3 New Brands to Know at Harrods for Autumn/Winter 2025

After more than a decade working for some of Australia’s leading brands, designer Charlotte Hicks was seeking a fresh start. “I wanted to create a purpose-driven brand that was built around a set of values,” she tells us. The result was Esse Studios, a label that eschews strict seasonal collections in favour of numbered editions of staples-with-a-twist, designed to be mixed, matched and layered. “It’s about building and evolving your wardrobe, starting from the basics,” Hicks explains. “At every touchpoint in her life, I want our woman to reach for Esse. It’s reliable and versatile. I really think about the quality, the fabrications, the cuts and the fits to help her feel put together.” What’s next for the brand? “We’re just getting started.” Hicks says. “I’ve got some big dreams in terms of where I want to take the brand: even more immersive, even more experiential and even more incredible product.”

Swedish cashmere brand Soft Goat crafts knitwear for modern city living. “We started out with the ambition to combine Scandinavian simplicity with a more accessible take on luxury,” explains founder Stephanie Bergström. “We believe in expressive minimalism, and we like to balance timeless design with a playful edge. Soft Goat is about individuality, knits that become part of your signature look rather than override it,” she says. Responsible craft is another key pillar – the brand works closely with its partners in Inner Mongolia and China to source the very best OEKO-TEX®-certified yarns with clear traceability. “We see sustainability not just as a responsibility, but as a natural part of creating pieces that are made to last,” says Bergström.