PRESENTING THE GENDER-NEUTRAL CAPSULE COAT COLLECTION BY BETHANY WILLIAMS, EXCLUSIVELY FOR SELFRIDGES
This London Fashion Week, sustainable fashion designer, artist, and humanitarian Bethany Williams will unveil her latest creation: a gender-neutral capsule coat collection, available exclusively at Selfridges.
As with every endeavor Bethany embarks upon, social and environmental issues are at the forefront. “This particular project was inspired by our ongoing work with The Magpie Project, a charity dedicated to supporting women and children under five living in temporary, unsuitable, or no accommodation,” explains Bethany. “The Women’s Institute community creates a personal blanket for every baby born into the Magpie Family. A blanket is so much more than a piece of fabric; it is a feeling of comfort and shelter, and I wanted that sentiment to be the heart of this capsule collection.”
Drawing from this profound inspiration, Bethany delved into the historical heritage of vintage and antique wool blankets from across the UK. Each blanket, meticulously sourced from vintage sellers, whether at Antiques Markets or car boot sales, carries with it a rich narrative—from the textile and weaving techniques to the origin of its creation. One particularly cherished find for the collection was stumbled upon on a pitch-black frosty morning at Sunbury Antiques Market at Kempton Racecourse: a rare and usually expensive Welsh wool blanket adorned with brightly colored pink and orange patches.
With this collection, the narrative extends as each blanket is infused with new life through Bethany’s artistic vision and mastery of design-led upcycling techniques. Shapes and details for each garment are drawn from historical research into childrenswear, undertaken in collaboration with the V&A Museum of Childhood. The resulting pieces, distinguished by complimentary color palettes, slightly oversized fits, and skillful patchwork techniques, exude a bespoke charm.
Handcrafted in London, the nine upcycled blanket coats are available in three distinct jacket styles. Each garment is meticulously conceptualized, with a specific blanket allocated to each style based on its weight, thickness, and color. The outer material comprises the blanket wool for optimal insulation, while a 100% organic cotton lining, sourced from Wales, ensures comfort and sustainability.
Yet, the story does not end with the wool. Every element of these coats carries its own history—from the UK-sourced organic cotton insulation to the handmade wooden buttons, crafted by artisan Spencer Martin from London Green Wood, a not-for-profit cooperative utilizing Hackney-grown wood or waste wood from local tree surgeons.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: THE BETHANY WILLIAMS BENEVOLENT FUND
20% of the profits from this collection will be donated to The Magpie Project via The Bethany Williams Benevolent Fund—a collaboration between The Magpie Project and Bethany Williams London.
Jane Williams, CEO and Founder of The Magpie Project, expresses her gratitude: “Working in partnership with Bethany Williams and her creative crew is like a dream come true for us, our mums, and minis. Bethany’s NRPF collection brought the issues that blight our families’ lives to the attention of a whole new audience—making change increasingly possible. She lends her spotlight to tell seldom-heard stories, empowering and centering those who have previously felt powerless and marginalized.
Now, the profits from her collection have become a lifeline for mums in moments of crisis. When a mum was forced to move home with 12 hours’ notice, the Bethany Williams Benevolent Fund paid for a man with a van, ensuring she did not lose the furniture she had saved and saved to buy. When a mum was forced to flee domestic abuse and was housed in a flat with no beds, the Bethany Williams Benevolent Fund ensured her children did not have to sleep on the floor. We are using the BWBF when no other funds are available to mums—and a surprisingly small amount of money (up to £100 at a time) makes the impossible possible for our mums and minis.”
This collection is part of Selfridges’ sustainability initiative, Project Earth, committed to putting sustainability at the heart of the business and reinventing the way we shop.
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Bethany Williams,” says Jack Cassidy, Head of Menswear at Selfridges. “Bethany joined the Selfridges menswear edit as part of our Bright New Things program, and we are excited to now launch this collection straight from her LFW presentation. She was a clear choice to be included as one of our key Project Earth partners due to her innovative approach to sustainable and socially conscious work.”
