At Newgate we like to celebrate great British design. Looking at those who push the boundaries of what it means to be independent and creative. Read on to discover our favourite British designers for 2019. We look at previous collections and what’s to come from these incredibly creative individuals this year.
Known for her quick wit slogan apparel (and being Lucian Freud’s daughter). Bella’s instantly recognisable label tells a story of playfulness and identity. Thanks to her famous father (and great grandfather, Sigmund Freud) innovation and controversy are in her DNA. Something Chloe knows all about as her dad was a close friend of Lucien Freud, and equally charismatic.
Born in London, raised (briefly) in Morocco and studied in Rome, Bella seemed to be destined for a creative career path. She launched her signature fashion brand in 1990 and is best known for her slogan cashmere including ‘Ginsberg is God’, (made famous by fashion queen Kate Moss), ‘1970’ and ‘Je t’aime Jane’.
Citing her father as having a big influence on her work ethic, Bella has a brilliant ‘never give up’ attitude. Something that Newgate founders, Jim and Chloe, are big believers in.
When we exhibited our watches at London Fashion Week Men’s AW17, Craig Green’s catwalk show was the one that really stood out and we’ve been fans ever since. A Central Saint Martins graduate, Craig Green is a born and bred Londoner. The established menswear designer is best known for his gender-negating and innovative creations. Which has put him on track for global success. What we love most about Green is how he challenges the norm with his designs, whilst ensuring his collection is wearable. Form and functionality are also at the core of Green’s collections, which is something Newgate founder and head designer Jim Read uses as a foundation for his designs.
Craig launched the brand in 2013. He first showed his designs at London Collections Men as part of Topman and Fashion East. Following on from the success of this presentation, he held his first solo show in 2015 for Spring / Summer. It was at this show that his poetic, romantic and emotive styles grabbed the attention of the fashion world. Leading to influential retailers including 10 Corso Como, IT and Comme des Garçons placing orders to stock his lines.
What started out in 2013 as one faux-faur coat, is now a full RTW label offering a variety of pieces including the original faux-fur coat, faux-fur accessories and even an interiors collection with Habitat. Founder Hannah Weiland lead the way on cruelty free fashion and made faux-fur luxury.
Loved by the fashion world, Weiland takes her inspiration from the “witticisms of modern art and a playful engagement with pattern and texture”. At Newgate we like to be playful. Head designer Jim Read is an artist (on the side) and his paintings can inspire his designs. The colour palette of our latest G6 watch collection has been taken from Jim’s most recent artwork.
We like how Weiland has mixed fashion and interiors (thanks to her collaboration with Habitat). When we launched our first watch collections back in 2015, our aim was to bring our distinctive interiors design DNA to the fashion world.
Founded in 2002 through Oliver’s love of garment, cloth, shop and shop keeping! The self-taught tailor shares similar values to Newgate; British, fashion and high quality. And that’s not it, Spencer’s beginnings echo those of Newgate founders Jim and Chloe; Oliver also abandoned his studies to start his working life.
From trading on a market stall on Portobello road, Oliver has gone on to launch his own brand, opening four stores and being stocked in many of the world’s leading department stores, including Harvey Nichols, Liberty of London and Mr Porter. And to top it off he won the WGSN Global Menswear Designer award in 2013 and has been nominated twice for Menswear Designer at the British Fashion Awards.
At Newgate we admire Spencer’s distinctive design style and uncompromising standards which are confirming the importance of British design on an international stage.
