In 2005 sibling duo Katie and Millie Smith established British haute design and luxury accessory label Angel Jackson. The label specialises in eye-catching designs, bright colors, luxury materials and a “don’t mess with me” attitude.
The same year as the launching of the brand the design duo opened their first atelier in Bali where the whole business process from the handmade production to marketing is managed entirely in-house by 22 staff, based both in the UK and in Bali. With a background of fashion design, the title as creative director naturally fell on Katie Smith. Katie lives in the UK but with regularly long-haul trips to Bali to oversee the craftsmanship and attention to detail in the designs. Millie Smith, on the other hand, stays permanently in Bali where she is using her background in marketing.
Sustainable
Besides the importance of producing beautifully handcrafted products the sibling duo also cares about ethical working conditions. The Angel Jackson Company has set working hours and salary allocations in keeping with western guidelines. The staff members get paid a monthly salary and have received help in how to use a bank account. Furthermore, the sibling duo has also insured that all staff members have a medical insurance. Briefly spoken the Smiths are trying to ensure that everything down to the linings of the bags has been sustainably and ethically sourced. And with ethically sourced products, good working conditions for the staff and well-recognised designs this accessory label was born to succeed as a serious fashion player.
A Serious Fashion Player
With their first collection, the Smith sisters won Topshop’s New Designer of the Year Award. Furthermore, the Angel Jackson label was recognised by British Vogue and the British Fashion Council, which in 2010 resulted in a spot on the highly esteemed Designer Fashion Fund shortlist, alongside, top designers, Christopher Kane and Erdem. The label was the first and only accessories label to be short-listed, which gained the brand a bunch of new admirers. Angel Jackson is adored by the press, regularly featured in important and notable publications such as Vogue, InStyle, Elle, L’Officiel and very much worshipped by the celebrities.
From Gossip Girl To Kate Moss
With weddings to prepare for, social events to blaze through and plenty of street chic moments to get dressed for, it is no wonder why the costume team behind Gossip Girl so often pick Angel Jackson designs. We constantly see cute Carven dresses, skyscraper Louboutins, amazing Peter Pilotto prints and last but not least a big amount of gorgeous Angel Jackson bags waving on the arms of Blair and Serena. The strong designs tributes to remain a strong style factor in the extremely popular TV-show, which has resulted in a surge of sales. Angel Jackson bags were flying off the shelves and out of the stores in no time. This clearly shows the importance of who is wearing your designs in addiction to sales. If a celebrity decides to wear a piece from your collection it is like a living campaign. Luckily for the Angel Jackson label you will find a long list of
loyal A-list followers including style icon and supermodel Kate Moss and British actress Sadie Frost. The label sure has what it takes to remain an important fashion player for a very long time. Widely recognized, ethical working conditions, A-list admirers, awarded, shortlisted by the Designer Fashion Fund and of course modern and super chic handcrafted products with a healthy dash of underground edgy-luxe. You go girls!
On the link below, you will find an Angel Jackson store locator.
