Following a starring role alongside Rita Ora, Annie Lennox and Jessica Ennis in Marks & Spencer’s Annie Leibowitz-lensed ‘Leading Ladies’ campaign in 2014, fashion’s fairy godmother – and all-round very cool lady – Luly Kennedy now has her own line with the high street megalith. ‘When M&S called I thought they wanted me to help with the casting for that campaign. I didn’t realise they wanted me to be in the campaign!’ she explained of the initial conversations a year or so back. They certainly did want her in front of the camera and since then the relationship has blossomed futher, with the Fashion East founder adding the role of high street designer to her already chock-full CV.
Launching on 14 May in select stores and online, Lulu’s high summer capsule collection is inspired by her favourite holiday spot: Tulum. It was important for her that the 19 piece collection works as hard on holiday as it can in the city and proving the point, Lulu herself styled out the denim mini skirt and indigo blue button-back knit for her launch party at Soho House last night.
Lulu has played a pivotal part in recent fashion history, cherry picking some of the most promising up-and-coming designers in their early days and providing them with a LFW showcase, expert support and seriously good contacts. They've all gone on to global things in the highest echelons of fashion-town, but she’s also fully aware of just how much of a signficant moment it is to be working with country’s most loved high street go-to. ‘Between fashion industry friends it's almost the new normal that you do things like this, but when you think about people going into stores and seeing my name on a label, or billboards up with the collection, it’s official and incredible… I think my nan will go bezerk-oid and have a seizure or something!’
Congrats Lulu and be sure to check out more from tomorrow on www.marksandspencer.com