You’ve never seen clothes that look like Chopova Lowena’s. The London label – founded by Emma Chopova and Laura Lowena-Irons – straddles aesthetic universes, letting reference points collide. Just a few: giant Victoriana puff sleeves clash with the heavy woven textiles of Bulgarian folk costume; rock-climbing-inspired sportswear is layered with deadstock fabric printed with kitsch illustrations lifted from Soviet children’s books. Throw in a wildly patterned fleece and a heavy load of talismanic jewellery, and the Chopova Lowena look is almost nailed. Almost.
Chopova and Lowena-Irons met in 2011, on the first day of the BA fashion course at Central Saint
