Who started it? British brand Horace was started by friends Adam Entwisle and Emma Hales. Entwisle graduated with an MA in women's wear from Central St Martins College of Art and Design in 1999, while Hales earned a BA in women's wear from the Surrey Institute in 1997. The pair met during their school days and began collaborating with stylists and editors. Entwisle launched his own label before moving to Bali, where Hales soon joined him and together they created hip London label Buddhist Punk. In 2001 they launched the more underground Horace. With a design studio in Bali and one in London, the brand has a strong following among people such as Scarlett Johansson, Agyness Deyn and Juliette Lewis. Horace officially started showing during London Fashion Week last year.
Why we love it: this subversive, unisex line is anything but boring. The designers prefer not to have a theme or concept every season and instead rework what they already have, focusing on artwork and prints (often inspired by Bali), while reinterpreting archive pieces in new fabrications, print techniques and detailing. The pieces look worn in - thanks to distressing and colour fading - but they have a cool streetwear edge with an extra dark and gothic vibe thrown in.
For spring/summer, the designers imagined a tribe of the future living in the heat of the desert. Expect elements of traditional Arab dress, such as loose tunics and head cloths, modernised in loose hand knits and chiffons. Applied patchwork and over dyeing add a native feel to the fabrication, complimented with fine leather tailoring, to add a clean modern edge.
What we'd pick: the leather draped jacket (left, HK$4,200) and the crochet and jersey dress (far left, HK$2,100).
Where can you get it? Horace is available at DMop, 11 On Lan Street, Central, tel: 2840 0822 and Little Black Dress, 61 Wellington Street, Central, tel: 2147 3218.