LONDON — British brand J&M Davidson has named Katie Hillier creative director, with her first collection set for fall 2019, WWD has learned. Hillier will be part of a new creative collective at the brand, which has traditionally been known for its leather accessories and is owned by the Japanese luxury group Yagi Tsusho.
Hillier’s first collection will be a full product range that includes ready-to-wear and accessories, and her appointment forms part of a strategic growth plan led by Shingo Takahashi, chief executive officer of J&M Davidson. The brand is repositioning itself in the accessible luxury sector, with an emphasis on craftsmanship, fabrication and process, as well as design.
Katie Hillier’s new designs for J&M Davidson.
Courtesy
Hillier’s first collection has a laid-back, soft, bohemian feel, with lots of bright color, colorblocking, exotic skins and embellishments such as fringing.
Yagi Tsusho acquired J&M Davidson in March 2013, with the brand’s founders John and Monique Davidson exiting in early 2018. The new owners have also assembled a team of collaborators, including the artist Jeff West, art director Jamie Reed, the product and space designer Tina Vaia, and a young design team based in London.
The new team will work with Hillier, who will continue to pursue
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