6 British Clothing Brands That Will Rival a Royal Wardrobe

Whether you're binge-watching The Crown or love following Kate Middleton's latest looks, British fashion is certainly top of mind. Although we can’t get our hands on Princess Diana’s revenge dress, there are enough must-have brands to fill Buckingham Palace. The United Kingdom is a looking glass into the past, as well as a melting pot of different cultures, offering a tapestry of unique tastes and aesthetics.

Grace Wales Bonner merges Afro-Atlantic history with European heritage, joining Feng Chen Wang who subtly nods to her Chinese background through her meticulously crafted modern designs. Elsewhere, Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson brings his cheeky sense of humor to JW Anderson, while self-portrait opts for a refined, elegant approach, juxtaposing House of Sunny’s vibrant Hockney dresses and groovy jackets. Continue scrolling to discover the best brands across the pond.

Feng Chen Wang

Chinese-born and London-based designer Feng Chen Wang is one of the foremost creative minds in fashion as she bridges the gap between highly conceptual and technical garments through her eponymous brand. The Royal College of Art graduate materializes her futuristic fashion visions, delivering dramatic yet smartly tailored garments that could easily belong on the set of The Fifth Element. Flowing trench coats are stained with uber-saturated pigments, while iridescent windbreakers feel as though they belong to a hiker from 2040, trekking a celestial terrain. Cartoonish hand-shaped bags reveal a playful, childlike spirit, joining bold one-sleeved quilted knits for folks who run hot and cold. Feng Chen Wang bears a subtle architectural undercurrent as its experimental silhouettes display a reverence to the cloth it cuts.

In 2022, Chen Wang also designed the uniforms for the Beijing Olympics’ flag bearers, illustrating her profound talent. The inimitable designer made her introduction to Paris Fashion Week for the Spring/Summer 2023 season, with a Nike collaboration hitting shelves shortly after.

House of Sunny

Known for creating 2020’s It dress—the swirly Hockney—House of Sunny lives up to its name, filling our wardrobes with dopamine-inducing knitwear. The independent London-based label was founded in 2011 by Sunny Williams, utilizing a slow fashion model. BlackPink’s Lisa, Emma Chamberlain, Dua Lipa and Kendall Jenner are just a few of the brand’s devoted fans, donning the label’s Day Tripper sweaters, coquettish cardigans and ‘90s-esque mesh tops. Its connection to its consumers is what makes House of Sunny so popular as the brand prides itself on catering directly to its audience. Williams isn’t shy about using Instagram to gain feedback, weaving shoppers’ tastes into his designs.

House of Sunny’s psychedelic aesthetic also mirrors its child of the earth ethos. The conscious label releases two collections a year and incorporates recycled and deadstock fabric as much as possible, presenting a thoughtful antithesis to a fast fashion industry that dares to create dupes. The brand’s sustainable approach also ensures that each piece finds a home as it produces lines in small quantities. House of Sunny is not only vegan as it abstains from animal materials, but even its garment bags are biodegradable.

JW Anderson

Jonathan Anderson has certainly made fashion more fun with his eponymous label, JW Anderson. His whimsical pigeon bags, clay molded hoodies, and amphibian Wellipets shoes infuse a playfulness and wonder into an often serious industry, inviting us to tap into our inner child’s imagination. While Anderson is no stranger to theatrics, his garments also possess a deeper sophistication. The brand’s more practical offerings enliven wardrobe staples as office-ready oxford shirts are reinvigorated with exaggerated draping and peplum hems, accompanying austere overcoats with quirky bubble sleeves. JW Anderson is undoubtedly made for fashion-loving, scissor-happy kids all grown up — emboldening essentials with the help of joyful tailoring.

Anderson initially set out for a career in acting when a brush with costume design sparked his interest in fashion. Anderson graduated from the London College of Fashion in 2005 before getting his feet wet as a visual merchandiser at Prada, working for Manuela Pavesi. In 2008, the Northern Irish designer founded JW Anderson, focusing on menswear to start, eventually shifting his focus to womenswear in 2010. His definitively original style earned him the appointment of creative director at Loewe in 2013, as well as British Designer of the Year for Womenswear in 2017.

Peachy Den

Designed for the teenage girls in their 20s and 30s, Isabelle Weatherby’s Peachy Den is the British It girl brand. Launched in 2019, Weatherby quickly made her way to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, illustrating the label’s instant cult status. Worn by the likes of Bella Hadid and Olivia Rodrigo, Peachy Den was created out of a need to fill the blank spaces in Weatherby’s own closet. The brand’s trademark items are its plaid micro mini skirts, cropped sweaters and eye-catching velvet jumpsuits, generating fresh staples for the cool girls on the go.

Peachy Den’s roots are present throughout its offerings as its pieces are made with every woman in mind. The woman-only team tests each garment, ensuring its clothing can fit a variety of shapes and sizes. The brand also proves that you don’t have to sacrifice style for sustainability as over 60% of its clothing are crafted from certified sustainable materials, while the rest are derived from deadstock textiles.

self-portrait

Founded in 2013 by creative director Han Chong, self-portrait is made with women of the world in mind. Drawing from his Malaysian background, alongside London’s refined sensibility, the brand offers sophisticated yet refreshing garments, appealing to elegant women who still know how to have fun. self-portrait’s accessible price points make it a fan-favorite as luxury becomes an achievable aspiration in Chong’s world. “Beauty shouldn’t be an option for the privileged few.”

Since its speedy rise to the top of the contemporary luxury world, self-portrait has collaborated with the likes of Gigi Hadid for its Fall/Winter 2023 collection. The brand imagined the model as a modern-day Eloise in Paris, dressing the model in a shimmering gold two-piece set, as well as a prim and proper ivory tweed skirt suit. self-portrait also tapped fellow model Emily Ratajkowski for its Resort 2024 line and the debut of its kids’ collection, extending self-portrait’s offerings to the chicest children.

Wales Bonner

Grace Wales Bonner is a force to be reckoned with, as her eponymous brand has quickly become a household name. Initially launched as a menswear brand in 2014, the Central Saint Martins graduate expanded her inventive designs into womenswear shortly after. Marrying an African diasporic history with European heritage, Wales Bonner breaks boundaries in fashion, creating a category that is uniquely its own. Athleisure-inspired polo and jersey tees, as well as cozy varsity jackets boasting the label’s crown-like emblem sit comfortably alongside raffia fringe trousers and heavily patterned tracksuits.

Flirting with both luxury and streetwear aesthetics, Wales Bonner easily moves from the runway to the sidewalk and back again. Grace Wales Bonner’s excellence has not gone unrecognized as she has won countless accolades, such as the LVMH Young Designer Prize in 2016, the British Fashion Council/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund in 2019 and the Independent British Brand at the Fashion Awards in 2022.

Related: A Look Back at Kate Middleton's Style Through the Years

For more InStyle news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on InStyle.