MHL by Margaret Howell

founded by

Margaret Howell

belongs to

Margaret Howell

about

In 1971, she started creating a range of accessories and in 1972, a line of clothing. These were popular, so in 1974, she established her own company and at the same time began collaborating with JOSEPH. She also opened a retail outlet. She also started making menswear in the 70's.

In 1980 Margaret expands into women’s clothing and a Japanese license agreement was signed with Washo and in 1983 first stand alone shop opens in Aoyama, Tokyo.

Today she has shops and concessions all over Europe and the USA, as well as Japan. In 1995, she showed her first collection in London Fashion Week.

By the beginning of 2000, Howell's empire had

grown to employ 300 people worldwide, with global sales of £30 million. She has capitalized on the popularity of British design in Japan, designing under license for the Japanese company Anglobal and has 70 shops and concessions there, in contrast to only 10 in her home country.

In Autumn 2003, Margaret Howell joined forced with Japanese denim label Edwin to produce her first ever denim collection. She spent a year researching yarns and dyeing processes, and has launched classic painter's trousers, five-pocket Western jeans and jean jackets lined in black cotton.

Her studio and shop in Wigmore Street, London provides space for the men's, women's and home collections and also houses regular exhibitions of mid-to-late 20th century design. She has developed a design partnership with shoe designer Rupert Sanderson to produce a small shoe collection and has recently launched a small accessories collection.