KNWLS AW22 Precious stringy sexy corsets and biker jackets made from engineered bespoke leather

Read time 2 minutes

Founded by Charlotte Knowles and Alexandre Arsenault, the London-based label has transformed from a two-person project into an acclaimed brand.

When Charlotte Knowles and Alexandre Arsenault embarked on their journey into the fashion world, their vision was clear but intimate. The duo founded their label shortly after Knowles graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2017, bringing together their shared creativity and passion for reimagining contemporary design. What started as a two-person endeavor in London has since flourished into an internationally acclaimed fashion house, celebrated for its bold, experimental approach to redefining silhouettes and reshaping the boundaries of traditional dress codes.

With the label’s rapid growth and increasing global presence, Charlotte Knowles announced a significant milestone for the brand: its rebranding as KNWLS for the Fall/Winter 2021 collection. The new identity reflects not only the expansion of the studio but also its evolving ethos as a cutting-edge creative powerhouse. KNWLS represents the fusion of its founders’ names while embodying the label’s commitment to pushing design boundaries, embracing innovation, and celebrating individuality.

“Founded in 2017 by Charlotte Knowles and Alexandre Arsenault, KNWLS is celebrated for experimental designs that redefine.”

KNWLS has become synonymous with experimental designs that accentuate the body in strikingly unexpected ways. The label’s signature style lies in its ability to juxtapose the sensitive and the severe, creating pieces that traverse the delicate line between concealment and revelation.

At the core of KNWLS’ collections are corsets and tank tops, which subvert conventional codes of femininity when paired with semi-sheer negligees. These layered looks challenge the traditional notions of dressing, offering a modern, edgy reinterpretation of classic elements. Hyper-stretchy flares and form-fitting dresses, often adorned with all-over patterns, further showcase the label’s commitment to designs that embrace the body’s natural shape while amplifying its curves in bold, artistic ways.

Shirt by KNWLS.

Beyond clothing, KNWLS extends its innovative approach to accessories. Leather handbags stand out with their sharp angles and intriguing textures, embodying the brand’s exploration of new expressions of its design aesthetic. These striking pieces complement the label’s garments, reinforcing the brand’s overarching narrative of blending form and function with avant-garde artistry.

As KNWLS continues to gain recognition on the international stage, its ethos remains rooted in challenging expectations and celebrating individuality. Each collection builds upon the label’s foundational values, showcasing a commitment to craftsmanship, creativity, and the exploration of the interplay between the traditional and the avant-garde.

By playing with the ways the body can be both concealed and revealed, KNWLS crafts garments that invite wearers to embrace their boldest selves. The brand’s designs not only make a statement but also encourage a deeper reflection on the art of self-expression through fashion.

With its FW21 rebrand and a growing portfolio of collaborations, KNWLS is poised for even greater heights. The label’s ability to evolve while staying true to its core vision ensures its relevance in an ever-changing fashion landscape. As Charlotte Knowles and Alexandre Arsenault continue to innovate, KNWLS promises to remain at the forefront of redefining modern fashion—a testament to the power of vision, collaboration, and fearless creativity.

Photography by Jordan Hemingway Stying by Georgia Pendlebury. Make-up by Thomas de Kluyver. Hair by Cyndia Harvey. Nails by Sylvie Macnukkuab. Casting by Anita Bitton. Production by Bellhouse Markes.

Text by
Kyrie Carlo

Photography by
Jordan Hemingway

Fashion by
Georgia Pendlebury

Posted
May 4, 2022

Text by
Kyrie Carlo

Photography by
Jordan Hemingway

Fashion by
Georgia Pendlebury

August 9, 2018

Working with her partner Alexandre Arsenault, the London-based designer founded the label shortly after graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2017. What began as an intimate two-person project has since expanded into an internationally acclaimed label with a series of collaborations under its belt. Best known for its experimental designs that accentuate the body’s silhouette in unexpected ways, Charlotte Knowles intends to rebrand as KNWLS for FW21 to reflect the brand’s growing studio practice. Corsets and tank tops subvert conventional codes of dress when styled with semi-sheer negligees. Hyper-stretchy flares and form-fitting dresses sport all-over patterns at once sensitive and severe. Leather handbags with sharp angles and interesting textures point to the brand’s interest in exploring new expressions of its design aesthetic. Playing with the ways the body can be both concealed and revealed, Charlotte Knowles effectively traverses the boundaries between tradition and the avant-garde.

Shirt by KNWLS.

Central Saint Martins Charlotte Knowles Culture Design Fashion Philosophy

Feature

Inside the world of Luke James as the artist traces desire, vulnerability and connection through his album

Read time 5 minutes

Text by
Kylar Ashton

Photography by
Ben Abarbanel.

Fashion by
Guvanch Agajumayev

Posted
June 19, 2022

Before to feel love/d entered the world, Luke James invited us into the quiet space where voice, memory and desire become music.

