Melisa Minca, Courtesy of LUNCHFashionFeature10 cult designers to know now, according to Glasgow’s LUNCHFrom Melisa Minca’s ‘Suck My Clit’ tees to Anmae’s gloopy pearl beads, the Scottish concept store’s founders Bethany Grace and Tamara Turnbull pinpoint some of the indie labels that should be on your radarShareLink copied ✔️August 22, 2023FashionFeatureTextEmma Elizabeth Davidson London might be the first place where everyone’s mind skips to when the words ‘British fashion’ are uttered, but Glasgow has long had a thriving fashion scene all its own. Scotland’s second city was the place Versace chose to open its first store outside Italy way back in 1991, while Comme des Garçons deigned it worthy as the location of its final global guerilla stores, with the Japanese label setting up shop on Ruthven Lane in 2009. Its inhabitants are also a stylish, experimental lot, with Glasgow’s underground music and club scenes providing the perfect breeding ground for experimentation – not to mention it’s got some of the best independent, thrift, and secondhand stores in the country. Among them is forward-thinking online concept store LUNCH, which reps cult designers from across the globe – from Berlin to Melbourne, New York to Stockholm, LUNCH’s rails are dedicated to subversive creators with a focus on slow fashion and sustainability. With the URL store making the move into the physical realm with a series of pop-up events in Glasgow and Edinburgh, many of the designers on the line-up create custom, made-to-order clothes, which means not only are they creating less waste, they’re also able to be more inclusive to people of different sizes and abilities. By way of introduction to what LUNCH is all about, founders Bethany Grace and Tamara Turnbull list ten of the designers they’re getting excited about, and whose work you can find on their digital shelves. 1/10 You may like next 1/10 1/10 CARBOOT Carboot, by Katie Bremnar, takes an experimental, playful approach to design. Her ever-growing array of hand-sculpted bags use an ancient felting technique. The label feels alive – more responsive to Katie’s creative interests than external influences. At LUNCH, we look for designers who aren’t being swayed by trends or conventionality, and Carboot personifies that. The Saddle Kisses bags are a personal favourite. view more + 2/10 2/10 PAS.COSPAS.COS is the creation of Irish-born, Glasgow-based jeweller Patrick Murphy. Each design is crafted by Patrick in his Scottish studio, merging vibrant, ethically lab-grown crystals with uniquely textured molten metals. We love Patrick’s designs because they’re delicate, but have a rough, hardened durability to them.view more + 3/10 3/10 SOLACEFlora McGuigan’s SOLACE radiates a soft quietness. Her pieces are simplistic, understated and endlessly wearable. SOLACE looks to the natural world, but the pieces are built for urban dwelling. Hardware and waterproofing merge with delicate cloth and sophisticated finishings. She’s quintessentially LUNCH. view more + 4/10 4/10 MERRFER A relatively new arrival to LUNCH, Barcelona’s Merrfer is the ultimate scene stealer at our pop-ups. Particularly the signature bow heels. There’s something about them that brings genuine joy to people’s faces – they’re exaggerated and self-aware, impractical and rebellious. Merrfer prioritises fun. Each design is upcycled from deadstock materials, which we love.view more + 5/10 5/10 CHRISTOPHER REIDChristopher Reid’s namesake label references cult horror movies, religion, gothic romance, and grunge icons. It revels in queer culture and its in-jokes, which has made Christopher a beloved staple in Scotland’s fashion scene. Each piece feels like a manifestation of their own creative brain, it’s very visceral. We want LUNCH to feel like a tangible world, and Christopher really taps into that in their own work. view more + 6/10 6/10 TRASHY CLOTHINGYou’ve probably seen a photo of Bella Hadid or Julia Fox in Trashy Clothing. The Palestinian-label emphasises a satirical approach not only to dressing but to making radical stances on issues ranging from ethnicity, race, gender, and sexuality. They’ve cemented themselves as a unique voice, not afraid to play with kitsch sensibilities to make serious points. We love them. view more + 7/10 7/10 MELISA MINCAReupurposed severed shirts strung together to form a skirt, upcycled suits emblazoned with metallic motifs reading ‘SUCK MY CLIT’ and ‘PAY ME’ - Melisa Minca’s designs speak for themselves. The Berlin-based label bridges ethical design with sarcastic, disruptive fashion.view more + 8/10 8/10 KORLEKIEBritish-Ghanaian Korlekie puts modern craftsmanship to the forefront by exploring heritage and culture. A crochet-technique is employed using silken cord to create the circular motif. Each design is so intricate and breathable, yet the faux-corsetry gives an illusion of rigidity. The material gives it this utilitarian, durable finish. She plays with conflicting ideas in a way that feels fresh and authentic. view more + 9/10 9/10 ANMAES BEADSThere’s an ethereal quality to Anmaes Beads. In each design, a variation of pearls, seashells, and glasswork wrap around sterling silver. Ana seamlessly intertwines these modern and natural materials. Each of her pieces are made to order in London. The Limerence necklace, now an exclusive to LUNCH, is a particular standout, personifying the brand's elegance.view more + 10/10 10/10 GHAZIEach hand-dyed tight or glove by Ghazi have a semi-sheer effect, whose gradients and scorched effects interplay with the wearer's body. They become more than just an accent on an outfit – they’re a standout in their own right. The Scoria Tights grab attention, but a personal favourite is the Mona Glove, they have a hazy, sunset quality we love.view more + 0/10 0/10