Jade Holland Cooper’s love of the countryside is deep rooted. Growing up the daughter of a farmer father and a fashion designer mother, rural life and a sense of style have always been intertwined for Jade. But it was while she was studying at Royal Agricultural College she realised no one was making stylish country clothes that she wanted to wear.
So Jade decided to do it herself. Standing in a field at Badminton Horse Trials in 2008, she sold 30 tweed mini-skirts from a two metre stand and quickly realised there was a demand for her clothes. Abandoning her studies, she set about building a brand she wanted to wear, which today counts the Princess of Wales as a loyal customer.
Her collections at now draw inspiration from the rich traditions and classic styles found in British tailoring and country wear, but incorporate contemporary styles. An advocate for British manufacturing and craftsmanship, Jade is a long-time supporter of Scottish mills, which she has used since she began her fashion empire 15 years ago. And Holland Cooper is now one of the biggest buyers of Scottish tweed and wool in the UK, purchasing hundreds of thousands of metres a year.
Jade has used Scottish mills since she started out, so it’s no surprise she has a huge Scottish following and a special place in her heart for our wee nation. She has worked with the same mill since the beginning. ‘When I started out I used to grovel around for a few metres,’ says Jade.
‘But now we buy hundreds of thousa.
