I didn’t realise quite how much I wanted to care about Mulberry again until Christopher Kane gave me a reason to.
British Fashion, Old Guard Meets Newer Guard
The pairing makes perfect sense.
Mulberry is British heritage: Somerset craftsmanship, excellent leather and bags designed to become part of someone’s life. Christopher Kane represents Britain’s newer fashion guard—conceptual, irreverent and never afraid of making beauty slightly strange.
Both understand that British style is at its best when polish comes with personality. Mulberry gives Kane an archive of recognisable codes to play with; Kane gives Mulberry the energy and edge to make those codes feel newly desirable.
And the point at which they meet most naturally is leather.
For his debut collection, titled Town, City, Country, Kane looked to the bleak greys, tartans and coalminer orange of the Scotland he grew up in. The result felt unmistakably British without becoming heritage cosplay: structured parkas, severe leather dresses, sharp cut-outs and familiar Mulberry details used in unfamiliar ways.
Let’s Talk About the Bags
The Bayswater is still there, but it has acquired sharper edges. Its castellated flaps reappear as notched hems and necklines, turning one of Mulberry’s most recognisable details into a collection-wide graphic language.
Then there are the new Axe and Chop bags: structured, slightly aggressive shapes with the sort of names that make perfect sense in Kane’s world. The postman’s lock has migrated onto loafers, while miniature axes become heels.
It is all polished, practical and just a little bit dangerous.
Why It Works Now
Luxury has spent the past few years sanding away personality. Kane keeps the usefulness—the excellent leather, the everyday bag shapes, the proper coats—but adds the character back in.
This isn’t novelty for novelty’s sake, and it isn’t anonymous quiet luxury either. A bag can be beautifully made and slightly strange. In fact, those are often the ones we keep loving longest.
One for the Wish List
The collection is expected to arrive from January 2027. For now, remember the names Axe and Chop—and keep an eye on the newly sharpened Bayswater.
Christopher Kane is back. Mulberry has its swagger back. And suddenly, the British bag conversation feels interesting again.
Hero photograph: Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images.