Inside MBFWA: Holly Garber from Golightly PR
"Normally it’s no weekends for the month leading up to it and you’re working 16-hour days."
Holly Garber started her PR agency Golightly in 2004, and that year did six shows at Fashion Week when the business was just six weeks old — a testament to her ability of getting things done and doing them well. This year Golightly has just one show, Manning Cartell. We stopped by the showroom a few days ago to ask Holly how she's dealing with Fashion Week, which begins tomorrow.
Ingrid Kesa: What song describes how you’re feeling right now in terms of Fashion Week?
Holly Garber: What’s a song that’s actually about being surprisingly relaxed? It’s not that frantic this year so it feels good. It feels a bit more interesting this year. I’d have to do a bit more research to find that song for you!
Do you have pre-Fashion Week rituals?
Doing my washing and getting rid of my dog — shipping my dog off somewhere so that he gets looked after during the week. And being super, super, anally organized.
What are three things you can’t live without during the week?
My team, good food, and my phone.
Holly shot by Bec Parsons
What is your favorite thing in general about Fashion Week?
My favorite thing is the opportunity for the brands that we work with to hold an event that allows them to show their brand in the strongest sense; to bring a really, really clear creative vision to life. When that happens and it’s pulled off on every level, that’s amazing.
What about your least favorite thing in general?
The hours; the amount of hours we put in.
Holly shot by Tommy Ton at Jak + Jil
What are your hours like during Fashion Week?
This year isn’t so bad but normally it’s no weekends for the month leading up to it and you’re working 16-hour days.
How will you be celebrating once the week is over?
I have already booked a massage. Just having time — time is my biggest luxury. So actually having time on my hands will be my biggest celebration.
What do you still have to organise?
Seating plans, some media appointments, following-up all of our press coverage and locking all of that down. We are doing manicures for ASOS Nail Rock [for Romance Was Born, Gary Bigeni and Ellery] and that’s about it.
Also see:
• Inside MBFWA: Ksubi
• Inside MBFWA: Meg Gray
• Inside MBFWA: Rae Begley from Little Hero
• Inside MBFWA: Tanja Gacic
Words: Ingrid Kesa
Main image: Ingrid Kesa
