B I O G R A P H Y
I N T R O D U C T I O N Je f f B a n k s h a s b een at the fo ref ro nt o f Britis h fa s h i on t h rou g h out f ive d ecad es . H e has wo n n u merou s awa rd s a nd citatio ns aro und the wo rld . H is c a reer c a n t r u ly c laim that he has chang ed t h e cou r se of fa shio n as we know it to d ay.
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T H E Jef f B a n k s h a s b e e n at the fo refro nt o f Br itish fas h i o n t h ro u g h o u t five decades. H e has wo n nu m e ro u s awa rd s a n d citatio ns aro und the wo r ld.
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1964 CLOBBER Jeff Banks with partner Tony Harley in the design studio of Clobber, 1965
Clobber opened in 1964 and was one of the first handful of new ‘boutiques’ to open in Great Britain setting the tone of what was to make London the fashion epicentre of the world in the 1960’s. Mary Quant had two shops in London, Top Gear and Count down, owned by James Wedge on the Kings Road. Kiki Byrne was also on Kings Road whilst Tracy Major owned a single outpost in Middlesborough. Biba hadn’t opened its doors at this stage. Clobber became a magnet for fashion hungry customers across Britain as well as attracting regular visitors from France and Germany. The opening of Clobber in 1964 attracted luminaries from the pop, film and theatre world with onlookers swelling to 10,000 in the small village of Blackheath. The crowd was such that mounted police had to attend to take control. In early 1965 Clobber came to the attention of the London buying Director of Puritan
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Fashion Sandy Moss who selected the Clobber brand to become a key brand in twenty six boutiques that Puritan were opening in New York, Boston, Chicago and Washington. This opening attracted the attention in New York of Ida Schalino of Bloomingdales who flew to London to buy the Clobber collection to feature in the new Young Eastside departments that Bloomingdales were opening in all their stores. This again enlarged the activity in America with Bloomingdales buying agent A.M.C recommending Clobber to many store groups across the USA including Nieman Marcus, Filenes And Nordstrom. At the same time the distribution of Clobber in Britain began to enlarge substantially with some hundred shops and stores beginning to stock the Clobber brand.
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1966
In 1966 the chairman of Fenwicks in Newcastle Mr Trevor Fenwick Senior decided to open the first shop in shop in Britain, a concept he had seen in America, and opened a branch of Clobber within the prestigious store. This became the forerunner of a whole style of fashion retailing across the country with concessions becoming a standard practice of retailing. In 1967 Clobber moved its wholesale business to new premises in Mortimer Street London and enlarged to become a multimillion pound business. Clobber expanded through Europe showing in Copenhagen Dusseldorf and Paris with continuing success in selling its unique style design across the United States. In America Clobber was licensed for manufacture and distribution to Arnold Friedman. Two other licensors that Arnold Friedman carried were French
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designers Daniel Hechter and Jean Claude Castleberjac. In 1967 Clobber signed Eurovision Song contestant winner Sandie Shaw to an exclusive design arrangement with clothing industry giant Raybeck Ltd. This was the first personality branding exercise in the UK and probably the world with distribution across Britain and Europe with many leading mail order companies and retailers. In 1969 Jeff Banks sold his interest in Clobber to his partner and opened his own fashion company, The International Clothing Company, to manufacture and market the designs of Jeff Banks.
Sandie Shaw wearing Clobber crochet bikini, 1968
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1969 JEFF BANKS
The success of Jeff Banks was almost instantaneous with hundreds of fashion stores from Miss Selfridge to Browns in South Molton Street carrying the Jeff Banks brand. The secret of the success of Jeff Banks was expensive high quality fashion that competed in both quality and design with in many of the new fashion brands emerging in Europe. In 1969 Jeff Banks was amongst the first ten British companies to exhibit in Paris within the newly founded Paris Prêt a Porter. In 1970 in conjunction with Douglas Lewis Jeff Banks formed The Clothing Export Council forming a body that was the forerunner of the British Fashion Council to promote British fashion abroad. In 1971 Douglas Lewis left and his role was taken over by Peter Randell who with Jeff and a committee of fashion luminaries created a vibrant export oriented arm of British Fashion. At the same time Jeff was invited to become a member of The Association of Fashion Designers and
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became the youngest committee member with a group of long establishes fashion companies such as Frank Usher, Mansfield, John Marks and Andre Peters. The Jeff Banks brand quickly established a platform of distribution with departments in most large prestigious department stores across the country. Stores such as Selfridges, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Liberty in London as well as stores in Britain’s major city centres like Rackhams in Birmingham, Kendal Milne in Manchester and Fenwicks in Newcastle. At the same time Jeff Banks opened its own showrooms in New York and began showing in a specialist stand at the Prêt a Porter in Paris in conjunction with Stirling Cooper, Quorum and John Marks. This led to Jeff Banks showing collections in Dusseldorf, Paris, New York and Tokyo.
Jeff Banks photographed in new showrooms in Cavendish Square, 1971
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Design & Sales staff prepare for a night out at the first Jeff Banks showroom in Cavendish Square, London 1970.
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T H E Jef f B a n k s h a s b e e n at the fo refro nt o f Br itish fas h i o n t h ro u g h o u t five decades. H e has wo n nu m e ro u s awa rd s a n d citatio ns aro und the wo r ld.
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1971
Jeff Banks logo during the early 1970’s
For four prestigious years the Jeff Banks brand grew across Britain, manufacturing a brand of high quality fashion to successfully compete with many of the world’s leading brands. In 1971 Jeff Banks opened head office and warehouse facilities in Cleveland St, London and sales showrooms in Cavendish Square London W1. Also in 1971 Jeff Banks began a life long association with education taking on the role of external examiner at Liverpool School of Art invited by Jean Muir who was the college’s Visiting Professor. In 1975 The International Clothing Company Headquarters in Cleveland Street were burnt out after an arsonist attack causing the closure of the offices and distribution centre. This occurred over the August Bank Holiday and four weeks before the opening of the Jeff Banks shop in Duke Street London. All stock for the new shop and orders for hundreds of accounts expecting their new season’s deliveries were lost in the fire. Six months later Jeff Banks amalgamated with
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Rembrandt Ltd Japanese owned fashion group who were to continue to grow and develop the Jeff Banks brand for the next four years from new showrooms in Market Place, London W1. With the clout of the Japanese financial backing Jeff Banks grew steadily both home and abroad. Twice yearly collections shown either at the Savoy Hotel or the Dorchester during this period continued the upward growth of the brand. By 1977 Jeff Banks had twenty two shop in shops in Britain as well as some three hundred other accounts in Britain carrying Jeff Banks. In 1979 Jeff Banks became British Designer of the Year, in 1980 British Coat Designer of the Year and in 1981 British Designer of the Year for the second time. It was as a result of this second win that Jeff began a long career in television.
Marie Helvin wearing Jeff Banks linen collection, 1976 17
1976
WA R E H O U S E L A U N C H
In 1976 due to poor supply of products due to the fire, Jeff’s partners in the Jeff Banks retail store in Duke Street asked Jeff if he had any ideas to use the store in a different way as they were tied into a long and expensive lease. Jeff created the idea of Warehouse. Using his design team and manufacturing contacts he created a low price high quality range of designer clothes retailed in a spartan environment based on the ‘high tech’ decorating rage of the time. The range was fast moving but of high quality. It instantaneously became a success story. Jeff’s partners in the new venture were Michael and Mourice Bennett. Queues regularly formed around the block at the first shop in Duke Street and a cult status was quickly achieved with fashion insiders desperate to acquire the latest new looks at a half of the price usually expected for designer clothes. This was design from the drawing board straight to the customer which many years later was to become the model for the high street retail revolution that swept Britain and subsequently America. The head designers of Jigsaw, Monsoon and Oasis all worked for Jeff Banks in
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those formulative years poached from Warehouse to enable the formulae to be reproduced. Shops in Oxford Street and Brompton Road quickly followed in 1977 and Warehouse had begun to grow. This radical departure in the method of getting fashion to the public did not go unnoticed by the fashion industry. In 1981 Jeff decided to forego his wholesale Designer Collection with Rembrandt and concentrate fully on developing Warehouse. Michael, Maurice and Jeff took over a small Bath based company Evans & Owen and using the public Company status of their two hundred year old company raised the finance to expand the Warehouse Brand. Twenty branches across the country quickly opened in all the major cities from Bath to Glasgow. Warehouse had become not only a force to be reckoned with but also a new direction for fashion retailing. Next, Monsoon, French Connection, River Island all began to follow suit.
Deidre McGuire on the front cover of Warehouse magazine, 1981 19
Front cover of Warehouse first magazine inspired by the artist Christo
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Deirdre McGuire and Kate Hatch wearing early Warehouse collection
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Deirdre McGuire and Kate Hatch wearing Warehouse collection in the early 1980s
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Warehouse catwalk show, Brompton Road 1980
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T H E Jef f B a n k s h a s b e e n at the fo refro nt o f Br itish fas h i o n t h ro u g h o u t five decades. H e has wo n nu m e ro u s awa rd s a n d citatio ns aro und the wo r ld.
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1981
THE EURYTHMICS
Annie Lennox wearing Jeff Banks in the look that became the hallmark of the Eurythmics
In 1981 Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox created the iconic band the Eurythmics. In 1981 Dave and Annie disbanded their band the tourists and reformed as the Eurythmics. Both Annie and Dave were looking for a new identity that would capture the spirit of the androgynous look of the early 80’s that was prevalent at the time, They turned to Jeff Banks after and introduction by Sue Mann who was working on their make-up look at the time. A five year relationship developed that saw Jeff create wardrobes for stage appearances, European tours and album covers. The Annie Lennox look became part of the fashion history of the time. The Victoria and Albert museum devoted a retrospective exhibition to Annie Lennox in April 2012, where some of the most iconic Jeff Banks outfits from the era were featured.
