “Resonance”, designed out of barkcloth, beautifully sculptured gowns echoing Japanese cutting and tailoring. This collection enjoyed its debut on-schedule February 2012 at Vauxhall Fashion Scout, London Fashion Week as part of the Ubuntu Project.

Recognised by UNESCO the manufacturing process of barkcloth dates back to the 15th century. Historically the fabric of ancient Ugandan kings, it remains a valued wedding gift to brides and in-laws. She says “My dream is to make bark cloth work alongside mainstream fabrics.”

Hendo’s adheres to the mantra of the three Rs – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. ‘Resonance’ collection explores a new way of dressing and thinking about clothes. Without metal snap, plastic fastener or buttons the garments are completely biodegradable. Sculpted with architectural precision Hendo’s wearable art may be worn in many ways and change with each wearing – and with each wearer – by ingenious pulley system hidden or aesthetically incorporated into the designs.

Whilst she works within an ethical/ecological context she refuses to be pigeonholed as an eco-designer or ethical. “I am simply a designer with a conscience.”

The label supports Bridging the Gap, a Ugandan charity supporting orphaned children and patronizes thrift shops similarly sustaining children’s charities.

José Hendo facilitates workshops and is currently planning on delivering a project within a secondary High School.

On the 28th of July 2011, the label was invited to UK launch of the Nnabagereka Development Foundation (NDF), the initiative of the Royal Highness Queen of Bugunda Sylvia Nagginda Luswata where Resonance was presented to the queen.

Passionately conscious of the times and inspired by the world around us the label uses eco-friendly fabrics as much as possible, creating unique one-off pieces, from organic barkcloth, cotton, used garments such as suits, denim, wedding dresses etc.

José Hendo promotes the use of organic, untreated raw and recycled materials to support ethical trading, fair working conditions and raising awareness about the environmental issues affected by the fashion industry.

Through sustainable fashion José Hendo wants to make a positive contribution to society. This is clearly demonstrated via José Hendos apprenticeships, work experience and workshops as a way of giving back to the community, whilst also creating awareness of sustainable fashion. Furthermore each sale made also sees a percentage given to charity.

The studio also produces garments for other designers including samples, complete collections shown at London Fashion Week and small production runs sold in boutiques and outlets such as TOPSHOP.

www.joseworld.com

Photograph by Oliver Morris

View:

“CONTACT” SS Collection

THE SHOOT

iheartfashion

iheartfashion is a private limited company that believes in the importance and power of fashion thus supports new talents by producing and directing iheartfashion Fashion Shows.

Now in its third year since it has built an reputation to be the most exciting, vibrant fashion showcase. Some of its participants scouted at the event went on to national and international acclaim such as Joey Bevan (Britain’s Next Top Model), working on an international stage (Dubai Fashion Week) or went on to being recognised for their work i.e. Radical Designer Award – winner José Hendo.
iheartfashion Ltd acts to help emerging designers break into the difficult and highly competitive world of fashion. iheartfashion Ltd aims to help and support emerging designers, whilst encouraging and emphasising the importance of social responsibility as well as their consideration of their stakeholders. iheartfashion Ltd does this by hosting workshops, conferences, seminars and fashion shows.

The workshops, conferences and seminars teach and share information about all aspects of the fashion industry from Fairtrade cotton, to ‘fast-fashion,’ to impacting stakeholders positively.

iheartfashion Show Promo

Designers are also urged to take into consideration the business, financial and socially responsible aspects of fashion as well as to educate themselves in these.The fashion shows are an integral part of iheartfashion Ltd.

Taking place bi-annually; they act as a platform for up and coming designers (and models) to gain exposure and showcase to the media, press, potential clients, the public and buyers.

The strong emphasis on social responsibility is maintained throughout the production of the fashion shows. Usually these are held in support of a charity, the most recent being Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

Take Cover Skin System

Acne, vitiligo, stretch marks, cellulite, thread veins, spider veins, rosacea, melasma, liverspots, birthmarks, hyperpigmentation, surgical scars are just some of the medical skin conditions around that can have a heart breaking confidence crashing effect. TAKE COVER SKIN SYSTEM is an amazingly unique service that does camouflage exactly those conditions with revolutionary make-up without causing irritation. Although not permanent it will last for ca. 5days are smudge, sweat and waterproof making it the safest option to wear and use on the beach and to go swimming under water.

The make up is custom-blend for a perfect match to your skin tone.

The properties of the make-up and way of application lends this service naturally to the fashion and beauty industry to cover up tattoos, blemishes, visual body sculpting [perfect face & body make up saves post production cost].

It is then no surprise to know that TAKE COVER SKIN SYSTEM the official Sponsor of Miss West Afrika 2010.

“I wanted something that would give people with medical skin conditions a chance to show their skin and not ‘take cover’ with their clothing but rather a new skin that could be applied with an airbrush and blended in with their own skin tone or a colour of their choice. It is so rewarding knowing that something so temporary can make such a significant difference to someone’s confidence.” says Gerri Facey, Founder.

Karen Salandy of K-Bell Cosmetics

Celebrity make-up artist Karen Salandy of K-Bell cosmetics and the former creative Director of YANA cosmetics was the first client of Melanie Jones PR in 2010. She has since re-launched on a full-time freelance basis. Karen Salandy has since been shortlisted twice and won the BEFFTA’s beauty icon award for her contribution to the beauty and fashion industry over the span of her career of over twenty years. She has been nominated for Fashion Finest Best Make-Up Artist Award.

Karen Salandys portfolio include companies such Givenchy, Guerlain, Christian Dior. Karen was instrumental in launching the cosmetics line of pioneering Naomi Simms in the UK and has worked with Isabella Rosillini on Rosillinis manifesto line in Paris. Salandys work has not only graced publications HGH such as Elle, Pride, Black Hair and Beauty but has also widely featured on Catwalks, Stage, Film & Music Videos.
She had the honour to work on the faces of members of the royal family, icons such as Cher and other celebrity clientele. Karen Salandy held the position of head make up artist for Ms Trinidad & Tobago UK pageant for a few years now and is also the make-up consultant for the Ms Jamaica peagant. She has been appointed as the resident make-up artist at the Reggae Showcase UK and the Sporah Show and is delivering classes and workshops for aspiring make-up artists.

Her services are not only reserved for the fashion and entertainment industry. She is available for bookings.