Welcome to ContentZine 3,
the online newsletter for the worlds finest collection of popular culture artefacts
from the 80’s & before, The Land of Lost Content. This issue sees the launch of
the LOL Tee t-shirt design competition, a chance for you all to be inspired by the
Land of Lost Content.
collection & design a t-shirt, get the design on both the LOLC website & the
HemingwayDesign site & see how your design performs in a vote off by the
thousands of LOLC subscribers & visitors to the websites. The winning design gets
manufactured & the winning student gets 50% off any profits &l a something exciting
to put on their CV... surely worth forsaking an evening watching ’Strictly
Come Dancing‘ to do a bit of T shirt designing ??

Sixties fashion icon Barbara Hulanicki is forever keeping an eye on
style – even when it virtually disappears under a graduation gown. The woman who created Biba – a fashion label and a lifestyle – lives and breathes style, whether it is clothing, accessories or home interiors. And during her first visit to Wolverhampton, to receive an honorary degree from the city’s university, she cannot help but gaze at the graduation students’ choice of footwear and hairstyles. “There was one young girl wearing a pair of pink heels with her gown. How fantastic,” smiles Barbara.

“I was watching them as they made their way to the stage. I could just about see their footwear popping out under their gowns. They looked great.

“But I did notice a few of the boys appeared to be wearing scruffy shoes,” she laughs.

Fashion lecturers at the university were thrilled Barbara accepted the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Design. “She is such an international icon,” said Sharon Watts, senior textiles lecturer at Wolverhampton University’s School of Art and Design.

“We are delighted Barbara has joined us and hope it will be the start of great relationship with the university.”

Back in the 1960s, Biba defined the decade as much as mini-skirts and Mini cars. “Those were the days,” beams Barbara. “It was a great time. People had fun and it was so relaxing. Everything came from the heart. ”Barbara and her late husband Stephen Fitz-Simon started the iconic Biba as a mail order company in 1963 before opening their first boutique in London. Soon afterwards she opened the legendary five-storey Biba department store on Kensington High Street – famed for its stylishly decadent atmosphere and lavish decor, like its leopard skin sofas. But it was not just a department store. It was a spectacular theme park of shopping, eating, drinking and hanging out. It revolutionised fashion and style. And it was not just about gladrags for girls. In addition to a cosmetics range, there was also home accessories, mens/childrenswear and a Biba food hall.

It became a hangout for rock stars and film stars, including Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones, Freddie Mercury, Twiggy and Cathy McGowan of Ready, Steady, Go! But the store was never simply for the rich and famous. It combined couture with affordability. “We opened the store out of necessity,” says septuagenarian Barbara. “There really wasn’t any affordable individual fashion back then,” she says. “We played loud music in the store so it was very rock and roll and a great place for the young girls and guys to hangout.”

When Biba closed its doors in 1975, Barbara continued to work in the fashion industry before re-inventing herself as an interior/exterior designer in Miami. “I went over there to do a nightclub for Ronnie Wood. I planned to stay there six months and 20 years later I’m still there,” she laughs. She has also designed accessories for the Victoria and Albert Museum and more recently designed wallpaper, rugs and pillows for Habitat. Barbara returns to England every two to three months and admits she is excited about the nation’s high-street fashion. “I think the high street stores here are incredible. There just isn’t the variety when it comes to fashion in America. “But there is so much individuality in the shops here. I think they are tremendous and I particularly like Topshop,” she says.

As for her own style, Barbara says she sticks to wearing black. “It’s very lazy but it’s so easy to match black with black,” she laughs. And she is not one for hats. “I hate having anything on my head,” she says as she poses for a picture in her graduation gown.

“So no, I’m not going to wear this cap,” she laughs. But she said she was thrilled to receive the honorary degree. “I’ve never received such an honour before. I’m delighted to be here.”

Although in her early seventies, Barbara has no desire to slow down. “I’ll retire when I die,” she laughs. “I love this work, always have done.” And we could soon be seeing a lot more of her. “I’m just about to sign a fashion deal in England. I can’t say any more at the moment – but watch this space.”

To welcome back new and existing students, the Land of Lost Content is
giving you the fantastic opportunity to enter into our new and exciting
competition.

We want you to design a t-shirt inspired by images you have found on the
LOLC website. The design will then be put into out ‘Tee Hall of Fame’
through Wayne Hemingway’s HemingwayDesign website and on the login
page to LOLC Subscribers will take part in a vote off – the favoured
design will win and made available for the public to buy

Not only will the winner receive a free t-shirt with their
design printed on it, but will also receive a
50% share in all profits made from their design.
This is a great opportunity to promote yourself
as a designer and have your t-shirt sold a
chance not to be missed!

