Graduating from Warwickshire School of Arts and later from Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design Luella’s future was, from a young age looking prosperous, especially after being awarded with the award for Britain’s Young Designer of the Year award only a year after her first show under her fashion label “Luella”.
Before her career launched as a fashion designer, Bartley was also well known for her experience as a fashion journalist and magazine editor for British Vogue; possibly the main dream of every young person wanting to enter the fashion industry.
After launching her first “Daddy, I want a pony” collection in 1999, she soon become renowned for being the woman brave enough to combine the femininity and innocence connoted through her use of floral prints and delicate textiles, with the rough edge associated with the punk element of her work and of London during the 1990’s. The titles to her collections alone embodied image which Bartley wanted to create, giving hints at stereotypical English comments such as “Daddy, I want a pony” and “Daddy, who were The Clash?”. She wanted to create a label which expanded on traditional English fashion, giving reference to popular culture and the London music scene here and there. This youth and playfulness which Luella has (up to date) integrated within her work is the element which has made her work accessible to a wide market, with particular focus on those searching for the British ‘it girl’ look.
Unfortunately, since November 2009 Luella has been ceased in trade, due to the economic crisis arising at the time, However in order to carry on inspiring us Bartley has released her book “Luella’s Guide to English Style”!