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1982 PEBBLE MILL
A producer of the daily magazine television show in Birmingham saw Jeff’s acceptance speech of the 1981 British Designer of the Year awards broadcast by Yorkshire Television and phoned suggesting he could become Pebble Mill’s fashion presenter as he appeared to have a natural, easy style in front of the camera. This led to a weekly television spot on Pebble Mill at One where he created short videos each week showing the latest trends and interviewing most of the leading British Fashion Designers bringing them to the notice of the British Public for the first time via television. Designers such as Bruce Oldfield, Wendy Dagworthy, Betty Jackson and John Richmond became household names partially due to their appearance on Pebble Mill. In five years, Jeff made nearly two hundred appearances on Pebble Mill.
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At this time there was no fashion on television as such and in 1984 Jeff created a magazine concept television show titled The Clothes Show using footage of the videos he had created for Pebble Mill, editing them together and recording links to weave them together into a thirty minute concept programme. This concept was presented to Michael Grade the then controller of BBC1 by Pebble Mill studios as a possible concept for new programmes. It was rejected on the grounds that there was not sufficient interest in fashion as a subject.
Pebble Mill at One TV show, 1982
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1983 In 1983 Jeff began a long collaboration with photographer John Bishop who in his younger years had shared an apartment in New York with John Casablancas who owned the Elite model agency. Jeff created, using John for photography, a new form of fashion advertising, the style magazine inserted into Fashion magazines. The first of its kind featured a young New York model Deidre McGuire who became the face of the early eighties. Her blond androgynous look represented the era. This style of fashion advertising is now much imitated. The next young model from the Elite stable was Andie MacDowell who at seventeen was making a big impact in America but had not been to Europe. New York models were now hearing about this London collaboration and all wanted to come to London. Warehouse went on to work with many prestigious photographers apart from Bishop such as Terence Donavan, Tony
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McGee, Kim Knott, Robert Erdman and the renowned Norman Parkinson. In 1985 Jeff had six well known photographers create a 100 page tribute to Norman Parkinson which was not only distributed across Britain but also formed a tribute exhibition at the Hamilton Gallery. In 1984 Jeff Banks and Warehouse won the British Fashion Council Retailer of the year award. The visual display of Warehouse was also highly recognised. The head of display was a young James McLusky who won the Retail Display awards five years in succession from 1981 to 1986. Members of the display team under James now hold the positions of Head of Display at Wallis, Head of Design at Gemini Mannequin and Head of Design at Adele Rootstein mannequins.
Andie MacDowell on the second Warehouse magazine, 1984
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1984
In 1984 Warehouse began a series of shopping centre fashion shows in Leeds. This for many years became part of the Warehouse marketing strategy with shows in Manchester, Glasgow, and Nottingham bringing fashion to the general public. In 1985 with collaboration from two New Yorkers, Richards Krantz and Catherine Deane, Warehouse opened its first New York branch. Ten more stores were to follow in two years.
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Picture by Norman Parkinson for Warehouse tribute Magazine, 1987
Self portrait by Norman Parkinson in his tribute Warehouse magazine 41
Lisa Marie for Warehouse, 1987
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Tilda Swinton for Warehouse, 1987
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1985 BYMAIL
In 1985 after a copyright dispute with Warehouse the Mail order company Freemans proposed a more formal arrangement. Jeff created Warehouse Bymail a “Specialogue” as it was called. It contained forty eight pages of Warehouse clothing, different from that available in the stores but with its own handwriting and formulae of affordable great fashion items. This grew to three catalogues for high fashion, one for men and one for more classical women’s clothes. All were enormously successful and at one point had over 1.2 million subscribers and live customers. This was to become the pre-cursor of catalogues such as the Next Directory. The young man in charge of this ‘specialogue’ operation in Freemans was Mike Hawker who subsequently went on to become managing Director of Empire stores, Grattan and also a director of the mail order giant in Germany Otto Versand. So successful was the association with Freemans that to protect their interest Ralph Aldred the then Managing Director proposed a takeover of Warehouse in 1987.
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This was to provide the next push forward to a forty stores financed by Freeman P.L.C. In 1987 Freemans arranged the distribution of Bymail in America with the Sears group U.S.A with Bymail going out to 17 million customers in the U.S.A. In 1988 Michael and Maurice resigned in dispute with Freemans and Freemans itself was the subject of an unwelcome takeover bid by the UK retailing giant Sears (nothing to do with the American Company). Warehouse became a division of Sears’ retail and apart from substantial growth in womenswear, also opened nine menswear shops on the back of Bymail men that was enjoying great success. The entrepreneurial spirit of Jeff Banks and Sears however did not match and in 1989 Jeff Banks resigned from Sears and began a new direction.
Christy Turlington cover for Bymail, 1985
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Cindy Crawford wearing Jeff Banks in Egypt, 1986 48
Stephanie Seymour Warehouse cover, 1985
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Christy Turlington Warehouse cover, 1985
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Christy Turlington for Warehouse, 1985
Cindy Crawford for Warehouse, 1985
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Warehouse classic, 1986
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Warehouse classic, 1986
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1986 WA R E H O U S E MEN In 1986 the very successful ByMail catalogue created a Menswear offer. The silhouette was typical of the era with wide shoulders combined with smart tailoring and an athletic dance inspired look.
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1986 THE SMIRNOFF AWA R D S In 1986 Jeff Banks was asked by the Public Relations Company Cartmell Associates to create an idea that would lend fashionability to the relatively new drink in Britain of Vodka. The solution was to create a competition that could be entered by any fashion student in the country regardless of their course, with judging carried out by a prestigious panel of judges. Judging and final fashion show was to be held at the Albert Hall. The themes for the competition were created in Paris by a company called Promostyle, a trend prediction
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organisation. There were over six hundred entries in the first year and the Smirnoff awards very quickly became the ‘one to win’. It went on to be replicated in 33 countries and now has an International Final as well as individual finals held in all countries sadly except Britain. Thousands of students have now benefited from this award scheme.
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1987 WA R E H O U S E Throughout the development of the Warehouse chain the retail architecural design won numerous awards. The design development was a collaboration between Jeff Banks and Stuart Lever Associates.
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Mandy Smith wearing Warehouse designed by Jeff Banks, 1987
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Warehouse King Street Manchester
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Warehouse Autumn Winter Catalogue, 1986
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Warehouse Catalogue, 1986
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SUPERMODELS
Jeff Banks was very much at the forefront of the supermodel phenomena. York that Jeff brought the first of what would become the first supermodels to London. At that time they were unknown but by constantly using these high profile girls as well as constantly featuring them on his television show The Clothes Show they became household names. The list is endless but includes the following: Deirdre McGuire Andy McDowell Christy Turlington Cindy Crawford Naomi Campbell Carla Bruni Stephanie Seymour
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Carla Bruni for Bymail Spring/Summer 1985
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Christy Turlington and Cindy Crawford for Bymail Autumn/ Winter, 1988
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Stephanie Seymour and Naomi Campbell for Bymail Spring/ Summer, 1988
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1987 T H E C LOT H E S SHOW Although Jeff Banks’ first approach to BBC1 controller of television Michael Grade was rejected in 1984 Michael Grade (now Lord Grade) returned to the BBC after a stint in America to become controller of the BBC in 1987. Michael phoned Jeff at home late one night in 1987 to ask if anything had happened to the fashion programme idea. The answer was no! This was June and Michael asked if Jeff could produce eleven shows to go on air by September. He phoned Jeff at midnight to suggest his co-presenter could be Selina Scott. His plan was for an afternoon show as he was looking to revitalise afternoon viewing figures. Jeff’s proposal was that if the audience figures exceeded 3 million the show would move to an evening slot. After just two shows the figures were exceeding 3 million and true to his word the show was moved to Wednesday evenings from January 1988. At that time it was the only terrestrially broadcast television show on the subject of fashion in the world. For some two years the BBC Clothes Show was to be the only television company broadcasting all the major fashion shows from Milan, Paris and London. When New York fashion week commenced in 1996 74
the organiser Fern Britain made special “access all areas” for The Clothes Show and interviews with all major American designers such was the importance in which the show was viewed in America. The Clothes Show covered every major fashion event for ten years in over three hundred broadcast shows. It was the first show to perform make overs on members of the public and started a whole new generation of audience participation television. The show made programmes abroad in twenty six different countries often invited by National Governments to show their blossoming fashion industries. In 1991 the show was moved by the new controller BBC1 Jonathan Powell to a Sunday evening slot and the audience rose to just under 10 million. In 1995 with the launch of BBC World the programme was broadcast worldwide with an estimated audience at 150 million each week. Jeff Banks was not only responsible for hosting the show but was also responsible for the story lines and new innovations such as Model of the Year Competition, Bride of the Year Competition and Christmas Specials created in town centres and work places across the country.
