top of page
Ready to wear
Nigerian designer Lisa Folawiyo started her own fashion line in 2005 after purchasing 12 yards of Ankara textiles, batik-inspired wax-resist fabrics adopted throughout West Africa, and asking a local seamstress to create two skirts that she decorated herself. 15 years on, she’s the winner of the 2012 Africa Fashion Award and was included in the Business of Fashion’s 2015 BOF500 list. Her ready-to-wear collection fuses vibrant traditional patterns with contemporary silhouettes that are hand-finished by expert craftspeople – it takes approximately 240 hours to embellish a single garment with the label’s signature beads, sequins and crystals.
Molly Goddard debuted her menswear line in 2020 at London Fashion Week as an expansion of her cult-followed offering, which she started after completing BA and MA knitwear programmes at Central Saint Martins. The award-winning designer offsets her signature formula of vibrant colourways, mood-lifting patterns and intricate finishes with precise tailoring inspired by her English heritage and the men in her life. Look out for cornerstones such as suits, shirts and sweaters – all interpreted through a quirky, retro-nostalgic lens.
Harsh Agarwal launched HARAGO in 2019 to showcase and support the artisanal heritage of his native India while exploring his creative sensibility and desire to make clothes responsibly. The trained economist finds inspiration in the diverse expressions of traditional craftsmanship seen across the country, from block printing, handloom weaving and tie-dyeing to chikankari, ikat and more. Look out for effortless silhouettes that blur the lines between loungewear and daywear, assembled from natural, vintage or upcycled textiles that carry meaningful stories.
Ssōne founder Caroline Smithson has extensive design experience that spans completing an MA at Central Saint Martins and working with some of the fashion industry’s biggest names, including Alexander McQueen, Proenza Schouler and Peter Pilotto. For her own label, she balances a contemporary aesthetic tinged with retro-nostalgic and utilitarian accents with a clear sense of responsibility, transparency and provenance. Marrying substance and style, garments and accessories are crafted from organic, recycled and natural materials using low-water washing and dyeing processes, while textile cut-offs and unsold garments are repurposed in line with a zero-waste mentality.
French architect Denis Colomb learned about Nepal’s textile tradition while developing rugs for a creative commission and was immediately drawn to the country’s artisanal talent, breathtaking landscapes and spirituality. Since 2004, he and his wife, US photographer Erica Lennard, have collaborated with local, family-run workshops to hand weave ready-to-wear, accessories and homeware of the highest quality. The designer is based in Kathmandu several months a year to oversee every stage of the production process, ensuring that each scarf, shawl and blanket is crafted with the utmost care and precision, using the finest Mongolian cashmere and yak wool with occasional touches of cotton and silk.
Activewear
The North Face, named after ‘the coldest, most unforgiving side of a mountain’, was founded in 1966 by outdoor enthusiast and avid environmentalist Doug Tompkins as a climbing and hiking store in San Francisco, California. Since then, it has offered pioneering garments and equipment to pro-athletes and amateur explorers alike, consistently pushing boundaries and innovating with new technologies such as GORE-TEX®, HyVent® and PRIMALOFT®. It has various sustainability initiatives to reflect its support for the preservation of natural resources, including the use of recycled textiles and donating pre-worn garments to extend their lifespan. Expect a dynamic selection of outerwear that reflects the label’s adventurous ethos.
Girlfriend Collective is an activewear label created by and for a community of individuals who want to align their wardrobe to their values. It was created by Seattle-based wife and husband duo Ellie and Quang Dinh with a minimalist, refined aesthetic rooted in a genuine commitment to environmental and social sustainability. Garments are responsibly crafted from Oeko Tex-certified, high-performance fabrics made from recycled materials such as plastic bottles and presented through campaigns that celebrate individuality and diversity. Look out for supportive, flattering tops, leggings and more.
Accessories
Tanner Krolle is a renowned British luggage and accessories label founded in 1856 by German saddlemaker Fredrich Krolle and currently helmed by designer Tabitha Simmons. The brand’s aesthetic is rooted in discreet sophistication achieved through expert craftsmanship and elevated materials – a reimagining of archival pieces through a contemporary lens. Look out for leather goods featuring meticulous finishes such as hand lacquering and gold foiling, all of which are made to stand the test of time.
Homeware
Housed in a 1921 building just off Piccadilly Circus, The Wolseley is one of London’s favourite all-day cafés, visited by local connoisseurs and exploring tourists alike. It was founded in 2003 by local restaurateurs Chris Corbin and Jeremy King, whose vision of transforming a former car showroom-turned-bank branch into a spectacular Art Deco space is now expanding into an elegant tableware collection. Expect a curated offering of tea and cocktail accoutrements in glass, Fine Bone china and vintage silver that will transport followers to the restaurant’s vibrant atmosphere.
bottom of page