Kent & Curwen
Biem. L. Fdlkk Garment Group · United Kingdom
Kent & Curwen is a British heritage label founded in London in 1926 by Eric Kent and Dorothy Curwen, known for club ties and cricket knitwear. Wikipedia lists Biem. L. Fdlkk Garment Group as its owner since 2023, after the liquidation of former owner Trinity Group.
| Founded | 1926 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Eric Kent and Dorothy Curwen |
| Owner | Biem. L. Fdlkk Garment Group (since 2023, per Wikipedia) |
| Origin | London, United Kingdom |
| Segment | Luxury and designer houses |
| Website | kentandcurwen.com |
What is Kent & Curwen?
Kent & Curwen is a British heritage fashion label founded in London in 1926 by Eric Kent and Dorothy Curwen. It began as a maker of regimental, club and college ties for Oxford and Cambridge. Its website describes it as a modern, playful and expressive version of Britishness, since 1926.
History
In the 1930s the brand introduced the cricket jumper and dressed the Hollywood Cricket team. In the early 1980s it opened a St James's Street store and sponsored the film Chariots of Fire. In the mid 1980s it expanded abroad with stores in Beverly Hills, New York, Singapore and Hong Kong, most of which closed in the 2000s. It opened a Conduit Street flagship in 2006 and shops in Piccadilly Arcade and Covent Garden in 2010 and 2017. A five-year partnership with David Beckham began in 2015.
Ownership
Swiss trading company Giselle took over in 1982, and in 2008 Trinity Limited, part of the Li & Fung Group, acquired it. Wikipedia reports that the brand ceased trading in the UK in 2021 following the liquidation of its Chinese owner and Trinity Group, and that in 2023 it was bought by Biem. L. Fdlkk Garment Group, which it lists as the current owner. Wikipedia also records Daniel Kearns as creative director from 2016 and chief creative officer again from 2023; this was not checked against a 2026 source, so treat it with care.
Business model and distribution
Wikipedia notes that the UK website was closed in 2021 and that the UK head office closed, and does not describe current distribution. The brand's official online store sells men's, women's and unisex clothing and accessories, organised by season from autumn/winter 2024 to autumn/winter 2026, with lookbooks, campaigns and runway shows. In 2024 it released its first co-ed collection and showed spring/summer 2025 at London Fashion Week.
Why it matters
Kent & Curwen is a long-established British name that has been revived several times, and it illustrates the effect of Asian group ownership on British heritage labels.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Kent & Curwen?
Wikipedia lists Biem. L. Fdlkk Garment Group as owner since 2023. The previous owner, Trinity Limited of the Li & Fung Group, had bought it in 2008.
Where is Kent & Curwen from?
Kent & Curwen is a British brand founded in London in 1926. It began by making regimental, club and college ties.