Jeff Banks with Selina Scott, 1986
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The Clothes Show was responsible for creating the genre of Supermodels with continuous interviews with the likes of Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Stephanie Seymour, Karen Molder and Naomi Campbell. This was all brought about through Jeff Banks having brought them to Europe for the first time to work on Warehouse on Bymail catalogues. In 1990 Jeff Banks was invited to select the ‘Costume of the Year’ by the Bath Museum of Costume. This is an honour amongst journalists to either recognise a long established talent or hail a new emerging
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talent. Jeff prophetically chose a black and white check outfit by the relatively unknown designer John Galliano as his choice. In 1991 Jeff Banks was chosen by Menswear Industry as British Menswear Journalist of the Year as a result of the exposure given to menswear design on Clothes Show. Jeff Banks resigned from the Clothes Show in 1998 and one year later the programme was withdrawn from television due to falling audiences.
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1987 VIVIENNE WESTWOOD
In 1987 Jeff was approached by Mark Tarbard, a mutual friend of both Jeff and Vivienne to ask if he would help Vivienne establish her own fashion label. Jeff lent to the designer without guarantee priming funds to get started and acted as guarantor for banking facilities. Jeff established the company appointed public relations expert Jean Bennett show producer John Woolford to produce Vivienne’s first shows and tutored her young son Joe Corre to run the business.
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Jeff also established and negotiated Vivienne’s first lucrative licences in Japan. He took no equity or financial recompense from the fledgling business but felt that it was important that this British Designer become properly established.
Jeff with Vivienne Westwood, 1987
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1987
THE GIRL GUIDE A S S O C I AT I O N In 1987 at the request of Dr June Patterson Brown the Chief Guider, Jeff Banks was asked to create a new world wide uniform for the Girl Guide Association. The little brown dress was deemed to be outdated (worn by the Queen when she was a Brownie) and also inappropriate for many of the tasks that the modern Guide movement undertook. The association had over 1.2 million members and was the largest single organisation in Britain. Since it inception in 1910 the uniform had changed little and the 75th anniversary had passed without the redesign that Dr Patterson-Brown desperately wanted. In addition the organisation received no financial benefit from the sale of its uniforms which were made and distributed by various companies with no remuneration going to the association itself. The whole project was to take two years with endless research and study group meetings. Jeff set up design group meetings and competitions so that Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers across the country could become involved in the design process and take ownership
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of their design. In mid 1988 Jeff Banks presented his design work to the HRH Princess Margaret at Kensington Palace who gave her approval to the design work and sample production began with a final presentation of the finished designs were made to Her Royal Highness at the banqueting Halls in Whitehall and modelled by 250 members of the Guide association. Each set of designs had to be verified and voted upon. All were proposed and seconded with final approval being given by The Princess. It was all passed and such was the shock at this monumental process being approved one of her Royal Highnesses ladies in waiting fainted in shock. Jeff Banks carried out the whole process free of charge and donated all the copyright to the Girl Guide Association. Royalties from the sale of all uniforms now pass to the G.G.A and over ÂŁ10 million has been received as a result.
New Brownie uniform launched in 1987, but worn by the Duchess of Cambridge during her time as a Brownie.
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1988
The 1980s was a period of extremes in fashion. Hair, make up and clothes were all pushed to the limit. The Christmas look for Warehouse in 1988 was not for the faint hearted. The styling and colour was pushing the limit and hair and make up were also taking colour to the extreme.
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1988 T H E C LOT H E S SHOW LIVE In response to a viewer’s letter asking for tickets to fashion shows in either London or Paris Jeff realised how few members of the public ever saw a fashion show. In 1988 in conjunction with BBC and Barker Brown Exhibitions Jeff created Clothes Show Live where members of the public could meet the presenters, see fashion shows and engage with new products and techniques in hair and make up. The first event was held at Olympia with a level of success that almost saw the event closed by the London Fire Department. At one stage on the first Sunday the exhibition was full to capacity with the queues for entry completely surrounding the exhibition venue with over 12,000 people queuing to gain access at any one time. The exhibition was transferred to the N.E.C in Birmingham and occupied ten halls with over 250,000 visitors each year. It quickly grew to being the fourth largest exhibition in Britain following the Ideal Home, The Motor show and The Boat Show. The exhibition included a giant fashion show in a purpose built catwalk theatre that seated 8000 visitors for each show. Seven shows a day for six days all hosted and commentated by Jeff banks and Caryn Franklyn. Even without the support of a television show the exhibition continues to attract over 150,000 visitors each year although Jeff Banks no longer plays a part in the event.
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In 1995 the event was also launched in Glasgow attracting over 40,000 visitors over a three day period. As part of the Jeff Banks artistic control over the Clothes Show Live he was able to insist that free exhibition space was given to Graduate Fashion Week Universities to promote their courses to young people and also space for The Princes Trust to display the work of business set up by the Princes Trust in the fashion and jewellery fields. This association was to prove a long association with Jeff Banks and the Princes Trust. Clothes Show Live with the addition of the word ‘Live’ was to become a precursor for the BBC to create exhibitions around many of their leading programmes such as Gardner’s World, Top Gear and Master Chef. In January 1996 Jeff Banks combined with the D.T.I to create an exhibition in Hong Kong featuring the work of ten British Companies. The exhibition and show was hosted by Jeff Banks and Mary Quant and succeeded in bringing a heightened awareness of British Fashion to Hong Kong.
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1988 DRAPERS RECORD INDEPENDENT R E TA I L E R OF THE YEAR AWA R D S In 1988 Julia Warkentyn who was the editor of Drapers Record approached Jeff Banks for ideas to stimulate the independent retailer market in the United Kingdom. The small independent shop was being drowned out by the high street and needed a morale boost. Jeff Banks’ idea was to create a showcase award scheme that would recognise the best in British retailing. The Drapers’ awards were born. Three decades on it has become one of the most prestigious events in the retail calendar.
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Draper’s Fashion Awards 2011
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1989 HQ DESIGN
In 1989 after having sold his interest in Warehouse Jeff Banks started a fashion design studio in partnership with Richard Carnill. The first design brief HQ Design received was to create the Thomas Burberry Collection for Burberry’s. HQ Design has since progressed into being a design company mainly responsible for designing and licensing products designed and manufactured under various Jeff Banks brands in the United Kingdom, Japan
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and Australia. HQ Design now occupies premises in Soho housing a team of designers and marketing experts carrying out all aspects of design for fashion companies including design art directional photography, television commercial production and trend forecasting.
Jeff Banks womens Stvdio Collection, 2000
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LICENCES INCLUDE: BMB Menswear Womenswear Sainsbury PLC Menswear Womenswear Osan Ltd
Men’s Underwear Men’s Hosiery Women’s Hosiery
Debenhams Menswear Womenswear Lingerie Swimwear Homewear Shoes International/ Watch Co
Watches Women’s Jewellery Men’s Jewellery
Debenhams
In 2000 Jeff Banks became an international designer for Debenhams creating ranges for the following.
Jeff Jeff Jeff Jeff Jeff Jeff
Hankyu Department stores(Japan)
Menswear Men’s gifts Menswear Luggage Men’s Knitwear
Myer Group (Australia)
Men’s Men’s Men’s Men’s
Banks Banks Banks Banks Banks Banks
Suits Shirts Ties and Cufflinks shoes
Woodstock Ltd Men’s
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Stvdio Intimates Beach Real Home Shoes
Ties and Cufflinks Men’s Leather goods Men’s accessories
Norville Group Ltd
Men’s and women’s optical eyewear Men’s and women’s sunglasses
Matalan plc
Menswear (Jeff & Co) Womenswear (Jeff & CO)
Incorporatewear
Corporate Clothing design
Nick Moran wears Jeff Banks Stvdio Collection Autumn, 2005
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T H E Jef f B a n k s h a s b e e n at the fo refro nt o f Br itish fas h i o n t h ro u g h o u t five decades. H e has wo n nu m e ro u s awa rd s a n d citatio ns aro und the wo r ld.
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1990 T H E R O YA L SOCIETY OF ARTS The RSA medal awards scheme has been one of the cornerstones of furthering the creative arts in Great Britain. Students across various disciplines submit their portfolios each year to be judged for some of the prized medals to be won. Each category fashion architecture graphics and many more have their illustrious panel of judges to review their work. Each panel has a chairman who is renowned in their respective field to oversee the process. Between 1990 and 2000 Jeff Banks was chairman of the fashion RSA board.
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1990 G R A D U AT E FA S H I O N WEEK In 1990 Jeff Banks received a letter from Roy Peach who then was head of Department for Fashion at Brighton School of Art bemoaning the fact that out of London students did not get the same opportunity to show in the capital as did the London colleges. Jeff persuaded Smirnoff to move their event to The Business Design Centre in Islington and to pay for the facility that was built to remain in position so that it could be used by universities to bring their students to London to show their collections and gain jobs or funding for their business enterprises. Jeff with the help of John Woolford and Vanessa Denza formed a charity called Graduate Fashion Week to facilitate the event on an annual basis. Jeff Banks has now been the Chairman of Graduate Fashion Week for fifteen years. During this time he has raised some half million pound each year from a variety of sponsors to ensure the continued life of the event. The venue has varied its location from The Business Design Centre to the Festival Hall at the South Bank, The London Eye Site Planet 2000 in Liverpool Street and latterly in Battersea Park. It not only comprises some twenty one fashion shows during the week but also a vast exhibition of student work. 100
The week culminates with a Gala Evening for International Industry luminaries to see the work of students and the presentation of various awards including The Student of the Year award. Such prestigious designers as Chris Bailey, Stella McCartney and Hussein Chalayan have had their first showing at Graduate Fashion Week and have gone on to national and international success. In 1998 Jeff Banks combined with the British Council to take the Gala show abroad to show in various countries including Russia, Columbia and China. Promoting not only the excellence of British designers but also the excellence of British Design Education. This has not only increased the flow of foreign students into Britain but also franchise arrangements being made by British Universities in foreign territories. As a result of his television programme The Clothes Show the finals were aired annually on television for the first ten years.
