The long-awaited opening of the Body Studio at Selfridges will welcome the Wacoal and Fantasie brands as part of their line-up in the massive 37,000 sq ft Body Studio which will pay host to around 100 brands.

Main entrance Selfridges

The Body Studio represents Selfridge’s biggest ever new development in terms of floor space and will feature women’s lingerie as well as lounge, sleepwear, swim, hosiery and sports.

The Body Studio aims to provide customers with an environment in which they can celebrate confidence, bodies and wellbeing. Featured within the new area will be a lingerie fit studio – to provide customers with a professional lingerie fit experience.

Wacoal part of the Body Studio

Ann-Marie Manley, Head of Marketing said:  “We’re really excited for Selfridges to launch its Body Studio and its lingerie fitting area in particular. The fit of our lingerie is absolutely paramount so it’s fantastic that Selfridges have recognised just how important this is for women when they are trying on and buying a new bra. Wearing a bra that fits you perfectly can totally transform the way you look and feel and it gives you so much body confidence. Whether they are shopping for a new everyday bra or something more special, we hope that all Selfridges customers will leave the Body Studio feeling totally supported.”

Other brands taking part include Chantelle, Bluebella, Olivia Von Halle, Silent Assembly and Mimi Holliday.

Award-winning erotic brand Coco de Mer has closed its first wholesaling deal with Selfridges as it looks to expand the brand globally. Coco de Mer’s continuity collections will launch in Selfridges in April, to coincide with the opening of the department store’s new Body Studio which will also stock massage products and lubricants from the Pleasure Collection.

The move into wholesaling follows a successful year which saw Coco de Mer sales shoot up by 23%, the result of a bold brand refresh initiated by managing director Lucy Litwack. Online retailer Matchesfashion.com will also stock Coco de Mer AW16 when it is launched later in the year.

Litwack says: “We are very excited to be kicking things off in Selfridges in the Spring before also wholesaling AW16. The plan is to go into wholesale slowly because we want to get it right. We’ll work on pop-ups and shop fits to bring the feel of the Coco de Mer boutique elsewhere because that’s what works – that’s what our customers love, so we hope that other customers will love that too. We’ll start in the UK and then broaden into international markets.”

French lingerie brand Maison Lejaby unveiled today a stylish new section on the first floor of Harrods, featuring bespoke marble work surfaces and bronze rails designed to reflect the style of the brand’s newly launched store in Lyon. Having been stocked within Harrods’ lingerie room for many years, this is the first time the label has had its own space and the new area highlights the brand’s heritage, exceptional style and skilled craftsmanship.

Jean d’Arthuys, President of Maison Lejaby said: “Maison Lejaby is entering a new phase. Having opened our first ever own-brand store in Lyon earlier this year, we are keen to have more of a presence in our stockists stores so we can better communicate the brand’s ethos with our customers and ensure impeccable service.”

The Maison Lejaby pop-up is open until 30th April 2016 and features its own changing area, dedicated lingerie fitters, one-on-one styling appointments as well as stocking the full SS16 range spanning the Lejaby, Elixir and Couture collections.

Hyosung, the largest elastane producer in the world, announced a new integrated global brand campaign for creora® which includes new advertising, website and hang tags. The new campaign uses water in a creative way to illustrate the unlimited potential of creora for shape, use, elasticity, and movement, showing the fibre’s ability to support the concept of ‘Stretching Beyond’.

“Our commitment to excellence continues to be the creora® brand promise and is the driving force behind the new campaign. For 2016, we are planning to continue to invest in product, technology, assets, and services to bring value to our direct and indirect customers,” states Hyosung President Kim. “We are focused on increased awareness of creora as the global leader in spandex.”

New online video training programme ‘My Fashion Business‘ was created to help fashion entrepreneurs get their brand started, and most important, noticed. Founder Alison Williams says: “The fashion industry is currently going through a major shake-up and, whenever there’s change in any industry, it always brings opportunity! Nowadays, people don’t want to wait 6 months for ‘new season’ to arrive – they want it now! Which is great news for fashion start-ups because they’re in the perfect position to feed that demand.”

