Queen of Cashmere rescues Boudiche

ONE of Scotland's best known fashion designers, Belinda Dickson, has acquired the collapsed lingerie business Boudiche from the administrator.

Dickson, chief executive of BJD Design, will relaunch the brand in Glasgow with a fashion show at the newly-refurbished Corinthian Club's pop-up store, The Boutique, on 7 October.

The owner of the Belinda Robertson label said that it was too early to set out the long-term plans for Boudiche which collapsed in June, putting 13 staff out of work. RSM Tenon were appointed as administrators.

Boudiche was founded by Clare Thommen and Fiona McLean in 2005 but despite substantial growth it was unable to secure the funding they needed to continue.

However, Dickson said the brand had a good image and that the founder had created a "great deal of goodwill with the quality of the product and service offered".

Initially, the new company's main focus will be online with the re-launch of the Boudiche website. However, there are also plans to open a designer lingerie sales outlet at the company's Cashmere Barn in East Lothian.

Belinda Robertson Cashmere and Boudiche will also be presented at a fashion show hosted by the comedian and radio presenter Fred MacAuley at the Turnberry Hotel in November in aid of Action for Children Scotland.

The acquisition by BJD Design for an undisclosed sum follows an improvement in the Belinda Robertson label after some difficult trading in 2008.

Knitwear designer Dickson has been known for years as the "Queen of Cashmere". She grew her own fashion label after being trained as a teacher and later working in marketing.