Arkitaip
A Mother, A Daughter, And A Great Deal Of Linen
Vienna to London, by way of the aisle
Michi and Lea Wieser started arkitaip in 2019, mother and daughter, Austrian, working out of London. Michi spent her career as an air hostess for Austrian Airlines, which explains both the travelling and the interest in clothes that survive being packed. She also hand-made the brand's crochet range herself, which explains the rest of it.
Linen, and nothing else
Everything is cut from 100% European MASTERS OF LINEN certified flax, and every collection is made in Portugal by a small family-run factory. Kaftans, maxi dresses, cargo trousers, skirts with back ties, all built on the assumption that you will wear them for a decade rather than a fortnight. The Michi kaftan is named after the mother, which is the sort of thing that only happens in a family business.
Made for somewhere warmer than here
This is resortwear in the honest sense: things to throw over swimwear, wear to dinner, and pack without ceremony. Laissez-faire elegance is their phrase for it, and it is a better phrase than most.
They will take it back
arkitaip run a take-back scheme for pre-owned pieces, offset their carbon emissions through CHOOOSE, and say they give 1% of revenue to environmental non-profits.
Find them here
Have a browse through Women's Fashion, the dresses and skirts, our Women-Led and family-owned brands, or the Sustainable Brands edit.