To enter your designs to the competition or ask any questions,
then please email Katie at lolc@wlv.ac.uk.

Look forward to hearing from you and GOOD LUCK!

‘The Story of the Supremes’
http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/theatre_
performance/exhibition_supremes/index.html ‘The performance costumes of The Supremes, one of the most successful groups of all time, are on display at the V&A this summer. On show are over fifty outfits that chart the changing image of the group, from their dresses in the early days as The Primettes, to the glamorous Hollywood designs worn at the height of their fame’.

V&A Exhibitions. ‘Sports V Fashion’
http://www.vam.ac.uk/microsites/fashion-v-
sport/exhibition.php ‘This exhibition explores the creative connections between the two worlds of fashion and sport. Recent developments have seen an increasing number of collaborations and hybrids, from fashion designers producing collections with sportswear brands to sports personalities heading fashion campaigns or even designing their own collections. Fashion V Sport will reveal the complexities and tensions between the two industries’.

The Clothes Show Live 2008
http://www.clotheshowlive.com/clotheshow08
/intro.asp ‘The largest fashion and beauty event in the world returns to Birmingham from 5-10 December for more fashion, hair, beauty, make-up, models, celebrities and of course shopping than ever before’.

The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Arts
Steve McQueen
http://www.balticmill.com/whatsOn/future/Exhibi
tionDetail.php?exhibID=108 ‘Young British artist, Steve McQueen, will present two recent works that will transform Baltic’s level 3 gallery into an immersive and disorienting experience for the viewer. Together the two works will combine architecture and film to create a visual and aural kaleidoscope’.

we like listening to
futurecop
on myspace

Ripley’s ‘Believe It Or Not!’ Museum
https://www.ripleyslondon.com/home.php ‘Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum offers visitors the ultimate insight into the world of the odd and bizarre. Marvel at over 500 weird and unusual artifacts in over twenty themed galleries spanning four floors’.

http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=drCyjsfrLdI we love this retro ‘b’ movie style music vid by The Rickshaws

I have allowed myself one or
two real ‘Spender Benders’
this month. I hesitate to use
the word ‘spree’ because it sounds
far too frivolous, and as everyone
knows I am a very serious collector with
entirely altruistic motives (LOL). I attended
the Welsh showground collector’s fair on
Sunday, and managed to sort out some
splendid items. Some 1970s packaging, which

two lovely people sold to me very cheaply indeed (£1 per item). I never ask
where things have come from, but I spend a long time wondering. And it is a
wonder in this world of sell by or expiry dates, how come produce can sit
in it’s packet in someone’s cupboard for over 30 years.

I recently acquired, from a dealer friend of mine, a
pair of Elton John’s old platform shoes. These cost
me a bit more than £1. In fact about 200 plus more
than £1! They have moderatly trustable provenance,
too. I don’t entirely trust my dealer, but you have
to take a chance now and again. I think they are
pretty good 1970s shoes, although maybe not as
outrageous as you may have expected.
Yesterday I attended an amazing costume auction at Brightwells in Leominster,
where I bought a copious amount of ancient women’s underwear. My my, how
things have changed in some areas of life. I leave your opinions to you.

If you want to go and visit the Land of
Lost Content Museum then the address
is:
The Land of Lost Content
The Market Hall
Market Street
Craven Arms
Shropshire
SY7 9NW
Tel: 01588 676176
Opening Hours – 11am – 5pm everyday but
Wednesday, Jan – Nov

As you may already know, I am the Project Administrator for LOLC, and am based at the University of Wolverhampton. I am the person who deals with all your queries. My role on the LOLC project can be very varied. I don’t only reply to emails, but with the help of the other team members I create the Contentzine’s, research, write object histories and promote the LOLC website. My job is very interesting and keeps me on my toes. The team are always thinking of new things to contribute to, and expand the project. Watch out for our next exciting venture…….all I can reveal at the moment is that it will be student based design project that will give the winner national exposure in the fashion and design industries, so watch this space! My personal interests
include sourcing and selling vintage clothes. I sell what I find (if I don’t end up keeping it!!) every weekend at a flea market in Birmingham. I do end up spending nearly all my takings on new things though, which is all part of the fun!

If there is anything you would like to know or ask about LOLC?
You can always get me on email at lolc@wlv.ac.uk. It’s always great to hear from you.