This season, British luxury retailer Matchesfashion.com is set to relaunch its in-house womenswear brand, Raey, and also introduce a men’s line under the same label.
The global luxury shopping destination is known for its particular edit of established and emerging designers, and is now throwing its own name in the brand mix for Spring 2015. “The menswear market is developing fast and we felt it was the right time to launch our own line,” Ruth Chapman, CEO of Matchesfashion.com, told Style.com/Arabia. “This meant starting afresh, rebranding, and renaming as Raey to keep the consistency across both collections.”
The new collection offers layering pieces with a sporty feel. “The market has shifted—it is less about having a certain statement piece and more about making good wardrobe choices,” added Chapman. “Our clients are increasingly expecting more for their money; they want great design and beautiful fabrics that are also flattering and feel modern. Raey is intended to be just that—the piece that fits easily into your wardrobe, yet people ask you about it.”
Rachael Proud, the creative director leading the Raey design team, previously worked as design director for Christopher Kane. “We had a strong connection from the beginning. Not only does she understand luxury fashion, but also the logistics of production and getting the best price for the customer which is very important,” Chapman noted.
Both collections feature contemporary pieces in a classic color palette of white, gray, and navy with accents of yellow and pink. The key pieces in the collections are the coats—for women, the floor-length trench made with bonded lining and the bright blanket coats; and for men, the oversized cashmere coat. Another key look from both collections is the tracksuit made from soft cashmere jersey.
“We want to create a collection that is modern and timeless–pared-down, luxury staple items that have a place in every wardrobe,” said Proud. “[In the future] we will offer an edit of more trend-led pieces in order for the collection to continue to feel relevant and fresh.”
The Spring 2015 Raey collection will be available on Matchesfashion.com from January 28th.
—Nouriah Al Shatti