Several years ago Alison launched a successful fashion accessories brand with no formal fashion education, zero industry contacts and a modest start-up budget. After years being asked ‘How did you do that?’ and ‘Can you show me how I can start a fashion business?’, Alison felt compelled to share her experience and personal insight with others.

She has launched a free 3-Part Video Training Series, covering the secret behind a great fashion business idea, how to create a fashion brand that’s instantly more powerful and more visible within their chosen market, how to create a fashion collection that minimises cost, risk and time and how to attract social media and media coverage. Entrepreneurs can then proceed to the paid 10 Module Training Course, with 10 hours of video content, downloadable guides and task sheets showing how to apply the 10-step formula and lay the foundation for a successful fashion business.

The March 2016 budget revealed that hundreds of thousands of small businesses will fall below the new lower limit for rates (no rates at all up to £12,000). The announcement will take 600,000 premises out of paying rates and benefit a further 250,000 above the threshold. This will help both the 64% of shops in England and Wales that have RVs up to £12,000 and those around the average RV of a shop, which is just over £27,000.

BIRA (British Independent Retailers’ Association) welcomed the move as Alan Hawkins, bira CEO, commented: “The government has listened to businesses and in particular to the High Street shops whose business rates pain first alerted everyone to the damaging effects of this outdated tax. These changes go a long way to alleviating that pain in the longer term and bira welcomes that.”

The only negative note is that the new thresholds will apply only from April 2017 and in the meantime all shops with RVs below £50,000 will effectively be worst off than 2015 as the Chancellor has not reversed his removal of the £1,500 discount.

Corporation tax for smaller businesses will reduce to 17% but again with a time delay (by 2020) and tax-free allowances offered for online start-ups.

In breaking news, commercial landlords have voted for a deal that will save BHS from administration, and with it thousands of jobs, but which will leave over half of landlords and their investors receiving reduced rent.

The British Property Federation (BPF), which represents commercial landlords, has commented on the Company Voluntary Agreement, which will see 77 stores undergo no rent change, compared to 47 stores that will pay a reduced rent of 75% or 50%, and 40 stores that will just pay 20% rent. Landlords will be able to terminate such leases if they find other tenants.

The deal could see landlords receive 6.15p – 10p in the pound. The CVA offers a better return for landlords than if it had fallen into administration, as well as seeing a greater number of stores remain open.

CVAs must be agreed by 75% of all unsecured creditors and 50% of the unconnected unsecured creditors before they are passed.

Selfridges will unveil today its brand new 37,000ft Body Studio offering lingerie, beachwear, nightwear hosiery and even a wellness cafe. Chantelle is one of the 100+ brands based in the new department and was featured on a shop window to promote the upcoming department launch.

Chantelle’s new invisible bra, Aeria, is available in Black and Nude exclusively at Selfridges until the end of April. The new style features a combination of a spacer knit on the lower cup and delicate tulle on the upper cup making it the brand’s most feminine invisible bra yet. Aeria allows the skin to breath, offering maximum comfort, and also features fully adjustable straps and a T-back hook.

© copyright Matt Writtle 2016.

This week Selfridges unveiled the world’s first integrated bodywear department, located in a brand new and unseen compartment inside the iconic Oxford Street store, as part of a five-year £300 million redevelopment. The 37,000 square feet Body Studio is Selfridges’ largest department ever and carries an impressive collection of over 150 brands and 5000 products among women’s lingerie, lounge, nightwear, swimwear, hosiery and sportswear.

In addition to providing an exceptional and fun shopping experience, in the Body Studio Selfridges also aims to celebrate women – their strength, their confidence, their bodies and their well-being – through the unique environment, product mix and events calendar. Offering a world-class lingerie fitting experience at the Fit Studio, a ‘knicker bar’ where customers are invited to pick and mix their underwear, the first Hemsley + Hemsley café concept, a courtyard garden and even a new Daniel Galvin hair concept, the Body Studio broadcasts the original ideas of wellness inside and out which inspired the project through a compelling shopping experience.

