Aspinal of London
As suggested by the name, Aspinal is a British institution. Epitomising classic, clean London chic, Aspinal bags are glamorous yet practical just like the capital’s women. It's no surprise that the brand is a permanent addition to the arms of royalty as Kate Middleton is a firm fan of the brand. In fact, a doll of the princess even came with a tiny toy Mayfair, a go-to bag that Kate’s regularly seen carrying in taupe or black. Whether it's on the arm of actual royalty, pop royalty like Taylor Swift or fashion royalty like Olivia Palermo; we swoon. With an ever-expanding range that now includes men's bags too, Aspinal perfectly between fashion and style, merging trends with timeless shapes. Take the mini trunk bag, for example, the brand’s take on the classic vintage suitcase is now updated to include all our favourite trends from snake-print to bold colours to total, shiny extravagance courtesy of the absolutely dreamy crystal bag. The epitome of lux, Aspinal bags are regal yet risk-taking, making them distinctly British.
Cambridge Satchel Company
No brand is more quintessentially British than the Cambridge Satchel Company. Inspired by traditional school bags, and originally aimed at school children, the brand is the true British dream. Born on a kitchen table in Cambridge as a way to afford better education for her children, founder Julie Deane’s bags became a fashion crowd must-have overnight. Beloved by Alexa Chung, Elle Fanning and Zoey Deschanel, the timeless satchel is totally customisable even down to embossed initials. Even Lady Gaga is a fan being spotted carrying two different CSC bags in one week. Gaga used the Mini Poppy and Cloud bags to promo her new album, embossing the front with the name Joanne in a strangely demure but suitably iconic move for the pop icon. With a range that covers everything from mini bags and clutches to weekend hold-alls, Julie's range has gone far beyond school bags but remains humble, still being crafted by hand in a factory in the midlands.
Paul Smith
You can’t get much more British than a knight. Paul Smith is a British household name, having opened his first store in 1973 and going on to dress icons like David Bowie, becoming an international fashion powerhouse. But despite his international success, the brand remains deeply and clearly British, infused with elements of classic British humour and playfulness. The Nottingham born designer is best known for taking pristine garments, shapes and tailoring, having been trained on Savile Row, and making them fun by injecting colour, pattern and nods to British culture. But even beyond the garment, Paul keeps his toes in the design of day-to-day British life, previously collaborating with his old primary school to design a school tie and pairing up with Penguin Classics to redesign the cover for the classic British novel Lady Chatterley's Lover. Paul Smith’s all-fun-no-fuss designs have been beloved since the beginning, gracing everyone from Grace Coddington and Led Zepplin, to John Legend and Chrissy Teigan. His bags perfectly summarise his brand; perfectly crafted practical pieces splashed with fun. Complete with rainbow swirls, classic minis and stripes, Paul Smith’s bag really are the best of British craft and personality.
Vivienne Westwood
We couldn't do a round-up of British brands without featuring Vivienne Westwood, a designer who tore up and rebuilt British fashion. Creating an entire countercultural movement that went on to define the 70s, the original punk is a cornerstone of the British fashion industry, still pioneering at 78. From her earliest collections, Vivienne Westwood has used British history and tradition as a reference point, putting a safety pin through the queen's lip and sending her models down the runway in crowns and corsets inspired by classic regality. Her orb logo sums it up perfectly; merging the traditional symbol of the British monarchy with modern exploration and technology, represented by the Saturn ring. Starting off dressing one of the most defining British bands in history, Sex Pistols, it's no surprise that Vivienne has an all-star following. Westwood’s designs are now beloved by superstars, models and it-girls, with Bella Hadid, Rihanna and Kate Moss all being big fans of the brand. Her broad and eclectic range of bags provides something from everything, from the classic to the controversial, but remains distinctly and definitely British throughout.
Ted Baker
Though it's now a huge global brand, Ted Baker began in a little shop in Glasgow as a shirting specialist. With its dedication to high quality paired with its quirky detailing, Ted Baker has never conformed to what's expected of a normal designer. Quickly dubbed ‘No Ordinary Designer Label’, Ted Baker has become one of the biggest British brands of recent years, evolving from shirts into a full-range fashion house, creating unique designs and campaigns that maintain the original humour of the company. The brand has become a British go-to, creating fun girly pieces that appeal to the personality just as much as the style. Beloved by celebs including Emma Stone and Little Mix’s Jade Thirwall, you can’t go wrong with some classic Ted.
Written by Lucy Harbron
