Priya Ahluwalia, who graduated from the Menswear MA course, is collaborating with Mulberry as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations.
Mulberry is collaborating with three contemporary designers, graduate Priya Ahluwalia, Richard Malone and Nicholas Daley, who the heritage brand described as the “most visionary designers of their generation” in an article with Fashion United, to celebrate their 50th anniversary.
Each designer will create a capsule collection, a small collection of garments designed to be worn together, as part of its Mulberry Editions. Their collections will be limited-edition and will drop throughout 2021, with Ahluwalia’s being the first to launch in June.
The three designers will merge their unique design ethos with Mulberry’s British craftsmanship, made-to-last design, responsible innovation and community spirit values. Sustainability is also a key part of each collaboration, with each designer exploring what luxury sustainable craft can mean in the 21st century, with an emphasis on low impact manufacturing, innovative sourcing and product circularity.
Ahluwalia’s namesake menswear brand launched in 2018 and draws inspiration from her Indian-Nigerian heritage by repurposing vintage materials in factories that employ rural women and pay them fairly. She has shown at London Fashion Week Men’s since 2018 and is part of the British Fashion Council’s NEWGEN scheme.
Talking about the designers in an interview with Fashion United, a spokesperson for Mulberry said: “Ahluwalia, Malone and Daley are distinct, powerful voices within contemporary British culture. We are honoured to be working with them, and excited to introduce their capsules to a global audience this year.”
Chief executive of Mulberry, Thierry Andretta, added: “I’m delighted that Mulberry is collaborating with three such talented designers, each with their own innovative design ethos and unique creative voice. It has been a pleasure to work with each of them, and to share Mulberry’s passion for innovation, craft and sustainability.”
Talking about Ahluwalia’s achievement, Professor Andrew Groves, Professor of Fashion Design at the University of Westminster said: “We teach our fashion students at Westminster not only to develop their own distinct aesthetic but also to understand how to successfully collaborate with other brands and the mutual benefits that can result. So it's terrific to see such an exciting collaboration between Mulberry and Ahluwalia to commemorate Mulberry's 50th anniversary.”
Learn about Fashion courses offered at the University of Westminster.