Cover of Graduate Fashion Week newspaper, 1990 101
1991 PRIMA R E TA I L E R O F THE YEAR
In 1991 Jeff Banks was approached by the editor of Prima magazine to create an awards scheme for the mass high street retailer. Nothing like it existed except for the British Fashion Awards. Jeff mailed the industry and along with the editorial board of Prima judged the criteria. The presentations were held at a low key event at the Atlantic Bar at the back of Picadilly with about 50
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people in attendance. Now, 21 years on the event is held in a massive marquee in Battersea Park with over 600 members of the trade attending as well as 600 readers of Prima magazine.
Jeff Banks with the editor of Prima magazine, Moira Fahey, presenting the 2011 Prima Awards.
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1994 CHARTERED SOCIETY OF DESIGNERS AWA R D S After raising substantial sponsorship from Cushman Wakefield the Retail Estate Agents Jeff Banks created the CSD Awards Medal for Fashion. This is a competition entered annually by some 500 fashion students with a first prize of £10,000 to the winner as well as a substantial donation to their respective University. The finals are held each year at a prestigious Fashion Show at the Covent Garden Opera House Atrium showcasing the work of fashion students. The CSD Awards have become a major fashion competition in the student calendar.
The Minerva Medal Each year The CSD awards their Minerva Design medal for worldwide contribution to design. Previous winners have included: Milner Gray – Design – U.K Misha Black – Designer Festival of Britain 1951 – U.K Sir Terence Conran – Product Design – U.K Mary Quant – Fashion Design – U.K Charles Eames – Furniture Design – U.S.A Lord Foster – Architecture – U.K Saul Bass – Product Design – U.S.A
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Alberto Alessi – Product Design – Italy Milton Glaser – Architecture – U.S.A Achille Castaglioni – Furniture – Italy HRH Duke of Edinburgh – U.K Jeff Banks was awarded The Minerva Medal in 1994 for Fashion Design.
The Duke of Edinburgh presents Jeff Banks with his Minerva Medal for services to Design, 1994
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1994 PORTS OF CALL
The Ports of Call Home collection is based on the various visits made by Jeff Banks during his career. Initially it was all location based with cities and regions providing the inspiration. Latterly the inspiration has come more from visits of imagination. Not quite time travel but close. All of the origination and theming is created personally by Jeff with much of his illustrative work being created in his home design studio. The collection spans a wide range of home products including wallpaper, paint, bedlinen, carpets and rugs, as well as ceramics.
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Ports of Call Lighting Collection by Jeff Banks, 2005
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1996
I N C O R P O R AT E W E A R After having been asked to create corporate design wear for many organisations Jeff Banks created his own corporate clothing company in 1996. Incorporatewear is now the third largest company in the United Kingdom producing corporate clothing. The company produces a wide range of clothing for various types of companies. Jeff Banks has been responsible for designing clothing for everybody from Barclays Bank to Butlins Red coats to British Airport Authorities. Some of the company uniforms designed by Jeff Banks: BARCLAYS BANK PLC MY TRAVEL NATIONWIDE BUILDING SOCIETY B.A.A ABBEY NATIONAL SWINTON BUILDING SOCIETY BRADFORD & BINGLEY BUILDING SOCIETY JOHN LEWIS THOMPSON HOLIDAYS WOOLWORTHS STAGECOACH BOOTS Incorporatewear have won many designers awards as a result of Jeff Banks designs, including: DESIGNER OF THE YEAR BEST FINANCIAL DESIGN OF THE YEAR Incorporatewear now employs over 100 people in a purpose built location in Coleshill, Birmingham and is credited with ISO 2000 as a standard of manufacturing excellence.
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Incorporatewear shoot for Barclays Bank, 2011
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1997 THE STYLE CHALLENGE In 1997 in conjunction with BBC Pebble Mill in Birmingham Jeff Banks created a new television show with a studio audience where two teams of hairdressers and make up artists were pitted against one another to make over members of the public. The contestants were not allowed sight of themselves until reaching the end of the catwalk and facing the ‘revolving’ mirrors that revealed all. This programme went on to make household names of hairdressers such as Nicky Clarke, John Frieda, Trevor Sorbie, Anthony Mascolo and Charles Worthington and make up artists such as Barbara Daly, Charlie Greene and Maggie Hunt. Jeff presented over 120 shows two mornings a week for over a year. He withdrew from the show due to work commitments in design but the show went on to run for 1200 episodes.
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1998 THE PRINCES TRUST As a result of the association with The Princes Trust and Clothes Show Live His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales asked Jeff Banks if he could open a showcase shop to sell the work of businesses that had received start up funds from the Princes Trust. Jeff Banks persuaded John Hoerner the then chief Executive of The Arcadia Group to donate a shop free of charge for two years to facilitate such a request. Arcadia made available a shop in Kings Road free of rent and rates. Jeff Banks created a shop
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called Trust and designed the shop and packaging which was opened by HRH the Prince of Wales in 1998. All shop fitting and lighting was provided free of charge by various companies that were persuaded by Jeff Banks to become involved.
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T H E Jef f B a n k s h a s b e e n at the fo refro nt o f Br itish fas h i o n t h ro u g h o u t five decades. H e has wo n nu m e ro u s awa rd s a n d citatio ns aro und the wo r ld.
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2000 JEFF & CO
In July 2000 Sir Peter Davies invited Jeff Banks, the then C.E.O of Sainsburys PLC, to create a wide range of men’s & women’s clothing for retailing in their supermarket stores. The concept was for Jeff & Co shops (the brand devised by Jeff Banks) to be presented in 6000 Square feet, trading spaces in twenty stores initially and then rolled out across The Trading Estate. The Jeff Banks concept was to create a series of sub brands to give segmentation to the product and create a mini department store
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feel. The product and retail management were carried out by BMB in Leeds with Jeff Banks providing Design and Marketing. The number of outlets rose over 18 months to 100 outlets. Sainsburys decided in 2004 to create their own Brand and Design and gave notice in 2004. The Jeff & Co Brand is now part of the Matalan portfolio.
Jeff & Co lingerie for Sainsbury’s, 2000
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Jeff & Co swimwear, summer 1993
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2000 JEFF BANKS HOME Jeff Banks Home is a collection of Homeware that draws on not only decades of design experience but also a feel for contemporary British design. The ranges draw on a knowledge of the history of the 20th Century Arts & Crafts movement but with a use of modern technological developments in the manufacturing process. It is one man’s view on modern British Home living. Eclectic decorative attitude but
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at the same time modern. It is designed to fit into a well furnished country house or a contemporary city loft. All of the fabrications and techniques used in the creation of the collection are unique to the Jeff Banks range.
Jeff Banks Home Collection
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2000 HANKYU
In 2000 Jeff began a broad association with Hankyu department stores of Japan to market the Jeff Banks brand in Japan. This has involved Hankyu establishing a cluster of sub licences that produce Jeff’s designs in Japan that are sold through Hankyu and other department stores as well as many independent retailers in Japan. Licences include: Men’s suits Men’s Shirts Men’s Knitwear Men’s Leather Goods Men’s luggage Men’s ties and scarves
Expansion of concessions in Japan Hankyu department stores by 2007 had begun to expand the Jeff Banks presence in Japan. A fine collection of menswear including suits, ties, shirts, small leather goods, luggage, underwear, hats and even umbrellas have their feet in the Japanese market.
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2002 JEFF BANKS WOMENSWEAR Having sold Warehouse in 1987, Jeff Banks concentrated his efforts into building a menswear brand from 1988 onwards upon the invitation of Debenhams. He returned to designing womenswear in 2002. The collection was based around Theodora Richards, daughter of Rolling Stone Keith Richards, as his muse. A highly intelligent, fun loving young lady with a love of Rock & Roll as her heritage. The collection continued to appear in Debenhams for four years, with pieces that were intended for life on the road in the day and a hectic party schedule at night.
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Theodora Richards wears Jeff Banks, summer 1993
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Jeff Banks lingerie collection, Spring 2003
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Jeff Banks womenswear, Autumn 2003
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Jeff Banks womenswear, Autumn 2003
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Jeff Banks womenswear, Autumn 2003
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Jeff Banks womenswear, Autumn 2003
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2002 CHARTERED SOCIETY OF DESIGNERS The Chartered Society is the only body representing designers which holds a Royal Charter. Jeff Banks has been a fellow of the society since 1978. In 2002 he was elected President for a two year period. He inherited an organisation which was in debt to the tune of £1 million and with a failing membership. In two years he turned the society around moving it financially into the black and putting it onto stable financial footing. In addition
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he re-instigated national assessments for membership and re-established it as ‘the voice’ of designers in the United Kingdom. In 2003 Jeff Banks reinstated the Milner Gray Lectures with a lecture by Ian Cullum Chief designer of Jaguar.
Jeff Banks with John Strachan C.E.O of Cushman & Wakefield presenting the CSD Awards
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2003 JEFF BANKS BESPOKE In 2003 Jeff Banks created a collection of made to measure mens tailoring. Jeff Banks Bespoke gentleman’s suits are of the highest quality. The designs draw from years of Jeff Banks’ experience in cutting and tailoring. The fabrics are individually designed and coloured by Jeff. The madeto-measure Bespoke collection is currently sold in 39 departments of Debenhams. In 2008 Jeff Banks expanded the already successful Bespoke range to embrace visiting tailors. They would attend clients at their home or office. The collection expanded with a range of top end British fabrics as a designers choice. To complement the collection he also added a range of made to measure shirts.
