The Power of Art & Design #thepowerofartanddesign

Sarah Lawrence (This is Iris) and Jehane Boden Spiers (Jehane Ltd) are joining forces for an engaging programme of events at BLE 2018.

Both Sarah & Jehane are business entrepreneurs who personally run their own licensing agencies. They met previously whilst exhibiting at Brand Licensing Europe. They quickly connected as agency owners sharing a pro-active approach and a keen interest in supporting Art and Design within the licensing industry.

This dynamic collaboration sees their independent companies exhibiting alongside each other in the Art & Design National Hall on Stand P20. Their alliance includes jointly leading a licensing seminar on the importance of Art & Design as well as participating as judges on the panel of BLE’s new Art & Design category for License This!

We have worked incredibly hard throughout our careers to celebrate great design from all areas of the industry. Our BLE collaboration allows us to promote the Art & Design area and use this unique platform to encourage retailers and licensees to be brave and invest in great art led portfolios.” Sarah

Join Sarah and Jehane on Wednesday 10th October 11.30am – 12pm for their Q & A discussion seminar “The Power of Us” with guest licensees Etta Bingham (Half Moon Bay, Ice House Books) and Reggie Pugh (Paper Rose) They will reflect on the bigger picture, endorsing the importance and value of the individual artist. What is the power and value of the individual artist in the licensing industry? How do licensees apply Art & Design within their programmes to achieve successful outcomes? Why is it so vital to give recognition to a relatively niche A & D footprint in the wider environment of brand licensing?

Marking the 10th anniversary of BLE’s License This! competition sees two prizes in 2018. Sarah & Jehane will also be appearing as judges on the panel of BLE’s newly created Art & Design category for 2018. Previous winners include Sarah Lawrence’s (of This is Iris) very own Ailsa Black. The Ailsa Black brand is flourishing with a significant licensing programme now in place.

This is a wonderful opportunity for creatives to share their work and be seen by potential licensing partners, this event has helped launch many fantastic programs over the years”. Sarah

We will be looking for originality, a stand-out collection, with the potential to work across several product categories. Beautifully presented artwork with a signature style”. Jehane

The full panel includes Vicki Thomas (of Vicki Thomas Associates), Will Steward (of The Point 1888), Stuart Cox (previous winner of I Like Birds).

Stuart Cox says “License This! is an exciting opportunity – a game changer. It places largely untested brands right into the heart of BLE, alongside the biggest names in one of the biggest industries on the planet”.

Nothing motivates Sarah & Jehane’s collaboration more than enabling exceptional talent to be part of the licensing industry.

This is Iris’s Art & Design properties include Ailsa Black, Beryl Cook, Catalina Estrada, Deer Little Forest, Dominique Vari, Elle & Everest, Mokoh Designs & The Great Majesco, as well as new collections from renowned botanical artist Alfred Wise and greeting card designer Lottie Jones.

Jehane Ltd’s properties include artists from the UK, Canada, and New Zealand; Helen Ahpornsiri, Tracey English, Katherine Quinn, Meghann Rader, Kate Heiss, Snowden Flood, Amelia Bowman, Natalie Pedetti Prack, Susan Kennewell and Jehane’s own designs.

Follow their new hashtag #thepowerofartanddesign

Visit both agencies ‘This is Iris’ & ‘Jehane Ltd’ in the National Hall on Stand P20.

To book a meeting with either partner click here for This is Iris and here for Jehane Ltd.