The 16Arlington Founder Talks Vision, Brand Building & More
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I’ve always been drawn to design – not just fashion. Art, architecture, things made by hand… I’ve had a lifelong fascination with creativity in all forms. So, moving into fashion really felt like a natural step. Growing up in London with Italian heritage, I was absorbing two worlds: the precision and craft of Italian design, and the energy and grit of London. That fusion has always played a part in everything I do.
I realised in my late teens that fashion was the path for me. I grew up in a creative household, surrounded by design and expression – whether that was interiors, architecture or fashion. It was always part of my world, so by that time, I knew I wanted to make it my career.
I would go back and tell my younger self to be more present. The fashion industry moves so quickly and it’s easy to rush from one thing to the next. There's something really important about being present in every step – whether it’s a success or a failure – because that’s what shapes you as an individual, and as a creative.
My mum is my earliest fashion memory. She’s someone who wears clothes unapologetically, joyfully and always with her own flair. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her in a pair of flat shoes! She has this amazing way of playing with texture, proportion and colour – but it always feels cool and considered.
There have been so many memorable career moments for me. We’ve been fortunate to experience so many incredible milestones, collaborations, red-carpet moments – but one memory really stands out. There was this incredible woman coming down the escalator wearing one of our coats from our first collection that had been stocked on NET-A-PORTER. That’s always something that has stuck with me. There was something very special about seeing a member of the public feeling good in something that we had designed.
From the start, 16Arlington has been all about attitude. Our woman is always at the forefront of everything we do. She is confident, expressive and completely herself. We created garments that exist in her universe, clothes that let her feel like the best version of herself but still fully reflect who she is. The brand blends dualities: masculine and feminine, London grit and Italian gloss, tailored precision and flamboyant detail. Over time, the brand has evolved; we’ve deepened our craft, broadened our offering and grown our international presence. But the core DNA remains: bold glamour, fine tailoring and passion.
Marks & Spencer approached us with the idea of collaborating. We knew it was a way to bring 16Arlington’s signature aesthetic to a wider audience. For me, and my parents and grandparents, M&S has always represented quality, reliability and good design that’s intended for everyone. That ethos aligned perfectly with the whole starting point of this collaboration.
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My starting point for a collection varies. It can be a line from a book, the opening scene of a film or even the way light moves through a frame. It always comes back to people and my love of clothes.
The M&S collection intentionally feels different to our main line. Yet it stays true to our DNA. We took our signatures, exaggerated collars, unexpected textures like feathers and sequins, architectural shapes and translated them into staple pieces that can live in anyone’s wardrobe. It wasn’t about making cheaper versions of luxury items – the aim was to create what I like to call the ‘great dress’, the ‘great sweater with a twist’, or that perfect piece of outerwear that surprises you with an unexpected silhouette or texture.
It’s incredibly rewarding to see 16 Arlington on the high street. As a designer, the greatest joy – aside from creating collections – is seeing real people wearing your pieces in the real world. Bringing our aesthetic, our boldness and our femininity to a wider audience at a democratic price point is something I’m genuinely excited about. There’s so much power in authenticity.
My personal style is very uniform. When you’re surrounded by so many visual stimuli and creative decisions every day, simplicity becomes grounding. For me it’s all about fit and function. My wardrobe is mostly black and if not black, it’s vintage Levi’s and a white t-shirt.
I’m inspired by art and artists, specifically how they view and interpret the world. Film, performance art, architecture – they all play a part. I love Rachel Jones, Pedro Almodóvar, David Lynch, Rhea Dillon, my friends Adwoa Aboah and Paloma Elsesser. But ultimately, it’s about being surrounded by my creative community, many of whom I’m lucky enough to call friends. The team I work with, which is predominantly female, all have great taste and great opinions. The women who wear and live in our clothes – their individuality inspires me too.
There are so many inspiring voices who excite me right now. From creatives like Charli XCX, who integrates fashion and performance, to peers here in London pushing boundaries. Designers like Maximilian Davis at Ferragamo and Conner Ives – I admire what they’re doing so much. Also, Alex Consani has such an important role to play. London’s creative energy is also so electric right now.
The biggest challenge for designers right now is the pace. The speed at which the industry moves is increasingly fast, and sometimes ideas don’t get the time they need to breathe and mature. On the flip side, pressure can bring out incredible work, so it’s about managing that tension.
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