Biba Labels

C

Coral

Registered Guest
Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could please confirm the date of this Biba Label on this silk blouse - is it a 1980s? I am not at all up to date on the recent biba labels.

I have looked at the label resource but there are no pictures of woven gold on black with the reversed A. I have also noted that the new Biba clothes are now using the same satin labels as the early seventies.

Many thanks.
 
Hi Coral,

Your blouse does look '80s to me, when Biba was not making clothes so I'd be inclined to say that it's not authentic. The label looks like a good copy though. There are a lot of Biba knockoffs out there.

Some experts will come along soon hopefully.

Nicole
 
Thanks Nicole, I have been watching a few Biba items listed as vintage popping up on ebay all claiming to be original vintage Biba, and I was confused by this style of label after having looked at the label resource and the original pieces that I have (early woven label) mostly bought at auction.

I am new to vintage clothing, hence I would not buy Biba on ebay unless it was from a reputable dealer i.e. vintage a peel etc.

Many thanks.

Another black dress has also just popped up again stating it is 1960s (with a biba label on the outside) - I guess if genuine it would be a 1990s? Any comments would be much appreciated.

Coral
 
Well the blouse style could be earlier than 80's. Making a reference to the Princess of Wales is a bit misleading because it pushes the dating forward.

If the label is a copy they have got the slightly faded content and size label working.
 
I agree that the blouse could be earlier: those Victorian/Edwardian styles were popular in the '70s. The fact that it belonged to the sellers mother also suggests an earlier date but who can tell - mothers buy new clothes too.

The second dress is definitely not vintage - polyamide is a modern material, a type of polyester that wasn't around in the '60s. The style looks like a '90s slip dress, and the adjustable straps confirm that. Also, I can't see the real Biba sewing the tag to the outside of the dress - it's sticking out near the waist.

Nicole
 
Hi Coral, both are technically real Biba - but the first is 80s and the second is 90s. Both were official Biba relaunches, but I don't think the first involved Barbara Hulanicki and the second one definitely didn't (nor did the current one). She didn't own the name after they shut up shop in 1975, hence the 'Barbara Hulanicki' label which she produced at around the same time as the 90s relaunch (presumably getting her own back).

Aside from variations on the satin label for the Big Biba store (including a maternity one I need to photograph), the label resource shows all the genuine Biba labels. There's only one genuine woven label style, and that's with the 'fat' font shown on the resource.

The number of sellers who should know better but continue to sell repro/relaunch Bibas as the real deal is astonishing. I've also seen the relaunch labels stitched into 70s polyester dresses, which is just outrageous. :angry22:
 
Thanks Emma & Nicole for the information, it's really great to be able to come on here and ask advice about labels and garments.

I think you can buy some great original pieces on e-bay if you know what you are looking at and buy from a reputable seller, all of the Biba items I have are genuine and I will post some of my piece on here once my collection has increased.

Once again many thanks.
 
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