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Model Tom Pricone wears Jeff Banks Bespoke, 2012
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2005 LONDON 2012 O LY M P I C B I D Jeff Banks was chosen from an eminent list of British designers to design the clothing that 130 members of the Olympic bid team would wear in Singapore to help secure the bid for London. This involved making made to measure clothing for all members of the bid team. These included Lord Coe, Sir Steve Redgrave, HRH Princess Anne, Cherie Blaire, David Beckham, Denise Lewis, and The Mayor Ken Livingstone. The bid was successful and the celebrations of the London team in their beige wool and linen suits with mid blue shirts and striped ties and scarves became engaged in the public consciousness. Each of the entrants had a nationally eminent designer produce their wardrobe. The Singapore Times in a double page spread the day after awarded London five gold medals for style with France getting four and New York coming in last with one.
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2005 JEFF & MAGGIE MAKE UP COLLECTION After many years of collaborating with Maggie Hunt on fashion shoots and shows Jeff & Maggie decided there was the opportunity to create a range of make up based on their years of experience. Foundations, mascaras, eyeliners, nail polishes and varnishes were all part of the collection. Maggie’s knowledge of the best choice of colourations and textures for all sign types. Maggie has previously been retained by Shu Uemura of Japan as a technical adviser brought an even wider expanse of knowledge.
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2005 M ATA L A N P L C
In September 2005 Jeff was invited to redesign the visual communication policy of Matalan PLC. Jeff Banks redesigned the company logo, advertising policy, photography for point of sale, sales, brochures and mailers.In addition Jeff also advised on the re-introduction of staff conferences, fascia design and public relations policy. The document Jeff Banks created for “The Way Forward� has become the route map for the revitalisation of the company.
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2006 JEFF BANKS SMART CASUAL R A N G E AT DEBENHAMS 2006 saw the opening of 130 departments in Debenhams stores. The collection came as a result of the changing face of mens fashion and a growing demand for a smart casual wardrobe. Clothes of a high quality and a style that was right for a sharp social calendar and a more relaxed style of entertainment. What do you wear for a concert, gastro pub night out or a dinner with friends was the demand. All of this and more was taken into account to produce a range of high quality menswear with the usual Jeff Banks attention to fit and detail.
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2006 LAUNCH OF JEFF BANKS SHOPS Jeff Banks shops were clean and clear cut. Bringing together the best of Jeff Banks in one place. The ethos of the Banks style is to create a look of style, quality and fit, all at an affordable price. Jeff calls this design engineering where you look at every detail to decide if it is contributing to the overall
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desired effect of the finished product. In Jeff Banks retails shops all of this comes together to provide a sharp clear shopping experience of design and quality that is not going to break the bank.
Jeff Banks retail concept
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2006 FA C U P F I N A L M I L LWA L L The Jeff Banks team descended on the Old Kent Road to measure individually all the players, some of whom had never previously owned a suit. Not only did Jeff design a sharp grey suit with pale blue shirt and club tie for the occasion but endowed the lining with something memorable special. The inside lining of the jackets incorporated the club
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colours but also a heavily embroidered team crest. Something the players could be proud of for the rest of their lives. Millwall lost the final 1-0 to Manchester United... but won on style.
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2007 TOUR DE FRANCE In the world of cycling, the Tour de France is the highlight of the sporting calendar. To host the departure of the event is something quite special, especially on foreign soil. The ‘London’ style brought something of Britain to this very French event. In the cycling calendar “The Grand Depart” is a much honoured event. Mayor
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Ken Livingstone invited Jeff Banks to design the clothes for all the officials at this auspicious event. Since that time British cycling has gone on to enjoy huge international success.
Tour de France Grand Depart committee uniform
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2007 AUSTRALIA 2007 saw the launch of Jeff Banks concessions in Australia. A co-operation with global accessory distributors Ransil and the Myer Group has seen a triumvirate partnership explode onto the Australian market. The collection is due to expand for formal suits, shirts and ties. Plans are well ahead for this moving onto a smart casual range, due to launch in 2009.
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Melbourne 2007
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2007 JEFF BANKS JEANS LAUNCH For years Jeff eschewed creating a denim collection. It was a psychological barrier as for years he had seen his father, a sheet metal worker, toiling in the obligatory work denims and had avoided this area that brought back tough memories. He also wanted to create something of fit, style and quality that have always been his stock in trade. In 2007 he re looked at his already successful range, redefining it from top to bottom with new fits, technologically advanced fabrics, and a whole new range of denim washes brought about by advances in laundering technology. In a new departure he added lycra to some of the denim qualities. This was a new departure as a lot of denim traditionalists had avoided the development of their female counterparts. It has proved a huge success, bringing a new area of fit and comfort to the denim wearer.
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2007 THE DRAPERS INTERVIEW
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2008
PORTSMOUTH FC FA C U P F I N A L
Portsmouth Football Club make it to the cup final for the first time in 49 years. Under the guidance of Harry Redknapp, Portsmouth Football Club unbelievably found themselves at the Cup Final. They simply could not believe their luck. Harry called Jeff and asked if he could produce the same magic as he had done for Millwall two years before. Again the Jeff Banks Bespoke team swung into action. Harry appointed Sol Campbell as design co-ordinator for the project to make sure the players felt comfortable for their Cup Final debut. Sol went for a chalk stripe business like suit with a pale blue lining. We’re going to the Final to do business was his phrase. Fifty two team members, management and training staff were all individually measured and hand made suits were made for all including the bus driver. Jeff and his team were on hand at the hotel the morning of the Final, to get them dressed and ready. Making sure their tie knots and buttonhole carnations were perfectly positioned. All came together on the day…… They won! 164
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2009 C B E AWA R D E D In 2009 Jeff Banks is made a Commander of the British Empire for services to fashion and charity. After forty five years in the fashion industry Jeff was finally acknowledged for his work. As usual a brief letter from Buckingham Palace enquired whether or not the recipient was willing to accept the honour.
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At a ceremony in July at Buckingham Palace the award was finally made by HRH Prince Charles. This seemed fitting to Jeff as he had worked closely for The Prince’s Trust for twenty five years as an ambassador.
Jeff Banks receiving a CBE in 2009
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2009
STORE OPENINGS IN CHINA
After three years of planning the first Jeff Banks shop opens in Beijing. It took almost three years of planning and market research to create the joint venture in China that culminated in the opening of the first Jeff Banks shop. The research showed that the young Chinese consumer was seeking luxury combined with a spirit of Britishness. Jeff Banks, with his joint venture partners, then set up a design studio in Beijing to create a collection that is in the Jeff Banks spirit, but targeted
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more at the luxury end of the market, designed and coloured to fit a Chinese consumer. The next step was to find the right locations for the first shop in one of the several luxury shopping malls that exist in Beijing. In time Lotte was chosen for the first location, which opened on the 28th September 2010. The British Ambassador Sebastian Wood did the honours and cut the ribbon while Chinese music artists and TV stars showed the collection.
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T H E Jef f B a n k s h a s b e e n at the fo refro nt o f Br itish fas h i o n t h ro u g h o u t five decades. H e has wo n nu m e ro u s awa rd s a n d citatio ns aro und the wo r ld.
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2011 THE PRINCES TRUST PEOPLE’S C AT WA L K A catwalk show at the Trafford Centre raises money for The Prince’s Trust. It was a simple idea to raise money for charity and satisfy the desire of huge numbers of the public to take to the catwalk. In the autumn of 2010 Jeff persuaded the management of the Trafford Centre to leave the catwalk they build every season for a further week so that any visitor to the centre could show off their outfits on the big stage.
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Thousands of people took to the catwalk paying £10 a time, with all the proceeds going to The Prince’s Trust. The next year, 2011, Jeff repeated the exercise again with the Christie Hospital Cancer Unit in Manchester being the beneficiary.
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2011 FA S H I O N O N THE FIELD LAUNCH Fashion at the races go hand in hand, but 2011 saw them formally presented. For many years Jeff Banks has presented Fashion on the Field at the Melbourne Cup in Australia. This is an event that has been run for the last fifty years. Members of the race-going community, both men and women across the country, take to the catwalk to show off their outfits. There are six regional heats, who all come together in Melbourne to judge a national winner. Jeff, prompted by milliner Yvette Jelfs, decided that it was right that a similar event was held in Britain.
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In conjunction with the Jockey Club and York Races, Fashion on the Field was launched at the Ebor meeting in August 2011. It was deemed a huge success with the winner Victoria Bailey receiving a holiday for two in St Vincent, a pair of Jimmy Choo couture shoes, which proved to be the last pair he would make before retirement, a London photoshoot and a clutch full of Debenhams vouchers. Many more events are to follow.
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2012 GREEN EDGE C YC L I N G T E A M The Australian pro cycling team get the Jeff Banks treatment. In January 2012 Australian entrepreneur Gerry Ryan launched the first UCI approved international Australian cycling team. It was the brain child of Australia’s team manager Shayne Bannan. The team comprised of some of Australia’s iconic professional cyclists. World champions, Tour de France green jersey winners, stage winners from the Tour de France, Tour of Italy and the Tour of Spain as well as some winners from Europe’s biggest classic road races.
