Two eco-friendly fashion brands join the ranks at Seven Dials London

MODE

Shaftesbury has announced that two eco-friendly fashion brands have joined its ranks in London’s Seven Dials shopping district.

Outdoor clothing retailer Meander Apparel has launched its first permanent store in the UK in a 783-square-foot unit at 18 Earlham Street. Meanwhile, contemporary womenswear brand Rakha has opened a 699-square-foot flagship at 46 Monmouth Street.

Meander offers a range of menswear, womenswear and functional accessories with all clothing made from premium performance materials that are recycled, organic or low-impact, and ethically produced in European factories.

The Rakha store stocks a variety of contemporary, yet classic, collections created by the retailer using biodegradable materials by eco-friendly manufacturers across Europe.

Jill Henry, co-founder of Meander said:Meander is a brand based on a passion for the outdoors and sustainability – putting our commitment to the planet at the forefront of our brand values. Therefore, it was very important for us to open our flagship store in an attractive community and champion the socially conscious brands that Seven Dials is known for. We are excited to be part of the Seven Dials community and look forward to welcoming customers ahead of the Christmas trading period.

Gozde Taskin, creative director and co-founder of Rakha, adds: Rakha strives to promote environmentally friendly processes for the manufacture, purchase and disposal of clothing. We feel that opening our flagship store in an innovative community like Seven Dials is very much in line with our values. We are excited to join forces with another eco-conscious brand in a prime London location.

The opening follows a series of retail activities within Seven Dials, including the launch of four new flagship stores on Neal Street. These include minimalist clothing brand Absence of Color, independent watchmaker Mr Jones Watches, lifestyle brand Rockett St George and My Runway Group. The latter brought together more than 200 small black-owned businesses in one store.

Samantha Bain-Mollison, director of retail at Shaftesbury, said: Sustainability has always been central to Shaftesbury’s long-term strategy, and at Seven Dials we work consistently hard to bring together a diverse community of thoughtful and socially conscious brands, so it’s been great to welcome Meander and Rakha. Having two authentic and innovative brands open their flagship stores is an exciting venture for Seven Dials.