Born and Bred Shropshire Brand Makes Splash in Children’s Fashion
Marmalade & Mash, the children’s fashion brand which specialises in British classics with a twist, is creating a buzz in Shropshire and beyond. Owned and run by Naomi Langford-Archer, who attended Moreton Hall in Oswestry before specialising in childrenswear at the London College of Fashion, is turning heads by combining traditional luxury with quirky touches, designing clothes for boys and girls between 2-9 years.
Ms Langford-Archer, 28, who attended the University of Reading, spent several years working in finance in order to fund her ambition of owning her own fashion label. Now, she couldn’t dream of doing anything else. She works with cotton velvet, corduroy, moleskin and brushed cotton shirting to create clothes that are both British and eclectic.
While the idea for the brand came from a desire to recreate a favourite duffle coat from her childhood, she says that her clothes are fulfilling a need for traditional clothing for today’s children: “I had a strong idea of the brand I wanted to design for but I saw nothing quite like it in the market. I wanted to create children’s clothes that children can feel like children in, and look lovely, and feel special at the same time. So many brands these days have lost that innocence.”
Langford-Archer admits that her time at Moreton Hall was not distinguished by good behaviour: “We had so much fun we usually ended up with a visit to the deputy heads. But it’s also where I learnt to sew. I remember the home education classes where we made cushions with smiley faces attached. That’s where it all started really.”
Visit Marmalade and Mash: http://www.marmaladeandmash.co.uk/
