The one-time journalist and fashion editor of British Vogue Luella Bartley was perfectly placed in terms of knowing what cool girls wanted to wear when she launched her eponymous fashion label "Luella" in 1999.
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But as is often the case what goes up must come down. In the early noughties the support that new designers receive was far more scant, and Luella's business, despite the support of a Singaporean investor, floundered. Fashion fans mourned when it was announced in November 2009 that the business had ceased trading. Finding some of Luella's final collection languishing on a rail in a TK Maxx basement was emotional, the business had been folded, it's assets sold off and the rumoured rescue of the brand by faceless money-men was never going to materialise. End of an Era.
Until this week that is. The news is that Luella Bartley has made her long-awaited return to fashion! The designer has joined fellow Brit, and former colleague at Luella the label, Katie Hillier at the helm of Marc by Marc Jacobs. Jacobs has for the first time handed over control of his eponymous label to this dream team.
With their particular skills for accessories the business is in fabulous hands. With Bartley credited with reviving the ailing Mulberry brand in 2002 through the instant success if the "Gisele" bag she designed from the best selling "Luella for Mulberry" collab and Hillier having a rake of awards under her belt including Accessory Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards 2009 I feel there may be a new focus in the pipeline at Marc. They are due to unveil their first designs for the brand for autumn/winter 2014-15. Press releases have advised us to expect an emphasis on quality, "interesting" capsule collections and and introduction of new product lines, I for one can barely contain my excitement.