Depth, variety, newness, exclusivity and inclusivity from brands and collections are paramount, as the Body Studio sets out to deliver solutions to every woman, every situation and in every location. Some of the lingerie brands featured at the department are New York based label Fleur du Mal, Coco de Mer (available for the first time outside their London boutique), Silent Assembly as well as niche highlights including Else and For Love and Lemons. The Body Studio will also offer a year round holiday wardrobe featuring under-the-radar swim brands such as Marysia, Dodo Bar Or, Thierry Colson and Muzungu Sisters.

Premium nightwear is another focal point for the Body Studio as the category continues to grow into one of the most interesting and fast moving in bodywear. Olivia Von Halle, Morgan Lane, Dear Bowie, Pour Les Femmes and newcomer Three Graces lead this movement and after appearing on the SS16 catwalks at Balenciaga, Céline, Givenchy, Marc Jacobs and Saint Laurent, nightwear is set to be one of 2016’s biggest fashion talking points.

Last but not least, sports play a big role in the Body Studio and the global athleisure drift will be represented by a concise line-up of brands including Varley, The Upside and Michi. The product offering is rounded off by the most-wanted sports accessories such as waist trainers, pro boxing kits and a limited edition collection of water bottles and yoga mats created in collaboration with international brands and designers.

To mark the opening of this new space Selfridges have announced EveryBODY, the third thought-provoking project following on the steps of The Beauty Project, launched in 2014, and last year’s Agender, which challenged existing preconceptions of gender in fashion and retail. Through EveryBODY, Selfridges aims to support the legacy of positive self-image, promoting inclusivity and diversity through product, animation and a revolutionary media campaign. This project will see the department store collaborate with PSYCLE to offer an in-store gym space, as well as host a series of inspiring talks and uplifting events to galvanise the body and mind.

IKKO Issey Asalea Robe by Holland Street

WGSN Futures Awards are staged by WGSN, the world’s leading trend authority, to recognise innovation and breakthrough talent on a global scale.

Judged by an elite panel of international experts and attracting entries from more than 50 countries, they are the only awards in fashion and the creative industries with a true global reach.

The 2016 ceremony takes place on 26 May in London and will attract 400 industry and style leaders.

Award Categories this year are Best Digital Innovation, Best Marketing Initiative, the Avery Dennison Emerging Brand, Breakthrough Fashion & Accessories Designer, Breathrough Menswear Designer, Breakthrough Womenswear Designer and Outstanding Achievement (the latter 3 are by nomination only). On the retail side,  the other awards up for grabs are Best E-Store, Best Multi-Channel Business, Best New Retail Concept, Best Start-Up, Best Store, Innovative Design and Sustainable Design (list of finalists and nominations can be found on WGSN’s site).

Underlines’ favourite, Holland Street, designed by Lauren Barfoot, is one of just four finalists for the Avery Dennison Emerging Brand Award. This luxury designer brand of printed silk kaftans, kimonos and robes burst onto the scene in 2014 targeted at the international loungewear and resortwear markets, although the designer has had much success in her home market, where all the products are made and delivered in elegant branded envelopes and silk drawstring bags.

The contemporary and colourful prints take inspiration from historical context, culture and nature, particularly florals. Lauren herself studied at the Royal College of Art and received a number of prizes during her time there (in particular for excellence in placement pattern and use of colour & material).

Two major lingerie players have reached the finalists’ roster in this year’s Retail Week’s Awards.

There are a total of 12 retail awards covering all aspects of the retail experience. Bravissimo (customer hub) is a finalist in the ‘Best Use of Staff Engagement in delivering Customer Experience).

Ann Summers is up for the Personalisation Initiative of the Year Award for the Qubit ‘Foreplay’ Dice campaign.

Ann Summers

House of Fraser and John Lewis Department Stores feature prominently in several other categories – the Awards will take place on 23rd June 2016 at the Hilton (Park Lane).

Gilda & Pearl, luxury lingerie and sleepwear brand, have been awarded the coveted Butterfly Mark (by Positive Luxury) for contributions to British manufacturing and sustainability. Positive Luxury champions craftsmanship, service and sustainable design for luxury brands.

