(Seoul, Korea - January 1,
2004) British
children's wear designer Emily
Henson's ultra-sophisticated
clothing label Spike & Ella is now
available at www.spikeandella.com.
Until now the line has been
available exclusively in the UK and
through custom ordering in the US.
Spike & Ella Clothing is a
fabulous blend of vintage styling and
modern edginess. Using new fabrics
and retro ideas, Henson designs
feminine clothing with a cheeky eclectic
style adored by wee girls and
their moms.
Spike & Ella's Spring/Summer 2004
collection draws on the style of
the 1940's and 1950's - two of Henson's
favorite eras for fashion - while
remaining thoroughly modern. It is
the expression of Henson's love for
retro glamour combined with the practical
needs of her own four-year old
daughter, Ella. Her inspiration for
this season has been the cheeky, feminine
style of Shirley Temple and the
girlish glamour of Audrey Hepburn.
The collection's chic pink and black palette
and its quirky sophistication are already
causing quite a stir.
Henson never designs with the
intention of following a trend. In
fact, it's more likely for her to create
one. When I design it's a totally
intuitive process says Henson. I don't pay much attention
to trends. I just go with what I
feel is a great look. Very often
I'll see similar themes the following
season in women's fashion, so I've
learned to trust my
instincts.
Henson has a gift for designing
original and memorable clothing,
but she also understands the need for it to
be wearable and practical. Since she
designs with daughter Ella in mind
- a girl who believes in wearing a
dress or skirt for all occasions, including a trip
to the playground or a puddle-splashing
walk - Henson uses only high
quality 100% cottons that are
machine-washable. In fact, each piece
becomes softer the more it's
washed, just like the antique hankies
and linens the designer collects and from
which she draws inspiration. Any
embellishments that might hinder
easy laundering - this season it's black
velvet and feather brooches - are always
removable. Dry-cleaning for kids -
even the fancy stuff - is not part
of the Spike & Ella philosophy.
Henson's keen eye for design doesn't
go unnoticed by her clientele. A
shop owner who stocks Spike & Ella
Clothing in England has had so much
interest in the line that she
quickly had to reorder in time for her
holiday customers, many of whom expressed
gratitude for finding
sophisticated, feminine girls' clothing
that tastefully mirrored the
vintage-inspired fashions they
were seeing for women.
Spike & Ella Clothing has also
caught the attention of a few
celebrities. When actress Rashida Jones was
looking for a gift for the five-year-old
daughter of family friend Sir Tim
Rice, she turned to Spike & Ella
for help. Another loyal fan is Susannah
Constantine, Britain's makeover
queen - a woman who really knows
fashion - who is said to be smitten with
the clothes.
Spike & Ella started out of
necessity in 1999 when Henson's
daughter Ella was born. She wanted cool
clothes for Ella that were a little bit
retro and a little bit modern.
Being a crafty gal she made them
herself, drawing inspiration from
childhood memories of her mom's
London antique clothing shop and adding
her own modern twist. The way she put a
look together was so unusual that
people started to ask questions
and Henson was soon filling orders for
friends and family. The rest, as
they say, is history. Henson and
her family have since traveled
extensively, allowing the designer
unique access to some of the world's most
amazing fabrics and an education in
fashion across the globe - factors
that contribute to the company's groundbreaking
style.
The line is available in sizes for
girls age 12 months to 5 years and
retails for $38-$120. To view the
collection please visit www.spikeandella.com.
For further information and for
wholesale inquiries please e-mail
Emily Henson at emily@spikeandella.com.