I've heard of the brand name, Wolf and Badger, a few times when I am in London but I still haven't visited their Notting Hill store. Supporting new designers, they created a special "serviced retail" concept with letting store space to them and be their first platform for displaying and selling the collection. With the great success of the idea, Wolf and Badger just opened a new store at Dover Street for giving a brand new opportunity to the up-comers. The new store carry best sellers from the Lab (the Notting Hill store) and some ones to watch designers who base in London. I am super excited to see some of my favourite designers there so I invited the co-founder of the store, Mr Henry Graham to share the whole idea of Wolf and Badger.
Why is the brand called Wolf & Badger?
My brother George and I, have tattoos of a Wolf and a Badger.
How did the “serviced retail” idea come up?
It was born from necessity. We started the business during the recession when big stores weren't buying smaller luxury brands, and created a serviced retail offering that enabled brands and designers to showcase and sell their own collections direct to the consumer.
How does the Lab work? Do you have any standard for the brands which would like to join Wolf & Badger?
The designers pay a small monthly fee and receive 90% of money from any sales. We select the designers based on three criteria: i) Quality of manufacture, ii) Avant-garde design, iii) Commerciality
Why do you choose Dover Street as the new store address?
It is in a prime central London location and near lots of other cool retailers, whom we greatly admire.
What is the inspiration behind the new store design?
We were influenced by the history of the building which is an 18th century town house, as well as referencing the monochromatic minimalism we are known for in our other stores in Notting Hill and Montenegro .
Is there any reason of selecting those designers for the new store?
They all have a strong and innovative design aesthetic and are up and coming, and not too established. They are all on their way to becoming the next big thing in British fashion, product or jewellery design.
Besides the designers in store, are there any other designers we should keep our eyes on?
London is full of great designers, particularly thouse coming out of the big design schools like the the RCA and Central Saint Martins. I watch the graduates from these schools closely.
I know you got a very great gallery space in the store, is there any exhibition holding very soon?
We have lots of great contemporary art exhibitions showing over the coming months as well as an unusual pop-up bar concept during the summer.
It was born from necessity. We started the business during the recession when big stores weren't buying smaller luxury brands, and created a serviced retail offering that enabled brands and designers to showcase and sell their own collections direct to the consumer.
How does the Lab work? Do you have any standard for the brands which would like to join Wolf & Badger?
The designers pay a small monthly fee and receive 90% of money from any sales. We select the designers based on three criteria: i) Quality of manufacture, ii) Avant-garde design, iii) Commerciality
Why do you choose Dover Street as the new store address?
It is in a prime central London location and near lots of other cool retailers, whom we greatly admire.
What is the inspiration behind the new store design?
We were influenced by the history of the building which is an 18th century town house, as well as referencing the monochromatic minimalism we are known for in our other stores in Notting Hill and Montenegro .
Is there any reason of selecting those designers for the new store?
They all have a strong and innovative design aesthetic and are up and coming, and not too established. They are all on their way to becoming the next big thing in British fashion, product or jewellery design.
Besides the designers in store, are there any other designers we should keep our eyes on?
London is full of great designers, particularly thouse coming out of the big design schools like the the RCA and Central Saint Martins. I watch the graduates from these schools closely.
I know you got a very great gallery space in the store, is there any exhibition holding very soon?
We have lots of great contemporary art exhibitions showing over the coming months as well as an unusual pop-up bar concept during the summer.
Beside the well-known Mark Fast, the new dover street store also stocks my favourite Georgia Hardinge and the minimalist J.JS Lee. I am quite surprised to see T.lipop's suits in store but I wish they had the pattern shirt in this season. Lou Dalton and Baartmans and Siegel are also someone we should keep our eyes on in store but the favourite part of the mens section are the cuff links! After the fashion shopping Don't forget to have a look of those lovely ceramic pieces! My favourite is the Jimbob art's one which was displayed at the entry. The reason for visiting Dover Street is not only the Dover Street Market now ;)
Wolf and Badger address: 32 Dover Street, London W1S 4NE
To know more about Wolf and Badger, please visit their webstie
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