I’ve been wanting to create a post like this for months.

For those who don’t already know we are a Devon-based branding & marketing studio – and proudly so. As someone who has lived here in Devon my whole life, I feel very proud of some of the incredible brands that have been cropping up out of the rolling hills in the last couple of years.

With the holidays coming up it felt like the perfect time to celebrate some of the incredible Devon brands that are making waves out of the South coast and shed some light on what makes them so incredible.

Slow South

They are a slow fashion brand producing small capsule collections inspired by the “soul & sea of South Devon”. Using vegan, water-based inks and many other green initiatives they are an extremely ethical fashion brand. More than that – their pieces are frickin’ GORGEOUS.

My thoughts on the brand:

The brand is fun and beachy conveying a mix of Devon coast & LA vibes that just oozes positivity. They know who their people are and they speak to them unapologetically – such as through their Slow South Swim Club patches and cups that celebrate the all-year-round swimmers that I aspire to be as hardcore as one day. They celebrate the wild beauty of Devon in everything they do & it’s a big part of what makes the brand so special.

Cove Collections

If you are looking for one-of-a-kind, ethical jewellery, I’m not sure you can get closer to either of those things than through the beautiful sea glass jewellery crafted by Cove Collections. Using 100% recycled sterling silver and sea glass collected from the South Devon coastline, the pieces made by Matilda (founder of this beautiful company) are undeniably beautiful and celebrate the power of nature.

My thoughts on the brand:

The brand is a celebration of storytelling, which is what makes it one of my favourites. Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in a brand’s toolbox and Cove Collections knows this and have used it in a super authentic way to share the story of each piece that is crafted. From the find on the beach to the shaping of the final product they showcase what makes their jewellery so special and have done a great job in doing so, garnering over 100k followers on TikTok alone.

Leela Chakravati Pottery

Cosy, comforting, and unique. Just a few of the words that come to mind when I think about Leela Pottery and the gorgeous pottery creations she makes. Her style is instantly recognisable through her use of unique glazes and custom-created shapes & prints that make each piece a true work of art.

My thoughts on the brand:

Emotional design is strong in this brand. Through colours, imagery, design and storytelling you can truly feel at home with each piece that you see. They somehow remind me of a cosy Sunday morning at home and hiking on the moors all the same time, which feels like a blissful set of images that really makes the brand come to life. The pieces truly take centre stage but are backed up with a sense of personality and comfort that make the brand uniquely desirable.

Davy J

Davy J is an ethical swimwear brand that is fighting the fast fashion industry through ethical swimwear that is built to last, with an initiative to reuse them when they do reach the end of their life. They focus on empowering women to be wild and enabling them to do so – a mission I am in love with.

My thoughts on the brand:

Differentiation is something that as a brand strategist you’ll hear me go on and on about because it is so important to building a brand that lasts. Davy J has hit this principle on the head creating products that are a unique mixture of form and function that is often ignored in the swimwear industry. Usually, swimwear built for swimmers ignores the aesthetic quality that is often the industry focus and vice versa. This brand breaks that mould with gorgeous designs that are both classical and modern, but most importantly, are made to “survive the dive”. As they say themselves “it’s a new kind of beachwear – one that you can swim in”. How awesome is that?

P.s. They very kindly are offering a 10% discount, just use the code CECILEDEVONSWIMS

Have a great day,

Emily

Founder, Cecile Creative Studio