What’s Trending In British Luxury News? April 2026
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From Susie Cave’s new fashion venture to Bill Nighy’s second John Smedley collab, here's all the luxury news you might have missed this April
Best of British: stay up-to-date with everything happening in homegrown luxury this month. Here’s all the British luxury news for April 2026.
British Luxury News: April 2026
Burberry x Hunza G
Burberry Makes A Splash With Hunza G
British labels Hunza G and Burberry have gifted us one of this year’s hottest drops: a swimwear line marrying the former’s material innovation and stylish silhouettes with the latter’s signature check.
The collaboration was announced alongside a series of sun-soaked portraits depicting British actor Simone Ashley and model Alva Claire wearing the new line on the beach.
The two British brands come together for a swim capsule built around four of Hunza G’s signature silhouettes – the Faye, Tyler, Domino and Devyn – using the brand’s signature one-size-fit Original Crinkle fabric.
They are given a fresh look with the addition of Burberry check trims, which linger on the edges of swimsuits, bikinis, swim skirts and tube tops (as well as matching scrunchies). Another Burberry touch comes from the colour palette; a heritage-inspired blend of black, white, metallic cocoa and red.
Find out more about the collection here.
Paul Smith’s Latest Collection Celebrates British Makers
The most recent offering from Paul Smith is a special one. Delving into its network of British makers, manufacturers and craftspeople, the brand has created Made in British Isles – a capsule celebrating the traditions that have shaped the brand since it first opened in 1970.
Spanning outerwear, knitwear, skirting, jersey and accessories created in collaboration with specialist manufacturers across the country, each item in the collection is made from materials of known provenance. Outerwear, for example, has been created by white Label London in Leyton, crafted from fabrics woven at Halley Stevensons’ Baltic Works in Dundee, while knitwear comes courtesy of Corah Textiles in Nottinghamshire, and hand-finished socks are by Royal Warrant holder Corgi Hosiery (who has been producing in South Wales since 1892).
Alongside the capsule, Paul Smith has also launched a campaign going behind the scenes of its manufacturers, as well as an illustrated map tracing the collection’s production across the British Isles.
John Smedley Unveils Second Collaboration With Bill Nighy
Our favourite duo is back. Following their first drop back in October, John Smedley has called on national treasure Bill Nighy once again to celebrate the second chapter of their ongoing collaboration. Nighy, who has been a fan of the label since he was 17, brings his eye for detail and enthusiasm to reimagine Smedley’s luxury knitwear silhouettes.
‘Working with Bill has been a genuine privilege for everyone at John Smedley,’ commented Jess McGuire-Dudley, Managing Director at John Smedley. ‘His relationship with the brand spans decades, and that depth of understanding is something you simply can’t manufacture, it comes from a real, lived appreciation of the knitwear. Bill approaches design with the same thoughtful precision he brings to his acting; every detail matters, but it’s always in service of effortless style.
‘The response to the first collection was incredibly encouraging, and we’re delighted to continue that journey with season two. It builds on what made the collaboration so special in the first place, timeless knitwear, subtle character, and the quiet confidence that defines both Bill and John Smedley.’
The new unisex capsule, designed and made in John Smedley’s Derbyshire mill, has been crafted from fine gauge merino wool (a signature for the brand), cashmere silk and Sea Island Cotton. Some of the highlights this time around include a waistcoat and cardigan duo – a relaxed take on tailoring traditions – and a pair of cashmere and merino long johns – a historical signature for the brand.
And, just for spring, the collection also features a fresh new colourway: seasonal neutrals, comprising heather grey, wildling green and hemingway ‘sky’ blue. (But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of styles in the brand’s classic midnight.) ‘I’m cautious with colour, it’s not often I dare. But spring drives me crazy, it’s no time for squares,’ said Nighy. Other details revived from the first drop include the ‘Stay Modern’ statement of intent on labels, plus the actor’s hand-drawn bird motif that he’s known for drawing on all of his scripts.
We Have Our First Glimpse At Susie Cave, Weddings and Funerals
If, like us, you mourned the loss of cult London label The Vampire’s Wife, then listen up – Susie Cave is back. The designer, who shut down her label back in 2024, returns to the fashion scene this spring with a brand new brand specialising in demi-couture designs.
‘I needed to return to the very basics, to start anew, to shake off the relentless, voracious appetite of the industry and to create beautiful dresses I was personally committed to, beyond the demands of the market,’ said the designer of the decision to launch her new label.
Shoppers will be able to step into what Cave dubs a subversive and playful atmosphere in her new shop – which will be open by appointment only from mid-May. As mentioned, the designer plans to start from the basics, with a collection of 25 silhouettes, designed solely in black and white. Don’t expect the typical bridal (or funeral) attire either; the brand describes its designs as sitting on the more elaborately ceremonial side of the scale. We can’t wait to see it.
Opens Mid-May 2026, susiecave.com
