21 March 2012 sees the return of Bicester Village’s much anticipated annual British Designers Collective. Now in its third year, the pop-up boutique concept store is an exclusive collaboration between Bicester Village, one of the nine Chic Outlet Shopping® Villages by Value Retail, and the British Fashion Council, offering emerging British talent the opportunity to showcase their collections in a unique setting. Continuing the tradition, a mix of the most
coveted names in British fashion will be on offer.
British style icon Alexa Chung, Spokesperson for the British Designers Collective, will open the boutique the 21st March. An advocate of British fashion, Alexa Chung champions homegrown talent worldwide. Her international appeal and inimitable style has won her numerous awards.
Alexa Chung said: "I am proud to support Value Retail on their British Designers' Collective pop up store at Bicester Village. The initiative opens up a whole new market to the participating designers that they might not otherwise have access to at this stage in their career. I look forward to choosing some key pieces from their collections for myself"
The boutique’s grand entrance will lead you to the hall, which plays host to footwear from Nicholas Kirkwood, signature styles from Preen and Osman, must-have dresses from Marios Schwab and Jonathan Saunders, and separates from last year’s fastest-selling designer Markus Lupfer. The specially designed space will capture the attention of visitors through its presentation of an eclectic blend of heritage style with the contemporary wit of young British design. Other designers participating include British-based designers Peter Pilotto, Holly Fulton, Bella Freud, James Long, Goat, Emma Cook, Hermione de Paula and Jean Pierre Braganza; as well as accessories from Pauric Sweeney, Lily and Lionel, Mawi and Erickson Beamon.
Desirée Bollier, Chief Executive of Value Retail Management Ltd said: "In our ongoing commitment to British fashion design we are delighted to welcome back the British Designers’ Collective to Bicester Village this spring. The exclusive pop-up boutique will showcase some of the very best in British rising talent along with a great mix of established British womenswear and menswear collections. In the current challenging climate Bicester Village’s and the British Fashion Council’s enduring commitment to supporting and celebrating young talent is of paramount importance. Bicester Village provides these designers with an opportunity to reach discerning shoppers
from around the world."
Bicester Village introduces the ‘The Great Hall’ for 2012. Explore and discover layers of classic heritage juxtaposed with the irreverent wit and style of contemporary British fashion. It will be familiar, yet quite unexpected, an enriched journey that surprises, delights and captures your imagination. Visitors will be able to discover up-and-coming designers alongside established labels with the unprecedented opportunity to purchase ‘must-have’ pieces from their previous seasons’ collections at the usual Bicester Village reductions of up to 60% on the recommended retail price.
Harold Tillman, Chairman of The British Fashion Council said: ‘The British Fashion Council are delighted to be continuing their collaboration with Bicester Village on the ‘British Designers Collective’ boutique. This is a unique platform for London Fashion Week designers to showcase their designs to new audiences. This year’s dedicated menswear phase, adds an extra dimension to the boldly British boutique and validates the excitement surrounding a year that celebrates all that is British.’
Shoppers will be delighted by statues that have been strategically placed around the Village that each represent a quirky British emblem: a bulldog (synonymous with courage and stoicism), a sheep (symbolic of the Cotswold’s world-renowned wool trade) and a cherub, whose angelic looks belie a youthful, playful spirit.
New this year, a dedicated menswear selection will follow the women’s boutique, launching on 16 May. Designers include YMC, Oliver Spencer, Grenson, Margaret Howell, James Long, Sunspel, Tim Little, Heritage Research, and Richard James amongst others.
This year’s womenswear boutique will be open to the public from 22nd March until the 9th May. The menswear phase will follow on from the 16th May until the end of June.
Press enquiries
Starworks Group: Joanna Jeffreys / Sarah Johnson
joanna@starworkslondon.com / sarahjohnson@starworkslondon.com
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7318 0400
Image credit: The launch of the British Designers Collective with Pauric Sweeney, Justin Thornton from Preen, Emma Cook, Desirée Bollier (Chief Executive of Value Retail Management Ltd.), Vicki Beamon, designer from Erickson Beamon, Alexa Chung (spokesperson for British Designers' Collective), Bella Freud, Alice Stone (Director Lily & Lionel Ltd.) and Hermione de Paula.