MBA students from the London Business School recently partnered with the British Fashion Council to develop business strategies that could help talented British designers develop independent brands, according to a recent press release. Five teams of students worked with entrepreneurial brands sponsored by the Council over a two-week period in order to address the biggest challenges their businesses face as well as ways to help them grow and sustain their independent brand.
The students worked with the designers to help them learn how aspects like supply chain management, distribution channels, financing and marketing influence their success as a company. They also emphasized the importance of scaling to suit their needs. Students presented their recommendations for the businesses at a session held at the London Business School. Some of the students and designers made plans to continue their relationship on a longer-term scale in order to continue developing their fashion brands. This is the second iteration of the partnership between London Business School MBA students and the British Fashion Council created in response to a report produced by the two organizations examining the importance of business guidance for up-and-coming designers.
Meghana Ghandi, an MBA student at the London Business School, felt that her partnership with designer Christopher Raeburn was mutually beneficial and helped both parties grow. “The partnership with the British Fashion Council has provided an opportunity for students with an interest in the luxury sector to gain experience by applying business principles to the fashion industry. In return, designers gain business-critical insight from commercially-minded MBAs. This is an invaluable experience for both parties. We hope many of the partnerships formed will continue,” she said in a press release from the school.