85% matchVivienne Westwood
Original corsetry-and-punk London provocation
What changes: Heritage house with historicist tailoring and much broader range
Brand profile
KNWLS
London designer label from Charlotte Knowles and Alexandre Arsenault, known for subversive, body-conscious corsetry, leather and warped tailoring.
LondonOrigin
WomenswearFocus
Avant-gardeStyle
$$$$Price
4 brands like KNWLS like Vivienne Westwood, Rick Owens Lilies, Alexander McQueen →
What to know about KNWLS
KNWLS is a south London womenswear label founded in 2017 by Central Saint Martins graduates Charlotte Knowles and Alexandre Arsenault, renamed from Charlotte Knowles in 2021. It builds body-conscious corsetry, leather, distressed knits, warped tailoring and semi-sheer separates around a subversive, armour-like femininity. The label debuted on the London Fashion Week schedule in 2018 via Fashion East, reached the 2022 LVMH Prize final, and appeared on the 2024 and 2026 BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund shortlists. Tops run roughly $310-530, dresses and outerwear $600-1,400. Stocked by SSENSE and END.
If you like KNWLS
85% match
82% matchRick Owens Lilies
Draped stretch-jersey body-con womenswear
What changes: Softer, monochrome minimalism rather than distressed hardware
78% matchAlexander McQueen
Dark-romantic London tailoring with harness-like corsetry
What changes: Luxury-house pricing and more formal eveningwear
76% matchY/Project
Twisted, contorted cuts on the same warped-sexy axis
What changes: Denim-led and genderless rather than femininity-focused
Brand facts
- Founded
- 2017
- Origin
- London, United Kingdom
- Price
- $$$$
- Typical prices
- Tops $360–$783 · Jackets $1105–$1926 · Bottoms $515–$759
- Focus
- Womenswear
- Styles
- Avant-garde, Punk / Grunge / Goth