Britain is a hotbed of design talent. London’s fashion melting pot sees heritage brands like Mulberry, Aquascutum and Burberry rubbing shoulder with the new kids on the block, Zoe Jordan and Christopher Kane among others. With so many new faces jostling for attention, it can be difficult for brands to stand out, but each season a home-grown hero captures the eye of those in the know, propelling that brand to stratospheric heights. This year, that brand is Sophie Hulme.
If you haven’t heard of her, get used to the name; Sophie Hulme is a brand you’ll be hearing more of in 2013. After all, you’re not recognised by the British Fashion Awards as 2012’s Emerging Accessories Talent for nothing. Having shown her collection for the first time on schedule at London Fashion Week in 2012, Spring Summer ‘13 is looking promising for the young London-based designer.
The Sophie Hulme aesthetic is a collision of masculine and feminine influences, with a clear focus on clean lines and hardware detailing. The brand’s strong apparel offering is only eclipsed by the trademark leather tote bags that have earned a cult following in their own right. There’s a ‘no fuss’ element to Hulme’s designs, making them as appealing for their function as well as their style. For SS13, the iconic leather buckle tote bag is updated in a deep, electric blue, befitting the season’s top colour trend, in addition to the more traditional black leather.
The linear shapes and brass buckle features denote a hard edge to Sophie Hulme’s work, but don’t let that fool you into thinking there’s no heart in the design. At the very centre of Hulme’s philosophy is a sense of fun that manifests itself in gold plated charms, with a key player each season. A self-confessed habitual collector, Hulme’s obsession with adding to her hoard of trinkets provides a treasure trove of inspiration. AW12 was the time of the Dinosaur, with golden Tyrannosaurs and Triceratops kept in check only by the brass chains that hung from the necks of fashion editors and buyers alike. But for SS13 our prehistoric friends will be relics from another era as the exotic Pineapple takes centre stage, adorning each piece in the collections.
The timing of Sophie Hulme’s rising star is no coincidence. Fashion’s radar has moved away from the overt and ostentations, favouring timeless classics. There will always be a place for innovation in fashion, but this is seen more in details and techniques than in outrageous silhouettes. This is where Hulme excels, and if she keeps creating beautifully crafted, elegant pieces injected with her playful quirks, we will keep buying!
Author: Charlotte Rivington is a freelance writer and enjoys writing about fashion and sharing her experiences as she travels through the depths of the world, exposing her adventures whilst in search for her fashion inspiration. This winter she embraces the style in London Shoreditch boutiques.