Because Magazine’s Little Black Book is far more than your average city guide. An insider directory to London, as seen through the eyes of our friends in fashion, beauty, fitness, food and the arts – all of them, experts in their fields – it’s your go-to Where’s Where for niche and noteworthy recommendations to help you navigate and use our Capital at its best. This week, knitwear expert and fabric wiz, Alex Gore Browne, takes us into her Fitzrovia treasure trove.



"It has anything you may need."

Where... Fan New Trimmings (14-18 Great Titchfield Street, W1W 8BD) in Fitzrovia is my go-to haberdashery and all-round treasure trove. I’ve just discovered it – and now, won’t go anywhere else!

Why... Filled wall-to-wall with everything – from beads, to sequins, to tassels, to feathers and fringing, it has anything you may need to embellish, decorate and improve your handmade pieces.

Because... I have always loved making things; I love the idea of trying to create something to the vision in your head. The best part is the challenge. I relish the excitement of seeing things come together and using my hands to do so – particularly with intricate details such as knitting and hand-beading, both skills that were honed during my Central Saint Martins days.

The process of making something is by far the favourite part of my work... I find it relaxes me. In fact, I’ll often tackle the stressful parts of my job during the day and then unwind at night with my hand-finishing and those intricate details.


Image courtesy of Alex Gore Browne.

Knitwear designer and consultant, Alex Gore Browne caught the 'creative bug' young. An inclination that began with dinky, matchbox-sized Thank You cards for her family and friends soon flourished into a fascination with fashion and the art of knit – honed further, by a Fashion MA at Central Saint Martins under the tutelage of Louise Wilson.

Alex is an expert of fabric. Her CV includes knitwear consulting gigs at both Nina Ricci (alongside then-Creative Director, Peter Copping) and Sarah Burton’s Alexander McQueen. She is known, industry-wide, for her mastery of material, and for a keen dab-hand when it comes to detail and embellishment.

Is there anyone better qualified, therefore, to recommend London’s very finest haberdashery? We think not...


Get creative and dress the part. Click here to discover Alex Gore Browne.


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