THE NEW WAVE OF MOTHER DAUGHTER FASHION BRANDS

Mother daughter duos are currently taking the fashion world by storm, creating timeless and quality pieces which fuse two generations of artistry and style. From Belgium to Byron Bay, here are three of our favourites. 

BERNADETTE

Following her graduation from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Charlotte de Geyter worked in Simone Rocha’s design studio in London. With another job offer in Milan, Charlotte took what could have been seen as an unusual choice – she called her Mum, Bernadette, a former buyer at Ralph Lauren. She asked; could they start their own brand instead?

It was this phone call that led to the creation of BERNADETTE, a luxury ready-to-wear label based in Antwerp, Belgium. Their collections are defined by easy-to-wear silk dresses and refreshing prints, designed exclusively in-house.

The brand is currently celebrating a hugely successful first season on Net-a-Porter and will soon be available in Browns and Selfridges.

Bernadette told the Telegraph: “I was always into fashion, so I was always busy mixing and matching different styles. I have four older brothers, so from a very young age I took their coats and put them with a feminine dress – I like the combination of them. We always had an idea to do something together but Charlotte went to London after graduating – for an internship at Simone Rocha, and after six months she called me and said, ‘mum, I think I’m ready to do something together’.”

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MAISONCLÉO

Following the launch of their puff sleeved blouse which became Instagram famous overnight, couture brand MaisonCléo is the name on every fashion editors’ lips.  Run by mother and daughter duo Marie and Cléo Dewet, every piece is handmade to measure in Cléo’s atelier in the north of France.

But this is not your usual high fashion brand. MaisonCléo holds sustainability as one of its most important values, preferring the concept of slow fashion over the fast fashion of today. Each item is made from leftover fabric from Couture House and other high fashion companies. 

This unique approach means that items are only available for a limited time (until fabric runs out). And, rather than launching collections as per the fashion industry standards, the mother daughter brand launches items according to seasons and desires.

The family business runs deeper than just one generation too. All pieces have a name that refers to women in the Dewet family, a celebration of those that came before them and began the family art of fashion. 

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HOPE & MAY

Hope & May, based in Byron Bay, Australia, was founded in 2007 by owner and director Melinda Maguire whilst living abroad in Asia. Inspired by international cultures, design and style, Melinda sourced and designed the concept that would form the vision and signature style behind the brand.

The concept name is derived from the middle names of Melinda’s daughters – Tahlia and Kobi,  who have been involved in sourcing and designing from a young age.

From childhood, the girls travelled with Melinda sourcing on international buying trips, visiting manufacturers in villages and designing unique pieces which are now the foundation of the company.

The launch of Hope & May’s flagship Byron store in 2010 led to the growth of the brand, and the company launched its second store in Bondi Beach, Australia in 2017. Hope & May now also sells online. The brand’s aesthetic is a unique mix of the family’s Byron Bay lifestyle and international travels. 

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