Linda Bennett
Encyclopedia
Linda Kristin Bennett OBE (born 8 September, 1962) is an English
-Icelandic
clothing designer and entrepreneur, best known for setting up fashion retailer L.K.Bennett
.
, Bennett is the daughter of a London-based fashion retail entrepreneur, and an Icelandic sculptor mother. She grew up in North London
, and was educated at Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls
, Elstree
and Reading University, where she read Land Management. She then trained as a cordwainer
at Hackney’s Cordwainers College (now part of the London College of Fashion
), and then working for French designer Robert Clergerie, before working on the sales floor of retailers Whistles
and Joseph
.
’s wedding shoes for her marriage to Prince Charles in 2005. Because of her equal emphasis on comfort and glamour, Bennett earned the nickname “Queen of the Kitten Heel”.
Bennett sold a 70% stake in the business in 2007 to Phoenix Equity Partners and Sirius Equity, a retail and branded luxury goods investment company, in a deal believed to have netted her around £70m. Bennett remained on the board of the company as a non-executive director and retained a stake of about 30 per cent.
Businesswoman of the Year in 2004; Entrepreneurs’ Entrepreneur award in 2009.
In 2004, Bennett was made an honorary fellow of the London College of Fashion
, her alma mater, and she sits on the development council of the University of the Arts London
, of which the London College of Fashion is a part.
In 2006, Bennett was awarded an OBE for services to the fashion industry in the New Year Honours list.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
-Icelandic
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
clothing designer and entrepreneur, best known for setting up fashion retailer L.K.Bennett
L.K.Bennett
L.K.Bennett is a luxury women’s fashion brand, based in London, United Kingdom. Originally created to produce “quintessentially English fashion”, L.K.Bennett now focuses on shoes, clothes and accessories, and use of luxury materials such as nappa leather and pony skin.-Linda K Bennett:Linda Kristin...
.
Early life
Born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Bennett is the daughter of a London-based fashion retail entrepreneur, and an Icelandic sculptor mother. She grew up in North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
, and was educated at Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls
Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls
Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls is an academically high-achieving British independent school in Elstree, near Borehamwood, in the county of Hertfordshire. It is often known as "Habs" or "Habs girls", to distinguish it from the neighbouring Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School...
, Elstree
Elstree
Elstree is a village in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire on the A5 road, about 10 miles north of London. In 2001, its population was 4,765, and forms part of the civil parish of Elstree and Borehamwood, originally known simply as Elstree....
and Reading University, where she read Land Management. She then trained as a cordwainer
Cordwainer
A cordwainer is a shoemaker/cobbler who makes fine soft leather shoes and other luxury footwear articles. The word is derived from "cordwain", or "cordovan", the leather produced in Córdoba, Spain. The term cordwainer was used as early as 1100 in England...
at Hackney’s Cordwainers College (now part of the London College of Fashion
London College of Fashion
London College of Fashion is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London, offering undergraduate, postgraduate, short courses and business-training in fashion, make-up, beauty-therapy and lifestyle industries...
), and then working for French designer Robert Clergerie, before working on the sales floor of retailers Whistles
Whistles
Whistles is a clothing brand with 40 stores across Britain. It was founded in the early 1980s by Lucille and Richard Lewin.In January 2008, Jane Shepherdson, former Topshop director, signed a deal to purchase a 20 per cent stake in Whistles and was appointed the job of chief executive.-Style:In the...
and Joseph
Joseph
-Media:* YosepH, album by Luke Vibert* Josef , a Croatian television movie from 2011*Various works based on the life of Joseph in the Hebrew Bible:** Joseph and his Brethren, oratorio by George Frideric Handel...
.
L.K.Bennett
Bennett set up her first shop in Wimbledon Village, with a goal to produce "something in-between the designer footwear you find in Bond Street and those on the high street.” Bennett designed the Duchess of CornwallDuchess of Cornwall
The Duchess of Cornwall is the title held by the wife of the Duke of Cornwall. Duke of Cornwall is a non-hereditary peerage held by the British Sovereign's eldest son and heir....
’s wedding shoes for her marriage to Prince Charles in 2005. Because of her equal emphasis on comfort and glamour, Bennett earned the nickname “Queen of the Kitten Heel”.
Bennett sold a 70% stake in the business in 2007 to Phoenix Equity Partners and Sirius Equity, a retail and branded luxury goods investment company, in a deal believed to have netted her around £70m. Bennett remained on the board of the company as a non-executive director and retained a stake of about 30 per cent.
Awards
Since setting up L.K.Bennett, she has won several awards, including: Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Consumer Product category) in 2002; Best Women’s Footwear Retailer (UK Footwear Award) in 2003; Veuve ClicquotVeuve Clicquot
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin is both a champagne house in Reims, France, and a brand of premium champagne. Founded in 1772 by Philippe Clicquot-Muiron, Veuve Clicquot played an important role in establishing champagne as a favored drink of haute bourgeoisie and nobility throughout Europe...
Businesswoman of the Year in 2004; Entrepreneurs’ Entrepreneur award in 2009.
In 2004, Bennett was made an honorary fellow of the London College of Fashion
London College of Fashion
London College of Fashion is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London, offering undergraduate, postgraduate, short courses and business-training in fashion, make-up, beauty-therapy and lifestyle industries...
, her alma mater, and she sits on the development council of the University of the Arts London
University of the Arts London
The University of the Arts London, formerly known as the London Institute, is a collegiate university comprising six internationally recognised art, design, fashion and media colleges in London, England...
, of which the London College of Fashion is a part.
In 2006, Bennett was awarded an OBE for services to the fashion industry in the New Year Honours list.