UKFT has been saddened to learn that our former colleague, Larry Ross, died peacefully on Thursday 9 October. He was 93.

Larry spent his entire adult life in the fashion industry, or in the “schmutter” business as he used affectionately  to call it.

After many years running his own bridalwear business, Larry began working at the then British Knitting & Clothing Export Council (now part of UKFT) in the early to mid 1980s where he established a Projects Division to take British fashion and accessory companies to key international trade fairs so that they could sell their wholesale collections to international buyers. The groups were supported by generous grants from the then Department for Trade and Industry (DTI). Larry took groups of companies to SEHM, Paris Pret, Salon de la Lingerie and Salon de la Mode Enfantine in Paris, the New York Pret, Stockholm International Fashion Fair and Motexha in Dubai and expanded the number of markets UK companies were able to sell to.

Larry loved to travel and was an enthusiastic organiser  of popular and well supported shows and trade missions for the industry to Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, South Africa, Argentina and Uruguay (great markets for British eveningwear) – those were the days! Most importantly for him in his career, was Japan and his love for the country and the special welcome UK brands received there – which continues to this day.

Throughout the 1980s, supported by grants from the DTI (now the Department for Business and Trade) and a well-resourced and well-connected Embassy team, Larry built a world-class standalone British fashion and accessory trade fair, named “British Fashion Japan” which took place in Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka in January. The show was hugely successful as it enabled UK businesses to sell to Japanese buyers at the right time of year. The show was almost always sold-out and at its height took over 100 companies every year to Japan,  making it the second largest national presence in that market after ‘ModaItalia’ and slightly ahead of ‘Mode in France’. Larry organised additional complementary trade missions to suit the buying schedules of Japanese buyers, typically in May (before the rainy season) and in November (especially important for the knitters). He was always on the look out for new markets and opportunities for British companies but Japan was always special for Larry.

As the Projects Division expanded, in 1989 Larry hired Paul Alger, now International Business Director at UKFT as his new Projects Executive and they worked  together until Larry retired towards the end of the nineties.

Paul remembers his first call with Larry after he applied for the job. The application was late (!) but something in the letter triggered Larry’s curiosity. He already had a potential candidate in mind but by the end of the conversation there had been a  meeting of minds which overtime transformed into a long-lasting working friendship. Paul recalls: “In his advertisement, he had  stipulated that he wanted someone who knew tradefairs, spoke French and was ‘clock-ignoring’ – I think Larry got more than he bargained for on that latter point!”. Larry was passionate about the business and a wonderful mentor. He had a wonderful but sharp sense of humour and was a true professional. He understood the industry from the inside and he cared about the industry he worked in. When he retired, it was clear that the industry was going to change. Globalisation was just beginning and the internet would revolutionise the way business was done. Larry decided that it was time to retire.

After retirement, Larry remained a devoted husband to his wife Wendy and father to his four boys. He ran the synagogue newsletter and volunteered as a guide at the Jewish Museum of London for as long as he could.

Paul Alger said: “The industry owes Larry a deep dept of gratitude as he helped it to build key export markets, including Japan, through his enthusiasm, commitment and hard work. Many of today’s brands owe their success in Japan and other markets to Larry’s work and foresight.”

Larry’s funeral will take place be held on Thursday 16 October at Golders Green Crematorium, Hoop Lane, London NW11 7NL starting at 1pm