Cashmere knitwear, accessories and interiors, Begg x Co has started a new chapter as Vanessa Seward takes the helm of the brand as creative director. Her debut comes in the form of a capsule for AW ’25 collection which carries what the brand is celebrated for, cue plenty of responsibly crafted pieces from Scotland across womenswear, menswear, and homeware. Venessa will continue as Begg x Co Creative Director for the ensemble of the product categories as from SS ‘26.
On the new appointment, Vanessa says, “I feel very privileged at this point in my career to work with Begg x Co. It’s a company whose values coincide exactly with how I feel luxury and fashion should be migrating to in the coming years.” She continues, “More than ever I’m partial to King Charles’ “Buy once, buy well” and I believe in fashion investment, buying fewer items but of better quality to keep or hand down.”
Of course, Seward is no stranger to guiding luxury houses, she worked at Chanel under Karl Lagerfeld before moving on to Yves Saint Laurent with Tom Ford, later dressing clients such as Natalie Portman and Nicole Kidman at Azzaro. A creative polymath, she also paints portraits and writes, bringing a cultural landscape to her fashion work.
To mark Vanessa’s debut at Begg x Co, the creative shared her thoughts on heritage, craft and how she’s evolving the brand.
FC: How does the brand’s Scottish heritage speak to your own design approach?
VS: Scotland has always been a strong inspiration in my work but working with Begg x Co brings it to a whole new level.
It’s not just about the tartans, the cashmere, the colours but working directly with the Scottish teams in the Begg x Co mills, permits me to delve deeply into their exceptional craftsmanship and its endless possibilities.
FC: You’ve mentioned fashion with “substance and soul,” how does that come through?
VS: I believe fashion should consist of beautiful, durable additions to one’s wardrobe. I feel strongly that clothing should not be disposable but something that you keep or hand down. This gives it substance, like a lifelong relation. The soul comes from the pride and care with which it’s made in Scotland.
FC: What excites you most about working so closely with the mills and craftspeople?
VS: Their creativity and the skill they display to get the collection ready. I feel they love a challenge and they go out of their way to make things work. It’s a real creative conversation.
FC: How do you see your role?
VS: Refining what’s there already, evolving the product while keeping Begg x Co’s identity. An evolution rather than a revolution.
FC: What was your starting point for this first collection?
VS: I wanted to complete Begg x Co’s main collection with my dream cashmere wardrobe for men and women. I also had archives of cashmere marls I had kept and we developed some especially for the Capsule based on the colour of heather or the blue of the clear Scottish sky.
FC: Was there a particular reference that shaped this season’s collection? What was on the mood board?
VS: Total cashmere looks for women, long skirts and dresses to wear with boots.
I wanted to add a certain sophistication to the comfort of cashmere but keeping it simple at the same time. It was a lot about details, stitches, bespoke marls and fit.
FC: Which piece feels most personal to you in this capsule?
VS: Difficult to choose but I’m very proud of the knitted cape (Van Cape). It was an engineering challenge and we managed to achieve it thanks to the knowledge and experience of the Begg x Co Artisans. You can wear it in so many ways, it’s so effortlessly chic.
See more on beggxco.com.