A long-standing brand that has pushed for inclusivity.
In this era of fashion bloggers, digital magazines and outfit of the day, trendy clothing brands and looking good is on everyone’s mind.
The millennials have become obsessed with what they wear and how they present themselves.
Every fashion moment needs to be recorded, edited and then posted on social media.
The onset of fashion influencers with their ‘5 ways to style outfits’ and ‘sponsored’ content has made it easy for people to get inspired and try new looks.
Millennials these days associate being fashionable with acceptance and status more than ever.
They want to be on-trend and keep a track of what celebrities or their friends are wearing.
However, not everyone can afford expensive brands like Gucci, Chanel or Burberry. People want to dress the best without spending too much money.
Most of the shoppers are young students who barely have enough to survive in a big city, let alone go on a luxury shopping spree.
It is even harder for South Asian or Desi students in the UK who have come for international studies.
Not only are they adapting to a new country, but they also need to adapt their appearance to suit their surroundings.
That is when they look for cheaper and more affordable alternatives that are good quality and don’t burn a hole in their pocket.
There are many brands and clothing outlets in the UK that are suited to lower budgets.
Brands like Zara, H&M, Topshop and Miss Selfridge are already well established among shoppers.
However, there are still many brands out there that are underrated because they have not had the exposure.
These easy on the pocket alternatives will be sure to influence your next shopping spree once you sift through their collections.
DESIblitz will explore 6 noteworthy brands to intrigue your inner fashionista.
Reserved
Reserved is a Polish high street fashion brand that opened its flagship UK store on Oxford Street, London, in September 2017.
The face of the brand’s campaign was the British model Kate Moss who invaded the banners and hoardings across London.
The brand forms part of the LPP Spólka Akcyjna, a Polish clothing retailer that deals in the production, distribution and design of apparel.
It also owns many other brands like Cropp and Mohito. However, despite having over 700 stores worldwide, you might just be unaware of this little gem.
The brand offers high-end, go-to collections that are also decently priced. The brand aims to rival the likes of Zara and compatriot brand H&M.
As for the clothes, they mainly deal in luxe basics, pastel palettes and monotone pieces.
From baby clothes to premium denim, Reserved boasts an impressive selection of clothing.
With t-shirts starting from as little as £5.99, this brand certainly delivers for budget spenders.
Bershka
Bershka is a part of the Spanish clothing retailer Inditex group that also owns other famous brands like Zara, Massimo Dutti and Pull & Bear.
The clothing brand targets youngsters and has stores in 71 countries including the UK, India and Sri Lanka.
Although, Bershka actually generates most of its sales through online orders. The apparel line first introduced its online platform in the UK in 2011.
It is a brand that gives you the exclusive designer-like feel because its collection is fresh, limited and stocked every two weeks.
The brand also has accessories and shoes that could give any other brand tough competition in terms of design and quality.
Their clothes range from partywear bling dresses to street style to athleisure must-haves.
The brand’s clothes suit all styles, even showcasing a minimalist range for those who like more subtle colours.
Their price range is a tad higher than Reserved, but it’s worth the extra money due to the design and feel of the garments.
Stradivarius
Stradivarius is another affordable clothing brand by the Inditex group. Their clothes are more urban-chic meets streetwear and are known for their longevity.
Their jeans and boots are especially very popular. The clothing brand also targets the younger generation but cater to women as a whole.
The brand believes in embracing change, giving current trends a new and innovative look with an aim to inspire.
Stradivarius began in 1994 as a family-owned business in Barcelona, Spain. Currently, the brand is present in 62 countries with 925 stores all over the world.
In April 2018, Stradivarius released a T-shirt inspired by the song ‘Lo Malo’ by Spanish singers Aitana and Ana Guerra.
The T-shirt was sold out in less than twenty-four hours.
The brand is also widely popular among influencers and celebrities all over the world.
Stars such as Hailey Baldwin, Zoella and even Infanta Sofia, the daughter of the Queen of Spain.
