331:. Again, Biba's founder, Barbara Hulanicki, was not contacted for the relaunch and said it was 'very, very painful', believing that the new Biba would 'betray its heritage.' Freud's first collection Spring/Summer 2007 was unveiled at London Fashion Week in September 2006, and was criticised for straying from the original concept of low-priced clothes for teenagers, needing 'more polish', as they 'had a Biba flavour but lacked the retro details that the original Biba designs had.' Freud's second attempt, Autumn/Winter 2007 was also panned as 'the kind of thing that's already over-available in
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232:. There were different departments, and each floor had its own theme, such as a children's floor, a floor for men, a book store, a food market, and a "home" floor which sold items such as wallpaper, paint, cutlery, soft furnishings and even statues. The overall design was produced by Whitmore-Thomas Partnership, run by artist/designers
437:), works at the Biba store. Several referrals are made to Biba. When Freddie Mercury visits Mary Austin during her shift in the Biba store, he tries on a velvet suit from the woman's department. In one scene, Freddie compliments Mary on her beautiful coat. 'I love your coat'. ' Thank you, it's Biba'.
323:
There have been several attempts to relaunch Biba, the first occurring as soon after its closure as 1977. There was another relaunch in the mid-1990s, with Monica Zipper as head designer. Barbara
Hulanicki has not been involved with any of these relaunches, and owing to the use of Biba's logo and
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shareholders decided that the Derry & Toms building that housed Big Biba was worth more than the ailing business itself. In 1975, the Derry & Toms interiors were replaced by the utilitarian interiors for Marks & Spencer and
British Home Stores. Dorothy Perkins sold the trademark to a
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Big Biba was a huge responsibility in terms of expense and organization, but
Hulanicki and Fitz felt they needed to "keep moving forward." Because of this massive undertaking, Hulanicki said, "Every time I went into the shop, I was afraid it would be for the last time." No one was aware of how
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Hulanicki worked as a fashion illustrator after studying at
Brighton Art College in the late 1950s. She married advertising executive Stephen Fitz-Simon and they soon opened a mail order clothing company that she named Biba's Postal Boutique. Biba was the nickname of her younger sister Biruta.
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Condensed Soup" etc., all foods having individual innovative units. Also at the new "Big Biba" was the
Rainbow Room restaurant, which was located on the fifth floor of the department store. The restaurant, which served 1,200 lunches per day, became a major hang-out for rock stars such as the
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and Tim
Whitmore. Each department had its own logo or sign, which was based on the Biba logo and had a picture describing the department. These were commissioned by Thomas and Whitmore and designed by
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349:. This relaunch was highly successful, outselling House of Fraser's other in-house brands in just two weeks of its launch, boosting its year end sales. Meanwhile, Hulanicki instead designed
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chains.' Freud left the company after just 2 seasons in June 2007 to relaunch her own label. The Biba relaunch failed and the company went into administration for a second time in 2008.
357:, and once again expressed her unhappiness with the relaunch, attacking the new Biba as "too expensive" and "for failing to reflect the original Biba style". She also signed with
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In 2014, it was announced that
Hulanicki would be a consultant to the Biba brand, after signing an agreement with House of Fraser. Biba continued to be an HoF brand as of 2024.
36:
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274:, but which was not solely the reserve of the elite. With all of these renovations and additions, Biba became known as a "theatre for fashion." Also at the site was the
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came to save the day and bought 75% (approx.) of Biba. This led to the formation of Biba Ltd, which meant that the brand and the store could now be properly financed.
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comic strip was sold. In the Biba Food Hall, each part was aimed at one particular kind of product; a unit made to look like a dog (based on
Hulanicki's own dog, a
166:
Biba's early years were rather humble, with many of the outfits being inexpensive and available to the public by mail order. The first store, in
Abingdon Road in
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192:. This store operated more a department store than a boutique as it sold men’s clothing, cosmetics, jewellery, and furnishings, aside from women’s clothes.
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After the original company closed in 1975, Biba was relaunched several times, independently of
Hulanicki. As of 2024 it was a brand of the House of Fraser.
