Shop Small Saturday: 20 Years of Lowie

Welcome to Shop Small Saturdays, a feature where we celebrate our community of independent boutiques, from Bath to Berlin.

A staple of south London’s Herne Hill, sustainable fashion boutique Lowie is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month. Sourcing conscious brands from Pink City Prints and LF Markey to cottagecore favourite PROJEKTITYYNY, Lowie curates an eclectic mix of fashion and lifestyle alongside their own eponymous label, as well as their accessories line, Miss Pom Pom. We chatted to owner Bronwyn about the shop’s origins and how Lowie has evolved over the years thanks to their hard work and passion for what they do.

Hi Bronwyn! How and why did Lowie begin?

It all started in 2002 after a holiday to Turkey. While there I found these incredible hand-knitted socks. As a crafting fan, I was inspired to design a collection of my own and found some amazing knitters to make them over there. I sold that first collection into House of Fraser and Topshop. Since then Lowie has grown into what it is now. We make quality, colourful clothing with heritage elements and fun prints as sustainably as possible, and we still make the socks from our early days.

We stock lots of other amazing brands now too which all share our ethos of maintaining thoughtful manufacturing and the majority of the clothing pieces are made from sustainable fibres such as organic cotton, linen, lyocell or circular fabrics.

Which brands have you consistently sold over the years, and what do you think makes them so special?

Well of course we sell our own two brands Lowie and Miss Pompom, both of which we design in the back of the shop. Other brands we love include LF Markey, Stella Nova, Leon and Harper, Blundstone and Seventy + Mochi Jeans among others. We concentrate on picking each brands' most colourful, wearable and sustainable pieces.

Which trend have you seen recently that feels really fresh and unlike something you’ve seen before?

Quilting! We love it. You could literally match up your clothing with your quilt cover.

How have things changed for Lowie over the years?

Oh wow - well I guess the main change in the retail landscape has to be online shopping. During and post-covid, customers have shifted to supporting small independent businesses and having a physical retail store enables the customer to imagine themselves shopping physically, even if they are only doing it online.

Herne Hill has certainly become more stylish too with the Sunday market and so many wonderful restaurant options. We love it here and we love our loyal customers.

What 3 things do you think it takes to run a successful independent business?

First and foremost you must love what you do. Secondly, your customers need to be your best friends, without them you won’t have a business. Thirdly, treat your staff well and they will reward you when you need it.

What is next for Lowie? What are you most excited about for the future?

We just had our 20th birthday party and are making a film about being in business for so long. As a business that has always had a focus on sustainability, I’m really excited to see the changes in the thought processes of brands and retailers that may have previously considered it difficult. Now is the time for everyone to do their little bit for the planet.

Shop Lowie now on Trouva or follow them on Instagram.