UK Enterprise Awards 2022

199 | UK Enterprise Awards 2022 Jun22563 Vendula London – a handbag brand with a twist – has taken social media by storm, with its Instagram amassing over 75 thousand followers. Its quirky take on opulent fashion has made the brand popular amongst alternative fashion fans, with the brand’s quality and cruelty-free promise playing a key role in its meteoric rise to fame. Influenced by pioneering designers and brands such as Vivienne Westwood and Lulu Guinness, Vendula London is an innovator, becoming internationally known for its creative and often unconventional approach to vegan handbags. Yet, despite these clear inspirations, Vendula London has forged its own path – one that has led to a revered collaboration with Queen and dozens of sold-out, glamorous collections. Vendula London’s pieces have become a staple amongst many handbag collections, with a loyal clientele spanning from Europe and US to Asia. However, the vibrant brand’s origins are of a humble nature – Vendula London came to fruition in 2003 thanks to a chance meeting between the friends Vendula Zemanova, a corporate lawyer, and Raymond Lam, a financial accountant. Its genesis came in the form of a wholesale brand, finding its place in the midmarket void left untouched by other fashion Most Innovative Novelty Handbag Retailer 2022 brands, and this proved to be an excellent business decision as Vendula London rapidly gained traction. Indeed, Vendula London has been disrupting the fashion world ever since, transforming from a wholesale retailer into a new wave of alternative, cruelty-free fashion that has found itself at the forefront of the market. Like its sources of inspiration, Vendula London is, perhaps, best known for constantly pushing the boundaries of conventional design and couture fashion. Who would have thought about creating a bag out of a pub!!? Britannia, The George and The Crown were all inspired by iconic British pubs. Vendula London experiments with creativity and eccentricity, with such elements culminating in the development of products unlike anything else on the market, the dreamy Shakespeare’s Theatre collection. The most recent addition to this much-loved series draws upon Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and it features exquisite details like 3D butterflies, floral elements, and, of course, a cameo from the play’s best known comedic character, Bottom, whose head is transformed into that of a donkey. Of course, it is this unique approach that makes Vendula London stand out from its industry cohort. Its position in the market means that Vendula London has very little competition as a vintage-inspired, alternative brand, especially as Vendula London prides itself upon its devotion to remaining 100% cruelty-free and vegan. Each item, which is produced at the company’s own pace, is crafted with the utmost care, ensuring the level of quality for which it is known. Indeed, Vendula London strives to have a positive impact on its employees, the planet, and its customers, with its mission being to make the latter smile. Success, however, often comes hand-in-hand with a number of challenges, and Vendula London has certainly faced several hurdles over the past 19 years. The aftermath of Brexit had an enormous impact on the brand’s operations, largely due to supply chain delays and shortages of materials. Emphasised further by the outbreak of Covid-19, these issues are still bubbling away in the background of Vendula London’s otherwise seamless processes. In order to rectify this problem, Vendula London has been planning to relocate part of its operation to the Netherlands, which it believes will optimise production and, in turn, sales. Most Innovative Novelty Handbag Retailer 2022 is a title that truly fits Vendula London. The brand embraces the wild side of life, utilising themes such as Edwardian piers, literature, and shopfronts to create bags that are infused with imagination, colour, and luxury. Furthermore, it does all of this without compromising on its cruelty-free and vegan status. It is abundantly clear that there is a deep passion within Vendula London that drives it to deviate from the norm, remaining a fashion-forward brand filled with excitement and fun, and consequently, it truly deserves such an accolade. Contact: Karin Ridgers (PR) Company: Vendula London Limited Web Address: www.vendulalondon.com

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