TOP OF THE WORLD

Jane Ellis of KJ’s Laundry on the boutique’s own-label collection of easy-to-wear tops

We were super excited to launch a small capsule collection a few seasons ago under our own label, KJ’s Laundry. The KJ’s Laundry line is an evolving, pared-back edit of wardrobe classics that have been inspired by our customers’ feedback over several years. After working in the store ourselves we know what our customers need in terms of fit and style, so it was a natural step to begin to produce our own garments – clothes that reflect the KJ’s Laundry vibe and our customers’ aesthetic.

The current range of easy-to-wear tops are nostalgia inspired and feature detailing that evokes the Edwardian era. Pretty pin tuck details, lace inserts and panels elevate each item to something more than the everyday. Pieces are subtly refined and tweaked over seasons to create wardrobe staples that transcend trends and are unseasonal.

The range has quickly become the most requested in-store so we are looking to expand it further in seasons to come. Currently in the works are trousers, dresses and several more tops. Working closely with print designers we develop prints that are exclusive to KJ’s Laundry, so far these have been nature-inspired florals, which have been very popular.

The range is produced in a small family-owned factory in India. We try to work as sustainably as possible in terms of production, packaging and delivery. We’re enjoying the process immensely and when the designs drop, it’s so rewarding to see our customers browsing the racks and picking out our own pieces to try on and buy. It’s always a particular thrill when they buy the same top in two or three colours!

KJ’S LAUNDRY

74 Marylebone Lane, W1U 2PW kjslaundry.com

MONC

Eyewear brand MONC has opened its first physical store, and – as with the products themselves – its design and construction emphasise both style and sustainability. Everything inside the shop can be reused, disassembled for recycling, or returned to the ground as nourishment, with fixtures and fittings created from bio acetate, cornstarch foam, mycelium and hemp.

MONC

21 Chiltern Street, W1U 7PH monclondon.com

Bloobloom

Bloobloom’s beautifully crafted range of spectacles and sunglasses come with a commitment to ethical production and complete transparency about the supply chain. And for every pair bought, another pair is donated to someone in need, a significant contribution in a world where 2.5 billion people still don’t have access to glasses.

BLOOBLOOM

27 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4PH bloobloom.com

The Edit

A SELECTION OF THE SEASON’S MOST COVETABLE BELTS

Umbrellas

Few images illustrate the British weather quite so succinctly as an umbrella turned inside out in its effort to battle both wind and rain. By the same token, few accessories are quite as sought-after as an umbrella that doesn’t do that. These manage not only to fit that brief, but to look stylish while doing so, with chic canopies and handles and a smooth, fluid opening that will leave you feeling almost – almost –glad it’s raining.

With a telescopic metal shaft and a handcrafted crook handle, this bright, light umbrella from London Undercover manages to save space without compromising on style or function. Its compact size and protective sleeve make it perfect for stowing in your bag for that inevitable moment when the weather turns.

No one could be relied upon more to make a stylish umbrella than the long-reigning monarch of understated British design. Here, a classic walker umbrella is given the inimitable Paul Smith makeover with a metal tip, the designer’s iconic multicoloured stripe around the canopy, and his embossed signature on the grained wooden handle.

3. MADE IN FRANCE UMBRELLA AGNÈS B, £245 agnesb.co.uk

There aren’t many people who could transform a product as British as the umbrella into something quintessentially French, but if anyone was going to manage, it’s agnès b. To create “an umbrella that represents French chic”, the designer collaborated with Maison Pierre Vaux, a family-run manufacturer of umbrellas and sunshades which dates back to 1920.

New & Lingwood

Founded in Eton in 1865 by a young couple, Elisabeth New and Samuel Lingwood, New & Lingwood is a brand steeped in heritage, but one that marries its history with an eye for relaxed contemporary British styles. The new Chiltern Street popup is devoted to New & Lingwood’s ever-growing loungewear collection, including dressing gowns and pyjamas.

NEW & LINGWOOD

14 Chiltern Street, W1U 7PY newandlingwood.com