Jane Lewis presses pause on Jane Atelier but says 'it's not forever'

Jane Lewis has pressed pause on her Jane Atelier fashion label, but in a post on social media, the founder and designer, has said "it's not forever; I'll be back."

Jane Atelier is best known for its timeless dresses and ready-to-wear made from high-quality materials, often sourced in Italy, and inspired by classic couture shapes from the late 60s and early 70s.

The brand began in 2001 as Goat, initially specialising in knitwear, but evolved into a more rounded ready-to-wear offering. In 2021 the name was changed to Jane Atelier to reflect this. In latter years the business operated a DTC e-commerce model, but had previously had a shop just off London's Bond Street and some wholesale accounts.

Lewis said she wanted to take time to "pause to reimagine new ways to present pieces and share new edits".

"The website will continue trading as normal until 25th February, after which time it will no longer be open for online orders. We invite you to shop whilst you still can. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your loyalty and support over the years — it truly means the world," Lewis said to her followers on Instagram.

A timeless Jane Atelier design

Jane Atelier had been a go-to brand for high profile women in the fields of business, the arts and entertainment. Over the years the clothes have been seen on Victoria Beckham, the Princess of Wales, Gwyneth Paltrow and Lana Del Rey, but the brand didn't trade on celebrity association. Lewis was more interested in advocating for a stylish, durable wardrobe that could be built with consideration over time. Prices for dresses range from around £550 to £750, while coats are around £850 (though many items are now on sale).

The decision to reassess the Jane Atelier model, however, speaks to the challenges in the market for higher quality womenswear in the face of cheaper lower quality rivals and the rising cost of living.

LK Bennett, which specialised in smart careerwear and occasionwear was recently acquired by retail investors Gordon Brothers, who plan to revive it via an "asset light" model (largely understood to mean it will close its stores). Last year Samantha Cameron announced the closure of her fashion business Cefinn, which operated in a similar space to Jane Atelier, citing "turbulence in the fashion wholesale sector, ongoing cost pressures and international trading restrictions"