Friday 29 June 2012

Marketing Tips from CarrieMe who attended MarketingWeekLive Conference 2012

Great marketing tips from the experts at Marketing Live Week Conference held on Wednesday and yesterday at Grand Hall in Kensington Olympia, from such big names as Coca Cola, Lexus, Diageo, Nokia and more.

My favourite example was Coca Cola's latest campaign collaborating with the famous French designer Jean Paul Gaultier.  Designing a limited edition run of bottles this changed the perception of Diet Coke and made it a fashion statement. Was this the first time Coca Cola ever changes the look of their bottles? Hmm... Buy one exclusively at Harvey Nichols!

Jean Paul Gaultier for Diet Coke
www.fashionschooldaily.com

Coca Cola' Diet and Light Coke collection by Jean Paul Gaultier
www.lesmarquesetmoi.fr

Other useful tips included:

  • Have a bold vision and high standards (Diageo)
  • Give your users what they want to know, not what you want to tell them (Lexus) 
  • When you create ideas, make sure they are sharable and scalable (Nokia)
  • In this global world, ideas need to be cross-cultural ie express and work well in different cultures (Nokia)
  • Have a neat and organised website and use multilingual payment pages (IMRG) 
  • Your customers will reward you for taking risks (Diageo)

There were also numerous stands from suppliers of Online & Data Marketing, Customers Loyalty & Motivation, and Insight so it was a busy day!

Marketing Live Conference
Kensington Olympia, London

Marketing Live Conference
Kensington Olympia, London
The event was certainly a great learning experience - with plenty of new ideas and way of using technology to help get the message direct to your customers.  Don't worry if you missed it this time, make sure you book in for next year!

Tuesday 26 June 2012

And last but not least, 6 more creative designers get TopShop sponsorship

Give a round of applause for the remaining 6 emerging designers selected for NEWGEN presentation sponsorship. Its an international crowd with 1 Korean, 1 Brazilian, a Portuguese duo and the remaining ones UK designers.

Christopher Raeburn
This British designer graduated from London's Royal College of Art and freelanced as a pattern-cutter and later found his own label. Interesting clothing. Very unique and edgy!

Christopher Raeburn
www.britishfashioncouncil.com


Christopher Raeburn Men's Collection
wwww.londonfashionweek.co.uk

Christopher Raeburn Women's Collection
www.londonfashionweek.co.uk



J JS Lee
This Korean designer graduated from Central St Martins and is a master of pattern-cutting - very chic and elegant.

Jackie Lee www.britishfashioncouncil.com

J JS Lee Women's Collection www.londonfashionweek.co.uk


Lucas Nascimento 
Brazialian-born desinger, Lucas Nascimento graduated from London College of Fashion and has been showing his collection at Rio Fashion Week for the past 3 years. Can't wait to see his collection here in London.

Lucas Nascimento
www.britishfashioncouncil.com

Lucas Nascimento Women's Collection
www.londonfashionweek.co.uk

Marques' Almeida
The designers Marta and Paulo first met at CITEX Fashion School in Portugal and then received their MA Fashion from Central St Martins and decided to work together. Like their designs - creative and effortlessly authentic.

Marta Marques and Paulo Almeida
www.britishfashioncouncil.com

Marques' Almeida Women's Collection
www.londonfashionweek.co.uk

Nasir Mazhar
This London-based designer worked for Mark Wheeler and Jane Smith before setting up his own label. His collections are artistic and outrageous, less mainstream. Can't wait to see what he designs next!

Nasir Mazhar
www.britishfashioncouncil.com

Nasir Mazhar Women's Collection
www.londonfashionweek.co.uk


Sister By Sibling
3 UK designers worked for different brands until they've decided to come together as one. There is a lot of colour, humour, and sparkle in the their collection. As you all know, CarrieMe are always fans of colour!

Sid Bryan, Joe Bates, and Cozette McCreery
www.britishfashioncouncil.com

Sister By Sibling Collection
www.londonfashionweek.co.uk

So who will win your vote with their collection for London Fashion Week?




