Member Article

New Start-up Collective Takes Over PopUp King's Road

A new group of start-up fashion, accessory and home-ware businesses have moved into PopUp King’s Roadas the store offers space to yet more British-based entrepreneurs.

The shop is part of PopUp Britain, the retail arm of national enterprise campaign StartUp Britain. Its King’s Road store gives new British online businesses a low-cost route to the high street to test their products and get feedback from customers.

The ten new businesses include swimwear pioneers Varley, London, hand-made fashion from Kristina Goes West, interchangeable sandals from Slinks, tasteful London souvenirs from The London Company and hand-made handbags from #IJ. Pawsie offers an unusual range of dog onesies.

PopUp Britain co-founder Emma Jones said: “There are some incredible up-and-coming British fashion brands out there looking for a chance to get to the next level. Getting a balance between online and experience in bricks and mortar is an essential part of achieving growth.

“We know the first group in the shop have not only achieved sales that far outweighed their rent, some have also found investors, grabbed the attention of the press and tested out price points, products and colourways.”

The shop is set to be open for 12 months, giving ten retail entrepreneurs the chance to pop-up for two weeks, co-working and co-funding the space. PopUp Britain also has a shop in Victoria and is about to launch another new outlet in Camberley.

A pilot store in Richmond gave more than 60 entrepreneurs access to the high street in five months via an empty estate agent’s high street shop.

Brands popping up:

VARLEY LONDON

Swimwear and beachware designer Varley is run by Lara Parkin and Ben Mead. Varley’s collection is careful to maintain a seductive combination of glamour and ease. The pair’s design philosophy ignores trends but instead places a sharp focus on clean lines and colour palettes that both enhance and flatter. http://www.varley.com/

KRISTINA GOES WEST

Handmade Nordic and Baltic fashion brand Kristina Goes West was recognised at the London Fashion Weekend in 2012. Its collection includes hand-picked womenswear, shoes and accessories from the Spring / Summer 2013 collections of fourteen selected designers.http://www.kristinagoeswest.com/

SLINKS

Slinks is a devilishly clever range of interchangeable sandals created by London based designer Jane Rafter. The sandals are made up of a base, with three attachment points, that can then be combined with a choice of uppers from the collection. The elegant uppers are available in a large range of colours and styles to complement any outfit and are secured to the base with poppers. Jane turned down an offer of investment on Dragons Den in 2009 after deciding to go it alone. http://www.slinks.com/

DIELLE

It’s all about beautiful nails. The Dielle premium lacquer label is the brainchild of designer Rosalie Audoin. Without all the nasty chemicals – her unique collection offers a range of classic colours that defy high fashion trends with their effortless style. http://www.dielle.co.uk/

DASSIE

Eco-friendly home ware and gifts company Dassie, imports handmade products from developing countries, celebrating individualism while being kind to the earth. http://www.dassie.co.uk/

RAINWAVE

Friends and mums Julia Wonke and Katy Isaacs set up rain-proof poncho company RainWave after a soggy holiday in a caravan. They craved style and elegance and instead got foldaway cagoules. So they reinvented them by creating tailored, pretty ponchos and made the brave step to start-up an online business. Since then Fearne Cotton, former Radio 1 DJ has bought one, and so has Biba founder Barbara Hulanicki. The tasteful designs brighten up the darkest, wettest days, and slip effortlessly over your favourite jacket, or pretty dress, without so much as batting a fashionable eyelid. Perfect for festivals in the British summertime! http://rain-wave.com/

PAWSIE

Sarah Neely founded Pawsie, a retailer of onesies for dogs, in early 2013. Pawsie’s onesies are cosy and versatile, equally good for snuggling on the sofa as for walks in the park. They come in 10 styles, fitting all sizes of dog up to a Cocker Spaniel and are brilliant gifts, novelty items or fancy dress outfits. http://www.pawsie.co.uk/

THE LONDON COMPANY

The London Company was founded by David McLagan in 2008. Why? He’s always been frustrated by the fact that London souvenirs, by and large, are rubbish. He said: “The same crappy ornaments; the same tiresome t-shirts; the same 20 year old postcards. Nothing original, nothing quirky, nothing stylish.

“Enough,” he said! “It’s about time someone created some stylish and affordable mementos of the coolest city in the world.” So he did! http://thelondoncompany.net/

COUTH

Couth is a London-based eyewear company. The business was founded on very simple ideas – the finest quality, classically crafted, design-focused eyewear at a fair price point. Couth offers an alternative to the bland and overpriced eyewear available today.

#IJ

Indre Jakumaite got so bored with her 9 to 5 job in HR, she packed up her desk and walked out. Two months later she set up accessories brand #IJ working from home. She now runs a small team working out of a South London studio. Indre designs and makes all the handbags from lovely leather and felt. They re available online on #IJ website: http://www.hashtagij.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Liz Slee .