Jammerbund spoke to Event about his Austrian roots, the practice of mindfulness, and the individuals who inspire him, such as Burberry's chief creative and CEO Christopher Bailey.
I got into the event industry because… After a few years of trying out different roles in hotel operations and sales and marketing, an opportunity came up to join the team at high-end event production agency, Inca. I am very grateful to Charlotte Clark for the opportunity, as this set me up with a solid foundation and knowledge to make my own way in the industry.
I have worked here since February 2013. Joining one day before London Fashion Week commenced set the tone for what continues to be an exciting, fast paced and rewarding role.
2015 was a really big year for me, with two successful venue moves – London Fashion Week to the Brewer Street Car Park and London Fashion Weekend to the Saatchi Gallery. There is a third move planned for the London Collections Men show space to 180 Strand this month.
I was attracted to this particular role because it combines two areas that I am very interested in – fashion and events. I love the variety it brings and the different people I get to meet each day. Being part of an organisation that supports British design talent at all levels, and seeing the talented designers succeed and be celebrated is very rewarding.
Not many people know that I am an Austrian country boy and the sixth generation Josef Jammerbund, named after my father and grandfathers. Imagine me in a pair of lederhosen and you get the picture.
The best event I’ve been involved was... I will always say that it’s the last event I did, which in this case was the British Fashion Awards 2015, hosted at the London Coliseum. The event keeps growing in profile and attracts a truly global guest list, from Anna Wintour and Karl Lagerfeld to the Beckhams, Lucky Blue Smith and Lady Gaga.
If I could do it all over again I would still get up, work hard and be kind to people.
The one thing I can’t stand is... Our industry can be wasteful and I think it is essential to highlight the importance of looking after the environment.
Outside of work I spend my time... I am really interested in anything to do with mindfulness and how to balance a busy job with a calm mind-set, such as via the Headspace app.
If money were no object I would… What we do and how we do things wouldn’t really matter as much if there were no budgets to balance. The sky would literally be the limit.
If I could switch places with anyone else in the industry it would be... I really like where I am at right now and I am excited about what the next few years will bring. That said there are a few people in the industry I find very inspiring, namely Christopher Bailey at Burberry for his vision, [Net-a-Porter founder] Natalie Massenet for her creative mind, and consultant David Hornby for his entrepreneurial spirit.
If I ruled the event industry I would… I am not quite there just yet, but ask the question again in a few years from now and I may be able to give you an answer.
More: My Event World - Damian Clarke
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