Ben Sherman launch with Fused & Blink

We have been so busy that I forget to put up these great images by Steve Gerrard of the new Ben Sherman store launch party inBirmingham.

The new store opened earlier in the month and to celebrate we were asked to help with the launch. So we asked Mr Terry Hall (The Specials, Fun Boy 3) and the Bang Bang DJ’s to help get us in the mood. Throw in lots of bottles of Corona and a goody bag and we had ourselves a little shindig.

 

Thank you to all the very stylish people that turned up looking very smart indeed. And thanks to Chicks Dig Jerks who played some cracking music at the ‘unofficial’ after party at Island Bar.

Images: Terry Hall, Poppy & The Jezebels, Deluka, Copter, Bang Bang, Murdoch

IT’SUGAR

Selfridges has gone Sugarlicous with a new launch in the Birmingham store. The European exclusive IT’SUGAR store opened this morning and is a candy coloured delight to the eyes and tastebuds.

With a range of exclusive flavoured M&M’s (direct from M&M World Las Vegas), Hershey’s, Jelly Belly’s and the biggest Gobstoppers you are ever likely to see It’Sugar is a kids paradise.

Originally an American concept by Jeff Rubin, a.k.a The Candy Man,  each store has its own Jelly Belly sculpture. There is a Dolphin in Miami and a Bull (of course) in Birmingham.

Covered with  250,493 Jelly Belly’s of all colours and flavours the Bull, which is perfectly modeled on the Bullring Bull, sits proudly in the food hall and is sure to be the new tourist attraction of Birmingham.

Also available is an exclusive Limited Edition Selfridges Bullring Bar. Weighing in at a kilo its a heavy piece of choc and made by Cadbury. Urmmmm.

Meeting Mary

I met Mary Portas – Queen of Shops – in Birmingham on Friday. She was in the city to award £5,000 to, what she believes is, the best independent retailer in Birmingham. After going on a tour with Retail Birmingham she decided to give the award to Disorder.

Here is what Disorder say about themselves: “Established in 1998, Disorder Boutique is based in Birmingham City Centre. Disorder prides itself on being an ethical, ” ANTI-BRAND” company. We are against GLOBAL BLANDING. We do not mass produce our garments, we do not mass distribute our clothes. We stock our clothes in stores that share our company ethos. Infact, anything that the corporate brands do we avoid. We produce our garments locally, we use British fabrics and we pay our team fairly.”

Mary was very complimentary about our hometown and believed that Disorder showed original design talent and bespoke tailoring which gave them the edge over other independents in the city.

She also commented on how she believes that “value retailing is killing off innovation” with there being “far too much product and choice”.

One of the key things that I personally thought was a great point is how she is lobbying  the City Council to  nurture young and small retailers by offering them ‘cheaper’ space and rates and also to give Birmingham consumers a much needed choice from the High Street brands. Here here!

Fused Issue 33 illustrations

We have some beautiful illustrations in the current issue of Fused Magazine. Take a look at the Fused Site or at the Fused blog here.

Here is a peek to entice you…

Sexy Blink

So here is the cover of the all new Blink (thank you for scanning it Mr Ashton and putting it on all of your wonderful blogs). I know I have been promising more pictures but thanks to the Plus and Blink party on Friday night and all the things we’ve had going on i’ve been too busy to post any. I will make sure there is lots of online presence and updates in the next few days.

Fused and Ben Sherman Shopping event

Ben Sherman, the quintessential brand of all things cool Britannia, finally comes to Birmingham and on Wednesday 7th November FUSED and BLINK Magazine will be hosting an exclusive shopping event at the new flagship store and you are invited!

Much loved by mods, skins, suedeheads, terrace lads and indie kid scensters alike Ben Sherman has been at the forefront of UK fashion and music for the last five decades and to celebrate its arrival in to the city we are offering you a chance to get on the guest list to the hottest party in town.

The legendary godfather of 2 Tone Terry Hall, lead singer of The Specials and Fun Boy Three, will be supplying the music in store accompanied by Birmingham’s ace DJ duo Bang Bang.

After plying you with free beer and goody bags you’ll be able to shop in the shiny new store and buy up a selection from the season’s Autumn Winter range.

If you want to get your hands on tickets you’ll have to be quick. Only 150 people will be lucky enough so email bensherman@fusedmagazine.com for more information.

Guest list deadline is strictly the 4th November and we will email you back to confirm.

Check www.bensherman.com and www.fusedmagazine.com for more details.

Middle Mall West, Bullring Shopping Centre, Birmingham B5 4BU TEL: 0121 633 8130

Blink Launch party

A big thank you to everyone that turned up to the Blink Launch party at the Plus Design Expo last night. If you missed is then you missed Poppy and the Jezebels and Murdoch play live plus Secret Wars.

We had a wonderful time giving out the all new issue of Blink so thank you for your feedback.

Blink at Plus Expo

We installed the Fused and Blink stand at the Plus Expo yesterday ready for today’s launch. It is covered with a black and white Julien Macdonald wallpaper and red drapes as well as some lush furniture courtesy of Fragile Design based at the Custard Factory.

And most importantly you can pick up a copy of issue 01 of BLINK and if you missed issue 32 of Fused that as well.

I’ll be taking some pics later so will make sure that they are online for you to see if you can’t make it.

And finally remember its the Plus/Blink party on Friday night from 7.30pm.

It’s here!

Finally the launch of BLINK MAGAZINE is here and will be hitting the streets of Birmingham over the next few days.

Make sure you look out for Issue 01 – The Autumn Issue packed full of gorgeous fashion shoots and interiors.

We thought we’d give you a sneak preview and show a few images here…

Blink hits the streets next week

We are delighted to announce that the debut issue of Blink will be hitting the streets of Birmingham in under a week’s time. Packed full of lush imagery we are sure you are going to love it. The art direction has been done by Stefan Grindley who has turned his stylish hand to each page. Fashion shoots from David Cooper, Jean-Philippe Martin and Rebecca Miller are also featured. Check back for a few sneak previews.