Roksanda Ilincic
Roksanda is a London-based luxury womenswear and accessories brand founded by Serbian-born designer Roksanda Ilinčić.
Last updated August 31, 2026
Overview
Roksanda is the fashion label founded and owned by Serbian-born designer Roksanda Ilinčić, who is based in London. The brand was introduced at London Fashion Week in 2005 and became known for an architectural approach to womenswear, strong use of colour, sculptural silhouettes and polished occasion dressing. Its identity reflects Ilinčić's education in both architecture and fashion: she first studied architecture and design at the Faculty of Applied Arts at the University of Arts in Belgrade, then moved to London in 1999 to study womenswear at Central Saint Martins, where she completed a master's degree. The label initially concentrated on womenswear collections shown on the London Fashion Week schedule. Over time, its offering broadened beyond ready-to-wear to include leather goods and other accessories. Roksanda's clothes are associated with formal and semi-formal dressing, including gowns, cocktail dresses, tailored separates, outerwear and statement pieces designed around colour blocking, draping, geometric construction and volume. The brand's designs have attracted an international profile through high-profile clients and red-carpet appearances. Publicly identified wearers have included Catherine, Princess of Wales, Rajwa Al Saif, Michelle Obama, Samantha Cameron, Cate Blanchett, Emily Blunt, Kristen Stewart, Amy Adams, Keira Knightley and Melania Trump. Roksanda's retail development included its first store, opened in June 2014 at 9 Mount Street in London's Mayfair. The store was created in collaboration with architect David Adjaye, reinforcing the relationship between the label's fashion language and architectural design. The company has also had a cultural presence beyond commercial retail. Roksanda designs were included in the Design Museum's Women, Fashion, Power exhibition and in the Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950. Ilinčić's work has received recognition from the British fashion and wider design communities. She won the Red Carpet Award at the 2012 British Fashion Awards, the Red Carpet Designer Award at the 2013 British Elle Style Awards, and Business Woman of the Year at the 2014 Harper's Bazaar UK Women of the Year Awards. In 2016 she received the British Designer of the Year award at the Elle Style Awards. She was also awarded the Knight of the St. Sava Order of Diplomatic Pacifism by Serbia's foreign minister in 2018 and was appointed an MBE in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to fashion design. The brand is best understood as an independent, designer-led luxury womenswear house rather than a fast-fashion business. Its public identity remains closely tied to Ilinčić's creative direction, London fashion-week presence, occasionwear expertise and distinctive colour-driven design. Corporate ownership, revenue, employee numbers and broader retail distribution are not established by the supplied reference material.
History
Roksanda's history is closely connected to the education and career of its founder, Roksanda Ilinčić. Born in Belgrade, Serbia, Ilinčić grew up in a family whose professional background included business and public relations. She studied architecture and design at the Faculty of Applied Arts of the University of Arts in Belgrade. Her architectural training later became an important influence on the construction, proportion and spatial quality of her clothing. Ilinčić moved to London in 1999 to continue her studies at Central Saint Martins. She completed a master's degree in womenswear, placing her within the London design and fashion environment in which the Roksanda label would subsequently develop. She introduced the brand in 2005 and began showing collections on the London Fashion Week schedule. From the outset, the label's work was associated with formal womenswear, bold colour relationships, clean geometry, draping and distinctive sculptural shapes. During its development, Roksanda expanded from its core ready-to-wear collections into leather goods and related accessories. The business also built visibility through dressing prominent public figures and through appearances connected to film, politics, royalty and international red-carpet events. The public list of wearers includes Catherine, Princess of Wales, Rajwa Al Saif, Michelle Obama, Samantha Cameron, Cate Blanchett, Emily Blunt, Kristen Stewart, Amy Adams, Keira Knightley and Melania Trump. A significant retail milestone came in June 2014, when the brand opened its first store at 9 Mount Street in Mayfair, London. The store was created with architect David Adjaye. Its involvement of a notable architect was consistent with Ilinčić's design background and the label's emphasis on architectural form. The supplied reference material does not establish whether the store remains open or describe a complete current retail network. Roksanda's reputation was reinforced through industry awards. Ilinčić won the Red Carpet Award at the 2012 British Fashion Awards and the Red Carpet Designer Award at the 2013 British Elle Style Awards. In 2014, Harper's Bazaar UK named her Business Woman of the Year. She later received the British Designer of the Year award at the 2016 Elle Style Awards. These recognitions reflected both her occasionwear profile and her standing as a London-based designer. The label has also been represented in museum and design contexts. Roksanda designs appeared in the Design Museum's Women, Fashion, Power exhibition and in the Victoria and Albert Museum's Ballgowns: British Glamour Since 1950 exhibition. Such appearances placed the brand within discussions of contemporary fashion, women's public presentation and British design culture. Ilinčić received a Serbian Knight of the St. Sava Order of Diplomatic Pacifism award in 2018. In 2023 she was appointed an MBE for services to fashion design. In April 2016, her name was mentioned in connection with reporting on the Panama Papers; the supplied material does not provide evidence of an accusation or legal finding against her. Financial results, corporate structure, staffing, current distribution and detailed present-day collection information are not established by the available references. The brand is therefore documented primarily as an independent designer-led luxury womenswear label whose identity remains strongly associated with its founder.
