Ed Sheeran designer set to support Birmingham’s creative start ups

Ed Sheeran’s glasses designer will be sharing advice on growing a business to creative start-ups in Birmingham.

Tom Davies has also designed eyewear for celebrities including actress and human right campaigner Angelina Jolie and chef Heston Blumenthal.

He will be speaking to the start-ups at Birmingham City University’s School of Jewellery today.

He said: “I’m attending to share my experiences over the past 15 years. I’m doing this because I would have benefited from someone like me doing this 15 years ago.”

The day-long session, organised by Enterprise Nation, is designed to help young start-ups turn style into profit.

The event will also see the young designers live pitch their designs to top buyers at Selfridges in front of a city audience.

Other speakers include Rosie Wolfenden, one half of quirky ‘wearable art’ brand and British institution Tatty Devine. Rebecca Jones, a graduate of the School of Jewellery and now a buyer with Oliver Bonas, will offer insight into what the high street brand is looking for when it comes to fashion and jewellery suppliers.

They will be joined by Henry Deakin, one half of Deakin & Francis, the city firm started by his family in 1786 and based in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter.

James Newman Jewellery and Hockley-based Crescent Silver will also be sharing their start-up stories with students.

A panel of fashion PR experts will also be taking questions from the floor on how to present a new brand and get noticed by the media.

Debbie Assinder, of Enterprise Nation, said: “Tom Davies is a real coup for us and he’s coming to do it for all the right reasons – he wants to pass on his knowledge, not gain exposure for his brand.”

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