New slow fashion label Ada Dakin launches from Hackney atelier

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
May 1, 2024

A new slow fashion label has been launched in East London with a contemporary approach but a retro name. Called Ada Dakin it was named after founder Sophie Dakin’s grandmother Ada.

It’s all originated in her Hackney atelier by local dressmakers with the company aiming to “rekindle traditional dressmaking techniques to create a sisterhood of women, each passionately curating the story they would like their clothes to tell”.

The brand sources “talented makers, local manufacturers and independent artists from around the UK”.

Pieces are made to order to eliminate overproduction and it’s all about “longevity and authenticity”, as well as inclusivity, with sizes spanning 6-22. Prices range from £130 to £290.

Sophie Dakin — who still owns her grandmother’s sewing machine — originally worked in law in Leeds but moved to London and into textile sales. At that point she said she saw “first-hand the repercussions of overproduction in the fashion industry and the decline of English textile mills” and “became driven by a profound sense of responsibility and a determination to confront the industry's challenges head-on”.

So the debut SS24 collection is a homage to the rose, the flower of England, “serving as a tribute to the brand’s English heritage and a celebration of ancient traditions”. 

The palette includes Pantone’s colour of the year, Peach Fuzz, as well as rose-tinted red, dusty lavender and what we’re told will be the brand’s signature tones, pastels.

Key items include the Lina bell-sleeve floor-length dress and a shorter sister style, Anna, as well as the Charlotte midi skirt and Belle voluminous top, plus a vintage-inspired multi-layered cape, called Becky. Many feature prints hand-produced in Brighton.

As for materials, pieces are made from plant-derived fabrics that are biodegradable. The collection also uses deadstock fabrics and trims, while packaging is made of recycled materials and is home-compostable.