The Launch of The Hugh Devlin Foundation and Why it Matters for Fashion Talent.
By Sarah Mower MBE.
Sarah Mower MBE speaking at the launch of the Hugh Devlin Foundation at the Design Museum, photographer: Richard Heald.
I met Hugh through Christopher and Tammy Kane. I already knew he was formidable by reputation, but I didn’t know that he was also from the same small village, Newarthill, outside Glasgow at that point. Hugh knew everything about fashion history and designers. He understood the psychology of designers and the entire corporate landscape of fashion internationally. This is one of the reasons that he was so brilliant at negotiating contracts. He knew what the going rates were and the value of design - which of course designers themselves can’t know at the beginning of their careers. When you had Hugh Devlin asking for 5 times what you dreamed possible, and getting it - well!
Of course Hugh must have been one of the highest-paid in his field as well. Today, legal fees are £500 an hour upwards and that makes it unaffordable to the most vulnerable people.
Hugh had been a partner at Withers Worldwide, but then formed his own company, Delightful, which meant he could be freer to do as he liked. We became very good friends. I tentatively started asking him what he thought about the horror stories young designers were facing. He’d say, “Tell them to call me!”. And it became a regular offline unofficial helpline. Hugh’s A&E. Any time, day, evenings, weekends, holidays.
He’d always shout, “Don’t sign it!”, and then he’d never charge anyone I sent him.
When he died, I didn’t know what I’d do without Hugh. Nor did the hundreds of others who came to his funeral, people he’d advised from the Nineties until his last week in 2023. We did not know the enormity of his invisible power and influence in supporting and building London fashion ‘til then.
That is why I am so thrilled that my sleepless nights of worry about having no-one to send young designers are over.
Sarah Polden, Hugh’s wife speaking at the launch of the Hugh Devlin Foundation, photographer: Richard Heald.
Sarah Polden, his wife, and friends have created a connection-point where 20 specialist lawyers and accountants will offer pro-bono hours of advice to carry on Hugh’s legacy.
It is incredible and unique, and already being inundated by requests.
In the time of AI, anyone can check a contract out, but it can never replace the value of legal advisers who know the field, the personalities, the movements of markets and executives, and can offer strategic advice in the long term, too.
The launch of the Hugh Devlin Foundation, photographer: Richard Heald
The Hugh Devlin Foundation will help with legal as well as accountancy and financial advice. This is vital as designers build their roster of contracts, and as many creatives navigate the stressful waters of building a business. In their own words,
“The Hugh Devlin Foundation protects creativity by connecting a network of professionals offering pro bono legal, financial and expert advice to creative talent in moments of difficulty or crisis. We support individuals and small businesses across fashion, beauty, art and design.”
A laudable decision and one which will continue Hugh’s legacy in supporting British creative talent.