Anna Trevelyan and Stavros Karelis on Machine-A and the future of independent retail
One of my highlights at London fashion week have been surprisingly a series of talks,
yes you heard me correct talks not shows which have been run by The British Fashion Council & American Express.
I've been really enjoying what the sponsors of London fashion week have been doing,
normally when you think of sponsor it is easy to think of someone being fortunate enough to pay a some of money and be affiliated with a brand or a event with not much effort else involved.
However this season between the BFC Talk series and The Sunglasses Hut having Fashion Icons such as Henry Holland do signings and customisation of the goodie bags etc, has certainly felt the most contributed in creative energy not just finically making the sponsors noticed more then just a logo I personally feel.
So moving on from celebration of sponsorship done in a creative way to my first talk I attended on the Talk series over this London Fashion Week.
was titled 'Anna Trevelyan and Stavros Karelis on Machine-A and the future of independent retail'
When you first see Anna on the stage when sitting down to be in the audience she gives a presence that demands attention through her striking appearance.
When hearing Anna speak you have the feeling that conscious or not to her striking attire and overall appearance Anna is a special creative thats not only alluring through her physical appearance with fashion, but also when she speaks she is a woman of few words but great ones and one can only presume a Muse to many.
When you first see Stavros one may be forgiven for thinking at first this combination of Anna & Stavros make's no sense, Though you would be considerably wrong.
The relationship between Anna and Stavros is one that not just in the creative field but any business one can dream to have, it appears honest and most of they mutually respect and admire each other.
This respect came across as so strong that as a young creative myself you cannot but admire the pair and there working ethics that come across to the audience, with Anna being a little bit of a muse to myself just being herself after attending the talk.
A Brief history of how Machine-A started:
Stavros was running a shop selling out there fashion,
at the time Anna was what perceived as a student going in there picking regular pieces, talking to Stavros and building a relationship with other designers and introducing stravros to these suggestions of hers.
Unknown to Stavros at the time, Anna was a Stylist Assitant to Lady Gaga stylist Nicola Formichetti and picking the pieces that was going on Gaga.
Eventually over much thought and consideration and one can only presume many talks ( as the duo discussed this took them 2 years ) the concept of promoting new young talent and selling in Soho lead to the conception of Machine-A.
What is Machine-A?
So Machine-A is a store that is situated in soho between two Massage parlours offering the service of fashion, when entering Machine A its not about the brands as sue stores may sell Rick Owens on one rail and emerging talent on the next.
Macine-A fuse the collections together via there Visual merchandising
making the shopping experience about the pieces rather then the brands.
when the duo consider buying from the brands to sell in there store unlike most retailers they like to pick not only the commercially obvious pieces but the pieces the designers have strong affiliation towards what represents there ideas of the collection and that season.
This allows Machine-A to give a close connection from the consumer to the designer with the message of the collection, Some may say this is risky however when listening to Anna and Stavros talk they are clear they help the designers,
"sometimes to much"- Anna Trevelyan at talk
When asked how involved are they with the designers.
With references like this it appears the duo are very close with everyone that they sell ( including Nicola Formichetti and his new brand Nico Panda) which can be seen in stores.
to helping brands who have not had the training but the skill and how to not just stay but how to grow and not fail in this fast pace industry.
Machine-A has grown beyond belief with Anna and Stavros supporting the designers from Stravos who is very business minded and trained who works daily on the shop floor with his staff,
Stravos comes across as a very involved member of the store
"I couldn't possibly imagine not being on the shop floor and getting the vibe" - Stravros Karelis
and Anna who is also a a well known stylist who brings her skills from the shop to her work and vise versa stating that now she has worked in retail its certainly changed the way she works as a stylist.
so with Anna and Stavos both supporting current designers and emerging talent,
making a store for people who want to collect something new and feel emotionally invested with the designers and watch the brands grow so they have the potential new McQueen in there wardrobe Investing in fashion rather then being consumed by fashion, you may ask who do they go to for support?
well Nick Knight of course responsible SHOWstudio who had been a secret supporter for quite a long time of both Anna and Stravos which was warming to see the both on stage getting excited talking about how they where very excited when ever they had meetings to go to see Nick.
This all eventually lead to the launch of Machina-A and SHOWstudio now having a online boutique called SHOWstudio/Machine-A
making the perfect collaboration.
Overall I came out excited to see such happy and great energy from the pair in the Business of Fashion
and wanted to re visit Machine-A after the talk.
Future blog to come about my visit to Machine-A.
Until then Stay Quirky
and some sites you may like:
Anna Trevelyan: [STYLIST PAGE]
Stavros Karelis: [INSTAGRAM]
Machine-A: [WEBSITE]
SHOWstudio: [WEBSITE]
SHOWstudio/Machine-A: [WEBSITE]
Post and images where by myself Michael Williamson the Quirkygentleman
yes you heard me correct talks not shows which have been run by The British Fashion Council & American Express.
