Unless you’ve been living under a not-so-fashionable rock, you probably already know and follow Studio B on Instagram. Started by fashion buyer Bethany Rowntree six years ago, Studio B was once an online treasure trove of a store that Bethany hand-curated, showcasing small and emerging fashion brands that she loved herself and knew her customer base would love, too. Fast forward to 2023 and Bethany rebranded the online shopping destination as a social-first platform, becoming a directory of fabulous pieces and brands that she shares daily with her 60,000 followers and ample Substack readers. With years of buying expertise under her belt and a loyal audience who can’t wait to see what she finds next, who better to share her favourite indie brands? Bethany, the floor is yours…

This is the story I’ve been looking forward to writing the most, and it’s probably also the closest to what my latest Substack newsletter is about, which is revealing all my secret sources and special somethings! In this month’s column, I’ll be showing you a little selection of some of my most loved small and independent brands.

Oh, you’re in for a treat! I doubt you’ll have heard of some of these brands, and it’s so nice to be able to shine a spotlight on amazing small designers and makers; having run my own business when Studio B was an online store, I know first-hand how hard running a small business actually is. I have so many tricks up my frilly sleeves, so here are just a few of my favourites, all of which I own pieces from and would 100% recommend. Enjoy!

Shop Bethany’s Favourite Independent Brands:

1. Ferrat Jewellery

Style Notes: Ferrat is a one-man brand with an ethos that just hits the nail on the head: To create quality-made jewellery without the outrageous markup, ethically made and built to last. I also love the fact it uses recycled silver as a base for the pieces.

Shop the Brand:

2. Ciao Lucia