Hemingway at Fashion Fest

Wayne Hemingway, Co-Founder of Red or Dead and Hemingway Design, is among the guest speakers lined up for next month’s Fashion Fest which runs from November 20 to 23 in Londonderry.
Wayne HemmingwayWayne Hemmingway
Wayne Hemmingway

The city’s first dedicated celebration of the fashion industry, organised by Derry City Council, will see the designer open the Industry Focus Workshop on November 20, with an engaging discussion on the passions and pitfalls of the industry, sharing insider tips and advice he gained along the way.

The daylong workshop, including a local talent trade showcase, will give designers and buyers a valuable insight into this global industry. Participants can familiarise themselves with industry trends, learn how to develop a business and hear first-hand accounts from the people behind the brands. Tickets for the workshop are still available but selling fast. To register your interest, apply to take part in Designer Showrooms or book a pitch for the Vintage Fair, contact Tara Nicholas on 02871 365151, or email [email protected].

For more information on the various events log on at www.derrycity.gov.uk/fashionfest.

The workshop will include in-put from Sonya Lennon, Judith Tolley, Naomh McElhatton, and Simon Hunter

Also on the line-up is Shalina Alabaksh, who has worked closely with retail guru and Queen of Shops herself, Mary Portas.

The workshop then concludes with a Fashion Trends Master class with Janet Holbrook, Peclers Paris. This event really is a must for anyone working in fashion or indeed, aspiring to get there!

Wayne Hemingway has come a long way since the early incarnations of Red or Dead, which he founded with wife Geraldine in 1981. Nowadays this vision has evolved into a global family business, with two generations of Hemingways now leading Hemingway Design, focusing on affordable and social design, creating products from radios to garden sheds and even branching into Urban Design!

A firm advocate of local manufacturing and home grown skills, Wayne Hemingway says Derry has huge potential in terms of channelling talent and vision.

“It’s interesting to think about the brand ‘Derry’ in terms of what it could achieve,” Wayne said. “The city is unique in that it has that a distinct narrative - a legitimate reason for people to start talking about it - and that’s its history of excellence in producing shirts. So what can Derry do next?

“This hidden history of manufacturing and design is exactly the reason why Derry must try new ideas like the Fashion Fest and build on old reputations. With overseas manufacturing waning nowadays, it is time to start seriously talking about manufacturing back in the UK again.

“There is already a nascent movement starting out there to reintroduce manufacturing and that is something that Derry, with its rich history, can tap into.”

Throughout his career, Wayne has championed new design and its designers and he will share this enthusiasm and expertise at the Guildhall event.

“I’ll be talking about what it was like for us starting out in the industry, how we got started, the pitfalls, and also about the current climate for people starting and building up a business. Hopefully it will provide an insight into the business and ideas of how to create opportunities and make them work for you.”

The Red or Dead founder also had sound advice for the legion of new designers out there.

“It’s important not to pigeonhole yourself and to be brave and try things. Give yourself more opportunities. It’s good to try new things, and that is the very reason why Derry should quite rightly be putting on this festival and calling itself a ‘fashion city’. In a way, it has always been a fashion city.”

The Industry Focus Workshop runs at the Guildhall from 9pm-6pm on Thursday 20th November, admission £10. Early bird tickets are now available at £6 plus booking fee by contacting the email address below.

Fashion Fest will not only bring top designers to the city, but a whole host of exciting events over the course of the four days. A quirky, bustling vintage fair will fill the city’s Cathedral Quarter – Portobello Road-style! The inaugural festival will also present an Irish Wedding Fashion Showcase under the spectacular backdrop of St Columb’s Cathedral, as well as an exclusive Fashion Show at St Columb’s Hall that will culminate in drinks and dancing thanks to a set from global club stars Horse Meat Disco. A rich programme of workshops, fashion demos and exhibitions will also have the fashion conscious and curious flocking to the city.

If you are a fashion designer, trader or have something special to bring to Fashion Fest 2014, please get in touch.

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