Finney Offers Laid Back Separates in Silk, Cashmere and Cotton – WWD

LONDON – Phillip Bodenham, the owner of Spring in London and Los Angeles, is transitioning from brand builder to designer with a new, resort-inspired collection, set to hit shelves in spring 2022.

Called Finney, the brand offers men’s and women’s clothing in natural fibers, such as silk and cashmere, in a collection intended for holiday activity and everyday life. The first collection focuses on silk shorts, trousers and shirts. Cashmere sweaters will be available in September while silk dresses will be available in October.

“I’ve always wanted to do my own brand,” says Bodenham, adding that he created this collection for himself and his friends who are looking to buy beautiful, versatile pieces of clothing. with reasonable price.

Prior to founding Spring, the media, PR and brand development agency in 2009, Bodenham worked for brands such as Tom Ford and Versace.

He says he’s especially inspired by Ford’s “commitment to quality, shine and glamor that has always been with me”.

The aim, Bodenham says, is to provide chic – and comfortable – clothing that can be as easily exercised on holiday as it is on city streets or at work.

He describes the aesthetic as “a great London girl mixed with Hollywood stars,” and comfort is an important factor. The silk pants have an elastic waist at the back and feel like sweatpants, says Bodenham.

He chose the name Finney because of its speciality, and because he loved the novel “Huckleberry Finn”. The idea was to bring that devilish luxury into the collection, which he describes as a “modern resort.”

Bodenham says he is sourcing silk from China and France and cashmere from Inner Mongolia, and is using factories that source big-name and contemporary designers. He said he will never use man-made fibers, plastics or plastic packaging for the collection.

Prices ranged from $225 for a pair of shorts to $1,445 for a silk dress, and Bodenham said he had about eight retailers on board. The brand will launch officially in February and will also be available on the Finney website.

The first collection includes a range of criss-cross silk pieces, including short-sleeve, front button-down shirts, flat-front trousers and shorts in emerald, chocolate, olive and red. . The prints are inspired by hot-weather holiday destinations, and include daisies, wisteria and leopard print.

An avid photography collector, Bodenham worked with Tony Duran to capture the collection.

The plan is to launch a chain of pop-up stores by 2022, in cities including London, Los Angeles, Miami and New York, with the goal of opening a physical store in West Hollywood by March 2023.

Bodenham plans to continue working with Spring (he recently moved to a new office in Los Angeles, after put that business on hold during the pandemic) and split his time between the two businesses. Spring’s customers now include Chalayan, Maria Black and Band of Outsiders.

Additionally, in 2023, he plans to launch the Finney Photo Award, which will be open to students of art schools around the world. The plan is to hold the annual awards ceremony in September every year in Paris.