On the eve of the Scottish referendum for independence, A Hume Country Clothing in Kelso, Scotland, picked up two prizes including the coveted Independent Retailer of the Year Award at the Drapers Independents Awards 2014.
The awards, held at The Brewery in London today (September 17), saw the retailer - described as “a simply brilliant company” by judges - also win Best Independent Multichannel Operator (sponsored by Visual Soft Ecommerce). Fellow Scottish retailer Sisters Boutique in Falkirk was awarded the prize of Best Young Fashion Independent of the Year (sponsored by Manchester Fashion Week).
There was a good regional spread of winners across the UK and Ireland. Dublin-based Louis Copeland & Sons collected Menswear Independent of the Year (sponsored by Skopes) and Best Store Design for its Dundrum branch. McElhinneys of Ballybofey in County Donegal won Independent Department Store of the Year.
Derbyshire-based Young Ideas, last year’s winner of Independent Retailer of the Year and Womenswear Independent of the Year, was named Premium Fashion Independent of the Year for 2014, while Bridge in Solihull won Womenswear Independent of the Year (sponsored by Frank Lymann Design).
The Chapar in London picked up the accolade for Best New Business and Collectif, also based in the capital, won Niche Retailer of the Year (sponsored by Wacoal Eveden).
For the second year running Ann’s Cottage surf shops in Cornwall won Lifestyle Retailer of the Year. Fashion Agency or Distributor of the Year was claimed by London-based Just Consultancies.
Joseph Ribkoff won Womenswear Brand of the Year and Barbour picked up the award for Menswear Brand.
The Lifetime Achievement prize (sponsored by Lexington Company) was awarded to Rita Britton, owner of Pollyanna in Barnsley, in celebration of her 50 years of trading in the industry.
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Readers' comments (4)
David Sanderson17 September 2014 11:29 pm
Well done Archie!! These awards can be the kiss of death on a business but I am sure you will be the exception that proves the rule. Hopefully you'll qualify like all Scott's this time next year and the divisive Independence referendum is defeated!
DS
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DOUGLAS HOOD18 September 2014 10:49 am
Well done to Team Drapers it was an excellent Event, well managed and well attended.
Great to see Rita ,that's what you call a true Legend!
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Anonymous18 September 2014 11:23 am
"Joseph Ribkoff won Womenswear Brand of the Year and Barbour picked up the award for Menswear Brand"
I thought you would have mentioned that Joseph Ribkoff had won Womenswear Brand of the Year for 2 years running as you did for Ann's Cottage ?
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Anonymous19 September 2014 4:24 pm
Great to see Rita Britton and a visionary in her days...great short speech by her that said it all..
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