Its spacious stores are decorated in a youthful and vibrant style, displaying a wide array of fashion options for young women.
Stradivarius is similar in vein to Bershka but is slightly more affordable.
New Look
New Look is Britain’s very own answer to the Zara’s and H&M’s of the world. It has a large chain of high street shops across the UK.
The brand was founded by Tom Singh in Taunton, Somerset in 1969 and has since established itself as one of the UK’s best mid-range apparel brands.
It retails globally in over 900 stores located in many countries including China, UAE and Belgium.
New Look mainly targets teens and sells both menswear and womenswear. It is one of the most economical of all the fashion outlets in the UK.
The brand deals in apparels, lingerie and footwear for teens, among other things such as homeware and beauty.
Their footwear specifically retails at very reasonable prices, something that is rare for any decent footwear brand.
Sliders, sandals and formal shoes are all displayed and can start from as little as £12.99, but the quality remains intact.
The wide range of products mainly includes dresses, bottoms and tops, both casual and formal.
With lucrative discounts all year long, New Look definitely delivers in price and design, pleasing customers with all styles.
Dorothy Perkins
Dorothy Perkins is also one of the UK’s native clothing brands. Formerly a store chain, the brand was occupied by the fast-growing Boohoo.com in 2021.
It has been acquired following the collapse of the Arcadia Group, owned by the billionaire businessman Sir Philip Nigel Ross Green.
Brands like Topshop, Outfit, Burton, Evans, Wallis and a few others also came under the ambit of the Arcadia Group.
Dorothy Perkins mainly retails in womenswear. They have ample affordable options for the university-going student crowd.
It is on par with New Look when it comes to prices and offers elegant options to its female audience.
In 2012, the Kardashian sisters, Khloe, Kourtney and Kim launched their ‘Kardashian Kollection’ with the fashion chain.
It also continues to be a long-standing brand that has pushed for inclusivity within clothing.
That’s been displayed by their maternity, tall, plus size and petite clothing collections.
No matter the style or body shape, the brand aims to make all feel confident when putting on their clothes.
Originally, the clothing brand was best known for its lingerie, tights, and sleepwear collections.
However, over time, due to increasing competition, their apparel lost its appeal and exclusivity to the likes of River Island etc.
Nonetheless, the brand continues to charm its followers through its reasonable pricing and on-trend apparel.
Matalan
Matalan is a British fashion and homeware retailer and was established by John Hargreaves in 1985. It is still owned by the Hargreaves family.
As of 2020, the company has 230 stores in the United Kingdom, together with 32 franchise stores in Europe and the Middle East.
Usually described by its trendy and young customers as good quality, fashionable, well stitched and cheap, the brand has a massive loyal following.
They also offer a wide range of choices in menswear, womenswear, baby clothes, lingerie and accessories.
In 2020, the clothing brand unveiled a new campaign and a fresh outlook for their clothing line called ‘Real Life Ready’.
This endeavour aims to provide a stylish angle to every day looks like when we go to the gym, on a date or drop kids to school.
Matalan has a reputation for being your local, go-to, one-stop home brand for families, providing great value for less money.
With reasonable prices and stocking brand names such as Bench and Regatta, Matalan offers multiple means of fashion inspiration.
It also has a section dedicated to ‘School Uniform’ and offers apparels like skirts, cardigans, t-shirts, backpacks, pants, etc. for young kids.
Most South Asian students usually live life on a budget when they come to study in the UK.
It is always a great relief to know that there are some economically fashionable options to look chic in a foreign land.
Although they have stores all over the UK, these brands are available in other countries for international students as well.
You can always go to the store locator option on each of their websites and find a store near you.
Other brands such as Primark, Burton and Peacock can also offer inexpensive and stylish clothes.
Since the pandemic has hit, all of these brands have been retailing online.
However, once the situation eases, the brands will be welcoming a heap of shoppers to their affordable collections.
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