I've been really enjoying what the sponsors of London fashion week have been doing,
normally when you think of sponsor it is easy to think of someone being fortunate enough to pay a some of money and be affiliated with a brand or a event with not much effort else involved.
However this season between the BFC Talk series and The Sunglasses Hut having Fashion Icons such as Henry Holland do signings and customisation of the goodie bags etc, has certainly felt the most contributed in creative energy not just finically making the sponsors noticed more then just a logo I personally feel.
So moving on from celebration of sponsorship done in a creative way to my first talk I attended on the Talk series over this London Fashion Week.
was titled 'Anna Trevelyan and Stavros Karelis on Machine-A and the future of independent retail'
When you first see Anna on the stage when sitting down to be in the audience she gives a presence that demands attention through her striking appearance.
When hearing Anna speak you have the feeling that conscious or not to her striking attire and overall appearance Anna is a special creative thats not only alluring through her physical appearance with fashion, but also when she speaks she is a woman of few words but great ones and one can only presume a Muse to many.
When you first see Stavros one may be forgiven for thinking at first this combination of Anna & Stavros make's no sense, Though you would be considerably wrong.
The relationship between Anna and Stavros is one that not just in the creative field but any business one can dream to have, it appears honest and most of they mutually respect and admire each other.
This respect came across as so strong that as a young creative myself you cannot but admire the pair and there working ethics that come across to the audience, with Anna being a little bit of a muse to myself just being herself after attending the talk.
A Brief history of how Machine-A started:
Stavros was running a shop selling out there fashion,
at the time Anna was what perceived as a student going in there picking regular pieces, talking to Stavros and building a relationship with other designers and introducing stravros to these suggestions of hers.
Unknown to Stavros at the time, Anna was a Stylist Assitant to Lady Gaga stylist Nicola Formichetti and picking the pieces that was going on Gaga.
Eventually over much thought and consideration and one can only presume many talks ( as the duo discussed this took them 2 years ) the concept of promoting new young talent and selling in Soho lead to the conception of Machine-A.
What is Machine-A?
So Machine-A is a store that is situated in soho between two Massage parlours offering the service of fashion, when entering Machine A its not about the brands as sue stores may sell Rick Owens on one rail and emerging talent on the next.
Macine-A fuse the collections together via there Visual merchandising
making the shopping experience about the pieces rather then the brands.
when the duo consider buying from the brands to sell in there store unlike most retailers they like to pick not only the commercially obvious pieces but the pieces the designers have strong affiliation towards what represents there ideas of the collection and that season.
This allows Machine-A to give a close connection from the consumer to the designer with the message of the collection, Some may say this is risky however when listening to Anna and Stavros talk they are clear they help the designers,
"sometimes to much"- Anna Trevelyan at talk
When asked how involved are they with the designers.
With references like this it appears the duo are very close with everyone that they sell ( including Nicola Formichetti and his new brand Nico Panda) which can be seen in stores.
to helping brands who have not had the training but the skill and how to not just stay but how to grow and not fail in this fast pace industry.
Machine-A has grown beyond belief with Anna and Stavros supporting the designers from Stravos who is very business minded and trained who works daily on the shop floor with his staff,
Stravos comes across as a very involved member of the store
"I couldn't possibly imagine not being on the shop floor and getting the vibe" - Stravros Karelis
and Anna who is also a a well known stylist who brings her skills from the shop to her work and vise versa stating that now she has worked in retail its certainly changed the way she works as a stylist.
so with Anna and Stavos both supporting current designers and emerging talent,
making a store for people who want to collect something new and feel emotionally invested with the designers and watch the brands grow so they have the potential new McQueen in there wardrobe Investing in fashion rather then being consumed by fashion, you may ask who do they go to for support?
well Nick Knight of course responsible SHOWstudio who had been a secret supporter for quite a long time of both Anna and Stravos which was warming to see the both on stage getting excited talking about how they where very excited when ever they had meetings to go to see Nick.
This all eventually lead to the launch of Machina-A and SHOWstudio now having a online boutique called SHOWstudio/Machine-A
making the perfect collaboration.
Overall I came out excited to see such happy and great energy from the pair in the Business of Fashion
and wanted to re visit Machine-A after the talk.
Future blog to come about my visit to Machine-A.
and some sites you may like:
Anna Trevelyan: [STYLIST PAGE]
Stavros Karelis: [INSTAGRAM]
Machine-A: [WEBSITE]
SHOWstudio: [WEBSITE]
SHOWstudio/Machine-A: [WEBSITE]
Post and images where by myself Michael Williamson the Quirkygentleman
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