There are some addresses you’d rather keep to yourself, and Soler is definitely one of them. In this Ali Baba’s fashion cave, you get to choose your own pattern and your own fabric, to get a piece of clothing tailor-made especially for you, at an affordable prize: unique, playful and oh so glamorous!
“Women love to get something a little bit different, which reflects their own taste and personality, and that is what we are offering here”, explains the lovely Alexandra Al-Bader (38), the Spanish model and mother of two who recently opened her first shop, after having run the Soler label for one year from her house.
In the boutique, just off Golborne Road, in fashionable North Kensington, you get to choose your own fabric, amongst 200 rolls of cotton, silk and chiffon, sourced by Alexandra in Paris, London, New York and Marrakesh, with each of them available in limited quantity of 20 metres max, to ensure uniqueness. For this extra personal touch, you can even choose a hand-painted fabric, courtesy of Alexandra’s sister, an artist who has made 25 exclusive designs to choose from.
Inspired by vintage cuts, the 100 patterns -designed for dresses, jumpsuits, kaftans and tops- have a strong “Ibiza in the 70s” feel, and can be adapted to your own requirements, at no extra cost. All garments are handmade in the East End, ensuring that they can be delivered within one week maximum. And for those who don’t have the patience to wait, there are around 120 garments off the rails that can be bought straight away. If this shop is still one of London’s best kept secrets, it might not remain as such for much longer…
Soler: 88 Bevington Road W11 (Ladbroke Grove) www.solerdesigns.co.uk 020 8968 4694. Dresses £120-£400.
