Preen by Thornton Bregazzi

Preen

By Thornton Bregazzi

Me at London Fashion Weekend 

On Thursday 22^nd of September, I attended the first day of Fashion Weekend at the Saatchi gallery in Chelsea, which draws together all the best bits of British fashion and London Fashion Week, into one place for 4 days. The gallery is an impeccable space, for one to fully immerse oneself into the credible world of the fashion industry. London Fashion Weekend is the only consumer event in which anyone can see behind the closed doors, giving you the opportunity to become up close and personal with designer’s and brands.

The gallery’s rooms were filled with discounted designer brands; clothes perfectly presented alongside smaller start up brands presenting their product in vibrant, eye-catching ways. I also got to go to an industry talk and listen to professionals in the field discuss how social media and affiliate marketing are changing the face of fashion, making it a much quicker and more accessible industry.

However the most exciting moment was definitely sitting within an audience of a catwalk show and seeing ‘Preen by Thornton Bregazzi’ Autumn 16 collection in the flesh and being fully immersed by the music and models. Thornton Bregazzi celebrates 20 years in the business this year and I felt very lucky to see their work at this pinnacle time!

Justin Thornton & Thea Bregazzi 

Thornton Bregazzi’s AW16 collection as seen in the photographs included, encompasses their experimental Victoriana-esque style with soft feminine details like lace, floral and bold pink shades mixing with harder masculine materials and patterns with tartans, velvets and darker tones. The show made quite a statement in its women’s line, which fits perfectly into London’s Fashion scene.  For the city, as Bregazzi states, ‘is never frightened of change, we love the new and exciting. We are also not afraid to fail or experiment. There is an art in pushing boundaries and turning things on their head, it’s just the heritage as a city’.

My image of one of Preen’s looks channeling the ‘Pink Aesthetic’ at London Fashion Weekend

Preen was originally founded in 1996 by Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi, today they are a couple with two young children and own one of the most prominent fashion businesses in London based in a converted chapel in Notting Hill. Meeting on an art foundation at 18 years old on the Isle of Man the sparkling lights and couture of the fashion industry must have felt like an unreachable world, with both designers aspiring for other futures; Thornton a writer and Bregazzi a painter. Fashion just wasn’t something they considered or fixated on as access into this field was limited. Bregazzi previously stated that what first introduced the pair to the world was watching Jeff Banks and Caryn Franklin on The Clothes Show which drew them together in their shared interest. After separating for university, they reunited in London as a couple and opened their own store on the famous Portobello road in 1996.

In Autumn 2000 they debuted their Spring/Summer line for 2001 on the catwalk, presenting for the first time their Victoriana style of tough and feminine details intertwined. The people went mad for the punkish elements against that of vintage lace, classing it as a ‘sartorial traditional clash’ and very ‘British sense of tongue and cheek chic’. This modernist way of styling conservative pieces mixed with grunge was taken very well by celebrities such as Carry Mulligan and Cate Blanchett, appearing on the red carpet in outfits coined as ‘pretty punk’.

Images of Preen by Thornton Bregazzi AW16, London Fashion Week February 2016

With this success in England they moved to New York in 2007 to expand their collection and ideas further and by 2008 their name became a regular and much-awaited designer brand on the New York Fashion Week calendar. Their presence augmented both their global exposure and sales, truly putting Preen by Thornton Bregazzi on the fashion map with their consistent focus on edgy and effortless everyday looks. They moved back to London for SS13 receiving great appreciation on their return and have been elevating in status ever since. As Bregazzi states, ‘London has an energy and attitude that is unconventional and experimental that is inspirational for us’.

Backstage at Preen by Thornton Bregazzi AW16, London

Much has changed since their small beginnings on London’s Portobello road with designing 6 women’s wear collections a year and selling in over 24 countries across the world. Their style, described as ‘deconstructed chic’, has been seen on high profile women including, The Duchess of Cambridge, Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyonce and Rihanna. The couples’ inspiration stems from the 21^st century woman, as Bregazzi states, ‘ we know so many successful modern women who live incredibly busy lives and they inspire us to design what they need, that just thrown on effortless ready to go dress, the school run sweater, a great coat and something a little sexy to party in’.

Images of Preen by Thornton Bregazzi AW16, London Fashion Week February 2016

Thornton and Bregazzi both agree that it has taken a lot of work and as they quote, ‘bloody determination’ and ‘Northern grit’, to get where they are today. Though as the late, Lee Alexander McQueen stated, ‘love what you do, don’t try to fit in and keep on doing it your own way’. The successful pair advises young hopeful designers to not take designing lightly and to truly immerse oneself in the trade. One’s heart must be 100% invested, for it will become your world. Be prepared to, ‘be adaptable and embrace the new, without ever losing sight of your own handwriting’.

Eleanor x