The Experts

Toby Meadows : Bootcamp Director

Toby Meadows is the international best selling author of ‘How to Set up & Run a Fashion Label’ currently translated into 6 different languages; and is the founder and Director of Three’s Company Creative Consultancy, a collective of fashion professionals providing creative and business services to the fashion industry, as well as a Director of the London based cult womenswear designer label Belle & Bunty (a regular in the pages of the fashion press and loved by celebrities) .  He regularly hosts conferences on developing a fashion label and has advised many small to medium size fashion enterprises Toby has also worked with some of the world’s largest and most recognizable fashion business from high street giants, Gap, Zara, Topshop to High End designer labels, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Christian Dior, Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood to name merely a few.

Stephanie Firth : Retail expert

With almost 20 years in the fashion industry, Stephanie has worked for many brands on the high street. Stephanie is currently at Ted Baker in license management role, with a focus on design and range building. Stephanie’s product knowledge is vast ranging from developing luggage, high-end womenswear to scuba suits.

Stephanie has worked with many brands, including Jigsaw where she worked on the launch of their children’s wear; Firetrap where she worked on the launch of their womenswear; White Stuff where she assisted build the brand from twenty something stores into an international brand; at Speedo Stephanie developed their technical clothing range. Elle brand and then Ted Baker.

Working with smaller retail brands and seeing them grow has given Stephanie an insight into most of the fundamental disciplines which make a fashion brand successful. Stephanie has specialised as a Buyer, Designer, Garment Technologist, Brand manager, Production Manager.

Nick Howe : small business finance expert

Nick is NatWest’s Regional Enterprise Manager. Having worked with businesses of all shapes, sizes and sectors every day for the last 11 years Nick has a wealth of experience and examples on which to draw on. Key learning for Nick is to relate the business progress to the personal goals of the proprietor on which to provide a healthy challenge against progress at review.


Kate Green : Supply chain expert

Kate Green specialises in Fashion Production and Management for Luxury Fashion Brands. Through her previous years work with Paul Smith, Matthew Williamson, the Freda for Matches Collection and most recently Aquascutum, Kate has worked with both established manufacturers and designers and smaller production units. She has also spent time working with leading innovation experts building her expertise in assessing and bring fresh solutions to businesses.

She also works with London based emerging designer labels supporting their growth and trouble-shooting on their behalf. Examples of the specific activities Kate has undertaken for her clients include: evaluation of the sampling and production processes; computerising systems and procedures between Design and Factory; supporting fabric and trim development, prints; sourcing new factories both UK and offshore; range planning and logistical/shipping operations. She is currently developing product alongside a Blue Chip company for the 2012 London Olympics

Amelia Gregory : Media expert

Amelia Gregory is publisher, editor and art director of Amelia’s Magazine, which began life as a biannual print publication in 2004. Prior to that she worked on Arena, The Face, Sleaze Nation and I-D as a stylist and for Sleaze Nation, the Evening Standard, Time Out and G2 as a fashion photographer.

After five years in print Amelia’s Magazine moved entirely online in 2008: it covers the very best in emerging fashion, art, music and illustration and is read by 65,000 readers a month. Amelia has published two illustration books since late 2009, the latest of which is Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration, which features interviews with upcoming illustrators and the best new ethical fashion designers.

Since 2005 she has lectured on art direction, PR and social networking to fashion design and fashion promotion students across the UK and internationally.


Sue Meadows : Voice/professional skills expert

We believe Sue Meadow’s input to the Bootcamp is essential. Developing your strategy is part of your challenge. Being able to communicate it effectively, is equally challenging. Sue will provide coaching in how to project and deliver your strategy pitch, with more confidence.

Sue is a Voice Consultant who offers a holistic approach to the development of voice and personal professional skills.  Sue gained a post-graduate diploma in voice studies at the Central School of Speech and Drama (CSSD) and has worked for the past fifteen years as a vocal skills expert within the corporate, government and media sectors.

Recent Clients have included CNN, BBC, Sky, Channel 4, Topshop, Sony Playstation, Inner Temple, UBS, Credit Suisse  and the Cabinet Office.


Mark Norden FCA FSBP : small business finance expert

Mark has been supporting fashion design clients for over 15 years, working with start-ups through to larger businesses at investment and expansion stage. Clients include menswear, womenswear, textiles, accessories, footwear and jewellery businesses.

Mark’s personal experience in creating fast and steady profits for seedling businesses has given him a valuable understanding of risk, strategy and the emotional demands of building a successful venture – an ideology that permeates through his company.

Marcia Lazar : supply chain management expert

Marcia Lazar ran a successful menswear label for over 20 year, and during this time was frustrated by the lack of relevant support tools available to her business. She was determined to find an affordable software package that dealt with the needs of a small design company. There was nothing out there to cope with the range of sizes and colours. Undeterred Marcia bought a very large book and crossed the path from fashion to IT. It took years of development and testing, to bring the software to its current online incarnation. That work, to date, has gone on to benefit over 240 designers and production houses in over 20 countries around the globe. Marcia will bring her  experiences and pragmatic approach to problem solving to the Bootcamp.


Charles Russell LLP : legal experts

Charles Russell is a top 50 full service law firm, who’s Retail, Design and Leisure Group is a multi-disciplinary legal team acting for individual designers, fashion houses, retailers, luxury and boutique brands, manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, models, agencies and photographers. The Team’s extensive experience in the fashion and design industries is backed up by a commercially orientated approach. Many of the team have been seconded or worked in-house with clients.

A member of The Team will be available during the Bootcamp, bringing with them expertise in advising clients on a wide variety of matters, including: drafting and negotiating commercial contracts; advising on business structures; helping with financing and corporate acquisitions; resolving disputes; managing client’s brands and reputations; assisting on employment and property issues; and advising on all intellectual property and IT matters.

Sally Heale : Buying expert

34 year old Sally Heale has worked very successfully as a retail buying agent for both National and International fashion, beauty, lingerie and home stores for over a decade. Her clients have included stores and companies such as Henri Bendel (New York), Arnotts (Ireland), Lane Crawford (Hong Kong), Selfridges (UK), The Gap, Crabtree and Evelyn, British Fashion Council / London Fashion Week, The Hemming Group and Talkback Thames.

Sally is employed to spot up and coming designers, trends and brands for clients; she has helped to launch the likes of Tempereley London, Preen, Luella, Sophia Kokisalaki, Matthew Williamson and Roland Mouret in America. Sally travels all over the world in pursuit of winning brands and products for clients and has experienced many trade and fashion shows – the good and the bad! Over time Sally has built up a strong understanding of what it is like to be a designer, she has become one of the most well placed people to offer advice on the best way to succeed.

Though her work Sally has access to an extensive, deeply embedded and well-developed network of contacts; she knows the fashion market extensively and is very experienced in many areas of the industry. Supported further by a background in marketing and strategy Sally now consults for established department stores, global television production companies, fledgling businesses, high street chains, online offerings and a number of designers and brands – new and established