Wednesday 20 June 2012

Wow Central St Martins corners the Exhibition line up for the NEWGEN sponsorship!

Congrats to these 4 emerging fashion designers who win an Exhibition in the NEWGEN space at London Fashion Week.


Palmer//Harding
Palmer and Harding
www.BFC.com  




Palmer//Harding men's and women's collection
www.londonfashionweek.co.uk

Mathew Harding and Levi Palmer met at Central St Martins, where Mathew studied womenswear whereas Levi focused on menswear having previously studied womenswear and pattern-cutting at El Centro College in the States.  Are they the next Dolce & Gabbana?


Huishan Zhang 


Huishan Zhang www.becauselondon.com

Huishan Zhang collection www.lemade.de

Originally from China, he previously worked for my favourite brand Dior and found his own label after graduating from Central St Martins. He uses his imagination by mixing Eastern and Western cultural elements in his clothings.  Love his funky mix of cultural elements!



Mei Lim Cooper

Mei Lim Cooper
www.britishfashioncouncil.com

Mei Lim Cooper knitwear design
www.londonfashionweek.co.uk


She also studied at Central St Martin specializing in knitwears and has worked for big names including Joseph and Bally. I like her designs - she turns knitwears into elegant clothing. What creativity!



Sophia Webster

Shoes from Sophia Webster www.britishfashioncouncil.com

Last but definitely not least - who could ever forget Sophia Webster's amazing shoes if you'd ever clapped eyes on one. Can't wait to see more of these on the catwalk!  

So is your favourite?  Its a big debate here at CarrieMe... what a difficult choice to make!

Tuesday 19 June 2012

Topshop announces NewGen winners ... who will be the next McQueen?

WOW, 13 new designers receive BFC NEWGEN sponsorship, supported by Topshop, to show at London Fashion Week in September 2012... we feature the top 3 who receive the Catwalk sponsorship:


NewGen line up
www.feathersfashion.wordpress.com


JW Anderson - good looking guy, plus great style!
SIGNATURES: “Things that can be borrowed from a man to a woman and from a woman to a man.”
JW Anderson's 2012 Spring Collection
BFC.com


Michael van der Ham - 
SIGNATURES: “I like to mismatch different references in each item of clothing. My autumn/winter 2009 collection is a juxtaposition of elements from different decades in fashion. I made each dress like a 3D collage of clashing colours, textures, weights of fabric and cut.”
Michael van der Ham - Summer 2012
www.michaelvanderham.com




Simone Rocha  - go watch the video on her site or this one on YouTube - love her style!  (sadly not techy enough to be able to show the video here!) 
SIGNATURES: “Modern and strong yet romantic.”


Simone Rocha Summer 2012
www.Vogue.com


CarrieMe loves Simona's romantic styles... which is your favourite?  

Monday 18 June 2012

OBE for Duchess of Cambridge's favourite designer, Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen

Who hasn't heard of Sarah Burton, the Creative Director of Alexander McQueen, after all, she was responsible for that most famous dress: Kate Middleton’s wedding dress’s of course!
Kate Middleton in that famous dress by Sarah Burton 
www.thehollywoodgossip.com



























Kate Middleton with her father on her wedding day
www.graziadaily.co.uk


In only her second year, Sarah is getting the recognition she deserves - Time nominated her as one of 100 Most Influential People in the World and the Queen gave her an OBE (Order of the British Empire), so 2012 is definitely a year she'll remember as well as 2011! 
Sarah Burton
www.garziadaily.co.uk

Some of my favourite Sarah Burton creations for the Duchess of Cambridge include this scarlet number one worn for the Jubilee Flotilla:
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge 
www.fashionscanner.onsugar.com







And later that weekend, this nude lace dress which looks so good on her:
Duchess of Cambridge at St. Paul's Cathedral
www.cocoperez.com










Not to forget some of our other very British stars - Kate Winslet and Emma Hill (Mulbery’s Creative Director) were also honoured, receiveing a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) for their contribution to the British film and fashion industry. 