“This album is a culmination of experiences,” Luke says. “It is music that I’ve lived with for a while. I like to think of it as a bridge into my new endeavors as an independent artist.”

Following two years devoted to acting, to feel love/d marked Luke’s return to music on his own terms. Its first three singles—“go girl,” featuring BJ The Chicago Kid and Ro James, “all of your love” and “blow”—carried that return across major R&B playlists on Spotify and Amazon Music.

Luke’s history moves between the intimate and the iconic. He has written for Justin Bieber, Snoh Aalegra and Chris Brown, performed alongside Prince and opened for Beyoncé during The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour. His song “I Want You” earned his first Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance, followed by a second nomination for “Options,” featuring Rick Ross, in the category of Best R&B Song.

With to feel love/d, that history becomes a threshold—the closing of one chapter and the first sound of whatever comes next.

Beyond music, Luke’s presence moves easily across the screen. In Lena Waithe’s The Chi, he entered a story shaped by life on Chicago’s South Side, where a single event sends tremors through a community and draws unexpected lives together.

His screen work also includes Universal Pictures’ Little, alongside Issa Rae, Regina Hall and Marsai Martin, and a leading role in Lee Daniels’s musical drama Star. Elsewhere, he has appeared in HBO’s Insecure, Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G. and The Bobby Brown Story, portraying R&B singer Johnny Gill.

Montrose meets Luke at the intersection of music and performance, where he reflects on adrenaline, the philosophy guiding his life and the world taking shape beyond to feel love/d.

MONTROSE

Who is Luke James in five words?

LUKE

Loving. Honorable. Nasty. Happy. Sad. Okay, let’s see—what else is there?

MONTROSE

What is the first thing you do in the morning?

LUKE

I begin with a check—a self-diagnostic. I feel my body, my mind and my spirit. Then I express gratitude for waking up to another day. Thank you, God.

MONTROSE

What philosophy guides your life?

LUKE

“Don’t worry, be happy.” Not to sound cliché, but my mother always told me not to worry. I think I’m now at a place where I want to be. So yes—don’t worry, be happy. Everything is going to work out.

MONTROSE

What do people often misunderstand about you?

LUKE

I think people see me as an extrovert. Maybe I play the part well sometimes, but I’m naturally more introverted.

My career helps draw me out of that because I want to experience life in all its forms, and sometimes my instincts don’t allow me that pleasure. The work takes me outside of myself. It introduces me to people and new ideas. It keeps my mind open.

“With ‘to feel love/d,’ I aim to create a sonic journey where emotions flow freely, melodies captivate, and every listener finds solace in the music.” – Luke James

MONTROSE

What gives you the greatest adrenaline rush?

LUKE

The stage. It is a rush unlike anything else. I can come offstage having cut myself and not even realize it until the next day. In that moment, the adrenaline takes over.

MONTROSE

Where does your mind go when you are alone?

LUKE

A lot of places—some of them personal. I think about work, but not necessarily in the way everyone else might. I find pleasure in what I do, so when I speak about work, I am really speaking about my passions. They happen to make me money, which turns them into work—something I must continue doing to make a living.

But I enjoy it. So, to answer your question, I think about creativity. I think about God, love and the world. I try my best to think about things that make me happy.

MONTROSE

What quality do you most admire in yourself?

LUKE

My willpower. I am constantly reminded of how strong it is. If there is something I truly want, I work my ass off to get it.

It sometimes feels as though everything around me begins to shift, allowing me to reach whatever I am searching for. I am not pretending to be a guru—I am still figuring it out too.

MONTROSE

What might others find strange about you?

LUKE

I don’t know. Someone else might have to answer that. I don’t consider anything I do particularly strange. I’m interesting. Laughs.

MONTROSE

What three qualities do you value most in another person?

LUKE

Empathy, intellect and spirituality—something within that realm. There are so many qualities to value. Fucking three just isn’t enough.

MONTROSE

What struggle have you learned to move through?

LUKE

Seeing myself for who I am. Acknowledging it, honoring it and strengthening it. Learning to be happy with the process of becoming a better version of myself—and falling in love with that process.

It is constant. I believe it is a struggle almost everyone experiences.

MONTROSE

If you could leave your younger self one message, what would it be?

LUKE

Wake up early. Create, create, create. Stay open and be a sponge. Don’t worry.

Leave negative people and situations alone. Let them go. You may love them, but you can love them from a distance. Enjoy yourself. Be present in the moment, and listen to your own voice. Stay centered.

Many trying things will come your way. Be still and keep moving forward. Everything will be all right.

Yep, that’s it. I hope that made sense.

Photography by Ben Abarbanel. Styling by Guvanch Agajumayev. Grooming by Travis Lester. Casting by André Adkins.