A ripple in the fashion world

IN the high-pressure world of haute couture, tantrums are commonplace. But it is designer water rather than designer clothes that caused temperatures to rise at London Fashion Week.

And now a dispute has gone to the High Court.

Hildon, a Hampshire-based mineral water firm, agreed in July 2003 to become the official supplier to the event.

The company was to pay an initial fee of £10,000 and then £20,000 a year until December 2006. It also agreed to sponsor the London Fashion Week's website for £100,000.

But a row broke out when Hildon bosses saw visitors at the London Fashion Week sipping water from its Welsh rival, Ty Nant.

It walked away from the contract last December, claiming that the British Fashion Council, which organises the twice-yearly event, was handing out water from Ty Nant.

But the council says this is not true and that a marketing company distributed it at a different event. Now the council is suing Hildon for £240,000 damages, plus interest, for alleged breach of contract.