FRANK USHER

A first collection of tailor made dresses was produced and sold to a London department store. Success followed quickly as women loved the idea of buying a couture look at realistic prices - especially since Christian Dior had introduced his new look.

Frank Usher opened their first west end showrooms in the mid fifties and started to create a solid UK and international business. The press too got the Frank Usher bug, and Vogue featured many dresses modelled by such luminaries of the day such as actress Kay Kendall and top model Barbara Goalen.

During the sixties and seventies when swinging London was at its peak, the label was going from success to success. There is a film, made in the late sixties, called Blazes Away it usually comes round on the BBC at Christmas time and stars dame Maggie Smith. It is set in a couture boutique and Frank Usher designed the wardrobe for the entire film - its always wonderful to see the beautiful styles of that era.

Vintage Frank Usher is always being featured in the press, and a recent article on Liberty's vintage department cited Frank Usher as being one of the most coveted collector's labels.

The eighties and nineties saw the steady growth of the export market, to over fifty countries, with two prestigious UK export awards presented by her Royal Highness the Princess Royal at award ceremonies held at the Mansion house.

Her Royal Highness recently visited the Frank Usher Mayfair Showroom in her capacity as President of UK fashion exports.

It was a really lovely afternoon, arranged like a giant English tea party - attendance by clients from Germany, Italy, Spain, Gibralter, Sweden, the Middle East, Ireland as well as Harrods and assorted boutiques. Her Royal Highness was great as she spoke at length with each of the seventy people there.

In the past five years new Frank Usher businesses, under license, have been formed-couture umbrellas, and jewellery, which is sold through shopping channel, QVC.