So English is a Lifestyle Beachwear Brand
We like swimming in the sea, breakfast by the beach, trips on the boat, easy Sunday mornings, yoga in the garden and feeling good.
And we love towelling.
Snuggly, reassuringly comfortable, super practical, looking good towelling.
We design styles that are distinctive, easy to wear and long lasting.
The Inspiration
Towelling was just the best thing for a British holiday in the 1970s. Messing about on beaches and boats and that glorious feeling of clambering out of the sea and being wrapped in cotton towelling. Carefree days and long summer evenings with memories of my mother and her stylish friends wearing dresses in vibrant colours and prints.
The inspiration for So English: To create an easy, yet stylish way to get warm and dry after a bracing dip in the channel.
The towelling dress re-born.
Founder’s archive
“That glorious feeling of being wrapped in cotton towelling after swimming in the sea is a memory etched into my mind”
Kiss Dress - Fresh Green
The Concept
In 2007, I designed a cover up dress from some vintage towelling found in a London market. Old school towelling with a retro floral print. The dress was simply cut, knee length with open sleeves and a Moroccan inspired neckline.
No more struggling with wet costumes or trying to protect your modesty - just on with the dress, down to the beach and back to the bar!
I’ve worn that dress every summer for the past 15 years. It doesn’t get old, it just collects memories.
That was the first So English dress and the inspiration for the collection.
Our signature look is a block colour, 70s retro vibe and a shaped but easy fit. We design around lifestyle. Our pieces are functional, yet stylish and distinctive.
“I’ve worn that dress every summer for the past 15 years. It doesn’t get old, it just collects memories”
The Style
By design, we believe in Slow Fashion.
Timeless styles, made to last, season after season.
Each piece is designed in our studio, tested on the Sussex coast and produced in small batches by experienced makers here in the England.
We offer two collections:
So Classic: Featuring our core designs. The colours and the features may evolve but the styles remain the same from season to season.
So Limited: Unique pieces incorporating vintage or bespoke fabric. Limited fabric means runs of between 10-20 pieces. When they’re gone, they’re gone.
With care our dresses will last for years and where possible, we will repair your garment if it suffers a mishap.
Our aim is to make clothes that will be loved, will last and will collect memories you’ll cherish.
Domino - Mustard | Zappa - Ecru | Santana - Ocean Blue
“Buy Less, Choose Well, Make It Last”
Vivienne Westwood
Sophie | Original Design
The Journey
So English is the realisation of a lifelong dream. From a young age I’ve had a love affair with the retro vibe of 60s and 70s towelling, amassing quite a collection from around the world.
Since leaving the London College of Fashion in the early 1990s, my first business venture was designing bridalwear, selling dresses through Harrods and Liberty. In between raising two daughters and moving to Sussex, I designed bespoke uniforms for leading hotels, restaurants and City firms … until Covid.
I collect inspiration from all over the place, flicking through racks of vintage clothes, old films or watching people on the beach in and around Brighton. I also love listening to our customers and hearing what they like and want to wear.
Sophie x