EXCLUSIVE: Knwls Joins Milan Fashion Week Schedule

HERE COME THE BRITS: Knwls, the London-based brand cofounded by Charlotte Knowles and Alexandre Arsenault is joining the Milan Fashion Week schedule.

The brand will stage their show on Sept. 27.

“We’ll always be a British brand, of course, but it felt like a strategic and fitting moment for where the brand is and what we’re focusing on. We’ve been working for an Italian brand for the past few months, which has been super eye opening for us as creative directors and business owners and also made it feel like a good time for Knwls to come to Milan,” the brand’s cofounders told WWD in a statement.

Knowles and Arsenault will unveil a secret collaboration that they’ve been working on for the last couple of years as part of their show. They also plan to release another collection shortly afterward.

The brand said it has been thinking about change a lot lately. “We want to challenge expectations and build toward something a bit more international,” the duo said.

Sitting out London Fashion Week this September will be a learning experience for the brand as they venture beyond the parameters of the U.K.

“It will be interesting to see how the brand is received amongst all the big Italian houses. We really love Italy and its context in fashion history. I hope we can get everything we are planning to come together as we imagine and that we have a good impact,” said Knowles and Arsenault.

“We want to challenge expectations and build towards something a bit more international,” the duo added. “We definitely don’t think we’ve outgrown London Fashion Week. London is still incredibly exciting and we’re really looking forward to seeing what Laura Weir does in the role . Even the changes she’s made so far feel like they’ll have a real impact.”