Biba

Barbara Hulanicki started Biba as a mail-order operation in 1964 with her ad-man husband Stephen Fitzsimon. The couple felt that the price of designer goods was too high for ordinary people so they promoted the 'knock-down, throw-away-and-buy-another' philosophy.

Hulanicki designed her own fabrics in blends of Art Nouveau and Art Deco. When The Mirror newspaper featured one of Biba's gingham dresses at just under £3, orders flooded in.

Soon a couple of small boutiques were opened in London and Biba became a way of life. The shops were designed like a disco, with a hi-fi playing rock music, and dark mahogany screens everywhere.

Customers were encouraged to come in and try on anything. And they did - in droves.

In 1969 Biba opened on a grand scale in Kensington High Street, selling Biba clothes, Biba make-up, Biba beans, Biba everything!

But by 1973, the glory days were over, and Biba moved to the former premises of an Art Deco department store in Kensington, London. The store closed its doors indefinitely in the mid-1970s.