Samantha Cameron, the creative force behind Cefinn, a London-based contemporary womenswear brand, introduced her inaugural collection in February 2017. Evolving from elegant daywear to modern event attire and chic knitwear, Cefinn has garnered widespread acclaim, gracing the wardrobes of notable figures such as Gillian Anderson, Holly Willougby, and even The Princess of Wales. With its name derived from a heartfelt acronym of Samantha’s four children—Ivan, Nancy, Elwen, and Florence—each garment bears a personal touch infused with familial warmth. Samantha’s illustrious career, from her tenure as Creative Director at Smythson to her ambassadorial role for the British Fashion Council, speaks volumes of her profound influence on the fashion landscape.
In our exclusive interview with Samantha Cameron, we delve into the essence of Cefinn, exploring the inspirations behind its timeless designs, the dedication to impeccable craftsmanship, and the profound bond that fuels its creative vision. Samantha shares her insights and reflections on the fashion industry, offering a glimpse into the captivating world of Cefinn why Cefinn’s creations are a firm favourite for wedding guest dressing and beyond.
I love working in the fashion industry because…
I have always been a creative and even as a young child collected every September issue of VOGUE losing myself in the fantasy of the photoshoots and all the rich fabric, colour and texture. Design is also about creating solutions and as a fashion designer what excites me is ensuring our customer feels effortlessly confident as they get dressed, whether for a day of meetings, a night out or a big event. It’s fast paced, always challenging with lots of opportunity to keep learning across all the different aspects of the business.
Cefinn is best known for…
It’s flattering cut and attention to detail. We have created a Cefinn design atelier in London where I work on the designs and in-house prints and then with a very skilled team on the patten cutting, toiles and final production samples before they are handed over to our factories. We spend hours, weeks and months working on every aspect of each garment whether it’s on the cut, the fit, the fabrics and the finishing or the way the collection can be effortlessly styled together.
My biggest achievement to date is…
Personally: my wonderful children – Cefinn is an acronym of their and my initials. Professionally it’s Cefinn and the amazing team I work with.
We’re inspired by our customers at Cefinn…
We are lucky to have an amazing community of loyal, passionate and talented customers at Cefinn, our Cefinn Siren Stories on our website are a lovely way of showcasing some of the incredible women who wear the brand. It is very exciting and makes all the hard work worthwhile when we receive positive feedback and anecdotes from our customers and see Cefinn worn both on the street and in the press by inspiring women that might include The Princess of Wales, Gillian Anderson, Olivia Coleman and Sophia Richie to name a few.
The current bridal trends we’re loving are…
Brides doing what they want- whatever is authentic to them and not feeling that they have to stick to traditional norms. Saying that, I got married quite young and although initially I didn’t think it was my style I ended going for it and wearing a long white satin dress with a tiara, veil and big train – as someone who loves dressing up it was just impossible to resist!
Our favourite styles from the summer 24 collection are…
The Lotta, The Lilliana, The Cordelia and our blue Linen blend suit.
My favourite place in the world to skip the crowds is…
My mother and stepfather have a beautiful cottage decorated with shells on a white beach on the Isle of Jura in Scotland. It’s very romantic and remote and 3 hours walk from the nearest road – we get there by boat. The quality of the air and the light, the wild birds and incredible views make it a uniquely relaxing and other-worldly escape
The best person to follow on Instagram for big-day inspo is…
Yoanna Hanbury– she is so chic and every summer-event looks perfectly pulled together.
And finally, what’s next for Cefinn…
We’ve just opened our first permanent Cefinn store in the lovely Elizabeth Street in Belgravia, London. It’s very exciting to have physical home for the brand and create a beautiful environment for our customers to come see us in person. We have an amazing team there to help with styling and advice on what to wear from the collection to all the summer season’s events and it’s such a pretty street to take time to visit with a great community of boutiques and delicious cafés and restaurants. We have also just launched our first collaboration with the incredible Jess Collett Milliner. Jess has designed a wonderful collection of hats and hairbands for weddings and Ascot that style perfectly with our most popular summer event and party dresses.
Head to www.cefinn.com and use The Wedding Editions exclusive code: WEDDINGEDITION15.