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The brief was to create a team look for official events when the team had to appear booted and suited. The Jeff Banks V.I.P. Bespoke team were despatched to the team headquarters in Varese in Italy and were allowed to choose their own individual styling based around one fabric. By January 2012 every team member had their own personal suit, shirt, shoes and the set all made to measure.
Green Edge Cycling Team clothed by Jeff Banks, 2012
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FRONT ROW: Robbie McEwen – 3 times Tour de France green jersey winner (2011), Sebastian Langeveld – 1st Tirreno-Adriatico, Stage 1 (2012), Michael Albasini, - 1st Volta a Catalunya, Overall (2012), Simon Gerrans – Australian National Champion (2012), Winner Milan – St Remo, Simon Clarke – 1st Vuelta a Espana, King of the Mountains, Alan Davis – 1st Commonwealth Games, Road Race (2010)
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MIDDLE ROW: Stuart O’Grady – 1st Paris Roubaix, Leigh Howard – 1st Berlin Six Day (2012), Baden Cooke – 2nd Tour of Oman, Stage 2: Sur – Wadi Dayqah Dam (2012), Matt Goss – 1st Milan – St Remo, Matthew Wilson – 1st King of the Mountains Tour of Ireland (2009)
BACK ROW: Mitch Docker – 1st Route de Sude, Stage 3 (2010), Michael Hepburn – 1st Track World Championships, Team Pursuit (2010, 2011), Luke Durbridge – 1st Australian National Time Trial Championships (2012), Brett Lancaster – 1st Tour of California, Stage 2 (2009), Fumy Beppu – 1st Eneco Tour, Stage 2, Cameron Meyer – 1st Track World Championships, Points Race (2012), Jack Bobridge – 1st London World Cup, Team Pursuit (2012)
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2012 I C W TA I L O R E D BY JEFF BANKS LAUNCH A well tailored wardrobe for small companies that are looking for uniformity. For many years through his own company, Incorporatewear, Jeff Banks has been providing some of the world’s leading blue chip companies with design and clothing to enhance their corporate image. Along the way many smaller companies have requested this feel and quality but their size made it difficult to accommodate.
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To satisfy this need Jeff created his own ICW collection. A small number of styles made to a very high standard and constantly available. It is marketed to small financial institutions, law firms, motor dealerships and health trusts. It enables the teams working in these organisations to adopt a dress code that is equally professional to their larger companies.
ICW tailored by Jeff Banks collection, 2012
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2012 BENCHGRADE SHOE LAUNCH A new collection of high end shoes, handmade in Italy. A benchgrade shoe involves over two hundred careful processes to make a single pair. In 2012 Jeff Banks created a set of lasts in Italy to create a collection of shoes with maximum comfort and retaining his own unique style.
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The response of the European leathers is critical to the finished product and only the finest hides are used. The result is a refined modern shoe collection with it’s own unique handmade feel.
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2012 JEFF BANKS 24:7 24:7 is the concept of a round the clock wardrobe for Matalan. In this inexpensive wardrobe the same Jeff Banks care and attention has been applied to choice of fabrics, fit and design. 24:7 as it’s name implies is a round the clock wardrobe that works as well at the office
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or in the pub after hours. Attention is paid to all the style indicators both in colour and style. The price is truly astounding and has quickly struck a chord with the consumer.
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2012 SUIT COLLECTION LAUNCH IN AUSTRALIA Jeff Banks has already a considerable following in Australia through his relationship with the Salco Group and Myer stores that began in 2007. This has led to a broadening of the shirt, tie and accessory range into a full suit offer. The collection consists of three fit shapes, Classic, Stvdio and Modern. Each targeted at a different profile of customer. Apart from the Travel suits all the fabrics are 100% pure merino wool and are very lightweight as are all the interlinings. The
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Travel suits are a composition of wool and polyester with an element of lycra included as well as a special nano-technology that resists creasing and spills. This is a collection designed and specifically made for the heat of the Australian market.
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2012 CHINA Since the launch of the first Jeff Banks launch in 2009 a further 10 shops have opened and the collection has begun to mature into a very definable look. The tailoring remains as sleek as ever with a particular accent on the new short modernist silhouette. The Jeff Banks shirt collection remains full of hidden design surprises that continue to delight the inquisitive customer. Trousers have taken on a life of their own with a plethora of imported interesting fabrics that accent against the unstructured blazers. Inventive outerwear accentuates the collection as design driven and innovative.
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2012 DEBENHAMS
The position of Designer at Debenhams has really come into focus during 2012. The smart casual area within the stores has expanded while broadening in the range of designs that it embraces. The launch of Jeff Banks White is a huge success with all eight collar shapes performing well, proving that this is appealing to a wide and eclectic audience. The denim collection increased as well and now begins to embrace colour as well as enhanced details and an upgrade in quality.
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Christmas 2012 saw the launch of a whole programme of dress shirts and waistcoats with all the attendant accessories. February 2013 heralded the launch of the single biggest men’s watch launch that Debenhams have ever undertaken. Jeff created six body shapes that required all new tooling, along with all the integrated watch straps that go with them. This fundamental piece of design has then been further enhanced with new face dial design and colorations. A momentous year!
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2012 J A PA N
2012 saw the opening of the first full blown Jeff Banks shop in the new menswear store at Hankyu in Osaka. A new black and silver contemporary shopfit has embraced everything that encompasses the Jeff Banks brand. Suits, rainwear, shirts, ties, hats and small leather goods. Finally the Japanese customer can
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begin to embrace the complete lifestyle look in one location, which will begin to enforce the brand as it is established in other locations.
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2012 R E TA I L
Jeff Banks shops have now increased to twenty, stretching the length and breadth of the United Kingdom. The range has expanded significantly with the smart casual aspect and denim making up more than 40% of the mix. The retail shops also launched shoes for the first time and Jeff continued to make personal appearances and gentlemen’s make over sessions at all the stores.
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2012 BELIZE O LY M P I C T E A M UNIFORMS The smallest country at the Olympics gets the Jeff Banks look. After an approach from the Belize Olympic Ambassador Rt Hon Andy Wicmore, who is also a member of the OIC, Jeff agreed to create the clothes for the opening ceremony of the Olympics for Team Belize. Jeff took the Great Gatsby as a theme and created thirties style blazers for both men and women in the country’s national colours. The men wore white flannel
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trousers while the women wore either white flannel skirts or trousers. A stripe team shirt with white collars perfectly set off the specially created stripe silk ties and scarves. Milliner Yvette Jelfs worked with Jeff to create stunning headwear. Fine panama hats for the men and panama cloches for the ladies. General reviews were smallest country at the Olympics but best turned out.
Jeff Banks designs Olympic opening ceremony clothes for Belize
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2012 LAUNCH SPONSERSHIP C AT F O R D C C EQUIP JUNIOR RACE TEAM In December 2012 Jeff Banks agreed the launch of sponsorship of the Catford Cycling Club Junior racing team. The launch was attended by Sean Yates, stage winner of the Tour de France and Race Director of the Sky race team who successfully guided Bradley Wiggins to his win of the Tour de France. Jeff Banks
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also designed exclusive racing kit for the team, which is only worn by race members accepted on to the team and entitled to wear team colours.
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2012 LAUNCH OF JEFF BANKS P I N K PA N T S In December Jeff launched an initiative along with Debenhams to raise money for various Breast Cancer charities. Jeff Banks Pink Pants will be sold in 140 Debenhams stores and all profits donated to charity. Men across Britain were invited to ‘sport their support’ by wearing pink
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pants. Their loved ones sent in pictures and the ten best were invited on to the catwalk at the Prima Awards. The best pink pants sport won a trip to the Caribbean.
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2012 JEFF BANKS E-COMMERCE WEBSITE LAUNCH Towards the end of 2012 Jeff Banks’ e-commerce website was developed and went live in time for Christmas 2012. Following the success and interest in Jeff’s previous showcase website, customers were demanding to be able to shop online to secure their favourite Jeff Banks items with greater ease. Jeff responded, “I wanted to wait until the time and technology was right for a
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seamless shopping experience that works across a multitude of platforms, from the Ipad to the Iphone to the desktop computer. Now it’s here, and I’m very excited to present you with my latest collection.” The full Jeff Banks range is now available to buy online, from suits and formal wear to casual wear and accessories.
Jeff Banks e-commerce site viewed on the Ipad and desktop computer 203
2013
K AT I E H O L M E S L A N D S E N D TO J O H N O ’ G R O AT S BIKE RIDE
A chance meeting with Prince Harry at the Well Child Children’s Awards in 2012 sparked off yet another epic ride. Young Charley Holmes was being presented with an award for being the most caring child of the year. She had looked after her terminally ill sister Katie in her final months. Katie’s mum Paula had inaugurated the Katie Holmes Trust. The trust raises money for research into children’s brain tumours. Paula and Katie’s father David expressed their desire to create a John O’Groats to Lands End bike ride to raise funds for the charity to Prince Harry. “You should meet Jeff Banks, he’s done a bit of cycling” said the Prince. and so began the epic adventure with some twenty riders mainly from the Preston area joining in on this epic adventure.
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Jeff Banks office planned and executed the event. Clothing, hotels, support vehicles, catering, and on the road servicing. All of the costs were donated by different companies within the Jeff Banks group. A tired but joyous group arrived in Lands End on August 14th all riders completing the task with no injuries. A tribute to one young lady whose life was cut short but has continued to be an inspiration to help others who have encountered a similar diagnosis.
