Over two decades ago, painter-turned-fashion entrepreneur Penelope Chilvers returned to England from one of her many Spanish sojourns and decided to launch a shoe business. Her love affair with Spain and its heritage footwear has been fostered throughout her lifetime: school holidays were spent skipping around the Catalan town of Girona in canvas alpargatas (more commonly known by their French name, espadrilles), while as a young woman living in Barcelona, she galloped around the Collserola hills on horseback, decked out in made-to-measure leather riding boots.
Chilvers’s passion for Spanish craftsmanship led her to commission local artisans to create a small capsule collection of equestrian-style boots – which has grown into an established brand driven by a mission to produce “durable, worldly, intelligent, and wearable” pieces for a loyal following which includes Kate Middleton (who has been wearing her signature tassel boots for over 20 years). This spring, Chilvers has just launched her first ready-to-wear clothing collection, an invitation for her customers to explore the world of PC “above the ankle”.
Though Penelope Chilvers will always be rooted in the rustic Spanish leather traditions that inspired its inception, it’s the brand’s original home in Notting Hill – a rust-toned shopfront with interiors that pay homage to the label’s Andalusian beginnings – that acts as a backdrop for its Postcards from London spring/summer 26 campaign. “Notting Hill has been home for most of my lifetime and it’s where our first shop is, on Ledbury Road,” Chilvers tells Broadsheet, sharing how she drew on the neighbourhood’s colourful houses and bohemian spirit when designing pieces like the best-selling Portobello blouse with its romantic frills or the Elgin striped tank knitted in a range of vibrant hues.
From the very beginning, vintage clothing – some plucked from the aisles of Portobello Road, others from Chilvers’ own wardrobe – has played a role in the styling of Penelope Chilvers’s campaigns, with customers asking the designer if she could make similar clothes that complemented the existing footwear line. “So I always had a feeling we would extend our offer to above the knee one day too,” she says.
Penelope Chilvers’s Notting Hill picks:
For a special occasion dinner:
“My favourite restaurant is Dorian. It offers the best food in Notting Hill and the atmosphere is always buzzy and fun.”
Having a drink with friends:
“Granger & Co on Westbourne Grove is my favourite place for a drink at the bar, any time of day.”
A fun shopping day out:
“Portobello Market on Fridays and Saturdays is one of my hangouts. I’ve been visiting for years and have my favourite traders there for vintage pieces; it’s such an inspiring place for designers worldwide. I then go for coffee in Golborne Road, popping into [retail atelier] Soler on the way to say hello to my friend, Alex Soler.”
The place only locals know about:
“Supermarket of Dreams on Holland Park Avenue. It offers private dinners for local gourmands.”
A spot of culture:
“The Tabernacle is a cultural community centre that often has interesting events on, like the Christmas panto, with [hometown] celebrities starring to raise money for local causes.”
