Launched in 1964 by designer Barbara Hulanicki and her husband Stephen Fitz-Simon, Biba began as an affordable line of micro minis, lithe smocks, and sheer blouses available through mail order. Inspired by the mod styles debuted by Mary Quant in the sixties, Biba tweaked high design for the masses in the era’s muddy palette of browns, purples, and mustards. Its first store—famous for blacking out its windows and setting an Art Nouveau lounge scene—became a haunt for local artists and musicians like Mick Jagger and David Bowie. Five years later, Dorothy Perkins and Dennis Day bought a majority stake in the company, financing the creation of Biba Ltd and prompting aggressive development. The Biba look became synonymous with swinging sixties London, expanding into home goods, cosmetics, and later children’s clothes. The brand ran its course by 1975, though in 2006, Biba relaunched under designer Bella Freud, but ceased production after just two collections.

Status

Inactive

Clients

Anita Pallenberg, Brigitte Bardot, Bianca Jagger, Raquel Welch, Twiggy, Yoko Ono

Other Product Lines

Beauty, Eyewear, Handbags, Shoes

Owned By

Michael Pearce, Biba International Ltd

Address

30 Hereford Rd.
London, United Kingdom W2 5AJ
44-207-229-7999

Related Websites

• Biba (Official)
• Wikipedia: Biba (Other)
• Style.com: Biba (Media)