British Designers Collective 2011

“Bicester Village is like the Disneyland for grown up Cinderellas”, beamed Thandie Newton yesterday morning, perched on a podium in Bicester Village’s latest store. I couldn’t have put it better myself. Newton was there to champion the great and good of young British fashion in part two of a brilliant project cooked up between the BFC and Bicester Village’s owners, Value Retail. The British Designers Collective pop-up store was first launched this time last year and it was so successful, they’re doing it again. As Value retail’s CEO Desiree Bollier put it, “young design is about being buoyant, creative and innovative. It moves things forward and that’s what this store is all about.” So the BFC have gathered together the likes of Holly Fulton, Marios Schwab, Markus Lupfer, Lara Bohinc and Jonathan Saunders to stock the shop with pieces from last summer’s collections at typical Bicester Village discounted prices. It’s a win-win situation whichever way you look at it. The designers get international exposure to Bicester Village’s overseas visitors (huge numbers come from Russia, China, Korea and the Middle East) as well as UK customers who may not usually have access to these labels (Bicester Village prices can be up to 60% of the RRP). Bicester Village benefits from the buzz of these fresh labels who might even bring a new customer to the outlet village and of course, the designers get to sell off their past collections in a rather chi-chi environment.

The British Designers Collective opens today for six weeks. Here’s a taste of what you can buy…

Preen Line’s colour-block dresses, suede skinny trousers and cut-out knits

Markus Lupfer’s witty knits

Georgina Goodman’s satin stilettos

Holly Fulton’s cloud dresses, furry clutch bags and perspex neckpieces

Marios Schwab’s bootees

Felicity Brown’s painterly dresses

Lara’s Bohinc’s python heels and Ziggy Stardust boots

Mawi’s a-million-miles-from-understated jewels