British heritage brand Mulberry celebrates its 50th anniversary by collaborating with three visionary designers – Priya Ahluwalia, Richard Malone and Nicholas Daley – on eco-conscious capsule collections set to drop throughout 2021. Kicking off the first Mulberry Editions collection is London-based menswear designer Priya Ahluwalia.
Ahluwalia launched her eponymous label in 2018, after graduating from the MA Menswear course at The University of Westminster. She has since been recognised with awards including the LVMH Prize and the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design.
Mulberry x Ahluwalia reimagines the Portobello Tote – launched in 2019 as its first 100% sustainable leather bag- alongside a selection of vibrant organic 100% silk scarves.
Marking the young brand’s accessories debut, the collection is influenced by Ahluwalia’s fascination with hair as a means of identity, protest and expression. It draws on the designer’s mixed Nigerian-Indian heritage, for which hair holds such importance in both cultures. It celebrates the artistry, rituals and symbolism of Afro-Caribbean hair and Priya’s own personal narrative, which is brought to life through bold colour and striking motifs.
The bespoke ‘wave’ prints are inspired by the techniques of braided Black hair and are showcased in braid-inspired seam lines and patchwork details. 60s and 70s protest symbols of pride, such as the Afro comb and braided hair silhouettes, are also purposed into custom-made embroidered badges adorning some of the bags.
Ahluwalia’s take on the Portobello Tote is both futuristic and nostalgic, informed by art, music, literature, and culture across the African and Asian diasporas to create an intersection between near and far, and past and present. It also captures the current moment, reflecting this generation’s passion for upcycling with a nod to vintage. Luxurious calf leather and suede are patchworked in harmonious shades of deep amber, coral orange, palm green and burgundy.
The collection consists of four oversized Portobello Totes, five Portobello Totes and three Mini Portobello Totes – a new size created especially for the collaboration. There are also four 100% organic silk scarves that can be worn as a bandana or headscarf.
The Mulberry x Ahluwalia capsule is crafted in Mulberry’s carbon neutral Somerset Factories, using only repurposed fabrics and leathers that have been reworked for the capsule, aligning with Ahluwalia’s brand values of zero waste.
Speaking about the collaboration, Ahluwalia says: “Mulberry is a brand that I have memories of from childhood, ever since I used to borrow my Mum’s own Mulberry bag, so this was an opportunity to collaborate with a brand that is very meaningful to me. I haven’t yet had a chance to make accessories and I think with Mulberry x Ahluwalia, we’ve brought together our mutual values to create beautiful pieces that people can buy and cherish forever”.
The Mulberry x Ahluwalia capsule was unveiled during London Fashion Week as part of Ahluwalia’s Spring Summer ’22 and womenswear debut. Alongside an alluring campaign full of imagination and adventure, the collaboration is also accompanied by a powerful new film, Parts of Me, directed by BAFTA-nominated director Akinola Davies Jr. As an extension of the project, Ahluwalia and Mulberry have also collaborated on a second film, Tools of Expression, spotlighting three hair stories from cross-disciplinary talents in an intimate salon setting.
Deepening the collaborative message around pride and beauty in Black hair, Mulberry has added to its own policy and signed up to the Halo Code, a set of commitments focused on creating a future without race-based hair discrimination.
It’s promising to see Mulberry leading the way alongside luxury brands such as Chloé, Gucci, Burberry and Loewe committing to a more sustainable approach to fashion by reducing their carbon footprint, reworking surplus fabrics, refurbishing and reselling pre-loved accessories and ensuring ethical standards for all workers. I’m looking forward to seeing what they do next…
For more information and to shop the Mulberry x Ahluwalia collection, visit: www.mulberry.com