Founded in 2011 by Diane Houston, the brand is well known for its exquisite designs and is ethically created with silk fabrics sourced from suppliers in London and Manchester, English laces from Nottingham and French laces from Calais and Caudry with every piece individually made in the UK.

Gilda & Pearl opened their first ever London atelier last year at 21 Conduit Street with private appointments for fitting and personal shopping.

Retail giant John Lewis has launched its third annual hunt for promising young retail technology companies – with investment, mentoring and free office space on offer for successful applicants. Applications are accepted until 8th May 2016.

The JLAB accelerator is recruiting companies across four categories: health & wellbeing, simplify my life, effortless shopping and tech for kids.

“Under mentorship from John Lewis, JLAB startups will have a unique opportunity to hone their ideas and create a product which has a genuinely positive impact on our customers,” said John Lewis IT director Paul Coby.

“We’ve seen from previous years the value of combining an agile startup mentality with John Lewis’ extensive industry knowledge, and I’m personally looking forward to working with the 2016 applicants,” he added.

The retailer is one of a swathe of big corporates which have recently rushed to put cash, expertise or office space up for grabs for promising young UK firms. Over ten per cent of UK accelerators are now backed by large corporations.

Olivia von Halle will open their first concession in Parisian department stores, Printemps this April.

Olivia launched her luxury pyjamas range in 2011 at London Fashion Week and was also chosen as part of the select offer at Selfridges’ Body Studio earlier this month. The brand is stocked in over one hundred of the world’s most prestigious stores.

As well as being the first store to carry the brand in both Paris and France more widely, Printemps will hold one of the largest selections of Olivia von Halle worldwide. The brand will launch with an edit of the SS2016 ‘Talisman’ Collection.

On the opening of the Body Studio, Selfridges launches EveryBODY, a multi-faceted campaign that will celebrate the beauty and strength of the body and promote the discussion of the hottest topics within the  mind and body wellness conversation. ‘A healthy mind in a healthy body’ approach underpins the agenda at the core of the EveryBODY campaign programme starting with the transformation of Selfridges’ dedicated 3,500 sq ft special events space, the Ultralounge, into a work-out studio.

A powerful print and digital advertising campaign shot by photographer Norbert Schoerner will support EveryBODY. Choreographed by multi-award winning British choreographer and director Wayne Mc Gregor, the campaign features non-professional models representing the ‘every-woman’ via a broad selection of shapes, sizes and ethnicities. The use of a choreographer reinforces the aim of the campaign to present an arresting and unexpected neoclassical way to demonstrate the beauty of the female body. Wayne Mc Gregor will also curate a series of impromptu dance performances by female choreographers to take place, unannounced, on the shop floor of the London store.

Campaign runs from 11th April to early June 2016

Original online sports bra retailer, LessBounce.com, founded in 2000 has regretfully announced liquidation of the company. The creditors’ meeting is due to be held on 15 April 2016.

This e-site boasted the widest range of sports bra in the world (30 brands) and attracted over 20,000 visitors every month.

It is reported that there are several interested parties looking to purchase the business and assets of the company so it may be operational again in the near future.

For details on creditors’ meeting contact Begbies Traynor on bath@begbies-traynor.com.

New online shop Knicker Locker specialises in Women’s Lingerie, Swimwear, Nightwear and Menswear, and have teamed up with Wacoal Europe to help women get the support they deserve. The shop’s recently launched Perfect Bra Fitting Video Guide series features four videos that teach women how to put their bras on and demonstrate how easy it is to get the correct fit.

Boux Avenue has announced the launch of its 2016 summer campaign, kicking off with a TV advert that will hit screens today. Showcasing items from the latest collection, the advert was shot in South Africa and reflects the typical Boux Avenue style boasting all things fun and flirty. Featuring Olympic level synchronised swimmers to create an innovative campaign, the ad highlights Boux Avenue’s statement ‘swimwear that fits like lingerie’.