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consortium with no connection to Barbara Hulanicki, who opened a store in London on 27 November 1978, on two floors in Conduit Street in London's
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After disagreements with the Board over creative control, Hulanicki left the company and, shortly afterwards in 1975, Biba was closed by the
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as the new face of the label. Hector Castro and a five-strong team were selected to replace Freud with couture hats created by
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170:, was opened in September 1964. Biba's postal boutique had its first significant success in May 1964 when it offered a pink
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serious the financial difficulties were going to be - and they proved too much for the new entrepreneurs; as a result
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926:"A five-strong creative team, headed by Hector Castro, will plug the gap left by Bella Freud at Biba (Vogue.com UK)"
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named Othello) consisted of dog food; a huge baked beans tin can consisted of only tins of Baked beans; a can of "
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409:(2010, set in 1968), the main character, Rita O'Grady, borrows a red Biba dress for her first meeting with
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was a London fashion store of the 1960s and 1970s. Biba was started and primarily run by the Polish-born
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dress with a hole cut out of the back of the neck with a matching triangular kerchief to readers of the
341:(HoF) bought the company in November 2009 for a second relaunch by an in-house design team, announcing
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302:. For a period after it closed, Biba's department store on Kensington High Street was occupied by
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952:"Biba - Fashion Brand and Label - Profile with designers, editorials and more on FMD"
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1073:"Barbara Hulanicki blasts House of Fraser's Biba as she signs with George at Asda"
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based on the story of Hulanicki and the original company was in the works in 2009.
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to produce three to four collections of clothing retailing between £11 and £18.
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similar labels, these garments are easy to pass off as original vintage pieces.
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and his doghouse in the children's department, where merchandise based on the
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787:"Biba is back... and its millionaire creator is none too happy about it"
974:"Relaunched Biba helps boost sales for House of Fraser - Business News"
806:"Biba Spring 2007 Ready-to-Wear Collection on Style.com: Runway Review"
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180:. The dress had celebrity appeal, as a similar dress had been worn by
855:"Biba Fall 2007 Ready-to-Wear Collection on Style.com: Runway Review"
315:. The store was not a success, and closed less than two years later.
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394:' track "Requiem in Denim and Leopardskin" (featured on the album
908:"Reborn fashion label Biba spawns plans for spin-offs and stores"
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The Biba label was relaunched again in May 2006 under designer
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Wardrobe Crisis: How We Went From Sunday Best to Fast Fashion
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1096:"Barbara Hulanicki to return to Biba label after 39 years"
380:"Biba dresses" were listed by Leeds alternative rock band
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521:. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. p. 86.
433:' (Lucy Boynton) the former fiancé of Freddie Mercury', (
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The former "Big Biba" building as it appeared circa 2006
1048:. Thisislondon.co.uk. 29 September 2010. Archived from
1020:"Barbara Hulanicki's Topshop collection (Vogue.com UK)"
184:. By the morning after the dress was advertised in the
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History of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
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The store had an Art Deco-interior reminiscent of the
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Waterloo Sunrise: London from the Sixties to Thatcher
413:, only to find that the minister's outfit comes from
1046:"Biba designer promises Asda range | Fashion"
638:. New York, NY: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.
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384:Inkjet Lakes from their self-titled debut album.
1230:. Twiggy with Barbara Hulanicki discussing Biba
883:. Daily Front Row. 20 June 2007. Archived from
155:with help from her husband Stephen Fitz-Simon.
1316:Defunct retail companies of the United Kingdom
1184:Thomas, Steven, & Alwyn W. Turner (2006).
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247:and non-traditional displays, such as a giant
954:. Fashionmodeldirectory.com. 27 November 1978
744:"Vintage Fashion Guild: Label Resource: Biba"
704:. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 75.
491:. Vivays Publishing. pp. 100, 104, 118.
1326:1975 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
928:. Vogue.co.uk. 16 July 2007. Archived from
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803:
731:. Victoria and Albert Museum. 24 June 2009.
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686:Wates, Nick and Wolmar, Christian (eds.),
34:
1321:1964 establishments in the United Kingdom
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832:"Catwalk Queen: Bella Freud revamps Biba"
1276:Clothing retailers of the United Kingdom
1071:Rushton, Katherine (29 September 2010).
547:British Style Genius - High Street Style
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881:"Bella Freud Exits Biba | The Fix"
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1291:Clothing companies established in 1964
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1195:. Woodbridge: Antique Collectors Club.
1188:. Woodbridge: Antique Collectors Club.
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220:, the store moved to the seven-storey
1281:Clothing brands of the United Kingdom
1102:from the original on 4 November 2014.
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1296:Retail companies established in 1964
1215:Exploring 20th century London - Biba
1083:from the original on 3 October 2011.
999:Jardine, Cassandra (28 April 2009).
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834:. Catwalkqueen.tv. 21 September 2006
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1224:Items and oral histories from Biba
1162:"Requiem in Denim and Leopardskin"
1138:. Biba The Musical. Archived from
1094:Bergin, Olivia (3 November 2014).
