Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen brought his trademark wit and style to the first day of Spring Fair yesterday (2 February), not only opening the 75th edition of the show but also sharing his journey from designer to global brand and designing the new Licensing Lab.
Opening the show – which runs at Birmingham’s NEC until 5 February – Laurence commented: “Spring Fair is 75 years old which means it’s only two years younger than me; it is such an important moment in our retail calendars. This is where the world will change for retailers and brands over the next two decades. So I’m delighted to be cutting this ribbon.”
As well as designing the show’s new Licensing Lab – which highlights the importance and growth that licensed brands play in the retail industry – Laurence took to the stage to present Unleashing Creativity: Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on Licensing, Art and Designing for Retail Success.
He shared his remarkable journey from celebrated designer to global brand, offering insights into the art of merging creativity with commerce and revealing how he built a career turning bold artistic ideas into household names.
Championing the British high street, stating how important it is for individuality and choice, Laurence commented: “I’ve been coming to Spring Fair for years, there’s a huge amount of energy here. I feel very strongly that we’re on a pivot point where independent retail has the opportunity to do something really different and powerfully positive; and it’s to do with the relationship between retail, manufacture and design. In this country the leverage, the real power, the real difference happens through independent retail. It happens through the fact that you make your own decisions, because you know who you’re selling to, because you don’t patronise your customers. This is the point of indies, we provide choice.”
He continued: “Be brave in your design choices; we have the landscape, retailscape to ourselves. The big conglomerates will never be able to get that sense of personality across to their customers as indies can. This is where the intersection between design and retail come together; pattern. It’s all about pattern. Because pattern is the ultimate storyteller, it’ll take your mind wherever you need it to go, making the connection between retailer and customer stronger – in the independent retail sector, pattern is something that can make an instant impression of getting people to understand who you are and what you’re doing.”
Other big names in retail due to speak at Spring Fair include Jeff Banks, Theo Paphitis and Andrew Xeni among others.
“I’m delighted to welcome you all here to a monumental show; Spring Fair is the longest standing show in the UK,” said Jackson Szabo, Spring Fair’s portfolio director. “This year we are welcoming 150 more exhibitors than last year, which also makes us the fastest growing retail show in the UK.”
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