Designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has hailed the role of independent retailers, telling a Spring Fair audience that the sector has the opportunity ‘to do something really different and powerfully positive.’
‘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,’ he told visitors to the show.
‘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.
‘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.’
In his Unleashing Creativity: Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on Licensing, Art, and Designing for Retail Success talk, he shared his journey from designer to 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.
Earlier he officially opened the show, saying: ‘Spring Fair is 75 years old which means its 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.’
Spring Fair continues until 5 February.
