One Vintage to launch exclusive collab at Browns, adds to sustainability push

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
May 2, 2019

Farfetch-owned luxury retailer Browns will be launching a collection with One Vintage on May 20 that will be available to buy in its South Molton Street flagship store and online.

It’s a big project with as many as 100 exclusive pieces being available via Browns at prices ranging from £360 up to £3,310. They’ll include “Victoriana, dark eveningwear and bright satin oriental pieces.” 

Since 2000, under founder Marcelle Symons, One Vintage has carved out a strong niche for itself that takes in both vintage and contemporary fashion.

The company uses antique textiles and relics, all of which have been redesigned and reimagined to create contemporary, one-of-a kind-pieces but with hand-crafted embroidery and rich beading maintained. 

And in an increasingly competitive luxury sector in which so many products are available globally on many different websites and in stores, ‘one-of-a-kind’ is a key selling point to help retailers differentiate themselves.

Browns said that under CEO Holli Rogers and womenswear and menswear buying director Ida Petersson, it’s pursuing a much more sustainable offering for its customers and its brand mix currently consists of 25 brands under the sustainable umbrella, with that number set to rise to 45 as of the AW19 season.

With One Vintage celebrating its 20th anniversary next year and vintage/resale being seen as a key part of the sustainability push in the luxury sector, the collaboration is likely to get plenty of attention.

Browns said that its team “worked closely with Marcelle on the project and [we] were excited about the opportunity to give a London-based artisanal business a voice.”

Its womenswear buyer Octavia Bradford said the brand “serves to challenge the consensus that sustainability requires some sort of sartorial sacrifice. Yes, the product is entirely ethical and sustainable, but first and foremost, it’s incredibly desirable. To me, the brand’s sustainable credentials are just a huge added bonus.”