Attire Accessories - Feb/Mar 2019 (Issue 74)

INDUSTRY NEWS 13 ANGEL’S FACE FOUNDER KEELY DEININGER SCOOPS NATWEST EVERYWOMAN AWARD Angel’s Face founder Keely Deininger has been announced as the only woman in the fashion industry to have won a NatWest everywoman award in 2018. Deininger won the Hera Award, which highlights the most inspirational woman running a business trading for 10 years or more. Speaking about the finalists, Maxine Benson MBE, co-founder at everywoman said, “Despite the fact that the UK is one of the best places to grow a business, only one-third are owned by women (source: RBS. com), and everywoman is committed to recognising and addressing the reasons behind this. By unlocking the talent within aspiring female entrepreneurs, we are moving closer to the £10billion contribution they could make to the UK economy (source: The Unilever Foundry). This year’s finalists are a demonstration of the innovation that women already bring to entrepreneurship. Their inspirational stories will encourage others to follow in their footsteps.” Having celebrated female entrepreneurs for 16 years, the everywoman awards recognise women from founders of international multimillion- pound empires to those spearheading social enterprises for the greater good. According to a press release, the 2018 finalists are role models whose success will inspire the next generation of female entrepreneurs. Deininger runs Angel’s Face, a clothing and accessories company, with products designed entirely by her. The business turns over £2.6million and is available in 73 countries. Visit everywoman.com AIR & GRACE WINS BEST INDEPENDENT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AT STYLIST LIVE RETAIL AWARDS Footwear brand Air & Grace has won Best Independent Business of the Year at the Stylist Live Retail awards. The judging panel recognised the company as an entrepreneurial retailer that stands out on the high street because of technology such as the Tender Loving Air and its achievements since launching in 2014. Founder Claire Burrows said, “Stylist Live made my dream come true. This is the event where brands are built. This is not the first time Air & Grace has won a retail award. In 2013, and with only a sample collection, the brand was presented with the top prize in Metro newspaper’s search for the brands of the future, securing a £150,000 investment plus additional investment from Michael Acton Smith, who was one of the judges. The brand has also won the Footwear Friends award for innovation, Smarta’s one to watch and the UKFT Buyers Den competition, securing distribution in John Lewis.” Check out airandgracelondon.com