English Eccentrics

English Eccentrics is a London-based fashion design label, which creates bespoke one-off designs for celebrities and seasonal collections for a wider audience. Its specialities are hand-printed and hand-embroidered eveningwear and scarves.

Originally founded in 1983 by Helen David (née Littman), her sister Judy Purbeck and friend Claire Angel, English Eccentrics is now run by Helen and her husband Colin from their studio in Kentish Town.

Helen has a first-class honours degree in fashion/textiles and fine art print-making from the Camberwell School of Art and Crafts. She also has a post-graduate qualification in fashion from the internationally renowned Saint Martin’s College of Art.

English Eccentrics creates very distinctive designs in limited editions and regularly showcases new talent by featuring collections by guest designers (often recent graduates).

They have dressed celebrities including Princess Diana, Paul McCartney, Sophie Anderton, Marie Helvin, Mick Jagger, Prince, Helen Mirren and Toyah Willcox. Leading photographer, John Swannell, shoots the seasonal fashion collections.

Many of the designs reflect Helen’s love for innovation, print-making and fine art, with a fascinating range of flocked furniture, mixed media art pieces and laser cut clothing. An extensive range of sketchbook extracts from the English Eccentrics design archive (which spans 25 years) can be found on their website.