A warm welcome to Lakeland Fashion Group
AIS would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest Member, Lakeland Fashion Group who joined AIS on 1 August 2022.
Specialists in luxury leather, sheepskin garments, and accessories, Lakeland Fashion Group was founded by Jack Standring who started the business in 1955 with one shop in Ambleside.
Fast forward nearly 70 years and Lakeland is the UK's largest independent leather retailer with 15 stores, and Jack’s son Richard still plays an active role in the business.
From being a visitor to INDX shows, to becoming a CENPAC supplier, to joining as a Member, Martin Foster, Managing Director and Owner of Lakeland Fashion Group reflects on his unique journey:
"We first came across AIS through the INDX Fashion shows, buying womenswear, menswear, footwear, and accessories for our 15 stores. We liked the no-fuss buying focus of the shows and the exhibitors.
"Over the years we've been asked many times if we supplied our leather goods on a wholesale basis. We always said no - perhaps over-protective of our heritage brand and where it might be sold. AIS, through INDX changed our thought process. We could see many high-quality owner-managed retailers with first-class stores and teams attending the shows and this gave us the confidence to offer our products on a wholesale basis through CENPAC, which we did in 2018."Since then, our business has become truly multi-channel, winning a top Drapers Award a few years ago. As well as our own stores, we trade from a further 12 department store concessions, 10 digital marketplaces, and our own fast-growing website. This strength in digital retailing has helped us grow in a tough marketplace. We now have our own photographic studio, a full-time photographer, and a digital asset creation team.
"Joining AIS simplifies some of our brand buying (we stock about a dozen brands sourced through INDX shows and have added First Avenue to sit alongside our own-brand womenswear ranges). It’s exciting times and our next project is creating a new Lakeland Menswear range to complement our leather outerwear and accessories collections."
The Leading Fashion Buying Group
Lakeland Fashion Group recently joined the prestigious list of AIS members but there’s always room for more applications. Member benefits include:
Buying power
Impactful retail
Access to all INDX trade shows
Retail buying and merchandising
Amongst much more!
AIS Is the perfect place to grow your business so why not apply to become a member today!