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2013
O L D R O YA L N AVA L C O L L E G E GREENWICH UNIFORM DESIGN Jeff Banks has used the old naval college at Greenwich many times for photoshoots, it is an impressive building designed by Christopher Wren and built between 1696 and 1712. It became a hospital for over 150 years for ailing seamen. The hospital closed in 1869 and in 18731998 became the Greenwich Naval College. The great painted hall is where Nelson was laid to rest before lying in state in Whitehall. The site is now ranked as a World Heritage site and is ranked as one of the most prestigious group of buildings in the United Kingdom. At a photoshoot in 2013 Jeff was asked by the general manager if he could redesign the uniform worn by the site attendants.
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Having grown up in nearby Catford and lived for many years in Greenwich it was a challenge close to his heart. Redesigning the logo was a the first step then many months of visits and presentations to absorb the feelings of the wearers. The final touch was a scarf to be worn by the female staff. A replica of the painted hall on pure silk which glorifies the stunning piece of artistry created by Sir James Thornhill.
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2014 LE GRANDE D E PA R T H A R R O G AT E
When the Tour de France started in Britain in 2014 Jeff Banks made the clothes for the team working on the event. When it came to clothing the team in 2014 who else would they turn to. This was a big deal because not only was the tour starting in Yorkshire and finishing on The Mall in London there was talk in the air of the UCI approving the tour of Yorkshire. Men and women needed to look sharp but not overdressed. We were hosting the french so plenty to live up to. Yorkshire is a traditional home of british tailoring so no pressure. Yellow is the colour of the Tour de France it comes from the fact that the original 208
sponsors newspaper was printed on yellow paper. So it was a must that yellow trousers and skirts formed the basis of the look. Navy blazers were a natural choice to go with chinos a very British look. Special buttons forged in Birmingham made it a proper blazer. Striped shirts for both men and women had that very classical feel. As a celebration Jeff created a ‘tour’ tie and scarf. Gold for the tour, green for the hills and vales of Yorkshire, cyclist pitting their strength and the white rose of Yorkshire were all embedded in the tie. Viva Yorkshire, Viva Jeff Banks, Viva le Tour!
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2014 AV I S B U D G E T WORLDWIDE UNIFORM DESIGN A chance phone call to Jeff in his car from america in 2011 began the start of a three year design project. It was from the procurement director of the Avis / Budget Group in New York. The plan was to invite 36 designers worldwide to submit ideas for the global redesign of the Avis / Budget corporate uniform. This was to be whittled down to 10 who would be invited to New York to make a presentation to the board of directors. They would then select two designers who would make a presentation to employees of the group in six sites around America who would decide on the selected candidate, a winner takes all scenario. Having made it to the final 10 Jeff Banks attended the first presentation at the Avis head quarters in New Jersey, New York state. His theme was based on rally driving and Formula 1. Embracing new ideas and
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fabrications for corporate clothing the presentation hit the sweet spot and Jeff Banks was though to the final two. A blessing in disguise, as this is where the real work began over 700 samples to be produced and taken to five cities around America, Chicago, LA, New York, Washington and Miami. At each city there were between one hundred and two hundred employees. They all tried on designs, offered advice and asked a myriad of questions. At the end they were asked to vote for their favourite designer. Jeff Banks won – winner takes all!
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2014 S H O U L D H AV E GONE TO S P E C S AV E R S After a hugely successful launch of Jeff Banks spectacles and sunglasses in Australia 2014 saw the launch of the collection in the UK. Specsavers never do anything by halves. A massive floor was taken in Somerset House on the banks of the Thames. The UK fashion press were invited and the stall layed on. A men’s collection aimed at a confidant bloke over the age of 30 was the discipline. Clean unfussy architectural lines, plastics often with metal sides discreet Jeff Banks branding and a subtle varity of colour and texture. Contemporary London with a nod and a wink to Michael Caine in the ‘60’s’ was the thematic draft running through the collection. Subtle as a Miles Davis rift but clever returns constantly to the main theme. Well received and a huge success with the public was the outcome. No surprise that more design was added in 2016. Jeff Banks motto for the collection was “you would never put a great picture in a bad frame” 212
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2014 JUMAANE SMITH THE NEXT BIG THING When you are loitering around in the foyer of the men arena in Manchester after a Michael Buble concert the last person you expect to get chatting to is the lead trumpet player in the band. But that is exactly how Jeff Banks met up with Jumaane Smith. A prodigal son of the Juilliard School of Music in New York and accomplished musician and vocalist in his own right. Quiet, shy but oozing self confidence that only accomplishment can bring is understating the obvious. Jumaane is a big man on stage and in real life, he didn’t ask but Jeff wanted to make suits for this man who in the jazz world is predicted to be the next big thing. Not easy making bespoke suits when the recipient is trotting the globe. Ten minutes of measuring was all Jeff got backstage
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two suits as a trial nearly hit the mark but not quite, performance adjustments were needed when the horn is lifted to the lips you need that extra bit of length in the sleeve when those massive lungs blow the longest notes ever an extra touch of length is required in the waistcoat. The fabrics needed to shout jazz, George Melly and Dizzy on the one hand but be able to wow audiences in Joes pub in New York on the other. The combination london tailor meets New York jazz giant and the outcome was style that will blow the horn player away.
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2014 BREAST CANCER CARE GALA With all the efforts made by cancer charities in both research and care a cure is almost in sight. The chance to help in any way can secure all of our futures. When the call came from Hilary Alexander to get involved who could possibly resist. Made to measure suits for two men who had suffered with cancer gone through agonising months of chemo-therapy and come out the other side. Clive Jones and Tony Herbert were to be the recipients of something sharp for the day, a morning suit for Ascot and a dinner suit that would make even Daniel Craig envious. Pink is the colour of the cancer charities so it had to be pink linen for the day, now a lot of men would run a mile at the prospect of a pink suit, not Clive and Tony they relished it. The subtle chalky pink suited their big frames. You had to be a man’s man to get
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away with it and they stepped up to the plate. Top hat and tails can suit every man it’s why the Edwardians adopted it more or less universally. A well cut morning coat striped trousers a twill waistcoat with a brushed rabbit fur hat takes some topping. The closing scene of the show was to be all red. Now a red suit might have been ok for the Jersey Boys of Kid Creole but a step to far for sartorial elegance. Instead Jeff went for deep burgundy superfine wool mohair just enough sheen to catch the light but subtle enough to be elegantly understated. Satin lapels, satin piped pockets and satin waistcoats exuded elegance. Delighted to have been part of this one.
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2015 BULL IN A TA I L O R S H O P
Any tailor worth his salt can make a suit for a 6 foot man with a 40” chest. Try making a suit for a front row forward of a leading rugby league team. These are not just big men they are giants. Hours spent on the training field not to mention endless games in the toughest contact sport in the world mean they have got bulging muscles where other men struggle to show a bicep. This doesn’t mean that off the field they do not wish to look immaculate. Life in front of the public needs the confidence that a well tailored suit can imbue. Jeff Banks initially asked the team to model his smart causal collection for Debenhams
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but took the hint that something a bit sharper would be appreciated. The measuring, cutting and fitting took time a gradual process which took place over months. The final result was a team of men that felt comfortable in their clothes. As Cary Grant once said “The sign of good clothes are when you can put them on and promptly forget about them”
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2015 S AV I L E ROW March 2015 saw Jeff Banks achieve a life long ambition to open a store on the prestigious Savile Row. Small but beautifully formed might be the expression that sums up the premises. At no 36 the small shop is decorated with dark graphite walls contrasted with dark wood fittings. The centre piece is a steel and glass desk by renowned architect Norman Foster. Along one wall is housed the ready made suit collection and along the opposite wall a fixture housing some 500 shirts. Both fixtures have taken inspiration from the Foster desk for their method of construction. The intention is to create great value on Savile Row appealing to a client base of all ages who would possibly not have considered a trip to Savile Row fearing a hefty price tag. Purveying off the peg, made to measure and bespoke suits all shaped around the skilful hand and eye of Jeff Banks. All fabrics are superfine wools and wool mohair’s with the occasional lightweight tweeds thrown in for good measure. The fabrics move through the gears like a finely 220
tuned car. Perennial fabrics available all year round offering exceptional value. A designers choice bunch which Jeff has personally selected from the best mills in Europe. Finally the whole plethora of bunches from the best that Savile Row fabric houses have to offer. Coupled with this is a range of ready made shirts, each completely original in its design ethic and carrying those individual signature hall marks of Jeff Banks. If there is nothing in that broad selection then there are 600 fabrics available in the made to measure shirt collection. Multiply this with thirty nine collar shapes, buttons threads, cuff design and embroidered initials and the permutations become endless. Once a month Jeff Banks hosts a gentleman’s evening in the shop. Providing fine wine, fine food and fine conversation all about tailoring of course. This has led to a new clientele beating a path to Savile Row that would otherwise not have entertained the trip.
