Fashion
King Charles’s Foundation Unveils New Luxury Fashion Collection
Over the years, King Charles has become an unlikely style icon as he has championed a sustainable approach to fashion. And today, his foundation is launching a new luxury capsule collection created by budding artists trained in traditional techniques.
The King’s Foundation, in collaboration with Net-a-Porter, has unveiled a ready-to-wear 13-piece collection designed by fashion graduates taking part in their Modern Artisan training program. The six graduates took inspiration from the natural world as well as watercolors of the Scottish Highlands around Balmoral by Queen Victoria. “The colors, silhouettes, and design details represent the trainee artisans’ translation of these watercolors, in celebration of the land and the feelings of wellbeing it inspires,” the King’s Foundation said in a statement today.
Items in the collection include a lounge shirt and trouser in a khaki color inspired by Balmoral landscapes, a smock waist top reflecting the timeless look of a historical tunic, and a bias-cut slip dress which aims to evoke the wild scenery in parts of Scotland.
All pieces were hand-crafted at the King’s Foundation’s headquarters in Dumfries House in Ayrshire in a specialist textiles workshop. Naturally-dyed fabrics and locally-sourced British wool were used.
The collection’s cable knit dress was influenced by traditional Celtic cable designs and moss from the Balmoral estate. And the smocked sleeve dress features billowy sleeves with a traditional Romanian smocking pattern. King Charles’s love of the Romanian countryside is well known. The students also created a special oversized handknit scarf using “The King’s Clip,” a unique yarn developed from the fleeces of three flocks of sheep kept at Dumfries House.
This collection is the result of the third iteration of the Modern Artisan training program, following collections launched in 2020 and 2022. It will be sold exclusively on Net-a-Porter, with 50% of the proceeds going to support the King’s Foundation’s training programs.
“Over the last five years, we have been so proud to see how all of our Modern Artisan graduates have gone on to use what they learnt on the course to launch flourishing careers and businesses in the fashion and textile industry,” Education Director at the King’s Foundation, Jacqueline Farrell, said. “Everything we do here at The King’s Foundation is inspired by His Majesty King Charles III’s vision of harmony, promoting traditional skills and providing holistic, collaborative training for the fashion and textiles professionals of tomorrow.”
Town & Country Contributing Editor Victoria Murphy has reported on the British Royal Family since 2010. She has interviewed Prince Harry and has travelled the world covering several royal tours. She is a frequent contributor to Good Morning America. Victoria authored Town & Country book The Queen: A Life in Pictures, released in 2021.