Habitat makes Dickens permanent Creative Director

Polly Dickens has today been confirmed as the full-time Creative Director of upmarket homewares retailer Habitat after holding the role on an interim basis since November last year.

She will be charged with shaping the creative direction of the brand as it attempts to rise from the ashes of being placed into administration last year, under the new ownership of Home Retail Group (HRG).

For seven years until April 2010 Dickens worked as Creative Director of The Conran Shop, which like Habitat was originally established by famous designer Sir Terence Conran, and she also has both creative lead and buyer experience at designer led brands Anthropology, Liberty and The Source.

Dickens commented: “Habitat is part of my DNA and I feel oddly like I am coming home. There has always been the assumption that I was with Habitat, given my long history with Terence, but this is the first time I’ve worked with the business and I am extremely excited to be a part of it.”

“I have a lot of love for Habitat and it is a wonderful opportunity to reinvigorate this great brand.”

HRG bought Habitat’s three London stores, its brand, brand designs and intellectual property in a deal sealed whilst the company was in administration last June, but 30 more outlets previously owned by Habitat but not included in the acquisition went on to close.

Habitat’s new Spring/Summer 2012 collection launches in its stores and online at the end of next month, with Dickens now formally in charge of the brand’s in-house team of designers.

Clare Askem, Managing Director of Habitat, said: “We are delighted to have Polly on board. She has a great balance of commercial and creative experience and a real passion for the Habitat brand.”

Source : Jon Whiteaker – Retail Gazette
www.retailgazette.co.uk/articles/30241-habitat-makes-dickens-permanent-creative-director