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2016 JEFF BANKS FOR PRECIS
It was dinner in London that resulted in Jeff Banks being seated next to Teresa Tideman. “Why don’t you do womenswear any more?” she enquired “Because nobody has asked” was Jeff’s response. “I’m the CEO of the Jacques Vert Group and what if I asked” was her response “A big yes!” was Jeff’s immediate reply. And so began the collaboration between Precis and Jeff Banks. Grown up women are looking for a wardrobe that has a smart informality. A wardrobe that could take you from school prize day to a night out with the girls. Pieces that would be equally at home on the school run or in the board room. A smart casual mix of pieces that would interchange through shape and colour. As twice womenswear designer of the year Jeff knows a little bit about designing for women. Years of experience in cut and fit as well as knowing what women want give him the edge. How to tease, flatter and enhance the body. How to embrace confidence that well made clothes can achieve. The Jacques Vert Group are steeped in over 60 years of producing fine quality clothes. A host of experienced technicians and
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global sourcing make them unique. The collaboration of both produced something special, small but delicately formed. The first collection launched on Valentines day 2016. How appropriate? Forty pieces of clothing in a pallet of cobalt blues, candy floss pinks, vanilla ice cream and black. Timeless pieces with a nod and a wink to fashion but not a slave. Immaculately cut coats and jackets, body skimming dresses, skirts and trousers that beguiled and flattered. A wardrobe that could take a women of any age from the royal enclosure at Ascot, to a school sports day or an Adele concert at the O2 Arena. What’s not to like the combination of Jeff Banks innate sense of style and the meaning of word precis: a precise abbreviation!
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EDUCATION
Jeff Banks first became involved in fashion education when he was asked to become an eternal examiner at the John Moores University in Liverpool. Jean Muir was the visiting lecturer and this began a lifelong friendship with Jean. Between them they not only taught and examined but also at their own expense brought Liverpool students to show their collections to London to expose them to a much wider international market and up coming students that were looking to achieve employment in London. Jeff Banks went on to become an external examiner at Brighton University, University of Central Lancashire, Central St Martins, Harrow School of Art (now Westminster University). University of Northumbria, Royal College of Art and Surrey Institute. In 1978 Jeff was elected to become a Council 226
member of The Council for National Academic Awards, The CNAA. This involved the review of Colleges and Universities and their Batchelor of Arts programmes ensuring the quality of courses and teaching as well as the maintenance of national standards. The CNAA sadly no longer exists and therefore an independent overview of course standards has lapsed. Apart from CNAA assessments, Jeff Banks was also a visiting lecturer at Central St Martins Harrow School of Art, Middlesex Polytechnic (now Middlesex University), University of Northumbria, Kingston Polytechnic (now Kingston University), Croydon Art School, Bournemouth
School of Art, London College of Fashion, Swire School of Fashion in Hong Kong, La Salle School of Fashion in Shanghai. As a result of this involvement Jeff now holds a cluster of Honorary Doctorates, Honorary Degrees and Fellowships of most of these prestigious Universities and Art Schools. In recognition of his work for education Jeff Banks was awarded the Conference for Higher Education in Art and Design annual medal for distinguished services to art and design education in 1990. The CHEAD medal is the highest award that can be given by the collective of all Universities and is only awarded to one individual each year.
EDUCATION HISTORY 1971–75
External examiner Fashion, John Moores University, Liverpool
1974–79
External examiner Fashion, Brighton University
1979–84
External examiner Fashion, University of Central Lancashire
1983–87
External examiner Fashion, Central St Martins School of Art
1984–88
External examiner Fashion, Harrow School of Art
1986–90
External examiner Fashion, University of Northumbria
1990–94
External examiner Surface Decoration, Royal College of Art
2000–05
External examiner, Fashion Communications – Surrey Institute
Visiting Lecturer - Central St. Martins School of Art
- Croydon Art School
- Harrow School of Art
- Bournemouth School of Art
- Middlesex Polytechnic
- London College of Fashion
- University of Northumbria
- Swire School of Fashion Hong Kong
- Kingston Polytechnic
- Manchester University
Awards and Degrees Honorary Degree Newcastle and Cumbria University
Honorary Degree College of Wales, Newport
Honorary Degree Lancashire University
1980 Designer of the year
Honorary Degree University East London
1982 Designer of the year
Honorary Degree University Westminster
1984 Retailer of the year
Doctor of Letters (Arts) University of Westminster
1991 Men’s journalist of the year
1990 C.H.E.A.D. Medal for services to Higher Education 1994 Minerva Medal for Design
1981 Coat Designer of the year
Fellow of the Kent Institute of Art & Design Honorary doctor of letters (Design), Middlesex University
Doctor of Design Nottingham and Trent University Chairs 1992 – 2001 Chairman of RSA Fashion Medal Award 1990 – 2001 Chairman of Graduate Fashion Week 2001 – 2003 President of Chartered Society of Designers 227
Jeff Banks during one of his many sponsored bike rides
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CHARITIES
Jeff Banks works for several charities carrying out a variety of different functions. British Heart Foundation Sponsored Cycle Rides
Lands End to John O’Groats
875 miles
London to Lake Como 1000 miles Lecci to Venice (Italy) 1080 miles
La Diagonale – Brest-Mention (France) 1000 miles
Sport Relief (BBC) Sponsored Cycle Ride
Lands End to John O’Groats in six days 875 miles
Macmillan Nurses
Hosting Fashion Shows
Retail Trust
Annual Auctions
NSPCC
Bi - Annual Auctions
Graduate Fashion Week President and Fundraiser The Princes Trust
Ambassador & Chairman of Retail Group
Christies Hospital
Fundraising Activities
Children with Cancer
Annual Auctions
The Diana Louise Trust
Sponsored bike ride - John O’Groats to Land’s End
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Jeff Banks enters the highlands en route in Land’s End to John O‘Groats in 2007 230
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Left: Jeff Banks and Hilton Green complete Land’s End to John O‘Groats in 2007
Above: Jeff Banks during The Giro Ride - Lecci to Venice 1080 miles in 2006 233
BIBLIOGRAPHY 1964 Created Clobber 1966 Clobber opens first shop in shop Newcastle Fenwicks 1969 Opens Jeff Banks company
First UK exhibitor in Paris Pret. A Porter
Council Member Association of Fashion Designers.
1970 Created British Fashion Council
Opening Jeff Banks showrooms New York
Opened seven international agencies
1976 Rembrandt Ltd amalgamation to enlarge Jeff Banks 1976 Opened first branch of Warehouse, Duke Street, London 1980 British Designer of the Year 1981 British Coat designer of the Year
1982 British Designer of the Year
Presenter BBC Pebble Mill at One
Warehouse opens 10th store
Ceases trading Jeff Banks label
1984 Awarded British retailer of the year 1985 Launch Bymail catalogues 1986 Launch BBC Clothes Show
Launch Smirnoff student awards
1988 Launch Clothes Show ‘Live’
Created DR Independent Retailer of the Year
1989 Nine Warehouse men’s branches open 234
Launches HQ design
1990 Launch Graduate Fashion Week
Costume of the year – Bath Museum of Costume
1991 Created National Designer at Debenhams
Created Prima Retailer of the Year
Mens journalist of the Year
1992 Doctor of Letters at the University of Westminster 1994 Launches Ports of Call Home collection
Launches Jeff Banks Black Label Menswear
Jeff Banks Stvdio Menswear Label
CSD Minerva medal winner
1995 Doctor of Design at Nottingham Trent University
Royal Society of Arts Award
Launch of Clothes Show live Glasgow
1996 Opening Incorporatewear Ltd
Clothes Show Expo Hong Kong
1997 Created new TV show ‘The Style Challenge’
1998 Opened Prince’s Trust showcase shop on King’s Road
Opened Prince’s Trust showcase shop on King’s Road
2000 International Designer at Debenhams
Launch Jeff Banks – Bespoke Tailoring Collection
Launch Jeff & Co at Sainsbury’s
Fellowship of the University of Wales
2002 President of Chartered Society of Designers
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BIBLIOGRAPHY 2003 Open 11 Jeff Banks concessions with Hankyu
Department Stores Japan
2005 Jeff Banks designs clothes for London 2012 Olympic
winning bid
Launch Jeff & Maggie make up collection
Launch of Jeff & Co Men’s Matalan
2006 Millwall Football Club Cup Final clothing
Launch of Jeff & Co Women’s Matalan
Bespoke Collection Launch
Formal Hire Collection Launch
Launch of Jeff Banks Retail Shops
Launch of Jeff Banks Smart Casual range in
Debenhams 2007 Opening of concessions in Australia
Expansion of concession in Japan
Tour de France Grand Depart collection
Launch of Jeff Banks Jeans
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Drapers Lifetime Achievement Award
2008 Bespoke Collection expands to include visiting tailors
Portsmouth FC clothed for the FA Cup Final
2009 CBE awarded to Jeff Banks
Nominated for the Prince Philip Designer prize
2010 Portsmouth FC clothed for the FA Cup Final
First shop in China opened (Beijing)
2011 The Princes Trust People’s Catwalk event
Fashion on the Field launch
2012 Green Edge Cycling Team clothed for the official launch
ICW Tailored by Jeff Banks launch
Benchgrade shoe launch
Jeff Banks designs Olympic opening ceremony clothes
for Belize
Catford CC Equip junior race team sponsorship launch
Launch of Jeff Banks Pink Pants
Launch of Jeff Banks E-Commerce website
2013 Katie Holmes Lands End to John O’Groats bike ride
Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, uniform design
2014 Le Grande Depart Harrogate
Avis Budget Worldwide uniform design
Specsavers launch in the UK
Breast Cancer Care Gala
2015 Suits for Bradford Bulls Rugby Team
Opening of Jeff Banks Savile Row shop
2016 Launch of Jeff Banks for Precis collection
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Jeff Banks completes the Amstel Gold Etape 150km in April 2012
Jeff Banks 21 D’Arblay Street, London W1F 8EF Telephone: +(44) (0)20 7287 1142 Fax: +(44) (0)20 7287 9677 Email: info@jeffbanks.co.uk www.jeffbanks.co.uk
www.jeffbanks.co.uk