Carabiner Kilt
The carabiner-clipped, pleated patchwork kilt built from deadstock textiles and vintage aprons is the piece that made the label famous.
Explore the kilts →Brand profile
Chopova Lowena
London label by Emma Chopova and Laura Lowena, known for carabiner kilt skirts fusing Bulgarian folk craft with punk and deadstock textiles.
LondonOrigin
WomenswearFocus
Avant-gardeStyle
$$$$$Price
24 brands like Chopova Lowena like Bode, Martine Rose, Kapital →
What to know about Chopova Lowena
Bulgarian folk dress meets punk
Emma Chopova and Laura Lowena build collections from Bulgarian folk craft crossed with punk and sportswear: patchwork, pleating and bold prints.
The carabiner kilt is the signature
Bottoms and knitwear are the core, led by a pleated kilt skirt fastened with climbing carabiners.
Deadstock, made with Bulgarian artisans
Pieces are cut from deadstock textiles, vintage aprons and recycled fabric, produced with female artisans in Bulgaria, which helps explain the price.
The pieces that define Chopova Lowena
Fitted Fleece Jacket
Graphic, folk-meets-sportswear fleeces like the Charm Party and CL Airlines styles are the brand's cult outerwear staple.
Explore fleece jackets →Bleep Blanket
Their printed Bleep blankets carry the label's Bulgarian craft and recycled-textile ethos beyond clothing.
Explore Bleep blankets →If you like Chopova Lowena
See all 24 brands like Chopova Lowena →
86% matchBode
Antique textiles and handcraft rebuilt into new garments
What changes: Nostalgic Americana quilting rather than folk-punk subculture
75% matchMartine Rose
London subculture codes, warped proportions, rave nostalgia
What changes: Menswear tailoring focus, not upcycled folk craft
72% matchKapital
Patchwork and folk stitching from salvaged cloth
What changes: Japanese indigo workwear, no punk or club edge
70% matchOttolinger
Twisted, deconstructed clubwear with a raw handmade feel
What changes: Body-contorting knits over folk craft and archival fabric
Brand facts
Chopova Lowena is the London label of Emma Chopova and Laura Lowena, who met at Central Saint Martins in 2011 and formed the brand after completing their MA together as a duo. Collections pair Bulgarian folk dress and craft with punk and sportswear references: patchwork, pleating, bold prints and the signature carabiner-clipped kilt skirt, built from deadstock textiles, vintage aprons and other recycled fabric with female artisans in Bulgaria. An LVMH Prize finalist in 2020, the pair won the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund in 2024. Stocked by SSENSE and GR8.
- Founded
- 2017
- Origin
- London, United Kingdom
- Made in
- Bulgaria
- Price
- $$$$$
- Typical prices
- Jewelry $210–$398 · Hoodies $526–$708 · Jackets $861–$1336
- Focus
- Womenswear
- Facts checked
- August 2026
- Styles
- Avant-garde, Punk / Grunge / Goth, Streetwear