Fashion / independent designers
Introducing five indie fashion brands for 2019
Bristol is overflowing with talent and the fashion scene is booming. From festival fashion pros, jewellery designers, printmakers to fashion newbies, we are never short on inspiring designers.
Meet five Bristol brands and designers that are getting themselves noticed as ones to watch in 201:
Hidden Temple Clothing
is needed now More than ever
Hidden Temple’s Sam Witts is no stranger to the Bristol fashion scene, established as a small t-shirt brand back in 2015, the business grew into a commercial screen-printing business and clothing brand, now based in the creative quarter at Two’s Company Studios on Old Market.
Hidden Temple started off as a small t-shirt brand in 2015
“I’ve always designed t-shirts and predominantly male clothing,” says Sam.
“I wanted to do more women’s items as the brand has always had a great reception from a female audience. I recently bought a dye sublimation printer for the business, which allows me to print full colour images and designs onto fabric.
“I then had a light bulb moment to print my own fabric and create a women’s swimwear collection I’ve always created repeat patterns since studying print at uni but never had a solid way of printing them onto clothing – until now.”
The Hidden Temple swimwear collection launches in Spring this year.
Inspired by eastern cultures and imagery, Sam has created a range of t-shirts, beanies, windbreakers and hoodies and will be launching the swimwear collection this spring.
With a pop-up shop at Alex Does Coffee at Two’s Company Studio throughout April, a successful screen-printing business and a new swimwear collection on the horizon, Hidden Temple are definitely one to watch this year.
Prices range from £15 for a beanie to £45 for a hoodie.
Unisex Hidden Temple Windbreaker jackets from £35
BangBangCrash
Based at Estate of the Arts in Bedminster, Jo-Jo Robinson creates bright and fun festival fashion pieces, ethically handmade in Bristol. Born out of a need to create fun clothes for grown-ups back in 2011 BangBangCrash is now well known on the Bristol festival fashion circuit, mixing streetwear with festival styles.
With low impact production methods making Jo-Jo a big supporter of ethical and sustainable fashion, BangBangCrash use an eco-lycra that is made from recycled fishing nets to create a range of leggings, bodysuits and catsuits.
The amazing BangBangCrash dungarees from £75 (Left) and the super sparkly Rainbow Sequin Hoodie £85 (right) both ethically handmade in Bristol.
The brand also offers an amazing made-to-order service, where you can pick your own African prints to create a unique pair of reversible dungarees or trousers, cutting down on throwaway fashion by only making on demand, whilst creating quality garms, that are built to last and are fun too.
Prices range from £20 for leggings to £135 for the fun-filled, reversible dungarees.
The Love Bug festival leotard £65 (left) and the vibrant Sunflower catsuit £60 (right) both by BangBangCrash
Kashaya Makes
Illustrator and art student Kashaya Mathews started up her own handmade jewellery brand Kashaya Makes alongside studying for her final year at UWE Bristol.
Creating contemporary, bright coloured, bold hoop earrings that come in a range of fluffy textures, Kashaya’s creations have that ‘more is more’ Bristol factor.
“I always loved earrings and have been into craft and making things, so being an art student with not much money, I decided to start making my own fluffy, funky statement earrings,” says Kashaya.
“I started off by threading different bright, colourful pom poms on a pair of hoops and got so many compliments by passers-by and friends that I felt inspired to take it further.”
Fun, fluffy hoops by Kashaya Makes
With plans to open online shops with both etsy and depop this year, Kashaya’s super-cute earrings are currently available on the Kashaya Makes Instagram where you have the option to choose your own colours and sizes, to create a bespoke pair of statement earrings for as little as £4 a pop.
Get your own custom-made Kashaya Makes earrings handmade in Bristol.
High Jinx Clothing
Mixing luxe lycra couture with plush faux furs and fabulous sequinned pieces, High Jinx Clothing are a mother and daughter team with a background in costume design.
Phoebe Jenkins and her mum, Cath, founded High Jinx Clothing in 2017 after recognising the love and high demand for festival fashion. Cath Jenkins already had a solid reputation as a lycra-based costume designer on the circus and performance scene, Phoebe then teamed up with her mum to create the High Jinx brand.
The Fushia Fire faux fur coat £260 (left) and the Black Panther catsuit £115 (right) both handmade by festival fashionistas High Jinx Clothing.
Working from the paradise of their purpose-built sewing-shed at the bottom of the garden in Easton, these festival fashionistas create their range of tailored luxury catsuits and unitards, super colourful faux fur jackets and G.L.O.W style sparkly sports tops and high waist short co-ords.
Perfect for lady wrestlers and festival fashionistas alike. Prices ranging from £50 for a co-ord to £260 for those amazing faux furs.
These corset cut sequin playsuits £95 by High Jinx Clothing are cut to accentuate your booty and lengthen your legs!
Find High Jinx Clothing at PreFest in Bristol and at festivals including Glastonbury and Shambala over the summer.
286 Clothing
Brand new on the block, it’s 286 Clothing. Created from a desire to make the kind of clothes he wanted to wear, 286 designer Danny Osborne runs his independent fashion brand from his flat in St Paul’s.
The capsule collection consists of strong, yet minimal, two-tone t-shirts with monochrome cut panels, made from organic cotton jersey.
A stark contrast to colourful festival style, but sitting in comfortably with Bristol’s love of streetwear and sustainability. The 286 Clothing organic t-shirts are priced at £65 each.
These minimal, graphic t-shirts £65 by fashion newbie 286 Clothing are a welcome contrast to Bristol’s festival fashion brights.
“My aim is to make clothes that are high quality, fit really well, and look unique,” says Danny.
“I like the minimal, graphic look, which is reflected in my designs. It’s also important that everything is made as ethically and sustainably as possible. There are some other cool, local brands like Brothers We Stand and Ottowin that share a similar ethos.
“Bristol in general is a very green city with a community of people who care about these issues, so it’s a good place to be.”
Read our fashion editor Emma’s blog No Debutante
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