HEMSLEY LONDON is a Genderless Luxury Streetwear brand based in Hackney.
The brand draws inspiration from the world of aviation and female pioneers, who defied gravity and societal oppressions. Amelia Earhart, Ethel Dare, Harriet Quimby and, crucially, Bessie Coleman, serve as muses for considered compilation of genderless looks, while Coleman’s
“Air is the only place free from prejudice” acts as the brands official motto.
The brand is returning with their second collection 'Bare Breeze - Air Them', inspired by the designer’s experience of the pandemic.
The collection reflects the need to cultivate a personal space for self-development, recognising that what is right does not always conform to the majority. It builds on Hemsley’s previous collection Don’t Be A Passenger taking the sense of freedom to new levels.
“I am interested in the idea of flotation and fucking with gravity,” says Hemsley. “I’ve always been mystified by the concept of flying, but ultimately the strength, determination and dedication with which these women fought for their passion and rejected gravity compelled me to design a collection to express the feeling of freedom and empowerment, especially in light of the current political reality in Britain.”
Bare Breeze - Air Them is about finding the strength to stand alone against the grain.