TheIndustry.fashion Scale-up Sessions: Finance and funding to power growth

Finance and logistics are key growth pillars of any business large or small. Whether you’re expanding your operations domestically or internationally, exploring new sectors, or branching into new channels, mastering these disciplines is essential for success.

TheIndustry.fashion Scale-up Sessions brought together a group of business leaders from leading fashion brands, retailers and industry bodies - including Celine, Scamp & Dude, Aligne, Bluebella, Belstaff, Florere, Amari Amari, Phoenix Style, Ro & Zo, House of Kind, Pretty Lavish, The Department of Business & Trade, and The British Fashion Council - all focused on taking the next step in their growth journey. You can watch the event on demand here. 

Held in partnership with Bleckmann and supported by Barclays and Shoosmiths, this week's event featured insightful presentations, engaging panel discussions, and interactive ‘Meet the Experts’ breakout sessions, giving attendees the opportunity to exchange ideas, share inspiration, and gain practical insights from industry-leading speakers, including representatives from Bleckmann and Barclays, alongside Sepi Agari, Hunza G, Bloobloom, BGF, and Rixo.

For the second session, Isabella Clough, Director and Co-Head of Fashion & Beauty at Barclays Corporate Banking, was joined by Krishna Nikhil, CEO of Hunza G; Emile Qadri, Chief Financial Officer at Bloobloom; Simone Masterson, Investor at BGF; and Chris Head, Head of Retail & Wholesale, Mid-Corporate at Barclays Corporate Banking, to discuss finance and funding to power growth.

Sharing his story first, experienced CEO Krishna Nikhil joined Hunza G at the beginning of the year following a management buyout of the womenswear brand. Initially founded in London in 1984 by Peter Meadows, Hunza became known for its bold colours, cut-out silhouettes, and playful designs, achieving iconic status when Julia Roberts wore the electric blue Hunza mini dress in Pretty Woman (1990).

Fast forward to 2015, Georgiana Huddart relaunched the brand as Hunza G, reviving the original crinkle-stretch fabric and updating the designs with a modern, inclusive approach. Since then, the brand has focused on minimal, sculpting swimwear that celebrates confidence and fits all body types, redefining the category through fabric innovation and timeless silhouettes. Nikhil shared that the story is such an important part of where the business is today on its funding journey.

The management buyout marked a new chapter for Hunza G, one that saw Huddart step into the role of controlling shareholder, backed by Barclays debt financing and a group of forward-looking investors. "Barclays has been an amazing partner, alongside a small, sharp group of long-term investors," revealed Nikhil.

"We support companies from startup to large corporates, and we love their growth stories," responded Head.

"We want a true partnership. With our extensive experience and insights into what works and what doesn’t, we can provide valuable support - think of us as an extended part of your business."

Nikhil offered his own perspective on what to consider before taking on funding. "My advice: ask yourself, does my business model work? You can’t scale your way to profitability. Funding will only amplify both your opportunities and your problems. Also ask do I have the team to handle this funding? And what am I going to do with it?"

He added: "It’s important to listen to your investors - they may see something you don’t. Sometimes seeing your business through someone else’s eyes is invaluable."

Emile Qadri, CFO of Bloobloom, spoke next about the eyewear brand’s growth journey. Earlier this year, Bloobloom raised £3 million to support the growth of its UK store network, strengthen its online presence in the US and continue to develop its automated prescription lens and frame dispense systems.

Founded in 2017 by brothers Fares and Abbas Manai, Bloobloom offers premium glasses at a flat price of £99, bypassing traditional retail markups. The brand also provides a home trial service, allowing customers to try five frames for five days, and runs a ‘Pair for Pair’ programme, donating one pair of glasses for every pair sold.

Reflecting on the brand’s funding to date, Qadri explained: "Our first private equity investment was the trigger. We knew we needed an injection of capital to take on our first store, and once we decided to go for it, we went all in - opening on Carnaby Street and Marylebone High Street. Since then, we’ve completed two more equity raises with PembrokeVCT and CIV, supporting both store rollout and investment in technology, including AI tools that help improve the prescription delivery process."

Offering advice on how to choose investors, Qadri added: "Be discerning if you can be. It’s important that your initial investors are conscious of where you are in the business cycle and what they can bring to the table beyond just finance. Have they worked in consumer goods before? Have they worked with businesses of your size? Do they have experience with the opportunities your funding could unlock?" - all factors that Bloobloom carefully considered when choosing to partner with its investors.

Continuing the discussion, Masterson offered insight into BGF's approach from the perspective of "the most active equity investor in the UK and Ireland".

"BGF provides long-term, minority investment to growing companies," she shared. "We specialise in minority equity investments to support growth without taking control. We never take more than 40%, so we are fully backing the founders. We can provide board-level support and strategic guidance while respecting your autonomy."

Throughout the panel, a consistent message emerged: funding is not just about capital - it’s about clarity, communication and partnership. Successful growth relies on understanding your business model, building strong relationships with investors, and ensuring that every step of your funding journey is grounded in purpose and long-term vision.