After samples were submitted to the Design Centre, which championed British product design, Ann Fuller Designs was given permission to use the iconic black and white label. Initially, Ann was not told whether the products had been accepted or not and, after a nervous couple of weeks, she discovered that a display featuring her products was already open to the public at the Design Centre in Haymarket, London. It was the first of many and helped to introduce Ann Fuller Designs to new audiences. The Sewing Girl was one of the first to carry the label. She carried a thimble and had a tape measure in her base, with an apron that lifted to reveal a selection of needles.
After some years Liberty changed buyer and he insisted that the Ann Fuller Designs branding was dropped, supplying the famous Liberty fabric only for Liberty stores. This presented Ann with a headache: where could she find fabric to match the quality of Liberty? Eventually, she discovered an English brand that imported French fabrics, Soiree Nouveaute, and a whole range was created in the new look.
Ann was already selling to Liberty, Harrods and Jacksons, so it was inevitable that one of London's other iconic department stores, Harvey Nichols, would want to stock her creations. This range was called Edwardian Christmas and was produced in a new fabric. It was a great success and Ann was commissioned to do a second range the following year using Harvey Nichols fabric.
Ann's core team were Helen Hunt (cover picture, right), and (left to right black and white picture) Pauline Hall, Doreen Moore, Coralie Taylor and Joan Hall. The business achieved local stardom, but also traded globally, with clients in Japan, USA, Australia, France, Switzerland, Finland and Norway.
Comments