Longchamp x Gloverall

Few cities ignite creative spirits like London. For Sophie Delafontaine, Longchamp’s longtime Artistic Director, the city pulses with an energy that sets it apart—not just in Europe, but anywhere in the world. “For me, if we compare London and Paris—no comparison. Paris is a beautiful museum. London is very, very unique and very alive,” Delafontaine explains, her enthusiasm palpable from the outset. She sees London as both “full of beauty and art,” with “so much... life to everything,” a city whose dynamic culture and musical tapestry infuse everything she creates.

As Longchamp unveils its FW25 collection in collaboration with iconic British outerwear brand Gloverall (even Paddington Bear wears one), London’s influence runs deeper than ever. Sophie describes this new partnership as “an evidence,” linking Longchamp’s timeless Le Roseau bag and its wooden toggle to the heritage of the duffel coat—a Gloverall signature. “The origin was the duffel coat. When we created Le Roseau, we were inspired by the duffel coat button. It’s about making it easy and functional —back in the day, if you wore heavy gloves, you needed to open and close the coat easily, and so the toggle was a solution” she reflects, drawing a parallel between Gloverall’s practical craftsmanship and Longchamp’s design philosophy.

The duffel coat itself, Delafontaine believes, “is at the same time casual and elegant... it fits for both urban and countryside occasions. You can really play with it in many ways.” That intersection of versatility forms the backbone of the FW25 collection. Gloverall’s enduring commitment to London-based manufacturing, “since 1951!” finds kindred spirit in Longchamp’s own history, which began in 1948. “They still make everything in London which is incredible. Their craftsmanship is very strong; they work with exactly the same supplier and fabric from the very beginning,” she observes with admiration.

Yet collaboration is about more than shared tradition. Sophie wanted to “inject a little bit of newness and a different perspective... a twist of creativity,” giving Gloverall’s legacy “an opportunity to make something really cool with them.” The partnership, she says, happened effortlessly, founded on “kindness and open-mindedness”.

London’s spirit courses through Sophie’s vision for both her products and retail experiences. She recounts her family’s ties: “My sons studied at King’s College. They enjoy so much life here—English life from London is a bit more free,” contrasting the city’s academic ethos with France’s more rigid approach. “Here: Who are you? What do you have to say? What do you feel?” she emphasizes, describing how London encourages creative exploration.

Sophie’s admiration for British creatives lead her to many a collaboration with them — from Tracy Emin back in 2004 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Longchamp’s iconic Le Pliage tote, to Kate Moss who started as the face of the brand, but indirectly led to Sophie designing a ready-to-wear collection because she needed to cloth Kate in the campaigns, to Alexa Chung, and Thomas Heatherwick. Each collaboration revealed the “very different British character... super inspiring, all professional, and so passionate.” For Sophie, this blend of authenticity and energy mirrors Longchamp’s own brand DNA.

As retail transforms, she sees even more value in tangible, meaningful experiences. “Let's face it. No one really needs a new bag... or jacket or sweater. The idea is to propose products with real meaning—appealing, desirable, but with strong meaning and lasting durability.” Sustainability now anchors Longchamp’s production: “All our nylon is recycled. All the leather has the LWG label—high-level standard. It means so much for me”. The atmosphere in Longchamp stores, she says, “is like a home,” designed to help people “discover art in an approachable way.” Each location features unique artwork—New Bond Street’s staircase boasts a Ukrainian artist, Vienna highlights Japanese art, Tokyo an Australian artist. This, she says, encourages genuine exploration and connection.

In a fashion landscape fevered by constant creative directorship changes, Sophie is steadfast. “We have a very strong know how. It’s in my heritage. What I want is to inject creativity while keeping the heritage of craftsmanship, knowhow, the quality—what makes Longchamp.” She welcomes younger generations into her creative process, believing “the breadth of the woman you’re designing for” is best understood across generations, “from my daughter and her friend, to my friends.” This multi-generational focus keeps Longchamp’s collections vibrant and accessible.

Above all, Sophie’s lasting message is that London is very special for Longchamp. From collaborations to flagship openings in Regent Street, each step taken in London marks “a strong moment for the company... a step change.” Our admiration for Sophie and the family-run global brand runs deep, and we love how they have taken London’s capacity to inspire, unite, and energize—blending deep heritage with contemporary creativity - to fold within its present.