Cool Brands of Britain

One of my favourite clothing stores is definitely the shop on top — Topshop! OK, I have to admit that it’s not as cheap as Primark, but I don’t mind paying a few pennies extra for good quality.

Everything started in 1964, when the first Topshop store was opened in a basement of a department store in North England. One year later a store was set up at Oxford Circus (London). Topshop has expanded hugely since then and is now the largest store on Oxford Street. It’s also the first high street retailer to present a collection at London Fashion Week.

Its unique, individual style made me fall in love with this brand. I mostly buy dresses, tights and jewellery, and sometimes bags or jackets. I’ve always been very satisfied with the quality of my clothes and accessories. I especially adore the retro and second-hand section. Topshop has expanded to work with guest designers like Barbara Hulanicki and Kate Moss, and they also have smaller boutique brands and British designers available at some of their larger locations. I love the selection and how somehow, they always seem to be on the cutting edge of fashion, though the brand is so big. Well done Topshop!

Many of us know them by their iconic ’speechmark’ logo that we see all over the place — on TV, trains, billboards or even abroad. I’m talking about one of the largest phone networks:  Vodafone. Vodafone are an iconic brand, that a lot of us 80’s babies have grown up with. Technically formed in 1984, the company emerged in 1991 as a result of demerging from its host group Racal Electronics PLC. From then on, it has built its empire expanding globally through key acquisitions and takeovers in a number of international markets with subsidiaries in the U.S, Europe, Asia and Africa.

With the company boasting more than 320 Million customers world wide, I’m pretty sure a lot of people like Vodafone. They offer a range of affordable mobile plans for individual consumers, as well as tailored solutions for small and large organisations. Their other services also include the Internet and high-definition TV’s.

Vodafone has also become the first network to break O2’s large supply monopoly of the iPhone. Vodaphone has already sold more than 200,000 since it started selling the Apple device in January 2010. They’ve also expressed interest in becoming a provider of Apple’s latest technology – the iPad. We all know what happens when a group of competitors fight out the market…better deals for us!

As a British brand, Vodafone sets a benchmark for many large organisations. I admire how the company strives to be a world leader in their field. In the process, this has provided many benefits to the global community, such as increased employment and better access to communication. Vodafone are committed to preserving the environment as well as corporate social responsibility. They express this through a wide range of initiatives — from reusing and recycling old phones, charges and batteries to educating parents on mobile phone and online filters to help control the content their children see.

And don’t worry — I didn’t choose Vodaphone just because I have recently joined their network!

[image: vodaphone.com]

image: arabamoto.com

We’ve all done it, dreaming of owning one or even driving one. Whether we’re in a rush to get somewhere or in a car of our own, we just can’t help but stare everytime a Bentley strolls within our grasps, what annoys me is why is it when one occurs the driver always seems to cruise at like 5mph!! If you havn’t realised but by now I am talking about the Bentley vehicle.

Despite being such a high powered car, Bentley Motors remain a very green company. They state that being environmentally friendly is just as important as any other area. There’s even a way to dispose of a Bentley when it has reached the end of its lifeline in an environmentally friendly way.

A few random but interesting facts about the production of a Bentley car taken from the company website:

• It takes 150 hours to hand-build a Continental GT and 400 hours to build an Arnage (you’d expect alot of work to go into a car when your paying around £200,000+ for it!)

• Lacquer-spraying robots in the Paint Shop are programmed to simulate a human sprayer on his best day

• Steering wheels are doubled stitched by hand using two needles simultaneously; the process is far too complicated for a machine. It takes 15 hours work to create one steering wheel

• A full set of leather for a Bentley is selected and cut at the same time, so that there is as little variation in texture as possible

Although acquired by Volkswagen in 1998, the ownership may be German but the heritage is still 100% British. The cars are not only internally potent but visually stunning. I’m sure as they inspire many individuals like me to work hard in order to acquire one (unless you’re already wealthy).

The day I step into one of my own will be a rich and wonderful moment. I’ve chosen Betley motors as a Cool Brand of Britain, as I feel that it represents a key aspect of what Britain is…beautiful, rich and cultured.