1995. O.J. Simpson is acquitted; the first cloned sheep are created in the U.K.; and Forrest Gump wins the Oscar for best picture. In the company of these milestones, Ben Barry decides to break new ground in the world of fashion and advertising.
The doors of a new agency opened that year and launched a progressive management approach. After operating as a traditional modeling agency representing over 150 diverse models for nine years, they transitioned into a model consultancy to best serve the changing needs of its clients.
In its fresh form, the first of its kind, this brave new agency engages in custom scouting and sourcing of models for the fashion, advertising, and entertainment industries, while at the same time, advising global firms in these industries on their branding and communications strategies.
With a head office in Toronto, Canada, its client list has since exploded to such brands as Coca-Cola, Macy's, Dove, Old Navy, L'Oreal, Holt Renfrew, Nike, MTV, and Sears. The agency has also been commissioned by international advertising groups to advise their members on issues concerning beauty and advertising and by Untitled Entertainment to obtain fashion and beauty projects for their clients (including Madonna, Demi Moore, and Lucy Liu).
And suddenly, the world paid attention. The agency was featured on CNN, FOX News, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CTV National News, Fashion Television, CBC Morning News, Vicki Gabereau, and as well as in publications such as the Toronto Star, People Magazine, National Post, Globe and Mail, and Profit Magazine.
All this acclaim is attributed to the agency's integrity-driven success. There are several key principles at play within the agency: hard work, ethical business practices, alertness and adaptability to change, and the importance of people of all diversity.
Powered by these principles, the Ben Barry Agency has set its sights on one mission: to change the face of fashion as we know it.