Barry Laden
Encyclopedia
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
FRSA (born 1965 in Edgware
Edgware
Edgware is an area in London, situated north-northwest of Charing Cross. It forms part of both the London Borough of Barnet and the London Borough of Harrow. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
) is a fashion entrepreneur and occasional writer. Educated at City of Portsmouth Boys' School and the University of Westminster
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
, his first retail venture was located in London's Fulham Road in 1987.
He is best known for his creation of The Laden Showroom
The Laden Showroom
The Laden Showroom is widely considered as London's leading showroom and store that promotes and supports young and independent fashion designers...
, the UK's largest independent showroom and retail space used for the promotion of small independent fashion designers, based in London's Brick Lane
Brick Lane
Brick Lane is a street in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London. It runs from Swanfield Street in the northern part of Bethnal Green, crosses Bethnal Green Road, passes through Spitalfields and is linked to Whitechapel High Street to the south by the short stretch of...
. He also created The London Fashion Bus, which toured the UK in 2003-4 and owns womenswear fashion brand Renée London.
At the age of 11, as a prize for winning a national essay competition, he was saluted by the entire Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
on the rehearsal of the Fleet Review off Spithead
Spithead
Spithead is an area of the Solent and a roadstead off Gilkicker Point in Hampshire, England. It is protected from all winds, except those from the southeast...
, representing the Royal Family on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II
Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II
The Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II marked the 25th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the throne of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other Commonwealth realms...
. During the 1990s he wrote material for radio and television, including a script for comedian Bob Monkhouse
Bob Monkhouse
Robert Alan "Bob" Monkhouse, OBE was an English entertainer. He was a successful comedy writer, comedian and actor and was also well known on British television as a presenter and game show host...
. His crime fiction
Crime fiction
Crime fiction is the literary genre that fictionalizes crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred...
novel, Klarkey's War (East of City Press) was published in 2006. His first play, Ladies Aloud, was performed at the New End Theatre
New End Theatre
The New End Theatre, Hampstead, was a 80-seat fringe theatre venue in London, England, located in the London Borough of Camden which operated from 1974 until 2011. It was listed widely on the internet, including with the New York Times....
in Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, London, in November 2007, starring Linda Marlowe and Susannah York
Susannah York
Susannah York was a British film, stage and television actress. She was awarded a BAFTA as Best Supporting Actress for They Shoot Horses, Don't They? and was nominated for an Oscar and Golden Globe for the same film. She won best actress for Images at the 1972 Cannes Film Festival...
.
In December 2009, in recognition for his social entrepreneurial work through The Laden Showroom
The Laden Showroom
The Laden Showroom is widely considered as London's leading showroom and store that promotes and supports young and independent fashion designers...
, The Observer featured him as being listed in the top 50 of The Future 500 - The Courvoisier sponsored list of "inspirational, creative talent" in the UK for the year ahead.
Laden was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to the fashion industry.
Memberships and Affiliations
Freeman of the City of LondonMember of The Drapers' Company
MIoD (Member of the Institute of Directors
Institute of Directors
The Institute of Directors is a UK-based organisation, established in 1903 and incorporated by royal charter in 1906 to support, represent and set standards for company directors...
)
FBII (Fellow of the British Institute of Innkeeping)
Equity (Member of Equity (trade union))
FRSA (Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts)
Family
He is a cousin of Hollywood actor Nehemiah PersoffNehemiah Persoff
Nehemiah Persoff is an American film and television character actor. He was born in Jerusalem, Palestine Mandate.Born in what is now part of Israel, Persoff emigrated with his family to the United States in 1929...
and also British television presenter Fiona Phillips
Fiona Phillips
Fiona Phillips is an English journalist, broadcaster and television presenter.-Early life:Phillips was born in Kent and Canterbury Hospital in 1961. Her grandparents ran the Duke's Head pub in Church Street St. Paul's. Phillips attended Kingsmead Primary School...
His great-great uncle was Mark Feld, a retailer killed by fascists in London's east end, whose nephew was also Mark Feld, more famously known as Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
External links
- Evening Standard O2 Inspiration Award feature
- Review of Klarkey's War in The Times by Tim Teeman
- Interview in the Hendon & Finchley Times
- Klarkey's War summary
- This Is Local London article
- Vogue credits The Laden Showroom
- The Boston Globe review of The Laden Showroom and Brick Lane
- Urban Path's list of Nice Things To Do In London
- The Guardian reviews The London Fashion Bus
- Trend Central's review of The London Fashion Bus
- The Telegraph's review of The London Fashion Bus
- The London Fashion Bus sponsored by Wella
- The top 50 of The Observer Future 500