BIBA how do you tell if it's old or new??

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vanzy10

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BIBA how do you tell if it\'s old or new??

Help, Anyone who is a mine of information on this stuff please help- i don't want to disgrace myself with my ignorance!I have some biba items and I am starting to think that they are modern though they look pretty 1970s to me, both in wear and design. A cream silk blouse and a pair of canary-gold cotton- denim long shorts. Both of them have a biba identification on the OUTSIDE as well as a woven black-gold label. the shorts have biba buttons and a sort of see thruogh plastic label like jeans label and the blouse has a tiny black biba tab on the side seam. After browsing ebay a lot I am starting to think that any item with "biba" on the outside is from the 80s or 90s. Thank you so much!
 
i think you may be right, although i am no expert! have you looked in the label resource? i know the relaunch label was the same as an earlier label but wouldn't expect to see external tags i don't think.
have you got any pics?
i bet someone better informed than me will be along soon :)
 
Pictures would be great! That would be the only real way to know for sure. If you can get a picture of the labels and the overall garment someone may know instantly.

Chris
 
Originally posted by vanzy10
Help, Anyone who is a mine of information on this stuff please help- i don't want to disgrace myself with my ignorance!I have some biba items and I am starting to think that they are modern though they look pretty 1970s to me, both in wear and design. A cream silk blouse and a pair of canary-gold cotton- denim long shorts. Both of them have a biba identification on the OUTSIDE as well as a woven black-gold label. the shorts have biba buttons and a sort of see thruogh plastic label like jeans label and the blouse has a tiny black biba tab on the side seam. After browsing ebay a lot I am starting to think that any item with "biba" on the outside is from the 80s or 90s. Thank you so much!
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I think you're probably right there. I've not seen many original Bibas with outside indicators, aside from the logo lace dress and some logo jersey tops (which I'm always suspicious of, although they seem real enough). There were at least two relaunches. The 90s one was the most insidious, a large chunk of the range was copying original designs practically stitch for stitch - but often using Biba buttons and little tabs. I will be able to tell instantly by the label, but they sound modern.

Liz
 
Thanks for your helpful replies just what i was hoping for except of course i was hoping that you would tell me that these items were impossibly rare !:-)
For the sake of interest i will attempt to attach pics. Never done it before so bear with me. Vanessa
 
Oh no, I can't seem to work this picture thing. But have a look at this completed item on ebay. The shorts are similar with similar labels and buttons. (Except of course lovely yellow!) The pocket styling is also the same. Item number: 8333871866.
How many relaunches did Biba have? I was aware of the one in the 90s. it had lots of coats and jackets with with the acid- coloured linings and square celtic knot buttons. I didn't know there was one in the 80s; apart from the makeup of course. Thanks so much for sharing your expertise. Vanessa
 
you can copy and paste using a url from your photo host or you can hit "post reply" under the last response (not the quick reply box) and at the bottom a field to upload a file will come up

Chris
 
I think there was a relaunch in the early 80s, something to do with Hulanicki's sister - a lot of denim, cord and nylon lace blouses came out of that launch.

Sorry they're not the original Biba, but they'll probably still sell on eBay - just make it clear they're later pieces.

Liz
 
Thank you. (I hope) this is the label of the blouse which is silk with embroidered wainwright-esque leaves on the neck. It has a black tab with "BIBA" on sewn into a side seam. The printed label underneath says 14 and a catalogue number. Also "Made in Hong Kong".
Vanessa
 
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