Clothing Made to Last : Nola

I used to be a big shopper. All my money would go on clothes. Looking back it came from a place of insecurity, of never quite feeling at peace or working out my own style so I would try all sorts of different outfits until my drawers and cupboards were bursting at the seams. Yet, despite all of that I never felt like I had anything I felt amazing in.

We all know spending money on good quality, well made clothes feels so much nicer than buying fast fashion yet we still tell ourselves we can’t afford nice threads so instead we pick up a top here for £20 and a skirt there for £15 in a sale but while we’re at it we add to our collection of clothes that ‘will do’ and the fast fashion demand.

I don’t want to act like I never buy anything from H&M. But I am learning that by buying pieces from independent shops that are well made and ethical the less I want in my wardrobe and the less I want to buy clothes that I’m likely to see 3 other people wearing in the street. I don’t need to tell you that Marie Kondoing your wardrobe will make you want to buy less, we all know it and especially during Covid we’ve all had a good clear out and it feels gooooooood.

For the past 12 months my wardrobe has been at it’s most minimal. So much so that when I was asked by a friend if I has anything to donate to her clothes swap I couldn't find a single item I wanted to give away. But as lockdown lifted and the sun started shining I was feeling the need for some beautiful, easy to wear and durable threads that would suit van life but also be stylish and comfortable enough to turn up at shoots in.

So, it was a massive moment of synchronicity that Nola (my favourite clothes shop) contacted me about shooting some images for their new, own brand collection that was launching. Turning up in the park on a sunny April day I checked out the rail and honestly fell in love with every piece.

Handmade in the Manchester shop with materials sourced mainly from the UK these incredible items of clothing are everything you want in life - no fussy zips, no clingy bits, no tight waistbands, POCKETS and in heavy, durable, natural materials that will last you for years.

A few days after the shoot I found myself in the Brighton shop and picking out some of these beautiful pieces for myself. The default for me is to stick to my ‘safe’ colours - blues, navys and blacks but Rhonda encouraged me to try some different colours and I ended up with the Dale dress in green linen, the Dale skirt in stone linen and the Bradley top in fig hemp.

I road tested (see what I did there) these pieces on my Norfolk van trip and I wore the Dale dress almost every day - it’s so easy to wear, shown over thermals for a colder day or with bare legs on the warmer moments. Here’s a dress I can wear anytime of the year and feel AMAZING in.

The skirt and top is going to be saved for garden parties and city endeavours. I adore the fig coloured linen, it isn’t something I would pick out for myself but I feel a million dollars in it.

All the pieces are limited run so you know you’re getting something one of a kind. The sizing is 1-3 and all pieces have pockets. See the full collection here.