Esprit collaborates with Royal College of Art

Esprit, clothing retailer, was founded by duo Susie

Buell Tompkins and Doug Tompkins, about 40 years ago, from the back of their automobile in San Francisco.
 
Today the brand has taken a big leap forward with a relaunch and now a collaboration with the Royal college of Art to support and develop emerging design talent. Entitled 'Esprit RCA Limited Edition,' the house approached the RCA with the idea to launch a two year design collaboration to create a capsule collection, incorporating sustainable fashion design, with 22 of this year's graduates.
Three students from the competition were chosen as winners and their designs were re-worked by Esprit's in-house design team ready to hit the shop-floor.

These include: Victoria Hill,  who designed large-scale knits using massive knitting needles, and un-spun and un-dyed Merino wool, with one sweater including bobbles the size of golf balls. Her work was reinterpreted by Esprit into chunky sweater dresses and waistcoats, as well as fine-gauge colour-block pieces.

Whilst Katie Hildebrand, designed big white angora sweaters and boyfriend jumpers, alongside a floral digital print for chiffon and georgette dresses and palazzo pants.  And Amélie Marciasini raided the Esprit colour swatch archive and dip-dyed different wools and denim with bold colours. Esprit translated her designs into colourful draped jersey tops, dresses in angora and jeans with contrast turn-ups.

The following UK stores will stock the range:- Regent Street, London, W1; Kensington High Street, W8; Oxford Street, W1; Westfield, W12 and Westfield Stratford City, E20.