Luella Bartley facts for kids

Luella Dayrell Bartley is a well-known English fashion designer. She was born in 1974. Before becoming a designer, she worked as a journalist and an editor for fashion magazines. Luella Bartley is famous for her unique and fun designs.

Luella Bartley's Early Life and Career

Luella Bartley first studied at the Warwickshire School of Arts. Later, she went to the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. This college is famous for teaching art and design.

Starting Her Own Fashion Brand

In 1999, Luella started her very own fashion brand called "Luella." Her first collection was named "Daddy, I want a Pony." She showed these designs at a friend's apartment. Just one year later, she won the "Britain's Young Designer of the Year" award.

Her Unique Design Style

Luella's designs are often inspired by British music, especially punk rock. Her clothes are known for being quirky and having a distinct English style. In February 2000, she showed her designs at London Fashion Week for the first time. This show was called "Daddy, who were the Clash?"

Major Successes and Collaborations

In 2002, Luella Bartley designed a special bag called the "Gisele" bag. This bag was part of her "Luella for Mulberry" collection. It became very popular and helped the Mulberry brand become successful again.

Global Partnerships

Because of the "Gisele" bag's success, a company called Club21 invested in Luella's brand. This allowed her to sell her ready-to-wear clothes and accessories all over the world. In 2006, she also launched a special clothing line for Target's "Go International" collection.

Showcasing Her Work

Luella has shown her designs many times at London Fashion Week. After living in New York and Milan for several years, she returned to London in 2007. That same week, she opened her first store in London on Brook Street.

Awards and Recognition

In 2008, Luella Bartley created a special collection of bags called "Friends of Luella" in Hong Kong. Later that year, the British Fashion Council named her 'Designer of the Year'. She had been nominated for this award for two years in a row.

International Acclaim

In January 2009, Luella was also named 'International Designer of the Year' by Elle Sweden magazine. These awards showed how much her work was admired around the world.

Famous People Wearing Her Designs

Many famous people have worn Luella Bartley's designs. These include actresses like Gwyneth Paltrow, Sienna Miller, and Keira Knightley. Singers like Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse have also worn her clothes. Even Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have worn her designs.

Later Career and Current Work

In 2010, Luella Bartley was given a special honor. She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This award recognizes her important contributions to fashion.

Today, Luella Bartley works as a celebrated artist. Her art is currently shown at the Kristin Hjellegjerdw gallery in London.