From jewelery to casual wear, these Norfolk-based designers are putting the county on the fashion map.
Blakely
When North Norfolk clothing Brand Blakely opened its pop-up store on London Street in Norwich last autumn, the queue of fans grew to the city’s market.
And recently, Gareth Newman, founder of the men’s and women’s lifestyle brand that has more than 300,000 Instagram followers and is modeled by Love Island stars, announced that the store is set to stay open for another year.
Blakely was founded by Gareth in his childhood bedroom at Melton Constable and has since grown into an international brand with over 300,000 followers on Instagram.
After studying at the University of East Anglia and graduating as a pharmacist, he used his first paycheck to launch his clothing brand.
He spent two years learning to use photoshop, sorting out suppliers and designing a website, and officially launched Blakely in 2012.
blakelyclothing.com
Fairfax and favor
Co-founded by longtime friends Marcus Fairfax Fountaine and Felix Favor Parker, country fashion label Fairfax and Favor features Zara Tindall, Charlotte Hawkins, Ranvir Singh, Anton Du Beke, Helen Skelton, Steph McGovern and Made in Chelsea Julius Cowdrey, Olivia Bentley and Georgia Toffolo among her famous fans.
The growing footwear and accessories brand is based in Narford Hall near Swaffham and has built up a clientele at national trade shows and sporting events across the country.
Norfolk is at the heart of what they do and they chose Holt as the location for their first store. They have since opened two more outlets – in Stamford in Lincolnshire and Helmsley in North Yorkshire.
And some of the key pieces in their collections are named after places in Norfolk, including the Holkham sandal and the Sennowe belt.
Their bags and shoes are designed to be timeless investment pieces that work just as well in the countryside as they do in the city.
As well as being famous for their boots, a winter wardrobe staple, their SS22 collection includes the classic white sneaker with a twist and espadrilles perfect for lazy, sunny days at the beach.
Discover the Fairfax and Favor SS22 collection at fairfaxandfavor.com
studio ornament
Jeweler Bonnie Doonan founded Studio Adorn in Norwich in 2017 after traveling the world and reconnecting with her roots.
She first ran the minimalist jewelry brand from her kitchen table, before moving to a design studio in the heart of the city with a collective of designers.
The designs are inspired by Bonnie’s travels and her background in interior design and each piece is handcrafted to order.
Sustainability is at the heart of what Studio Adorn does – their Zero Waste Jewelery collection was created to use offcuts from the jewelry making process.
Last year, Bonnie and her lifelong friend, Sarah Brown of clothing brand Harwood, founded womenswear and lifestyle store Atwin in Norwich Lanes, which features a carefully curated range of independent Norfolk brands and beyond, including Studio Adorn. Other local retailers include Elm at Lower Goat Lane, Norwich and the Sainsbury Center at UEA.
shopstudioadorn.com
Transport company
Based in Wighton, near Wells, Carrier Company was founded by gardener and conservationist Tina Guillory in 1995, when she created what became her first product – the Classic Carrier, a square of jute fabric with a each corner of the type traditionally used by gardeners.
With a range that has expanded to include workwear, rural Norfolk traditions are stitched into every seam.
Garments, which include fisherman’s coats, overalls, jackets, shirts, capes, walking socks, vests and lambswool sweaters, are designed to improve with age and last. years.
carriercompany.co.uk
Troy London
A favorite of the Duchess of Cambridge, Troy London was founded by Rosie van Cutsem and her sister Lucia Ruck Keene in London in 2015 and they moved their HQ to Norfolk the following year.
Tired of staying warm and dry but compromising on style, or looking fabulous but feeling cold or uncomfortable, they designed a collection that both looked good and worked well. – elegant windproof and waterproof jackets, pretty but resistant shirts and dresses, cozy sweaters, practical and flattering trousers and overalls.
The duo spent a year developing their brand and created their first evening and weekend designs.
The Duchess of Cambridge has been seen wearing Troy London designs, including their wax parkas – she wore a khaki wax parka while touring Canada, and a farm visit in Gloucestershire, and a navy parka during of a photo shoot on the beach on the Welsh island of Anglesey.
She was also pictured in a Fair Isle Troy London sweater.
Other A-list fans include models Jacquetta Wheeler, Poppy Delevingne and Jodie Kidd, horse racing TV presenter Francesca Cumani, high profile florist and author Willow Crossley, style blogger and socialite Alice Naylor-Leyland and high society names moving to a similar country. -real estate circles like Rosie and Lucia.
Although it’s still called Troy London, it’s definitely a Norfolk brand, from design to shipping.
They recently launched the men’s line and may one day add children’s clothing.
As well as selling online and at Harrod’s, Scotland’s Gleneagles golf resort and a Swiss ski resort, customers can make personal appointments at their Hilborough headquarters to find their perfect Troy piece over a cup of coffee.
troylondon.com
