Our Story
“For as long as I can remember I was passionate about creating a quintessentially English Brand that supports British manufacturing.
After struggling to find summer dresses that worked at home and abroad it was the versatility of the shirt dress, the most worn and loved piece in my wardrobe, that eventually inspired me to create Luisa Kelsey, the brand.”
Luisa Kelsey, Founder
Style that Transcends Trends
Enabling women to buy fewer and buy better. This guiding principle is key to the Luisa Kelsey design philosophy. Only the most luxurious fabrics form the brand’s signature shirt dresses, with the softest cotton, Broderie Anglaise, woven stripes and natural viscose creating understated clothes that transcend trends. Luisa Kelsey’s versatile collections are to be cherished and re-worn.
Celebrating Craftsmanship around the Globe
Luisa Kelsey is committed to nurturing craft and skill. Working in partnership with artisans in Ecuador, each Luisa Kelsey hat is hand-woven using time-honoured techniques and the straw fibres from the leaves of the Paja Toquilla plant – before being hand-finished in England. Luisa’s little black book of makers extends from Ecuador to France – where she sources her delicate shell buttons – and Italy, where a family-run mill creates exquisite fabrics for the brand in bespoke colours.
Championing English Heritage & Supporting British Manufacturing
Championing English heritage, Luisa Kelsey designs weave together tradition with modernity to create an effortless sense of elegance. The label’s dresses are manufactured and hand-finished at a small studio in England, supporting British manufacturing and harnessing home-grown talent wherever possible.
A Sustainable Approach
As well as partnering with the fairest manufacturers, sourcing the finest materials and supporting artisans, Luisa Kelsey produces small runs and uses end-of-line fabrics to help reduce unnecessary waste. All Luisa Kelsey packaging is recyclable and reusable, including beautiful keepsake boxes to protect your clothes and branded drawstring cotton dust bags to ensure longevity. Acknowledging its ongoing commitment to sustainability, the brand recently received the Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Mark accreditation.
Spitfire Spirit
The Luisa Kelsey brand logo, a Spitfire, is symbolic of its English heritage. A British design classic (which pioneering women piloted), the Spitfire signifies craftsmanship, freedom, and grace. It adorns all Luisa Kelsey packaging, including the Spitfire Tote Bag and Baseball Caps – proceeds from which have supported various charities, such as Home-Start, Place2Be, #FeedNHS and Breast Cancer Now providing a meaningful way for shoppers to give back.
“One of my earliest memories is of a beautiful dress that my always-elegant grandmother gave me, made from softest seersucker with a pale blue and white stripe. I kept it for years, understanding even then that not all dresses are created equal. I want women wearing my designs to feel how I felt wearing that cherished dress – confident, relaxed, completely themselves.”
Luisa Kelsey, Founder