Lydia Millen partners with Holland Cooper for tweed collection
Every so often, the fashion industry witnesses a union that feels bigger than a collection – a collaboration that reshapes the conversation and redefines what British style can be. The meeting of Lydia Millen and Jade Holland Cooper is exactly that: two women at the height of their creative powers, coming together to shape a moment that feels both timely and culturally significant.
Sitting down exclusively with the Daily Express, Lydia opened up about the partnership with unmistakable warmth and excitement. Their collaboration is rooted not in strategy, but in something far more compelling, a shared instinct for British elegance.
Lydia recalls the beginning with vivid clarity, saying, “it was an absolute dream sitting down with Jade. One of those moments where I was like, ‘Wow, this is a real pinch me moment.’” What makes this partnership truly authentic is the simple truth she shares next: “Jade knows that I am a customer, and I live and breathe the same ethos that she does when it comes to style and fashion.”
Lydia Millen created her very own bespoke collection with Holland Cooper (Image: Holland Cooper)
This creative kinship is hardly surprising. Jade Holland Cooper is not merely a designer; she is a force within British fashion – a visionary who transformed a gap in the market into a powerhouse luxury label worn by royalty and style leaders alike.
Lydia felt that strength immediately. Their design sessions, she explains, were anything but rigid: “it was more just like this really open conversation.” The fashionista adored working with another woman so firmly rooted in her creative power, adding emphatically, “Jade is an incredible businesswoman.”
Together, they became a dual force – influencer meets entrepreneur, digital tastemaker meets heritage designer, shaping a collection that carries the imprint of two female powerhouses forging something new.
Jade Holland Cooper teamed up with Lydia Millen to create the collaboration (Image: Holland Cooper)
Celebrating that elevating energy openly, Lydia continued: “Women supporting women in business is how we do great things – this collection wouldn’t be happening if it wasn’t for the fact that we have been able to work alongside each other in such a wonderful way.”
The creative process reshaped Lydia’s own understanding of design. She reflects on the experience with refreshing honesty: “it really has shown me that holding on to that ability to be malleable and fluid and open to new things is so important in the design process.”
What struck her most was Holland Cooper’s fearless approach to creativity. One moment during the collaboration stood out above the rest.
Lydia Millen created her very own bespoke Millen-Gordon tweed (Image: Holland Cooper)
When Jade styled the Aynhoe skirt, already one of the collection’s star pieces, Lydia was left stunned: “I never thought of it… it showed me how versatile the skirt was.”
And the skirt couldn’t be more timely. Crafted in classic British tweed, it taps into a fabric that has defined royal wardrobes for generations. Princess Catherine, in particular, has worn tweed on repeat this year – from structured jackets to heritage skirts, making it one of the biggest style hits of the season.
The Princess of Wales would no doubt adore this collection, having worn pieces from Holland Cooper before. Catherine, 43, which marries traditional craftsmanship with a modern, feminine silhouette.
For Lydia, watching Jade reinterpret the piece underscored something profound: that women bring limitless perspectives to fashion, and when those perspectives intertwine, something truly extraordinary emerges.
A stand out piece, part of Lydia’s collection was the Aynhoe skirt and blazer (Image: Holland Cooper)
This collaboration, she believes, signals more than a clothing line – it marks a movement, a cultural shift, and a new era for female-led British design. As she puts it, “it’s an exciting time when two woman come together, it’s so important.”
Looking ahead, Lydia hopes the partnership lights a spark for others, saying, “I really hope that this collection inspires many others to go back to their roots, and also how powerful women can be when they work together.”
More than a capsule, more than a partnership, this is a statement that influence and heritage can exist side by side, that modern femininity and traditional British tailoring can speak in harmony, and that when two women with vision unite and create a momentum.
