KENT&CURWEN aims to capture the subversion and eccentricity of great British style: a spirit of dressing that can be adopted by a global community.
The brand first opened its doors in London, in 1926.
It began as a maker of club and college ties for Oxford and Cambridge universities, helping to fashion a classic ideal of British collegiate style.
Before long, the brand was creating sports kits for rowers at Henley, rugby players at Eton, and cricketers just about everywhere. It made clothing for students and royals, boxing clubs and banks alike.
The world caught on. KENT&CURWEN became the official outfitter of the Hollywood Cricket Club, (which included actors Errol Flynn and Boris Karloff as members), and was favoured by the British royal family throughout the 20th Century. Diana, Princess of Wales — who used clothing to define her own sense of British style — was a customer.
Today, under its Chief Creative Officer Daniel Kearns, KENT&CURWEN stands for a modern, playful, and expressive version of Britishness: tailoring, sportswear, and fashion, brought together in unexpected combinations.
The Three Lions emblem, which was inspired by the Kent family crest, is the brand’s most recognizable symbol, universally associated with British sports.
Eric Kent and Dorothy Curwen founded the brand together as a creative partnership. In that spirit, today’s iteration of the brand is a genderless wardrobe, intended to be shared and borrowed: a very British kind of tradition.
The brand relaunches in September 2024, with its Autumn/Winter 2024 collection. Its first runway show will follow as part of London Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 2025.
Born in Dublin, Daniel Kearns’ introduction to the clothing industry came from his grandfather, who owned a mill in County Cork, supplying wool to be used in the making of uniforms.
After graduating Dublin’s National College for Art and Design, he attended London’s Royal College of Art, winning accolades including a menswear design project that led to a placement with Dolce & Gabbana.
Kearns went on to work as a menswear designer for brands including John Galliano and Emmanuel Ungaro before joining Alexander McQueen as Design Director in 2005, assuming responsibility for the brand’s menswear shows and working alongside Lee Alexander McQueen.
Since then, Kearns has acted as Design Director for menswear at Yves Saint Laurent and Gucci, and has also consulted for houses including Louis Vuitton and Ermenegildo Zegna. In February 2016, Kearns was appointed Creative Director of KENT&CURWEN. In 2023, he returned to the brand as Chief Creative Officer, stewarding the next chapter of the brand and leading the collections across menswear, womenswear, and accessories.