Sue Dover, Marketing and Ecommerce Director at Boux Avenue comments: “We are a fully inclusive brand, so this campaign is aimed at women of all ages and showcases stunning lingerie and swimwear that allows women to choose the perfect fit and style for them. One of the key elements to Boux Avenue’s brand is humour, this advert continues with that spirit by including hints of light hearted humour throughout that’s sure to make people smile.”

Voting is open following the announcement of the second Modelled by Role Models campaign finalists. After launching the first edition of the digital campaign in 2015 to celebrate inspirational women around the world, Panache Lingerie invited customers to nominate their own role models to feature as part of the 2016 Modelled by Role Models campaign launching in September.

Panache have received thousands of nominations and selected 15 extraordinary women to go through the next stage. Voting finishes on April 29th 2016 and the winners will receive a year’s supply of Panache lingerie, a starring role in the Modelled by Role Models photo shoot in London and a set of prints of the best images taken for the campaign.

Click to learn about the 15 finalists:

• Sarah Williams –  Author, blogger specializing in sharing voices of inspiring women, motivational speaker and marathon runner.
• Ewa Zakrzewska – Plus size model and activist who campaigns for body confidence amongst her peers.
• Charlie Porter – Born with Spina Bifida, Charlie defies prognosis and made a full recovery, pushing her aim to lead a normal life, as well setting up a charity for children with disabilities.
• Lauren Morton – Over the past two years she’s rowed the Atlantic twice, run seven marathons in seven different countries in seven days, and spent six weeks in a South American desert island.
• Emily Findlay – Neuroblastoma cancer survivor who has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds in Scotland for cancer research.
• Jayne Hurditch – Mum of two to severely disabled daughter Molly as well as Amy who sadly passed away from meningococcal meningitis aged 8. In Amy’s memory, Jayne and her family set up Amy’s House a charity for children with disabilities.
• Katarzyna Nicewicz – 25-year-old Katarzyna has been working with homeless people in Poland’s capital Warsaw for a number of years, and at the age of 21 she founded the Polish homeless charity Daj herbatę (share a tea).
• Anja Loven – A Danish aid worker who left her job in retail in 2011 to spend three months as a relief worker in Africa. In 2013 Anja sold everything she owned in Denmark to move to Nigeria and set up the African Children’s Aid Education and Development Foundation.
• Katarzyna Kulpa – Katarzyna was Poland’s first lingerie blogger, winning Blogger of the Year award in 2009.
• Elly Mayday – Canadian plus size model who promotes body positivity. Elly is a survivor of ovarian cancer.
• Eliza Rebeiro – Eliza is an anti-­knife and gang crime campaigner who founded the Lives Not Knives organization when she was just 14.
• Nicola Griffin – Nicky became a model just three years ago at the age of 53, and now represents brands that sell hair products and swimwear aimed at the more mature woman.
• Vashti Seth – Bristol‐based mum of two Vashti Seth was left £2,000 and with this she set up the charity Deki in 2008, after she was inspired by a Tibetan refugee called Deki Dolkha.
• Sylwia Blach – Sylwia is a blogger, author and software programmer, and an ambassador for disabled people in Poland.
• Courtney Bescoby – Volunteer and animal fosterer who volunteered in Zanzibar. Courtney found the work so rewarding that it helped her battle with depression.

Lovehoney Lingerie has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for International Trade for outstanding growth in overseas sales over the last three years. The award, described as ‘the highest accolade for business success’, allows Lovehoney to use The Queen’s Award emblem in advertising, marketing and on packaging for a period of five years as a symbol of quality and success.

Profits at Lovehoney shot up 79% last year to £3.7 million with overseas sales reaching £12 million following the launch of new websites for the French, German and Australian markets. Owners Richard Longhurst and Neal Slateford received the award 14 years to the day from when they started trading online, and will be attending a reception held by the Queen at Buckingham Palace on July 14.

Slateford said: “It’s a huge privilege for Lovehoney to be honoured by the Queen. Official recognition from the Queen as she celebrates her 90th birthday shows just how far we have come as a company and how far sexy lingerie and sex toys have been embraced by mainstream shoppers. This award will help us to reach new markets and create more jobs both in Bath and in our global offices.”