An internationally-famous fashion icon will be visiting Bath in September at the invitation of staff at the city’s world-renowned Fashion Museum run by Bath & North East Somerset Council.
Barbara Hulanicki OBE, who founded the famous Biba fashion brand in London during the early 1960s, will be talking about her life, career and work at a discussion on Monday, 8 September.
The iconic Biba brand is one of the best-loved names of British fashion, with many women having great memories of shopping at Biba in London in the 1960s and 70s. The audience will have an opportunity to hear at first-hand how Barbara created her company and brand.
Barbara is one of the great names of fashion and has come especially to Bath, for one night only, for an exclusive ‘in conversation’ discussion in the Tea Room at the Assembly Rooms in Bath with leading fashion writer Professor Iain R Webb, of the Royal College of Art, about her publication of a new book THE BIBA YEARS: 1963-1975.
The discussion has been organized by Bath and North East Somerset Council’s Fashion Museum, which includes ensembles by Biba among its extensive collection, working in close association with the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Barbara’s book is a V&A publication.
Councillor Ben Stevens (Lib-Dem, Widcombe), the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: “We are privileged to welcome Barbara Hulanicki to Bath.
“Since the Fashion Museum is one of the top ten museums of fashion in the world, it is appropriate that it should host this event. The Museum often works in collaboration with other major UK fashion museum collections.
“It is difficult to overestimate the influence of Biba on a whole generation of women and the Fashion Museum is proud to be working with such a world-renowned fashion icon. In addition, Iain R Webb has a close partnership with the Fashion Museum and is one of our senior advisors.
“The Fashion Museum gift shop has one of the most comprehensive selections of books on fashion in the country, and is much sought after by students and professionals as well as lovers of fashion.”
Founded as a boutique mail-order service in 1963, Biba quickly gained cult status in London during the early 1960s and 70s. The company outgrew several premises before landing at 99–117 Kensington High Street, London, in 1973 as ‘Big Biba’, ‘the most beautiful store in the world’.
Today, Barbara Hulanicki is an established interior designer and continues to create innovative designs. She is working on her 30th collection for George at ASDA and designing for her latest venture Iconclub.
Tickets for the discussion are priced at £15 or £12 for Discovery Card holders from Bath Box Office. Following the talk Barbara Hulanicki will be signing copies of her new book, which was co-authored with Martin Pel.
