Barry Laden

Barry Spencer Laden MBE FRSA (born 1965 in Edgware, Middlesex, United Kingdom) is a fashion entrepreneur and occasional writer. Educated at City of Portsmouth Boys' School and the University of Westminster, his first retail venture was located in London's Fulham Road in 1987.He is best known for his creation of The Laden Showroom, the UK's largest independent showroom and retail space used for the promotion of small independent fashion designers, based in London's Brick Lane. He also created The London Fashion Bus, which toured the UK in 2003-4 and owns womenswear fashion brand Renée London.

At the age of 11, as a prize for winning a national essay competition, he was saluted by the entire Royal Navy on the rehearsal of the Fleet Review off Spithead, representing the Royal Family on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II. During the 1990s he wrote material for radio and television, including a script for comedian Bob Monkhouse. His crime fiction novel, Klarkey's War (East of City Press) was published in 2006. His first play, Ladies Aloud, was performed at the New End Theatre in Hampstead, London, in November 2007, starring Linda Marlowe and Susannah York.

In December 2009, in recognition for his social entrepreneurial work through The Laden Showroom, The Observer featured him as being listed in the top 50 of The Future 500 - The Courvoisier sponsored list of "inspirational, creative talent" in the UK for the year ahead.

Laden was appointed Member of the......
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