North East Mayor hails North East fashion brand as icon of creativity at 50th anniversary celebration
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has praised the enduring success and creativity of iconic fashion brand Terry de Havilland, as the label marked its 50th anniversary.
The messages came during a celebration at Gateshead’s BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art.
The landmark event brought together leading names from fashion, design and business to honour five decades of bold British craftsmanship that now has proud roots in the North East, and a global audience.
Speaking to a packed audience, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness told the event’s audience that the iconic Terry de Havilland fashion brand had thrived in the region since establishing itself here, further building its appeal nationally and internationally.
She remarked that it stood proudly alongside iconic North East brands such as Greggs and Fenwick. She added that collaborations of this kind shone a spotlight on the North East’s exceptional capabilities and creativity, as well as energising her own missions as Mayor to create jobs and inspire future talent.
At the heart of the evening was the dramatic reveal of a one-off Aston Martin from its Newcastle dealership designed in the spirit of the legendary Zap Pow shoe — the striking shoes famously worn by Amy Winehouse during her 2007 world tour. Hand-painted with bold pop-art detail, the car captured the fearless energy that has defined Terry de Havilland’s work for half a century.
Darren Spurling, Managing Director at Terry de Havilland said: “The Aston Martin Newcastle design was a true one-off – a fusion of timeless British craftsmanship and our own unique bold British brand and design.
“We were delighted to celebrate with friends on such a special night here in the North East. We have a Pop Up at Fenwicks in Newcastle, bringing a slice of rock ’n’ roll glamour and a treasure trove from the TDH archives to the city centre. If for any reason you couldn't make our big 50th bash, then the Pop Up is a must see.”
One of the standout moments of the 50th anniversary was the unveiling of a limited-edition Greggs x Terry de Havilland handbag, celebrating two of the region’s most recognisable names.
The bag drew bids from guests keen to own a slice of North East fashion history, with a winning bid of over £2,000 - the proceeds of which went to Newcastle United Foundation, the event’s charity partner and the Greggs Foundation.