There’s A Good Reason Why This New Sustainable Brand Is Already A Celebrity Favourite

This year has not been kind to small businesses. With the economy in turmoil as the world grapples with Covid-19, 2020 hasn't exactly been conducive to launching new projects. Nevertheless, Nicola Orme and Sarah Plunkett decided to go ahead and start their own fashion brand anyway – and thank goodness they did, because it's already a sell-out success.

Called Queens of Archive, the brand was born as a result of Orme and Plunkett's extensive experience in the fashion industry. 'We wanted to start something new,' Plunkett says. 'We wanted to create vintage inspired, timeless, easy-to-wear pieces and build a brand that we felt was missing from the current fashion landscape. Affordable wardrobe heirlooms, looking and feeling like luxury but accessible to everyone.'

The result is an eclectic mix of truly wonderful dresses, tops and detachable collars, inspired by the 1960s and '70s aesthetic of YSL and Ossie Clark, that will fast become classics in any wardrobe. There are the dramatic long dresses with a hint of The Vampire's Wife about them, as well as form-flattering minis in an array of bold prints. The Marianne is one such dress – it boasts a rose pattern and a detachable Peter Pan collar – and was recently seen on Holly Willoughby. As a result, it completely sold out, leaving Orme and Plunkett with huge demand for more stock. Needless to say, more is on its way.

Other celebrities, too, have fast become fans. Most recently, Laura Whitmore and Sara Pascoe both wore pieces from Queens of Archive, which has of course helped to boost the nascent brand's profile. But accessibility, says Plunkett, is at the core of the brand – along with sustainability. 'We pride ourselves on our prices (ranging from £180- £260) being affordable to all of our 'Queens'. We strive to ensure each decision made reflects our focus on sustainability, getting us closer to our zero waste goal. Our dresses are ethically made in limited runs to slow things down. We use plant-based luxe fabrications such as what we like to call our 'Vegan SIlk', which looks and feels like silk de chine but is 100% plant based viscose.'

There aren't many success stories to come out of 2020 but you can be sure that Queens of Archive is one of them – and they're just getting started. 'We're super excited with the reaction our brand has and keeps on gaining,' Plunkett says. 'We've got pop- ups on the horizon in both Dublin & London, along with some exciting events bringing us into the new year.'

This is certainly a brand to bookmark now – if the past few months are anything to go by, this is just the beginning.