Kate Winslet
www.graziadaily.co.uk


Emma Hill at Mulberry
www.graziadaily.co.uk

This is definitely a year to be proud of being British - who will be the new stars this year?

Thursday 14 June 2012

Experience some extraordinary jewellery pieces taken from the Jewellery Catwalk Show 2012


Want a peek at some of the amazing and delicate jewellery from the top designers, about to hit the shops in 2012? Check out our video of some of the designs showcased at Somerset House in London....our favourite is the gold shawl but you'll have to wait til the end to see it!




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Oh and don't forget there are special prizes given away each month to the top 2 TopFans as registered on CarrieMe's Facebook.  Looking forward to hearing your comments!


Be inspired by the top designers from 2012 London Jewellery Show

Somerset House hosted the London Jewellery Show 2012 and it was just fab!  We saw new innovative jewellery brands as well as the traditional big names - here are some to watch out for:

1) Pomegranate - for those beautiful earrings. The brand was created by a couple  in 2009, inspired by tribal and ancient jewellery forms and hand made in India, Thailand and Turkey with stones sourced from all over the world. 
Pomegranate earrings

2) Kastur Jewels - for its wonderfully intricate bracelet design.  Each piece has its own secret and story and we really liked that! Grand designs with subtle, regal adornment in an unassuming manner.


Kastur bracelets

3) Monte Jewellery - for their leather-fish, bright colour bracelets and the golden bracelets. All the prodcuts are hand made and the inspiration comes from ancient jewellery.

Golden bracelet

Fish leather bracelets
4) Jersey Pearl - for their colourful bracelets with leather and pearl.  Jersey Pearl is one of the only brands that focuses on delivering new award winning Designer Collections with pearls as the centre piece.
Colourful bracelets
5) Sushilla Jewelleries - we love these rings: elegant and trendy handmade jewellery in silver and gold, set with semi precious stones.

Sushilla Jewelleries
6) Glam Rock watches - Big, cool and sporty yet elegant watches in black, silver and bronze. I guess the trend is going towards big watches this season!

Glam Rock watches












7) Jianhui London - something quite different: love this innovative and versatile wooden pashmina necklace - originally from a rural area in China, Jianhui uses recycled wood to make long strands of different colour wave necklaces using only environmentally friendly dye.

Jianhui London


Jianhui














8) Hoxton - simple and chic designer cufflinks, bracelets, and necklaces
Hoxton Jewelleries

 



In addition to the Jewellery Exhibition, there was a jewellery and fashion catwalk show and this (below) is my favourtite outfit from all - kind of reminds of Alexander McQueen's designs. Love the colour as well - I guess orange is the season's colour - just the colour CarrieMe will be introducing this autumn too!
 
A model with an orange dress at a catwalk for The Jewellery Show  2012










Tuesday 12 June 2012

Fun gift ideas from Pulse

Despite the rain in London yesterday, the CarrieMe team made it to Pulse, a trade show for gifts and accessories here in London, with over 600 companies showing their fabulous products.

We picked out some of our favourite stands and pieces - so look out for them in shops near you soon!

1. Harriet Sanders - beautiful leather goods in muted colours

Harriet Sanders bags


Harriet Sanders designs
2. Remember Designs - we loved their wall hangings
Remember designs
3. Medley bracelets - these leather bracelets are going to be hot!

Medley bracelets
4. Timbergram - wood carved postcards
Timbergram
4. Kutuu Jewellery - we just love their stand design!
Kutuu-Jewellery
5. Kris and Anna - fabulous range of multi-coloured bags
Kris - Ana Ltd
6.  Sweet Trees - my nephews would kill for these!

Sweet Trees-Gift

And of course, CarrieMe is gearing up ready for its next trade show appearance at Home & Gift in Harrogate next month!