With fans including Orlando Bloom, Jamie and Jules Oliver, Kate Moss, Alexander McQueen and Gabriel Byrne, Ally's collections today, are as relevant and innovative as in 1980 when, straight out of college, she and her then partner, Jono Platt launched their first 5-piece women's wear range to celebrate the Moscow Olympics. |
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Ally Capellino rapidly became a trail-blazer in the clothing industry, opening a fashion/lifestyle shop in Wardour Street Soho in 1988, long before others realised the potential of the area and followed it with an award-winning flagship in Sloane Avenue.
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The Ally Capellino, Hearts of Oak and ao labels established a reputation for deceptively simple, modern yet timeless, clothes for men, women and children. During the 90s a pioneering partnership with Coats Viyella established ground breaking design consultancy agreements with Marks and Spencer and in conjunction with a GCO Co Limited she opened own brand stores throughout Japan at a time when British designers were only just achieving recognition.
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Ally has intrinsic style, and creative ability that have kept her collections fresh and surprising but always supremely practical. Her northern heritage keeping her feet on the ground and her eye on quality. Without doubt this has contributed to the success of such consultancy collaborations as uniforms for The Guiding Association and Designer ranges for Debenham's stores.
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With Ally's enduring interest in all creative arts, in 1996 she was delighted
to sponsor a Jean Michel Basquiat exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery and her commitment to education has led to lecturing posts at the RCA, Ravensbourne and The London College of Fashion. In 1999 she was asked to participate in a BBC Think Tank debate to discuss the future of educational broadcasting within the Corporation.
A restructuring of the business in 2000 put the clothing collections on hold and saw Ally establish a worldwide reputation for her accessories collections. Based in London's Shoreditch, the Ally Capellino Studio produces two seasonal mens and womens collections a year as well as an ongoing Classics Collection. The studio also undertakes many projects within the arts, design and fashion collection.
In Autumn 2005, Ally Capellino celebrated 25 years in the business with
a return to retail; both online and with a shop in Shoreditch. The shop is the
only stockist of the complete collection. |
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April 2006 saw the launch of an artists set for Tate Modern - a heavy canvas apron, pencil case and satchel. Collaborations for the second half of the year include a limited edition range of canvas and leather bags for selected TopShop stores and a small collection for Margaret Howell. |
