Second hand is the first art.
U.b. alias Under the Bridge is a sustainable project designed by Brigitta Roselli.
This project was designed to convey the metropolitan stories of the unexplored city of London...yes! I use this term because what our eyes see is a minimal part of what this huge city hides: alongside the crowds of Oxford Circus and the bright lights of Piccadilly, the City shows its real face in the steam of its suburbs - it is here that London literally declares "I'm underground".
The story of this project originates and develops right there, under the bridges of London, where most of Londoners spend their time.
Life starts from the bottom, from common places where styles and trends are generated but above, life starts from authenticity of the city head and constantly looking to the future.
Our Future needs to be Repaired by all of Us.
U.b.’s main ambition is to deliver the soul of underground London in the form of outerwear.
Through extensive research of second hand fashion all across London, including charity shops and vintage markets and Why not? Your wardrobe.
I find and select second-hand garments, -mostly authentic leather goods- to regenerate, remake and Repair.
All U.b. pieces are recycled, reinterpreted, preserving the soul of each one while transforming the defects into unique details that tell the story of its past life.
U.b.’s current focus is accessories and outerwear, using a variety of techniques including dyeing, embroidery and patching, to reinvent garments, without waste or rejecting their imperfections.
When you buy an item from U.b.London you are buying one-of-a-kind piece of sustainable art.
Behind U.b. London:
A BIT OF MYSELF
My relationship with Vintage garments began when I was a little girl playing in my grandmother’s wardrobe.
She has always had impeccable taste and enjoyed collecting all the beautiful things that the world of Italian fashion had to offer during the 1950s, 60s and 70s.
I studied Fashion at a specialized High School in my hometown of Florence, learning how to sew and create my own paper patterns. I also got me first job as a visual merchandiser at that time.
I continued my studies after High School, incorporating leather goods design and production to my know-how.
My first professional experience in Fashion came when I started collaborating with a Florentine brand as their Accessories Buyer.
This is where I really learned the ins and outs of the business: meeting deadlines, managing
and budgeting funds to purchase garments and- most importantly - how to revive used materials and convert them into trendy accessories.
The turning point of my career was when I moved to London - a new beginning that galvanized me. The experience as a visual merchandiser helped me land a job at “OFFICE”.
Every weekend (and on my days off) I would explore London and ... its myriad of flea markets and second-hand spots.
A new career was gradually taking shape here. I was becoming a Cool Hunter, collaborating with Italian companies that were requesting very specific items to replicate.
Over the months I, too, was accumulating dozens of pieces that would eventually become my “archives”. At one point I found myself with 12 boxes of old clothes and ...my imagination was sparked.
Voilà*
I was on my way to creating my very own collections.
Being a Florentine, it was only natural that I would choose the artisanal origin of my city, the Leather industry, as my starting point. I was repairing old leather jackets and adding a little “touch of London” to them by creating a ‘mildewy effect’ using a spray painting technique.
I decided to come back home in 2021 because the craftsmanship and manufacturing is superb and I felt that my pieces deserved the quality that made my city famous.
Being home was great and I really wanted to create a home for my collections so I opened an atelier and furnished it in a style that is reminiscent of London: there are colorful, second-hand tables and chairs, carpets , sofas and mirrors.
It was all very inspiring and now I work with all sorts of fabrics and materials , making everything from , towels and sofas to......
Basically, if it can be sewn or stitched, there’s a good chance it can become part of my collection of unique pieces.
The Art of Repair embraces anything and everything that has been consumed but still has something to give, something to say.
Bringing an old piece , a personal artefact, back to life - even giving it a new incarnation- is what makes the U.B.London project what it is:
A project dedicated to bringing value to old things, creating solutions that are both artistic and stylish.