Just in: M&S x Bella Freud

Iconic British design

We’re so excited to share that M&S has joined forces with designer Bella Freud this season to create an exclusive collaboration available online and in store. Featuring Bella’s signature knits and exquisite tailoring, this limited-edition range of 26 covetable, must-have pieces is just what your wardrobe has been longing for. From the softest cashmere jumpers adorned with Bella's iconic wordplay to perfectly-fitting shirts worn with silk ties, this inspiring collection has something for everyone to discover.
We spoke to Bella about her design influences, why words inspire her and how it feels for a brand-new audience to be discovering her clothes.

What are your memories of M&S as a child?

'The thing I remember about M&S was that it was an emporium full of things, and that it had great jumpers – very good V-necks – and I had an obsession with V-necks. I think they reminded me of school uniform which I’ve always loved. My school's uniform was abolished almost as soon as I started, when I was about eight, and I hankered after the order that a uniform provided, and the appearance of being 'put together'.
I’ve always loved these types of details - a jumper with a coloured trim for example - and how then they reappear in sportswear and they make people look good, a container, and I like that.'

How have you approached the designs for this collaboration?

'I wanted it to be an intensification of what I do best, so I’ve chosen things that are the essence of what I feel I do well. It's a small collection, so I thought about what is the most flattering jacket, what’s the best jacket I make? And the best pair of trousers? So I took elements of those things that I’m familiar with making.
I always refine and refine and get things perfect, so everything has a lot of attention to detail. I hope that that will reflect well in the fit, which is always the signature of good design.'

What part do words play in your design process?

'I remember being aware of how important words were to me probably when I was in my early teens. I'd read a lot since I was a little child, since nursery, and I then discovered how vast and beautiful language was.
I would be drawn towards certain words on album covers, and the simplification and how a lot of feeling was captured into one word and how powerful that was, I loved that.
And the words I chose for this collection; I wanted to imagine how people coming into M&S would be able to relate to them and enjoy the idea of owning them and wearing them.
'Honey', for example, I love that word, it’s just an affectionate term and it embraces a lot of meanings. It’s just charming and there’s also something about saying words like this, they soften you inside and that’s a nice feeling.'

How do you want people to feel when they’re wearing the collection?

'The whole point of clothes is to feel great, and I want people to feel like they’ve found something good that they might not have thought of choosing normally or wasn’t available to them, so I want them to have fun and enjoy the collection.
I’m really looking forward to that element, that more people will be able to wear my clothes. It’s a thrill, a buzz, I love that idea, for me it’s a huge enjoyment to think of my clothes being available to a wider audience.'

M&S x Bella Freud is available now online and in selected stores.

Find the collection in store

M&S x Bella Freud is available in the following stores:

Marble Arch/ Bluewater/ Braehead/ Handforth/ Camberley/ Cheshire Oaks/ Meadowhall/ Pantheon/ Cribbs Causeway / Stratford City London/ Lisburn/ Gyle/ Argyle Street Glasgow/ Manchester / London Colney/ Metro Centre/ Kingston / Culverhouse Cross / Fosse Park / Gemini / Grafton St Dublin / Tamworth/ Edinburgh / Leeds / Liverpool One / White City / Kensington / Lakeside Thurrock / Trafford City Manchester / Kings Rd