Fashion Week Awards Announced
Updated: 22nd October 2008
West Coast Cooler Fashion Week Awards Announced
Shopping in Northern Ireland has past been awarded the best way to spend your day, and now along with Belfast City Council, West Coast Cooler FASHIONWEEK has rewarded the best in retail across the province in the form of the Fashion & Retail Awards 2008.
The 18 categories covered areas such as Store Manager of the Year, Customer Service, Newcomer of the Year, as well as specialist awards including Commitment to the Environment, Ambiance and Attitude and Best Shop Fit & Interior. Earlier this month, the judges who come from a range of retail backgrounds including fashion editors, retail specialists, members of the Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce and Belfast City Council sat down to sift through the entries which didn’t fail to leave an impression.
Director of West Coast Cooler FASHIONWEEK, Cathy Martin spoke highly of each entry; “When we decided to commission the awards, we wondered whether the current economic climate would hinder retailers and designers passion towards the awards. This has not been evident in any way – the entries have been fabulous and dedication has been shown in each and every one. This is a time where retailers footfall is expected to be low, however much of our research has found that this is not necessarily the case. Yes, consumers are a little more cautious, but they are still spending!”
While consumers are choosing to be a lot thriftier with their spending in areas such as motoring, which experienced a 30% drop, there appears to be no major let up in the amount consumers are putting towards luxury goods such as fashion, accessories and shoes. Anne Brennan, proprietor of Lisburn Road boutique Harper recently started to stock some of the most expensive shoes in the industry – Christian Louboutins. “When we first secured the deal to exclusively stock Louboutins, we were dubious – would they sell? They have been flying off the shelves. Dedicated followers of fashion have not been deterred by the current economic climate and are choosing to invest in a pair of shoes that will bring quality, longevity and most of all, style!”
Full List of Categories and Winners:
- Best Designer – Fashion – Una Rodden
- Best Designer – Accessories – Anita Flavin, Minette Shoes
- Best Newcomer – Red Ruby Rouge, Holywood
- Window Display – Roxbury & McQueen, Lisburn Road, Belfast
- Shop fit/Interior design – Atelier, Queens Arcade, Belfast
- In-store Merchandising – Pepe Jeans, Victoria Square, Belfast
- Advertising or PR campaign - DV8, stores throughout NI
- Commitment to the Environment – Julie Ann Graham, Curious Tales
- Customer Service – Coast, Victoria Square
- Ambiance & Attitude – Previously Loved, Holywood
- Store Manager – Michelle Jackson, House of Fraser
- Model of the Year – Kirsty Stewart
- Best Retailer – Ladieswear – Warehouse, CastleCourt, Belfast
- Best Retailer – Menswear – French Connection, Victoria Square
- Best Retailer – Kidswear – Pumpkin Patch, Victoria Square
- Best Retailer – Footwear – Faith, Victoria Square, Belfast
- Best Retailer – Lingerie – Roxbury & McQueen, Lisburn Road, Belfast
- Best Shopping Centre – Victoria Square, Belfast
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