Pure London unveils speaker line-up, Burstell and Carpenter to star

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Nov 30, 2022

Pure London has named the keynote speakers for its next edition that takes place at London’s Olympia from 12-14 February. The organisers said “retail industry legend” Ed Burstell and winner of All That Glitters, jewellery designer Piers Carpenter, will be the big names at the event.

Former Liberty London chief Burstell will be the focus of an in-depth industry discussion on 12 February on fashion expansion and growth and how this can be navigated in a sustainable and ethical manner. 

Pure said that his “adept leadership of Liberty during his near decade at the department store saw double-digit year-on-year growth driven by a renewed focus on young British designers like Mary Katrantzou and Peter Pilotto, as well as spearheading a host of collaborations with brands like Nike, Barbour, and Levi’s, to highlight Liberty’s renowned floral prints”. 

In 2015, he also released his autobiography ‘At Liberty: From Rehab To The Front Row’. The tell-all book “recounted his personal experiences with loss, tragedy, and hedonism alongside his longstanding career in America's retail landscape”.

So he’ll clearly have plenty of opinions to share.

Sunday will also include “a thought-provoking and interactive seminar” with Global Fashion Management founder Thierry Bayle on The Art and Science of Buying. Meanwhile Amy Hobson, SocialB’s partner and social media trainer will host a workshop on creating an omnichannel experience for customers.

Then on Monday, goldsmith Piers Carpenter, who won the All That Glitters BBC jewellery contest earlier this year, will discuss his journey to becoming a jewellery star, charting his experiences and giving advice. 

Also on Monday, Elizabeth Stiles, fashion and textiles brand consultant joins Therese Oertenblad, founder of Small Business Collaborative, to discuss how to sell on Instagram. 

And the event's sustainable fashion panel will discuss the future of vegan and sustainable fashion. Taking part here will be Immaculate Vegan founder Annick Ireland, Trad Collective designer Josefin Wanner, and moderator Olivia Pinnock, the show’s sustainability ambassador,

Finally, on Tuesday, there will be well-being hour with Roo Davies, founder of The Mojo Coach, while Sara Collins, ethical production consultant, will share her tips for ethical sourcing.  

The programme also includes the catwalk shows for which the event is known, presentations by Pure London’s trend forecasting agency partner Promostyl, and further keynote speakers to be announced in the coming weeks.