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Why Under-the-Radar Designers Are Worth Your Investment

Author: Stylist at TellarDate: 2025

Many of the best-value pieces today come not from household-name brands but from smaller, independent designers producing thoughtful, limited-run collections. These brands often prioritise:

  • Premium natural fabrics (cashmere, silk, organic cotton)
  • Local or ethical production
  • Minimal waste, slow fashion values
  • Tailored, wearable silhouettes
  • Transparent pricing models

Yet finding these brands — and knowing how they fit — can be challenging. Below, we explore exactly where to find them in the UK and USA, and how to make sure every purchase fits first time.

What Makes an Under-the-Radar Designer “Worth the Money”?

Before buying from any lesser-known brand, ask:

  • Do they use high-quality fabrics and proper garment construction?
  • Is the piece timeless or versatile across seasons?
  • Are production practices sustainable or transparent?
  • Does the item offer long-term wear value and good cost-per-wear?
  • Can it be resold, restyled, or reworn regularly?

Answering “yes” to most of these questions often means the designer is a smart investment.

Top Under-the-Radar UK Designers

1. Anna Mason London

One of the UK’s standout slow fashion labels. Made-to-order pieces blend elegance and ease, with fine shirting cottons, crisp silhouettes, and romantic tailoring.Where to shop: Direct from annamasonlondon.co.uk

2. Wales Bonner

A multidisciplinary label merging British tailoring with Afro-Atlantic heritage. Their pieces are rich in story, culture, and structure.Look for: Wool suiting, cotton shirting, silk trims.

3. LF Markey

Known for bold, utility-led fashion made in durable cottons and natural fibres.Best for: Colour-blocked workwear, artist-style coveralls, organic shapes.

4. Rejina Pyo

Architectural, modern, feminine — with pieces designed to be worn and reworn.Key features: Sculpted tailoring, asymmetric lines, subtle cut-outs.

5. Olivia Rose the Label

A cult favourite for made-to-order blouses and corset dresses handmade in Scotland.Notable for: Dramatic sleeves, flattering bust seams, slow fashion credentials.

Top Under-the-Radar USA Designers

1. Mara Hoffman

A leader in sustainable womenswear, Mara Hoffman focuses on organic and recycled fabrics, flattering shapes, and responsible production.Style tip: Her linen dresses and ruched silhouettes offer year-round versatility.

2. Khaite

Sculptural, modern and understated. Known for quiet-luxury knitwear, sharp tailoring and wide-leg denim.What to buy: The Danielle jean, Scarlet cardigan, wool-blend coats.

3. Rachel Comey

Artfully dishevelled NYC cool. Comey combines structure with ease and always leads in fabric innovation.Key pieces: Patchwork trousers, oversized shirting, transitional jumpsuits.

4. Misha Nonoo

This direct-to-consumer label offers the ultimate travel wardrobe. With wrinkle-free fabrics and mixable pieces, it’s minimalism at its best.Strengths: Capsule design, easy-care silhouettes, feminine cuts.

5. Aeron (US stockists)

Although Hungarian in origin, Aeron is widely stocked in the US and known for its neutral-toned, knitwear-heavy aesthetic.Buy for: Cashmere blends, knit trousers, sleeveless tailoring.

Where to Find Them: UK & USA Shopping Platforms

🔎 UK

  • Wolf & Badger – Focused on ethical, sustainable, and small-batch fashion
  • Studio B Fashion – Boutique brands and lesser-known womenswear labels
  • Liberty London – Stocks Rejina Pyo, Wales Bonner, and contemporary UK designers

🔎 USA

  • Garmentory – A curated network of independent boutiques
  • The Lobby – Try-before-you-buy model with emerging brands
  • Noihsaf Bazaar – A community-led resale platform for indie and cult designers

Why Sizing Is the Biggest Barrier with Independent Brands

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One of the biggest challenges with under-the-radar designers? Inconsistent sizing. While brands like Khaite or Rachel Comey may label a garment as a size 10, actual measurements could vary significantly — even within the same collection.

That’s why you need Tellar.co.uk.

Tellar.co.uk: The UK’s Leading Sizing Tool for Independent and Designer Fashion

Tellar.co.uk helps you discover your perfect size in over 1,500 brands using either:

  • Your body measurements (bust, waist, hips), or
  • A size you already wear in a known brand

Tellar instantly matches you to your ideal size in UK, US, and EU labels — removing the need to interpret confusing size charts or return misfit purchases.

✅ Get your correct size in under-the-radar designers like Khaite, Mara Hoffman, Rejina Pyo, COS, Arket, Everlane and more.✅ Works online, instantly — no downloads, no payment, no spam.✅ Supports both metric (cm) and imperial (inches) units.

🎯 Try it now via: /store-size-lookup/ Backup of Instruction o…

Go Further: Tellar’s Free Fashion Hub

Tellar also hosts a growing, stylist-written Fashion Hub with factual, unbiased posts on:

  • How to size yourself
  • Which brands run small or large
  • Body-specific style recommendations
  • Material quality guides
  • And more

Explore these cornerstone resources:

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