771:. 1 September 1996. Archived from
390:is mentioned in the lyrics of the
14:
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804:Sarah Mower (19 September 2006).
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666:. Carlton, Australia: Black Inc.
652:
505:
471:
420:"The Biba Crowd" by Edward Rogers
1018:Jessica Bumpus (21 April 2009).
853:Sarah Mower (14 February 2007).
729:"Blouse by Biba (1980 relaunch)"
690:, Bay Leaf Books, 1980, pp.44-45
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1001:"Bibas queen is back in London"
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278:, which are still there today.
1228:BBC British Style Genius Video
1181:. London: Hutchinson & Co.
906:Wood, Zoe (13 February 2011).
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543:"BIBA: "A Strange Disneyland""
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353:for rival high-street company
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1:
1022:. Vogue.co.uk. Archived from
702:The Berg Companion to Fashion
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318:
212:In 1973 with the backing of
7:
1177:Hulanicki, Barbara (1983).
857:. Style.com. Archived from
808:. Style.com. Archived from
460:I Was Lord Kitcheners Valet
441:
199:
10:
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793:. London. 29 January 2006.
600:November 21, 2008, at the
18:
1191:Turner, Alwyn W. (2004).
688:Squatting: the real story
569:"Big Biba: Steven Thomas"
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42:
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16:Fashion store & brand
700:Steele, Valerie (2015).
634:Fraser, Kennedy (2014).
190:Kensington Church Street
1210:- Biba 40th Anniversary
276:Kensington Roof Gardens
245:Golden Age of Hollywood
373:A musical play called
226:Kensington High Street
209:
662:Press, Clare (2016).
614:"Welcome to Big Biba"
207:
21:Biba (disambiguation)
1220:23 July 2011 at the
775:on 11 February 2015.
636:The Fashionable Mind
517:Davis, John (2022).
487:Marsh, June (2012).
300:British Land Company
224:department store on
142:, Stephen Fitz-Simon
108:British Land Company
83:, Stephen Fitz-Simon
19:For other uses, see
1248: /
1193:The Biba Experience
1186:Welcome to Big Biba
1098:. Daily Telegraph.
1005:The Daily Telegraph
980:. 23 September 2010
765:"Dear Annie column"
388:Biba's closing sale
351:capsule collections
72:(first store opens)
30:
1252:51.5013°N 0.1921°W
1142:on 28 January 2011
1136:"Biba The Musical"
887:on 21 January 2013
489:History of Fashion
347:Prudence Millinery
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1116:. House of Fraser
1052:on 1 January 2011
711:978-1-3501-0408-2
673:978-1-86395-835-6
645:978-0-8041-5201-3
528:978-0-691-22052-9
498:978-1-908126-21-4
426:Bohemian Rhapsody
375:Biba: The Musical
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186:Daily Mirror
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177:Daily Mirror
175:
165:
157:
148:
147:
114:Headquarters
43:Company type
25:
1311:Art Nouveau
1255: /
431:Mary Austin
329:Bella Freud
162:Early years
1270:Categories
1240:51°30′05″N
749:6 November
466:References
435:Rami Malek
382:Grammatics
343:Daisy Lowe
319:Relaunches
293:Dennis Day
259:Great Dane
168:Kensington
135:Key people
119:Kensington
1243:0°11′32″W
429:(2018), '
304:squatters
1218:Archived
1120:17 March
1100:Archived
1081:Archived
598:Archived
442:See also
272:Liberace
263:Warhol's
200:Big Biba
51:Industry
1077:Drapers
619:8 April
415:C&A
397:Elysium
355:Topshop
313:Mayfair
254:Peanuts
172:gingham
93: (
88:Defunct
77:Founder
68:1964-08
66: (
61:Founded
55:Fashion
46:Private
1146:17 May
1056:17 May
1030:17 May
984:17 May
958:17 May
936:17 May
891:17 May
865:17 May
838:17 May
816:17 May
708:
670:
642:
553:17 May
525:
495:
368:Legacy
306:. The
282:Demise
249:Snoopy
230:London
123:London
549:. BBC
1148:2011
1122:2024
1058:2011
1032:2011
986:2011
960:2011
938:2011
893:2011
867:2011
840:2011
818:2011
751:2012
706:ISBN
668:ISBN
640:ISBN
621:2009
555:2011
523:ISBN
493:ISBN
359:Asda
291:and
270:and
216:and
149:Biba
103:Fate
95:1975
91:1975
29:Biba
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