Jeff Banks
MFN with Jeff Banks
As usual the Circle club provided the perfect location to play host to one of the worlds true fashion legends; sparing no expense to create a relaxed yet decadent environment in which to discuss the world of apparel.The evening begun with the usual meet and greets with members of the industry catching up and arranging lunch’s as those who attended eagerly awaited the arrival MR Banks.
Un be known to them Jeff had arrived earlier on and was comfortably sitting in the back being interviewed by such press as Channel M and the M.E.N and of course our team was the first to get an exclusive interview with the man himself. When dealing with such a fashion heavy weight as Jeff Banks, we felt it was only fitting to step up and have a true Manchester patriarch compare and he goes by the name of David Mallon.David who is part of Manchester’s fashion foundations through owing such brands as Ringspun, the General store and the Circle, begun the evening by taking Jeff through a history of his fashion beginnings.
Like most successful people it was not all roses for Jeff, as the audience learnt over the evening Jeff hit rock bottom and lost everything back in the seventies before remerging to glory in the mid eighties. The frankness of MR Banks was refreshing and more importantly believable as the audience was mesmerized by the tales of his turbulent life through the fashion ranks. At one stage of his life he was in a bidding war for fabrics against Karl Lagerfeld back in the sixties in Paris and then selling clothes in a ware house 15 years later.
As the evening progressed we learnt several lessons of success and one point Jeff wanted to stress was being in the right place and the right time “most design businesses are about their about contacts, networking and who you know, if your stuck on a campus in Preston for four years you ain’t going to do it”. Although we are sure Jeff didn’t mean don’t go to university, he did make it clear it is being in the right place at the right time that’s the key.The drink begun to flow and lips begun to loosen up, David then handed over the interview rains to the floor. At which point Jeff decided as an incentive to get people talking, he would reward them with a pair of Jeff Banks boxer shorts which went down very well as you can never have too much under wear!
The audience made up of industry types, students and press then delved in to find out Jeff’s opinion on the state of the apparel industry at the moment and his thoughts on celebrity endorsement.One of the audience members was Manchester legend Vicky Martin, who as a fellow designer was intrigued by the fashion of the day, such as Mary Quant and Ozzie Clarke. The evening drew to a close with a standing innovation to thank the legend for taking the time to brave the 160 mile journey from London, and make it clear that he is always welcome back to the cobbles of Manchester.
To view the Full Jeff Banks Interview with Nicki and Katrina Click
http://www.manchesterfashion.com/c/17/36/full-jeff-banks-interview
To view Pictures From the evening Click
http://www.manchesterfashion.com/gallery/28/an-audience-with-jeff-banks/
