Fashion & Accessories
Net-a-porter nurtures young rising designers under its new mentorship programme, The Vanguard. Terence Lim speaks to Sonia Trehan, founder ofruh, one of thefirst four brands joining theseries, to find out more
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Net-a-porter has always been firm supporter of young, talented designers but it has never formalised a mentorship programme to help them grow their ventures into successful businesses. That is until now. The luxury e-tailer has launched The Vanguard, a programme that will see four up-and-coming fashion labels receive mentorship, practical advice and marketing support from its various departments. Once their businesses are deemed to be mature enough after a few seasons on the online shopping site, they will graduate from the programme. For autumn/winter 2018, four brands—les Rêveries, Ruh, Gu_de and Martinez—will be the first batch to participate in the programme. Ruh founder Sonia Trehan tells us how the womenswear label will benefit from joining The Vanguard.
How did Ruh join The vanguard programme?
We met Net-a-porter fashion director Lisa aiken through a close friend when we introduced Ruh to buyers in London. A few weeks later, we were told about The vanguard programme and it felt like an immediate fit.
What aspects of the business is still lacking at ruh?
I’d say experience. As a brand, we’ve really dug deep into what we believe is missing from the industry, and how we can better serve our customers. But in the end, it’s a lot of hypothesising. Having an experienced partner who really understands the customer is truly priceless.
At this stage, how has the programme impacted you and your team?
It’s taught us how to communicate our brand values clearly. We’ve had to describe our ethos and intended clientele to various parts of the organisation at Net-aPorter, which has prepared us for doing the same with our clients and the press. This has been a wonderful exercise for both brands as we’ve enjoyed getting to know one another and aligning our messaging.
How will Ruh appeal to the modern woman?
There are many types of modern women. Ours is multidimensional—she’s a woman of style, purpose and intellect. She wants a thoughtful product and a brand that engages with her in meaningful and interesting ways. Ruh is our answer to the vacuousness of the current digital landscape, and the need for a label with a real point of view, which I believe many modern women are currently seeking to share and identify with.
What is an essential off-duty fashion item in your wardrobe?
I can’t live without a beautifully tailored, classic blazer. It evokes both poise and, with the right styling, a little bit of insouciance—key ingredients in any outfit, in my opinion!
What is the one look from Ruh’s current collection that every woman should have?
I believe it’s rare for every woman to fall for the same garment, but our tailored coat is a timeless investment piece that will sit well in many wardrobes. We sourced the virgin wool from arguably the best Italian mill and manufactured it in Naples, also known as the heart of men’s tailoring, so it’s been a real labour of love. To me, the masculinity of the fabric and the femininity of the shape makes it a juxtaposition of strength and elegance.