Established in 2009, BettyB is known for her unique use of authentic vintage fabrics and hand-finished, bespoke dresses. Primarily sourced in France, these vintage fabrics, found on their rolls and still with their original labeling, inform both the shape and mood of her collections which typically combine relaxed, quirky British style with French charm and elegance. Inspired as a young girl by her French grandmother, a former seamstress for Madeleine Vionnet and Coco Chanel, this early influence, combined with an innate appreciation for subtle, feminine tailoring is what defines BettyB.
Each BettyB collection is based on old French films ranging from "Les Biches" by Claude Chabrol by to "Mouchette" by Robert Bresson. The current Spring/Summer collection is based on "Le Bonheur" by Agnes Varda (1965) where a simple summer dress is a recurring motif in a tragic story of love and marriage. With names such as Mimi, Sylvie, Martine and Coco the collection palpitates with joie de vivre and insouciance.
Creating limited editions for each collection, BettyB is able to work outside the seasonality trap that currently binds the fashion industry, creating a seamless collection at the end of the year. From a production standpoint BettyB is part of a growing number of small, emerging designers wanting to produce locally for environmental reasons while allowing customers to understand what is required to produce a well-made garment at a time when we are increasingly aware of the need for responsible luxury.
