British designers and domestic partners Zowie Broach and Brian Kirkby have fought to keep their label—named for an ancient British warrior queen—fierce (and fiercely independent) since its inception in 1997. Broach and Kirkby, who have been called “British agitprop artisans” with a “Cristóbal Balenciaga meets Factory Records” sensibility, launched a perfume in 2008 called Wode, which is sprayed out of a graffiti can and resembles Yves Klein Blue paint before it evaporates. After struggling financially (and resisting corporate help), they were awarded a six-figure sponsorship from American Express in 2003, enabling them to design both ready-to-wear and couture, which show in Paris (they were the second label to receive the award, after Alexander McQueen). Boudicca’s moody, sharply tailored leanings and challenging work with proportion and pleating lend aesthetic comparisons to McQueen. The independent-minded duo, of course, resists the comparison.

Status

Up-and-Coming

Clients

Scarlett Johansson, Cate Blanchett

Other Product Lines

Fragrances

Owned By

Zowie Broach, Brian Kirkby

Address

45 Vyner St.
London, United Kingdom E2 9DQ
44-20-8981-9413

Where To Buy

Barneys New York, Project No. 8

Related Websites

• Platform 13: Boudicca (Official)
• Boudicca Couture (Official)
• Style.com: Boudicca (Media)