SME has enjoyed a 25-year partnership with the British Fashion Council, working on many aspects of London Fashion Week, including the creation of London Fashion Weekend, which has been running for 15 years.
It has also launched other consumer events, including BBC Countryfile Live, which has attracted over 250,000 visitors in its first two years.
Haymarket CEO Kevin Costello commented: “The Clothes Show brand is an incredibly powerful one in the UK. It is, however, no longer core to Haymarket’s strategy as we focus on multi-platform brands and data-led solutions in our specialist market sectors. I’m delighted that we have found the perfect home for the brand with SME, which is ideally placed to develop The Clothes Show experience for 2019 and beyond.”
Haymarket has decided not to run The Clothes Show in 2018 and SME will be reviewing its strategic options for 2019 and beyond.
SME’s Managing Director Tim Etchells added: “Today’s passionate fashion-hungry consumers crave an experience that is relevant to them. With our fashion-forward experience, matched to something as unique and well-loved as The Clothes Show, I’m certain we will over time create a new experience, making the brand more relevant than ever for consumers and retailers alike.”
The Clothes Show launched in 1989 and has continually evolved over the years. Most recently, The Clothes Show powered the British Style Collective – a fashion take-over event hosted in a variety of well-known landmarks across Liverpool in July 2017.