Luminaries

LMFF Luminaries are a selection of high profile guests who have been actively engaged with the Festival throughout its history and continue to support LMFF into its future.

At the 2009 Festival international guests included:

• Margareta van den Bosch – Creative Advisor, H&M (Sweden)
• Juliet Warkentin – Content Director, WGSN (UK)
• Bob Isherwood – Previously World Creative Director, Saatchi & Saatchi (USA)
• Amanda Levete – Principal, Amanda Levete Architects (UK)
• J Alexander – Model, television personality & runway coach (USA)
• Yasmin Sewell – Chief Creative Consultant, Liberty (UK)
• Ben Evans – Director, London Design Festival (UK)
• Pippa Holt – Fashion Features Assistant, Vogue (UK)
• Paul Husband –Managing Director, Husband Retail Consulting (Hong Kong)
  

Previous guests have included:

• Dana Thomas - Author & Newsweek Paris correspondent
• Sir George Cox - Chair of the British Design Council
• Kenneth Walker - MD WalkerGroup/Designs
• Wendy Liebmann - WSL Strategic Retail
• Zandra Rhodes - Fashion Designer & Icon
• Marion Hume - Global fashion commentator & Time Magazine correspondent
• Philippe Starck - French design legend
• Li Edelkoort - the world’s leading fashion trend analyst, based in Paris
• Jane Shepherdson - Brand Director, Topshop
• Paul Charron - Chairman Emeritus, Liz Claiborne Inc
• Jean Jacques Picart - consultant to LVMH, France
• Jesse Garza and Joe Lupo - Visual Therapy (luxury lifestyle consultants)
• Charles Leadbeater - author and cultural adviser to the Blair Government
• Vittorio Radice - retailer extraordinaire
• Colin McDowell - fashion historian and writer
• Richard Florida - best-selling author The Rise of the Creative Class
• Tyler Brûlé - founder of Wallpaper* magazine
• Martin Raymond and Christopher Sanderson - Viewpoint Magazine and forecasting group The Future Laboratory
• Mary Portas - brand and merchandising expert
• Jasper Conran – fashion designer
• Philip Treacy – fashion designer
• Martin Grant – fashion designer
• Clements Ribeiro – fashion designers
• Walter Van Bierdendonck – fashion designer
• Dirk Bikkembergs – fashion designer
• Joe Corre and Serena Rees - Agent Provocateur
• Stephen Todd - fashion writer and editor
• Cameron Silver - vintage fashion expert & owner of 'Decades', USA
• Pierre-Francois Le Louet - NellyRodi, France

Juliet Warkentin

Content Director, WGSN (UK)
Keynote speaker, LMFF Business Seminar 2009

 “I was honoured to be invited to speak at LMFF – as you know the reputation of your Business Seminar is high around the world – but it still didn’t prepare me for the experience! Fantastic idea, carefully curated, beautifully produced, flawlessly executed. Perfect in every way.”

Jane Shepherdson
Brand Director, Topshop (UK)
Keynote speaker, LMFF Business Seminar 2007

"The Melbourne Fashion Festival is unique, in that it combines both great design and business, in a way that has not been done anywhere else in the world. It is a wonderful opportunity to get under the skin of this country's fashion scene. The Business Seminar was extremely well attended by highly motivated, ambitious and creative people from all aspects of the fashion industry in Australia, which made it a very exciting event to speak at. I also learnt a lot from the other speakers, who were from various different sectors of the business, and provided a real insight into global fashion today.”

Paul Husband
Founder and Managing Director, Husband Retail Consulting (Hong Kong)
Keynote speaker, LMFF Business Seminar 2009

“I wanted to write and thank you for a most enjoyable time in Melbourne at the LMFF. Nancy and I could not have been better taken care of and it was an honour to participate.

I must congratulate you on delivering what I think is the most organised fashion event I have experienced and most particularly in these challenging economic times.”

Paul Charron
Chairman Emeritus, Liz Claiborne Inc (USA)
Keynote speaker, LMFF Business Seminar 2007

“There is no question that attendance at the 2007 L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival was a superior expenditure of time and energy on my part. Beyond renewing contacts and making new friends, I learned that New York, London and Paris are not the only fashion centers in the world.

In particular, I found the Business Seminar enlightening and stimulating. The broad range of topics discussed, the notable presenters and thoughtful questions from the attendees made for a particularly beneficial day. I would recommend the Business Seminar most highly for retailers, wholesalers and fashionistas at all levels. If you come with an open mind, you are certain to be challenged and stimulated. I not only enjoyed myself, but I learned a few things as well.”

Zandra Rhodes
Fashion Designer and Icon (UK)
Keynote speaker, LMFF Business Seminar 2008

 “Thankyou for Everything! An amazing operation that ran like clockwork! I enjoyed every minute of it. Ask me again.”

Christopher Sanderson and Martin Raymond
Co-founders, The Future Laboratory (UK)
Keynote speakers, LMFF Business Seminar 2006

“L'Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival is one of the few global fashion events that manages to strike the right balance between the theatre of fashion, and the culture of commerce. For shoppers it is a chance to see Australia's and the rest of the world's most innovative and best fashion, even to meet the designers who created them. But for business - and for us this is just as important - it provides fashion creatives (from retailers, to merchandisers, to buyers to CEOs and manufacturers) with a unique opportunity to tap into the fashion and retailing world's top global thinkers, doers and innovators. For speakers and customers alike, it is an event that cannot be missed.”

Bob Isherwood
Previously World Creative Director, Saatchi & Saatchi (USA)
Keynote speaker, LMFF Marketing Breakfast 2009

"Melbourne Fashion Festival '09 was in fact an ideas Festival. Bringing that collection of presenters can't have been easy but having experienced your tenacity first hand I know why they all came."

Jean Jacques Picart
JJP Conseil (France)
Keynote speaker, LMFF Business Seminar 2007

"During the L’Oréal Melbourne Festival, it was a pleasure to be among so many Australian professionals gathered for the Business Seminar. I felt like I was among family: the fashion family, sharing the same emotions and hopes for the future of our industry. It was a rare and exciting moment!"

Li Edelkoort
Head of Studio Edelkoort (France)
Keynote speaker, LMFF Business Seminar 1999

"The Australian way of life, way of business and way of design seems to embody what most of us in the world aspire to for the future. The Melbourne Fashion Festival... warm, human, public... is symbolic of this mentality."

Kenneth Walker
MD Walker Group/Designs
Keynote speaker, LMFF Business Seminar 2008

"Please extend to EVERYONE on your team my thanks for your kind hospitality. Having done many such presentations I can honestly say no group has ever been as attentive or friendly as your organisation.

It's a tribute to you, and the hands-on participation of your Board, to have created such a pleasant and informative experience.

I'll be pleased to help you find resources for future festivals."

Tony Glenville
London UK, presenter at LMFF 2010 Designer Forum

“I love the LMFF site! Glam Energy................isn't that what we all need?!"