Our February Guest Editor Charlotte Gascoyne highlights some of her fave designers
At her Stokey shop Hilda, Charlotte Gascoyne stocks a considered collection of contemporary ready-to-wear pieces alongside her curated vintage picks. She’s picked out some of the designers she’s loving right now – prepare to fall for them too.
Rabbit
I was first introduced to this Bristol based label when a curious brown package landed on Hilda’s doorstep. Inside, some ribbon wrapped prototypes of ruffle-edged baby tees with illustrated apples, dancing rabbits and enchanted castles. The sender, a Sophie Spratley from a label called Rabbit. In that moment, I was completely hooked. And I wasn’t the only one. Vogue were already on her (rabbit) tail, saying: “Rabbit combines the raw energy of rockstars with a fairy ethereality”.
Illustrative, ribbon-trimmed and always effortlessly otherworldly, Rabbit is one of those brands that feels authentic, at times, witty and for me, a little life affirming. Her iconic Freedom bat tees are a gentle resistance to the seasonal grind of the fashion industry. Rabbit has decided to do things at her own pace as opposed to churning out collections to the beat of the big ones.
For SS26’ Hilda will be stocking an edit from the brand’s latest collection, ‘Zest for Life’ alongside a very special Rabbit x Hilda collab.
Swedish Stockings
Posh hosiery has always played a part in Hilda’s style story and having a personal preoccupation with nice things made in Italy (and all things lace) Swedish Stockings felt like a match made when I opened shop. It was pretty much the first brand I called. As Swedish Stockings Founder and CEO Linn Frisinger says: “Hilda naturally reflects our brand values and we truly value the dialogue, the careful curation and the shared passion for quality and conscious fashion”.
Sustainable and made to properly last, New York Times hailed their 60 Denier Olivia as The World’s Greatest Tights. “We were the first to make sustainability the core of a hosiery brand, from recycled materials to responsible production, without compromising on design or quality,” says Linn.
Their editorial campaigns and collabs are eye-wateringly good and whilst the branding and packaging has a aptly nostalgic feel to it, the brand itself is utterly directional, with always one eye on the runway. “Our direction is driven by long-term thinking and a strong fashion perspective: building a brand that feels relevant, responsible and desirable over time, not just for one season.”
This brand will definitely keep us on our toes. Zebra print, lace, pastels and glitter. Their repertoire is boundless. And all the girls in Hilda wear them. Enough said.
Images by @swedishstockings & @simonwisbey for @hildastorelondon
Naya Rea
Naya Rea is in a wondrous world of her own and it has been a joy for me to step inside. Her collections are quietly exuberant, at times dramatic, often folklore-inspired and wonderfully referential. 3D flowers are a motif in this land of Naya Rea. Volume too. And embroidery. And the collections feel deeply personal somehow. Each piece is designed by Naya in her London home and produced by trusted, family-run manufacturers in Ukraine.
In Hilda, I notice that when people try on any one of her dresses, they almost ALWAYS step out of the changing room and take the space. There is no want of ‘hiding’ in this brand and I think that’s what I love about it. Naya gives expression to a feminine strength and she makes you feel ‘seen’.
“It’s little things that give me the spark of inspiration and instantly send me into this dream state. It can be the colour, the unusual texture of the fabric, an old photograph. And I only use deadstock fabrics, natural fibres or fibres made of waste,” says Naya Rea.
This year Naya decided to step away from the global fashion calendar, choosing instead to produce small-run, capsule collections that are available to pre-order. It’s a slower, more sustainable way of producing and she’s finding creative freedom in that. I’m really excited to see what she does next.
Charlotte Gascoyne is this month’s Guest Editor and you can see all the content she’s curated here.