- 2023Ilinčić is appointed an MBE
She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to fashion design.
- 2018Serbian diplomatic-pacifism honour
Ilinčić received the Knight of the St. Sava Order of Diplomatic Pacifism award from Serbian foreign minister Ivica Dačić.
- 2016Ilinčić is named British Designer of the Year
She won British Designer of the Year at the Elle Style Awards.
- 2014First Roksanda store opens in Mayfair
The brand opened its first store at 9 Mount Street in London, in collaboration with architect David Adjaye.
- 2013Elle Style Award for red-carpet design
She received the Red Carpet Designer Award at the British Elle Style Awards.
- 2012British Fashion Award for red-carpet design
Ilinčić won the Red Carpet Award at the British Fashion Awards.
- 2005Roksanda launches at London Fashion Week
Ilinčić introduced the Roksanda label and began showing its collections on the London Fashion Week schedule.
- 1999Ilinčić moves to London for postgraduate fashion study
After studying architecture and design in Belgrade, Roksanda Ilinčić moved to London to study womenswear at Central Saint Martins.
Products and positioning
Independent, designer-led luxury womenswear focused on architectural construction, vivid colour, sculptural form and occasion dressing.
Roksanda ready-to-wearLuxury womenswear2005
The brand's core offering consists of designer womenswear collections presented through the London fashion calendar. The clothing is associated with bold colour combinations, geometric construction, draping, volume and an architectural treatment of silhouette. The line includes pieces for formal, professional and occasion dressing, with the label's design language extending across dresses, separates, tailoring and outerwear.
Roksanda eveningwearEveningwear and occasionwear2005
Evening and red-carpet dressing is a prominent part of the brand's public profile. Its gowns and cocktail dresses use sculptural forms, colour blocking and controlled drape to create distinctive formal silhouettes. The category has helped establish Roksanda among public figures and clients seeking highly recognisable designer clothing for ceremonial and media-facing appearances.
Roksanda leather goodsLeather goods and accessories
Roksanda later extended its ready-to-wear business into leather goods. These products broaden the label beyond apparel while retaining its emphasis on polished design and coordination with the main womenswear collections. The available reference confirms the category but does not specify a complete product catalogue or current assortment.
Flagship businesses
- Roksanda womenswear collections
- Roksanda evening and red-carpet dresses
- Roksanda leather goods
Brand decisions
- 2014Opening the first branded storeStrategy
After establishing a fashion-week presence and expanding into leather goods, the brand pursued a direct retail presence.
What changed. Roksanda opened its first store at 9 Mount Street in Mayfair, London, in collaboration with David Adjaye.
Aftermath. The opening marked a physical retail milestone for the label, although the available material does not document the store's subsequent operating status.
- 2005Establishing a London-based designer labelStrategy
After postgraduate training at Central Saint Martins, Ilinčić developed an independent label within London's fashion system.
What changed. She launched Roksanda and placed its collections on the London Fashion Week schedule.
Aftermath. The label developed a continuing identity as a designer-led luxury womenswear brand.
Controversies
- 2016Mention in Panama Papers reportingControversy
In April 2016, Roksanda Ilinčić's name was mentioned in reporting associated with the Panama Papers. The available reference does not state that she or the brand was accused of wrongdoing, nor does it provide a legal finding or subsequent enforcement outcome.
Recent events
- 2023Roksanda Ilinčić receives an MBE
Ilinčić was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to fashion design.
Other - 2014Roksanda opens its first Mayfair store
The brand opened its first store at 9 Mount Street in London's Mayfair. The project was developed in collaboration with architect David Adjaye.
Other - 2005Roksanda is introduced at London Fashion Week
Roksanda Ilinčić introduced her eponymous fashion label on the London Fashion Week schedule, establishing the brand's public fashion identity.
Product launch
Sources
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