Earlier this week we talked about 123 Bethnal Green, a concept store in East London, stocking the work of many sustainable fashion brands. Once more, The Green Stylist was invited to another fashionable location, this time in West London, for the opening of Henrietta Ludgate‘s first stand-alone boutique, within Whiteleys shopping centre. We think it’s great to see eco designers finally taking place right next to the major brands, in one of London’s most popular shopping destinations.

All pictures by Veronica Crespi

Henrietta is a talented Scottish designer, who’s already been a regular fixture at London Fashion Week for a few seasons, showing with Estethica. Her work has already graced a number of red carpets – Livia Firth is an enthusiast, and has worn Henrietta’s pieces a few times as part of her Green Carpet Challenge. Her minimalist pieces and signature structural designs have also granted her several accolades, from the Ethical Fashion Forum ‘Fashion Innovation Award’ to ‘Young Designer of the Year’ at the Scottish Fashion Awards, and only a couple of weeks ago she represented Scotland in the World Fashion Week in New York.

pictures courtesy of Henrietta Ludgate

Henrietta proudly shows her awards off next to her logo in the window of her first store, a welcoming space that will stock her entire collection. Developing a unique concept, the store has been aptly named Work-Shop, as it combines a high end boutique with a fully functional studio. The Work-Shop offers shoppers the chance to purchase ready-to-wear, but also order bespoke items, whilst being able to view artisans at work and take part in fashion workshops led by talented artists and designers.

all pictures by Veronica Crespi

Henrietta’s approach to sustainability is visible in the shop layout, to reflect the values she applies to the production of her collections. Henrietta has always exclusively used British fabrics in her designs and works with smaller suppliers to guarantee quality. She helps to provide skills, training and employment for local communities and keep the production of local mills alive.

Moreover she also has strong ecological ethos, her work consistently utilises up-cycled and sustainable materials in order to create exceptional luxury designs. The Work-Shop is therefore the culmination of Henrietta’s creative vision: the brand’s production, creative and retail operations will all be housed in the same space ensuring the quality, authenticity and sustainability of the clothes on sale.

all pictures by Veronica Crespi