Dovecot Studios
BOOK: BIBA: The Fashion Brand that Defined a Generation
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Limited Offer: Exhibition entry included with the first 50 books sold *
Celebrate the enduring legacy of Biba with this special offer which includes a copy of Biba: The Fashion Brand that Defined a Generation together with a free exhibition ticket for the first 50 copies sold exclusively online.
Opening on Friday 6 February 2026 at Dovecot Studios, this landmark exhibition traces the rise of Barbara Hulanicki’s visionary label and its extraordinary impact on fashion and culture.
Biba dominated London fashion from the mid-1960s, defining the dress and outlook of a generation. Celebrating the sixtieth anniversary of the opening of the first Biba boutique, this book takes a revealing look at Biba through the words and images of the people who were intimately involved with the company and its phenomenal success.
Established in 1963 as Biba Postal Boutique—a small mail-order company selling inexpensive clothing for women and children—by 1973 Biba was a seven-story department store on London’s Kensington High Street. Customers could fill their wardrobe and furnish their home with Biba products; Biba had become the world’s first lifestyle label. Shoppers could buy a tin of Biba baked beans, take tea on Europe’s largest roof garden, or watch live music performances by the New York Dolls, Iggy Pop, and Liberace in the 500-seat Rainbow Room.
Created by Barbara Hulanicki and her husband, Stephen Fitz-Simon, Biba was made in the image of its staff and customers. Selling up-to-the-minute and affordable clothing, Biba appealed to teenagers and young women of the postwar generation, becoming the fashion destination of the Swinging Sixties and Seventies. Biba was the place to see and to be seen; its doors were open to everyone, from the Rolling Stones, Marianne Faithfull, and Twiggy to David Bowie and Freddie Mercury.
Biba: The Fashion Brand That Defined A Generation includes photographs by Helmut Newton, Sarah Moon, and Duffy, as well as never-before-seen ephemera from Hulanicki’s personal archive. Interviews with the people closest to Biba bring these images and objects to life, while recollections and anecdotes from Hulanicki herself shine a new light on the very personal nature of Biba as a business.
Publisher: Yale University Press
ISBN: 9780300279023
Number of pages: 256
Dimensions: 270 x 216 mm
Language: English
Terms and conditions:
*Offer includes free exhibition entry for one attendee. A copy of first 50 books sold online will be supplied with a ticket which may be redeemed at Dovecot Studios Front Desk.
Pre-booking is not essential. Exhibition tickets may be used between Monday to Saturday, 10.00am - 4.00pm from 8th February 2026 - 27th June 2026.
1. This ticket is valid for a single entry to the exhibition
2. This ticket is not valid for the opening weekend of the exhibition (Friday 6 February and Saturday 7 February)
3. This ticket is valid only for the date listed. We kindly ask that you plan your visit accordingly
4. The ticket is non-transferable and cannot be resold
5. This ticket is valid for exhibition entry only and can’t be used for any special events, talks or tours
6. While we strive to accommodate all visitors, please note that entry may be subject to capacity limitations.
Please note that the venue is closed on Sundays.
Delivery is at a flat rate of £4 per order or why not click and collect from Dovecot Studios for free?
