Fashion businesses celebrate Queen's Awards for international trade

A number of fashion companies including heritage manufacturer London Tradition, ethical childrenswear brand Frugi, sportswear specialist Inoveight Ltd, and rainwear accessories brand Fulton Company have been honoured in this year’s Queen's Awards for Enterprise for International Trade.

The awards, which are announced each year on April 21, Her Majesty's birthday, are the UK’s highest accolade for business success, and are only given to companies or individuals who are “outstanding” in their field with the aim of rewarding growth and enterprise. This year more than 100 UK businesses have been honoured for their international trade success.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "Companies that are growing, innovating and championing UK business overseas deserve the recognition that these awards bestow."

London Tradition, founded in 2002, won the honour after demonstrating “continuous and cumulative growth” in export sales of 865 percent over six years. The company designs and manufactures luxury duffle coats and exports to twelve markets including the Asia Pacific region and Europe.

Commenting on the award, Rob Huson, co-founder and director of London Tradition, said: "The Queen's Awards is a significant achievement for us. Being able to carry the Queen's Awards Emblem will attract new customers and strengthen our position as a leading British heritage brand."

Mamun Chowdhury, co-founder and director of London Tradition, added: "We design and manufacture high quality, modern heritage coats for young urban consumers from Tuscany to Tokyo. 90 percent of our clients are outside of the UK. They want British culture with an international style - the 'made in Britain' guarantee is at the heart of our continued success."

London Tradition, Frugi, Fulton and Inoveight recognised for international success

Another success story is children's clothing company, Frugi, which has gained a reputation for designing and manufacturing organic clothing. Founded in 2004, the ethical company has been recognised for its export sales growth of 600 percent over six years, as well as achievement of adapting to new markets through “embracing sales in local currencies, employing sales staff with language skills and varying its routes to market from direct sales through to the use of distributors”.

Umbrella and rainwear accessories company Fulton was named in the prestigious list for increasing its overseas sales over the last three years as well as entering a further seventeen new markets including China, Thailand and Korea. While, Inoveight Ltd, which designs and manufactures specialist sports footwear, apparel and accessories for off road running and functional fitness, won the award for entering new markets including South Africa, Canada, Argentina and Venezuela over the past three years, which now contribute more than 2 million pounds to its overall oversees sales.

Winners are presented with a crystal bowl and are invited to a reception at Buckingham Palace in July. In addition, they can also use the Queen's Award emblem in advertising, marketing and on packaging for a period of five years, as a symbol of their quality and success. Which according to a recent survey of Queen’s Award winners can bring “added commercial value to their business” a staggering 76 percent stated.

Image: London Tradition