Esprit, clothing retailer, was founded by duo Susie Buell Tompkins and Doug Tompkins, about 40 years ago, from the back of their automobile in San Francisco.
Today the brand has taken a big leap forward with a relaunch and now a collaboration with the Royal college of Art to support and develop emerging design talent. Entitled 'Esprit RCA Limited Edition,' the house approached the RCA with the idea to launch a two year design collaboration to create a capsule collection, incorporating sustainable fashion design, with 22 of this year's graduates.
Three students from the competition were chosen as winners and their designs were re-worked by Esprit's in-house design team ready to hit the shop-floor.
These include: Victoria Hill, who designed large-scale knits using massive knitting needles, and un-spun and un-dyed Merino wool, with one sweater including bobbles the size of golf balls. Her work was reinterpreted by Esprit into chunky sweater dresses and waistcoats, as well as fine-gauge colour-block pieces.
Whilst Katie Hildebrand, designed big white angora sweaters and boyfriend jumpers, alongside a floral digital print for chiffon and georgette dresses and palazzo pants. And Amélie Marciasini raided the Esprit colour swatch archive and dip-dyed different wools and denim with bold colours. Esprit translated her designs into colourful draped jersey tops, dresses in angora and jeans with contrast turn-ups.
The following UK stores will stock the range:- Regent Street, London, W1; Kensington High Street, W8; Oxford Street, W1; Westfield, W12 and Westfield Stratford City, E20.
