A multi-coloured floral silk dress called Camellia became a surprise overnight hit three years ago marking the arrival of a young unknown brand in London called Rixo whose success has become the talk of the fashion industry. Founded by fashion management graduates Cheshire-born English woman Henrietta Rix and Orlagh McCloskey from Dungiven in Co Derry, bosom friends with a shared passion for vintage, the brand’s rapid popularity has captured the attention of buyers, customers and high-profile fans. Free spirited, vintage-inspired dresses in clashing floral print silks have touched a collective nerve and set the tone for collections that now characterise the Rixo look.
“At the time we started, fashion was very Scandi – minimalist and monochrome – and we thought if we could make something beautiful for around €300, people would buy it. The high street had become very samey,” explains McCloskey when we meet in their bright and spacious Fulham flat in London. The pair look like sisters, are the same size, share the same taste in clothes, the same vision for their brand and are passionate about what they do. Ask them a question and they look at each other for guidance before answering.
So what makes Rixo special? “Our [vintage-inspired] colours and shapes are quite different. A lot of people don’t design what you want to wear to feel comfortable and feminine – not structured and stiff or things you wear only once. We like to mix animal prints, florals and polka dots – we do a lot of mixing,” says McCloskey who sketches the designs and has an instinctive ability to match clashing colours and prints with an unerring eye.
