Business News


Broad Street celebrity launches fashion range


By Dan Harrison


A Birmingham entrepreneur, whose flamboyant fashion style has made him one of the most recognisable faces on the city’s nightlife scene, is launching his own clothing brand. Lloyd Robinson has become a local celebrity on Birmingham’s Broad Street because of his bold fashion style, which includes fur coats and double-breasted suits. Now the scrap metal dealer from Edgbaston is


turning his passion for clothes into a business venture with the launch of Lloyd Robinson Clothing. It officially launched last month at the Park Regis


hotel, with a showcase of Lloyd’s range of imitation fur coats for men and women. Lloyd began his working life as a McDonald’s


employee but took his first step into the business world by starting a scrap company with just £400 to his name.


‘I liked the way my grandparents dressed – double breasted coats and hats’


However, his passion since childhood has been fashion. And, although his bold and flamboyant appearance


has drawn comparisons to hip-hop culture and 1940s gangster films, Lloyd takes his inspiration from church. He said: “I used to buy a lot of clothes when I was


young – it was a hobby. I started to buy my clothes from down the rag market. “I went to a very good tailor who could make things


the way I wanted and I noticed the difference between tailor-made and off-the-rack stuff.


“I also used to look at the way people dressed at


church. I liked the way my grandparents dressed – double breasted coats and hats.” It was Lloyd’s fur coats that really began to earn


attention in Birmingham’s busiest nightspot. Revellers regularly stop him for photographs and he


has even earned the nickname of the ‘Best Dressed Man on Broad Street’. Lloyd is confident his clothing brand will be a


resounding success and has set an ambitious target of a million online sales within three years. But he is also keen to create jobs and give back to


the community. He said: “I believe if I do this right, this business


could create a lot of jobs. I really want to help the community. If I can do it, anybody can.”


For more information visit www.lloydrobinsonclothing.co.uk


Fur enough:


Lloyd Robinson in full regalia


Children’s charity event goes online


Ronald McDonald House Charities is holding an online celebration as part of its fundraising drive to provide free home away from home accommodation for families with children in hospital. The virtual entertainment


livestream ‘There’s no place like home’ is taking place on 12 November. It will be hosted by popular radio presenter Ed James and feature musical performances from Aston Performing Arts Academy and String Infusion and others. Guests can also enjoy a Q&A


with a special guest and hear from parents with children who have stayed at the Birmingham house, which is situated near to Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Ronald McDonald House Birmingham is just one of the houses across the UK situated in or near hospital grounds to enable seriously ill children to have their families close by when they are undergoing treatment. Charlotte Smith, community


fundraiser at Ronald McDonald House Birmingham, said: “This event promises to be a one-of-a- kind event to celebrate the work of the Charity and our fabulous supporters”


To register email RMHCcentralwest@uk.mcd.com Tickets start from £25.


Award-winner named as Poet Laureate


Chamber award-winner and performer Casey Bailer has been named as Birmingham Poet Laureate. The writer, performer, and educator from Nechells was announced in


the role on National Poetry Day. He will serve as Poet Laureate for 2020-22 and succeeds fellow poet


Richard O’Brien. Casey performed at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s


online awards ceremony this year and also won the Future Face of Arts and Culture category at the Future Faces annual awards. The secondary school teacher released his debut full collection of


poetry, ‘Adjusted’ in 2018 with Verve Poetry Press and his second collection ‘Please Do Not Touch’ will be published by Burning Eye in 2021. Casey’s play ‘GrimeBoy’ has been commissioned by the Birmingham


Rep. His poetry has featured in a number of anthologies and he was


commissioned by the BBC to write ‘The Ballad of The Peaky Blinders’ in 2019. Future Faces manager Anna Assinder said: “Having worked with Casey


over the past three years, it has been amazing to watch his career and talent grow. “Casey never fails to blow us and the Chamber’s audiences away and


Poet Laureate: Casey Bailer


I’ve personally loved seeing him perform the imaginative and lyrical poems that he’s created for us for the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and Future Faces awards ceremonies. “He won our Future Face of Arts and Culture award this year and this new accolade of being appointed our Poet Laureate is fully deserved.”


November 2020 CHAMBERLINK 11


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