Coffee With Judy Bown
of Bown

Judy Bown had a successful career as a designer for Mulberry, Coach, Tocca, Asprey and Tanner Krolle before starting her own brand Bown last year. Judy runs her business from her studio just outside Bath.

We had a coffee with Judy to find out what inspired her to set up her own business, dig deep about all about her shopping habits and discover where she likes to shop online.

What inspired you to create Bown?
Four years ago I sensed an emerging trend of people wanting to know where and how things were really made and I saw a real niche in the market for honest, understated, well made bags. With so many of the big brands going to China and then still selling for such extortionate prices, I got the feeling that people were starting to distrust the authenticity of ‘luxury’ brands and were getting fed up with the ‘it-bag’ mania.

Having spent 18 years designing for other brands (including Mulberry, Coach, Asprey) and having a yearning to get back in tune with my personal tastes, I decided to create a brand that had an understated, relaxed style, using beautiful leathers, materials and craftsmanship.

With the emergence of luxury online shopping online thanks to sites like Net A Porter opening the way, I saw an opportunity to present a coherent message without the huge overheads and limited geography of opening a shop. It’s hard to get your brand recognised at first but once it’s done the world is your oyster!

What makes your product unique?
Probably me and my approach to design! I work in a very hands-on way; I understand leather (and how it works in a 3-dimensional context), how things are put together and how they wear with use and time.

How do you get a good work/life balance?
By loving the work I do and not seeing it as the pole opposite of ‘life’. There’s nothing more wasteful than spending 90% of your non-sleep day working in a job you hate.

What’s your best selling product / label?
Our Overnight Cabin Bag and our new Clem Clutch bag

How would you characterise your fashion style?
Nonchalant!

I like the 1930’s style for long, lean, simple, elegant lines mixed with a bit of tweedy rustic! Because I grew up in Iraq and Panama I could never be too flash and I think it’s really stuck with me. I don’t even wear any jewellery.

I love logging on to The Sartorialist and Style Will Save Us for reassurance because I think it’s infinitely better to develop your own style and not get hung up on transient ‘fashion’.

Where do you buy your cashmere and why?
I buy cashmere for warmth (my studio can get really cold!) and styles I can layer. Toast have some good simple knitwear and I saw a gorgeous linen knit with big wooden buttons by Little Joe By Gail Elliott the other day for summer that would look great belted over some wide legged trousers and tennis shoes.

Heels or flats and where do you buy them?
I love heels although I wear flats 99% of the time! I’ve got the most gorgeous pair of Emma Hope Velvet Sneakers which I live in at the moment.

I actually just love looking at shoes rather than owning them. The Salvatore Ferragamo shoe museum is a must when I’m in Florence... it’s just amazing how fresh and modern his designs from the 30’s and 40’s look today.

If you’re buying luxe lingerie where do you head and why?
I’m still waiting to find a lingerie brand that does natural and unfussy in a beautiful way. I’m hoping Toast will introduce a range soon... Until then, I am afraid it’s still M&S for me.

What beauty products are currently in your bathroom cabinet?
The beauty ideal for me is clear skin, healthy teeth, glossy hair and laughter lines.

Some good food, a walk in the fresh air, not smoking, the odd glass of wine and plenty of sleep seem to go an awfully long way. Otherwise, REN has some great products which really suit my skin.

What’s your signature fragrance?
I don’t wear perfume, although if anyone came out with the scent of sweet-peas, I might be swayed!

How would you describe the style of your home?
We have a sprawling maisonette in a Georgian house in Bath with high ceilings, wide wooden floorboards, lots of sash windows and skylights above large internal doors (think Gosford Park, the downstairs parts!).

We have restored and furnished it to suit its character rather than inflict a designer-style on it. A sort of Minimalist-Georgian-Rustic!

Where do you buy your furniture and home furnishings?
I have an aversion to unnecessary clobber (although my daughter has done very well at counteracting that!). I love airy space, so most things in our home are there for function. We mix 60’s Scandinavian in with older English pieces, and I love going to all the local auctions to see what I can find.

For home accessories I think Muji and Labour & Wait have some really great things online.

Anywhere else do you love to indulge?
The Organic Catalogue for my allotment, Sharpham Park and as you know, Toast.

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