In the annals of emerging fashion talent history, London boutique Browns is a repeated reference. Its co-founder Joan Burstein is credited with discovering and nurturing a host of British design talent, from Alexander McQueen to John Galliano, and introducing international designers to the UK market, from Comme des Garçons to Calvin Klein. In 1997, this supportive intent was reinforced with the introduction of Browns Focus, an incubator of next-generation talent as well as a physical space, which championed designers such as Christopher Kane and Simone Rocha.
Now, Browns – which has in recent years supported emerging talent through initiatives and partnerships with the British Fashion Council, Graduate Fashion Week and Designers' Nest – is relaunching Browns Focus. The long-term commitment, which will support and celebrate a global roster of innovative, imaginative and emerging fashion talent, kicks off with a group of men's and women's designers, who have produced exclusive capsule collections for the boutique. ‘With everything that’s going on in the world, it’s so important to continue to support smaller brands and give them the confidence and power to succeed at what they know and do best,' says Ida Petersson, Browns’s menswear and womenswear buying director.
The designers of ‘Browns Focus: Series One’
Womenswear designers:
- Commission
- Conner Ives
- Maximilian Davis
- Mariah Esa
Menswear designers:
- Bianca Saunders
- Labrum
- Lueder
- Saul Nash
- TSAU
In celebration of Browns Focus, the retailer's Browns East space and newly opened Brook Street boutique are hosting an installation showcasing the capsule collections of its Series One designers. The entrance to the Brook Street space features a dedicated Focus room, committed long-term to celebrating emerging talent. See more of Browns' global design roster below.
Commission x Browns Focus
‘The three incredible designers behind Commission – Jin Kay, Dylan Cao, Huy Luong – are just so talented and creative,' says Ida Petersson, Browns’ menswear and womenswear buying director. ‘They have the most incredible tailoring and fabrication and we love that they take their inspiration from their memories of Asian women’s styles of the 1980s and 1990s. We’ve made sure to keep their heritage and style in this capsule by paying homage to this inspired femininity.
‘Conner Ives is an old friend of Browns – we actually launched his first collection when he was still studying at Central Saint Martins, and we couldn’t imagine doing this project without him,' Peterson continues. ‘We are just so obsessed with him and everything he touches – the fact that he uses old fabrics to create new garments really goes well with our conscious message and the action we’re taking here at Browns.'
Conner Ives x Browns Focus
Bianca Saunders x Browns Focus
Maximilian x Browns Focus
Mariah Esa x Browns Focus
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