ABOUT DAVID M.WATTS

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David M. Watts is an independent Fashion Industry Adviser and Creative  Director based in London. His professional career spans more than 25 years encompassing Fashion, Media, Licensing, Interiors and Brand development. 

 

Watts’s passion and knowledge of the fashion industry are both extensive and renowned.  His talents as a brand builder are second to none and he has been responsible for mentoring and assisting the career directions of some of  Britain’s most successful fashion designers today. 

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Formerly a Creative Director Coats Viyella Group, where he managed private label projects and multiple design teams for UK high street brands such as H&M, Topshop (Arcadia Group) and Marks & Spencer. He subsequently worked with prestigious RTW brands in the luxury and couture sectors in Paris, New York and Rome.  

As Global Head of Apparel Licensing (Apparel, Childrenswear, Accessories)  for an independent British Licensing agency, he oversaw a team working on international licensing properties that included Beatrix Potter (Peter  Rabbit) Potter and Paddington Bear- which had an ‘at retail’ value of $2  billion annually. 

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Prior to setting up his own consultancy in 2014, Watts spent three years in the role of Fashion Business Adviser to the Board of The British Fashion  Council in London where he implemented all one-to-one business support,  developed workshops, seminars and innovative mentoring initiatives including Vogue Fashion Fund, NEWGEN, NEWGEN Men.  

 

Working in China in 2015/16 as Lead Consultant for the Chinese Government he created a blueprint to deliver a new fashion initiative; Fashion Asia Hong  Kong which culminated in a two-day luxury fashion conference and a 10  fashion designer showcase, that continues annually.

 

In 2020 he was invited to become a Visiting Lecturer by Conde Nast College of Fashion and Design where he lectures on Fashion, Fashion Enterprise and  Creative Direction.

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