Celebrating Five Years of Beatrice & George

Beatrice & George may have been created in 2020, but its real story begins over eight decades ago when Sybil Harriman arrived back in England from the Continent with a love for traditional dressmaking and smocking, which she shared with other women through her popular sewing circles. She passed on this talent for making and creating to her family too, and it was her daughter Michele who, five years ago, honoured her mother’s legacy and founded Beatrice & George, a name inspired by cherished family members. 

Michele created a collection of timelessly elegant childrenswear, made with love and even featuring some of Sybil’s original smocks. Today, Sybil’s granddaughter Bonny continues this tradition as creative director, working with skilled designers to create beautiful outfits for the next generation. And, we thought, what better moment to share this time-honoured tale with you than Beatrice & George’s fifth birthday?

"I remember being in my grandmother's shop and searching through the rails of dresses to pick one for my birthday. I chanced upon a pink party dress and instantly fell in love with it."

Bonny Reay-Smith, Beatrice & George Creative Director

Sitting amid cake stands and embroidered napkins, our little guests mingle at this family affair — including three cousins, who are Sybil’s great grandchildren. They are all perfectly put together: one dress, a lustrous dupion creation in seafoam green, is finished with traditional hand-smocked details and hand-embroidered flowers decorating the collar.
 

“Beatrice & George is a celebration of a long family history in creating quality children’s clothes,” explains Bonny. “Over many generations, our family has handed down traditional knowledge of smocking and embroidery, continuing the legacy.” Delicate hand-smocking has long been a hallmark of Beatrice & George’s classic designs, with dresses and buster suits alike featuring the elegant gathering technique. Inspired by Sybil's own creations, Beatrice & George still honours this British tradition with our artisans hand-crafting the smocked details. 

"I was always inspired by the elegance and simplicity of the traditional smocks made by my grandmother," says Bonny, looking through family photographs of Sybil, and also of Michele and her sister Puppe as children, holding hands in their matching dresses. This particular design has been lovingly recreated for today's children in the Joy dupion dress; many other icons are reminiscent of Sybil's dressmaking legacy, from smart buster suits to smocked day and occasion dresses.

Beatrice & George’s collections have always been imagined with the innocence of childhood at heart and as family heirlooms. "I still have some beautiful dresses that I wore as a child, and that both my daughters have also worn," says Bonny. "I am keeping them safe for now, and they will continue to be passed down."

Special creations to treasure and keep for future generations include christening gowns crafted from delicate lace and ceremonial outfits in sumptuous satin with beautiful buttons and floral details. Page boys and bridesmaids alike will bring a charming finesse to the wedding party in linen shorts suits and pretty embroidered lace dresses in sorbet shades — each piece is designed with an eye for detail and the knowledge that they will take pride of place in cherished family albums.

From monogrammed layettes and sets fit for royalty to signature sailor suits, soft knits and day dresses, this love of heritage design and craftsmanship also finds its way into little ones' everyday wardrobes. Each piece in the collection is designed with a caring eye for detail and children's comfort top of mind, as well as the knowledge that they will take pride of place in cherished family albums, and be gifted to generations to come.

"I wanted to reimagine some of those classic design lines and elements present in those clothes, to create something contemporary and beautiful," explains Bonny. "With this collection, I hope to continue in the family tradition of creating beautiful children’s clothing."

“Inspired by Sybil, created by Michele, and carried forward by Bonny, Beatrice & George is woven through with love, family and craft.”

The Beatrice & George Team