Home Page

Business Advice

"My business advisor, Chrystelle Benkhelil, is an absolute angel," enthuses Annegret. "She has helped me with all the basics for my business: writing my terms and conditions, re-doing my pricing, teaching me to negotiate with clients and just supporting me morally and mentally when I have thought that I cannot carry on."

East German Fashion Designer Annegret Affolderbach had always dreamt of running her own business. With a degree in Fine Art at Middlesex University, she planned to work in Design and in 2003 began training as a Holographer with the Holographic Image Studio, It was then that she first approached Enfield Enterprise Agency to find out about funding.

Annegret already had experience of Art Directing and Styling for films and music videos, but she was keen to start designing and marketing her own fashion collection for petite women. Chrystelle suggested she develop her business in such a way as to maximise on all her skills in Fashion Design, Styling, Art Direction and Holographic Textiles.

The practical and emotional support and guidance Annegret received was invaluable. Chrystelle not only helped her develop her business and marketing plans but also gave her vital information and advice enabling her to create contracts, manage export sales and follow specific procedures with boutiques and buyers.

She enthuses: "The opportunities I’m receiving now are so incredible, Choolips has developed in directions, which have been more versatile than I had ever dreamed of"

In the summer of 2003 Annegret showed at the London Fashion Week where she launched her first range for ‘petite’ women. Since then her business has gone from strength to strength, selling in London and New York. Annegret has also carved a niche in Showbiz & in the charitable sector, with clients such as Akram Khan Dance Company, Channel 4, musician Wiley & Roll Deep Crew, Katy Carr, Noora Noor & MS Society.

Choolips’ particularly imaginative & unique ideas most recently resulted in winning Runner -Up 2005 RSA Trust/EEA Award - Innovative Business of the Year, a nomination for GWIIN Awards - Female Innovator & Inventor of the Year 2005 & a Royal Designers Institute Scholarship Award.

Annegret is currently working a new exciting collection of contemporary kimono fusing African, Japanese & British textile traditions. She has won the Design4LifeGhana Award Winner’06 - ‘Best commercial Dress & Print design’