The fashion label Biba started life in late 1963 as a mail order company, advertising ready-to-sew garments designed by Polish born fashion designer/illustrator Barbara Hulanicki. The garments were advertised in British daily newspapers such as the Daily Mirror. Hulanicki’s big break came in May 1964 when the Daily Mirror’s fashion editor Felicity Green asked Hulanicki to design a garment for a feature on young designers. Hulanicki designed a pink gingham dress with matching scarf and no less than 4,000 orders were received. Eventually 17,000 of the dresses were sold!

Four months later, in September 1964 the first of the Biba shops was opened in Abingdon Road, Kensington was. In February 1966 another Biba boutique opened in Brighton, Sussex but closed by the end of the year due to gangsters demanding protection money (yes, it’s true!)

By March 1966 Biba had outgrown the Abingdon Rd shop and moved to larger premises in Kensington Church Street. A couple of years later, in April 1968 the first of six Biba catalogues was introduced enabling people from all over the country to buy Biba from their homes. The catalogues were eventually phased out in 1969.

In September 1969, the Kensington Church Street shop closed and Biba moved into the old Cyril Lord Carpet Warehouse on Kensington High Street. The move was financed by Dorothy Perkins who had 75% of the shares in the new Biba Limited company.

In February, 1971 Biba hit the US market and opened a department within the Bergdorf Goodman’s department store in New York.

In September, 1973 Biba made its final move into the famous ‘Derry & Toms’ building, a 5-storey Art Deco deparment store on Kensington High Street with a restaurant and flamingo occupied roof garden. The new Biba department store was a lifestyle, a total look, which housed everything from clothes and make up to home wares and food. Big Biba, as it was known became the hip meeting place for artists, musicians and everyone who was anyone, the Rolling Stones, Marianne Faithfull, Julie Chrsitie and Twiggy to name a few.

Sadly the new venture was not to last for long. Partners in the company sold their large stakes to the British Land organization who were less than supportive of the by now struggling Biba department store and in September 1975 Biba closed its doors for the last time.

In July, 1977 the rights to the Biba name were sold. Barbara Hulanicki and Stephen Fitz-Simon have no further connection with the label or any subsequent re-launch of fashion lines produced under the Biba name.


Barbara Hunalicki now lives in Miami where she is a successful interior designer
www.barbarahulanickidesign.com

~Many thanks to Biba collector and member Angie for help with providing accurate dates and information~



OTHER SITES: www.bibacollection.com - the amazing collection of Biba fan Pari

BOOKS:- The Biba Experience, Alwyn W. Turner ISBN 1 85149 466 9

From A to Biba - Barbara Hulanicki's biography & the birth of Biba. Out of print 1983 Comet books, 1984 Tyne & Wear Museum ISBN 0863790224

VIDEOS:- 2006 Biba re launch catwalk show - http://www.vogue.co.uk/Shows/Video/Default.aspx?showID=3855

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/10/newsi_3914000/3914415.stm





Barbara Hulanicki