UKFT President HRH The Princess Royal visits MAES London’s factory in North London
22/09/2023
HRH The Princess Royal visited luxury womenswear manufacturer MAES London in North London earlier this month, in her role as President of the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT).
Fashion designer turned garment production specialist Diana Kakkar founded MAES London in 2018 with the intention of reconnecting designers with manufacturing. Aided by a degree in economics and a global career spanning from India to Australia, the US to the UK, Diana has extensive experience in garment construction, production and design development.
The idea for MAES London came about while working within the British luxury fashion industry in product development. During the lead up to fashion week, Diana recognised an opportunity for a local luxury manufacturer that designers could trust and develop a long-standing relationship with. Shortly afterwards she quit her full-time job at a luxury designer and she, along with her business partner Joshua Rosario, set about turning her concept into a reality.
Today MAES specialises in sampling and high end production, with a keen focus on transparency and its founders are invested in ethical and sustainable manufacturing.
Clients are welcomed into the studio and are able to see their collections being created first-hand.
HRH The Princess Royal was given a tour of the beautiful, light-filled studio in North London and met with several of the highly-skilled team that bring the vision of designers to life.
Diana Kakkar, founder and CEO of MAES London, said:
“We are honoured to have hosted HRH The Princess Royal at MAES London. Her visit is a testament to the importance of the manufacturing industry in the UK. We are committed to continue growing our business, create jobs and support fashion designers by bridging the gap between design and manufacturers.”
Adam Mansell, CEO of UKFT, said:
“We are delighted to introduce HRH The Princess Royal to the passionate founders and skilled team of MAES London. By creating such a bright, open and inviting workspace and establishing close partnerships with designers, the company is a great example of garment manufacturing in the UK today. Diana is also a great champion of manufacturing skills, educating students and designers about the processes and high levels of craftsmanship that goes into creating beautiful garments.”
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MAES London is a UKFT Member. Click on the link below to learn more about the UKFT membership: