Britt Lintner runs her own fashion label on the side of working for a fine arts fund in London. In 2006 she was voted one of the UK’s ’35 Women Under 35’ and Harrods have just agreed to stock her Spring/Summer Collection this December.
I met Britt a few months back at a business school convention and I immediately decided that I would never eat chocolate ever again if it meant I could look like that in my thirties. She kindly said that she would come and speak for Cass Women in Business, which last Tuesday she did.
Arriving after a full day’s work, Britt happily talked to a room of 90 about the highs and lows of having a dual career. She told us her story; being young and determined she went straight into banking, working at Lehmans for eight years. At 30, with an executive title, she hit a personal wall. She said it was (and still is for all of us) so easy to fall onto a treadmill and forget what it is that you really want to be doing. With that in mind she quit, ‘I went cold turkey’! ‘Everyone thought I was nuts but I didn’t want to wake up in twenty years time and regret not having done what I wanted’. So, at 32 she did exactly what she wanted to and has not turned back since. Britt went to Southbys and did an MA in fine arts before going to a fine arts fund. During this period at Southbys she cleared out her old work clothes and while doing this realised that simple, sexy, timeless, easy to piece high end work outfits for women just didn’t exist in London. Being a self confessed clothes junkie she said there was no option, she just HAD to start designing such clothes.
Britt bought fabric in Soho, she asked her local dry cleaner to help alter her clothes, and put up ‘pattern cutter’ signs in local schools until one day someone’s nanny came forward to help. Soon her house was full of mannequins and material. Her initial customers were her friends and gradually the business grew. Now Sarah Brown has been seen sporting Britt’s dresses, the brand has been awarded 'Brand of Tomorrow' at a Warpole association and she has a showroom in Holland Park. But money and success for her fashion business was never a driver, just sheer passion. ‘Your business is your baby, you have to love it’ no matter how tough the going gets. She works on her clothes every evening (often until 1 or 2am) after getting home from the city and spending time with her children.
How does she do it? Britt says she does not believe in ruminating, opportunities don’t come to you; you have to go get them. We spend so much time worrying about stuff, if something big comes along, no matter how terrifying, hit it smack on. You feel so much better afterwards. And this can be said for anything, even the smallest of worries. She stressed that it is so important to just ‘be yourself and don’t try to fit in’, that way you’ll be satisfied with what you achieve. She has learnt to compartmentalise; put 150% in each compartment in your life, but don’t let them over lap otherwise you’re splitting that 150% up. It is also important to surround yourself with like minded people and value them. Learn the power of ‘no’ and be organised. And finally have flexibility, you cannot operate without it.
Britt told the students that despite the downturn there are so many opportunities to take advantage of; digital, environmental and healthcare are just three that sprung to her mind. So for those that are still down heartened by the doom and gloom don’t ruminate, seize any opportunity. And with that she wrapped herself up in a vintage fur coat that even SJP would be jealous of and left the building.
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