John Smedley Launches Debut Lifestyle Collection, And Other Fashion News

Founded in 1784 in Derbyshire, John Smedley has a rich heritage (after all, it does hold two Royal Warrants), and has long been trading with Japan, having exported its knitted underwear in merino, cotton and silk over a century ago. Fun fact: Smedley was the original creator of long johns, and made a pair exclusively for the Emperor of Japan.

Now, celebrating 110 years of trade in Japan, John Smedley has launched its debut lifestyle collection to mark the occasion, and as such, it’s been designed with the brand’s Japanese retail partners. Expect a 10-piece unisex collection including tailoring, jackets and coats made in Japan, marking the first time its manufacturing has been outside its Derbyshire headquarters.

On the importance of Japan to the brand Jess Mcguire-Dudley, Deputy Managing Director, says, “John Smedley has been trading in Japan for over 110 years and it is our second largest market after the UK. For decades we have worked in partnership with our colleagues in Japan to understand their consumer and tailor our products both in design and fit to their market.” She continues, “This new collection is the reflection of this process with the pieces being crafted in Japan but tailored to our global consumer. In addition, historically the Japanese market has always been important too, with major milestones such as the creation of the silk, merino and cotton mix long johns for the Emperor of Japan in the 1900s being key within our archives.”

Tailoring the offering to this market, the Japanese customer is younger and more fashion-orientated than its European and North American counterparts, while being appreciative of its mix of legacy and innovation; on this, Jess says, “The silhouettes offer both a nod to the past with workman style details across jackets and traditional outerwear collar details pointing to the 1930s which was a key decade for John Smedley, and innovation across more contemporary unisex pieces that suit the new generation of demographics that are engaging with our brand worldwide. It’s a blend of a contemporary design lens that is forward thinking, yet respectful of the past.”

See more on johnsmedley.com.

Erdem opens a store in Seoul: Located within Shinsegae Gangnam, in Seoul’s Gangnam district, this is Erdem’s first store outside of London, and inspired by the city, he says, “Seoul is one of my favourite cities in the world and it’s an exciting step to have a new home in South Korea.”

This hew home, which was designed by London-based design architect P Joseph who’s also behind the look of the designer’s Mayfair flagship store, features familiar design codes and nods to the London outpost. Touchingly, there’s a folding screen that references a portrait of Erdem’s mother, by British artist Kaye Donachie, and the original oil painting hangs in the South Audley Street store.

British brand Rosa de la Cruz drops new pieces online: For fun, playful jewelry that you’ll want to wear always, head to Rosa de la Cruz. Lucky luckily for us, there have been some new additions of late, including the timeless ‘Double Wrap Mariner Link‘ bracelet (a style that dates back to the 1800s), the ‘I Love You‘ ring in yellow gold and diamonds, and classic hoops. Keep your eyes peeled for the bead line that’s incoming soon.

Dior launches its Caro Backpack: Move over Lady Dior (only joking, we love you LD), there’s a new bag in town, and it’s a special item, named after Christian Dior’s sister, Catherine a.k.a Caro. First unveiled as part of the Dior cruise 2025 collection the backpack it’s crafted in the Maison’s Italian workshop, and comes in a variety of shades, from black, powder beige and denim blue, and in small and medium sizes. In homage to Catherine, the style incorporates plenty of signature Dior codes too, cue the iconic Cannage motif and punctuated by the gold-tone “CD” initials.

Shop the ‘Manolo Silhouette’s’ edit: Calling all Manolo Blahnik fans, the ‘Manolo’s Silhouettes’ edit, which showcases quintessential Blahnik styles, is now available in-store and online. The curation of beloved styles include the Mary Jane (which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year), BB, Carolyne, and Maysale—all admired for their storied pasts, from royal and VIP wears, to starring in iconic campaigns.