History

When Gay Spanton and her husband Bruce started the company in 1990, their display friends gave them less than six months in business. Gay had worked with Adel Rootstein for sixteen years and so the original bodyform was completely out of context to her old clients. However, having researched all areas of retailing from small shops to the major store groups, Gay and Bruce soon realised that the majority of interior displays were dressed with hangers. Whether these were wood, chrome or padded, they were difficult and time consuming to dress and didn't flatter the merchandise. It was obvious that there was a need for a product that was simple, without any age or identity and would be easy to use. Rare Basic launched their collection of just one female hanging shape at the Shoppex Exhibition at Olympia. The stand was tiny but fortunately opposite the Press Office so the publicity was enormous.

The exhibition gave them two huge breaks. Jaeger gave the first order for 200 pieces and Marks & Spencer placed a small first order which eventually led to regular weekly rollouts.

Business continued to grow with Gay and Bruce working from the top floor of their house with a lock-up garage round the corner. The showroom was the dining room which had to be cleared each time a client visited! They took space at every fashion and trade show possible, gradually building a nucleus of personal and loyal clients throughout the UK. Calamity came in July 1994 when the top floor of the house caught fire - but the phone wires were swung into their neighbour's house and their top bedroom was used instead.