There are sample sales and there are sample sales. Definitely the more interesting are those that are selling next (not last) season’s stock at a huge discount. Enter Fashion Forward
www.fashion-forward.co.uk
info@fashion-forward.co.uk
Tel: 01908 233640
Who: Alison Abrams
“We work with over 50 designers now. We offer members access to samples at least four months before those samples get to shops. They’re very upmarket collections – See by Chloe, M Missoni, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel and Save the Queen which is very wild and wonderful fashion. And it’s all at 70% discount! If you’re a woman who likes clothes it’s perfect! There are lots of sample sales in London, like Secret Sample Sale and Billion Dollar Babe but we are something completely different. Unlike all the usual sample sales that tend to get rid of samples from two or three seasons ago, ours are very much next season. We find that some of our members are buying all their clothes from our sales. Once they’ve found their favourite collections they’ll come back each season for those collections. If you’re after a specific size I can tell you which are the best sales to come to. People tell us it’s a really nice way to shop. You can come on your lunch hour, or after work and we also do Saturdays and Sundays too. This season guests can come along to one sale to get an idea of what it’s like, you need to register on the website to do that. You pay £2 to go the sale, and then if you want to go to any more you have to sign up as a member. First sale is 20 March. The season continues though to early May. In May we have a shoe sale, with shoes by Gucci and Prada. We always close each season with a shoe sale. Next season is September to November.
What: Fashion Forward holds 30 sample sales a year. There are two seasons March-May and September-November. Fashion Forward works directly with wholesalers who have showrooms of samples left over once they have finished selling to retailers – so the samples on sale aren’t in the shops yet, and won’t be for another four month. More than 50 designer collections are on sale and include Chacok,Diktons, Legatte Jeans,OHDD, Save the Queen, Zaek, Zucchero. Numbers attending are limited so there are no rugby scrums – more like an upmarket shopping experience than a big old warehouse. When the sizes are small, i.e. only go up to a size 12, this is specified. Some sales don’t accept credit cards but again this specified.
Why: Take advantage of the 2 for 1 membership offer as a marmaLADYa.com reader (normal membership costs £60 for the year). To register for this offer, sign up as a member and then email info@fashion-forward.co.uk with details of the second member quoting MARM. The offer is valid until 31 March 2007.
Where: All the sales take place at showrooms in central London, almost exclusively in the West End.
When: Sales start at midday and go on till 7pm. The next sale is 20 March.
