Barbara Hulanicki, the woman behind the iconic BIBA fashion brand, has revealed the amazing story of her business success at Bath in Fashion – one of the high-profile speakers helping lift the city's reputation as a hotbed of fashion.
Interviewed last night by Hilary Alexander, former fashion director of the Daily Telegraph, she recalled how BIBA boomed almost overnight in May 1964 when the Daily Mirror commissioned Barbara to create a gingham dress for a reader mail-order offer through BIBA’s Postal Boutique. 
The pink dress proved so popular that 17,000 were sold for 25 shillings (£1.25) each, including a Bridget Bardot matching kerchief headscarf.
Barbara and her husband Fitz had to conjure up 25,000 yards of sugar pink checked gingham. It changed the fortunes of BIBA, which later went on to open its chain of trendy boutique known for their art deco and art nouveau décor and mod clothes.
It was also a watershed moment for the British fashion industry, sending it on an upward trajectory.
Following last night's event at The Octagon, Barbara also spoke at a special vintage catwalk event at the Assembly Rooms this afternoon to mark her company’s 50th anniversary,
“We were going nowhere until the pink gingham dress” Barbara told the audience this afternoon. “Something amazing happens and it then changes the course of your life”.
She was joined by Felicity Green, the Mirror’s fashion editor who commissioned that famous gingham dress. A collection of new designs in gingham by fashion design students from Bath Spa University inspired by Barbara and the BIBA story was unveiled at today’s show.
The event was one of the key theme events of this year’s Bath in Fashion, which ends on Sunday. The week-long festival this year has been exploring the influence and interplay between past and present trends, celebrating the creativity of contemporary Bath while paying tribute to its illustrious heritage.
Highlights so far have included a talk by Paolo Gabrielli, creative director of Street-based shoe brand Clarks, on classic British style.
Events continues this evening with Anglo-French duo Edward Meadham and Benjamin Kirchhoff, who are renowned for their beautiful, theatrical collections, giving a talk at the Octagon, and a showcase of stylish high street Summer ’14 fashions at the Assembly Rooms. Two further designer catwalk shows take place at the same venue tomorrow afternoon and evening.
A ‘Fashion Your Future’ workshop hosted by Louise Pickles, head of fashion at Bath Spa is staged at Komedia on Saturday, while a Best of British Bridal Showcase is at The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa on Sunday.
Bath in Fashion chair Sarah Mansfield said: “We worked all year to put together another great line up bringing some of the world’s top fashion journalists, business leaders, designers and show producers.”
Andrew Cooper, chief executive of Bath BID (business improvement district), which manages and funds Bath in Fashion with Bath Tourism Plus, added: “This event would not be possible without the generous financial and in kind support of our sponsors, the BID levy payers, property landlords, retailers large and small and businesses across the city.
“Engagement this year has built upon the successes and participation of previous years and demonstrates our ambition in creating events that provide city-wide benefit.”
Bath in Fashion was established five years ago to highlight the city’s fashion credentials and put its fashion industry and retailers centre stage. It has established itself as one of the most talked-about fashion gatherings outside London.
Previous headliners have included Manalo Blahnik, Roland Mouret, Stephen Jones and Amanda Wakeley.
- For more information and to buy tickets go to bathinfashion.co.uk
