Our Story and Brand | Gushlow & Cole

Our story & brand

"Emma and I have been surrounded by fashion for as long as we can remember. With a heritage rooted in generations of dressmakers, tailors, knitters and ultimately, shearling makers, our path into design always felt natural.

As teenagers in the late 1980s and early 90s, we were shaped by the energy of London’s club, music, and fashion scene. Saturdays were spent admiring Vivienne Westwood on the King’s Road, discovering new designers at Hyper Hyper, and rummaging through the vintage stalls at Kensington Market. And if we couldn't find it, we'd make it.

Inspired by the hands-on and creativity of my father’s leather and shearling factory, we both went on to study design at the London College of Fashion before apprenticing at Cole of Kent, where we learned traditional shearling craftsmanship. It wasn’t long before we began experimenting with new ways of working. Amanda Wakeley picked up our signature stitch technique for her SS96 collection, along with Nicole Farhi's menswear, which led to our first Homeware collaboration with Nicole Farhi."

"We began reworking off-cuts from the factory floor into small accessories, which we sold at Spitalfields Market. These early designs formed the foundation of our first collection, showcased at London Fashion Week, and from there, Gushlow & Cole was born. Our first international orders soon followed from stores in Paris, Tokyo and New York. When my father’s factory later closed, we carried the legacy forward. Starting with just two machines in his garage, we gradually began building our workshop, and reuniting with members of the original team."

- Katrina Cole, Founder

our story about us - gushlow and cole luxury shearling and leather

today

Today, Gushlow & Cole is a unique women-led British brand with a 50-year family heritage, specialising solely in shearling. From our workshop in Kent, we continue to hand-make every piece in close collaboration with a small community of British craftspeople. Provenance and quality are at the heart of everything we do, and our approach is always thoughtful and conscientious, guided by experience, intuition, and a deep respect for our materials.

As lifelong friends and co-founders, we bring different skills to the table, but our vision is always aligned. At the core of our creative partnership is a shared belief in craftsmanship, slow fashion, and responsible design. We design collections with a holistic, sustainable mindset that reflects the lifestyle and values of the modern woman, creating pieces that last, are loved, and can be worn effortlessly.

Although we continue to evolve - collaborating with leading fashion stores, designers, and film, our passion remains rooted in tradition. Whether hand-finishing a coat or developing a new design, we’re committed to sustaining British craftsmanship and celebrating the beauty of responsibly made shearling, designed and made in England.

To us, Gushlow & Cole is more than a brand. It’s a story of family, friendship, and dedication to making things well, with meaning, with integrity, and with a spirit that’s truly our own.

Emma & Katrina x

About Us