From Madonna to Catherine, Princess of Wales, Paula Rowan’s Glove Designs Dominate the Fashion World
If you’ve ever noticed the small printed credits on high-end magazine fashion shoots, you may have stumbled upon a secret – Paula Rowan designs the gloves. With a nearly total monopoly on A-lister’s hands, Rowan has quietly but fiercely gloved the likes of Madonna, Cher, Blake Lively, Anne Hathaway, and Ariana Grande. Her designs have graced the pages of iconic Vogue issues and adorned celebrities at prestigious events.
From Supermodels to Royalty
Naomi Campbell showcased a pair of Rowan’s black gloves on the joint September issue of British, Italian, and US Vogue this year. Anok Yai wore them to the Met Gala, and Lady Gaga even donned them in the House of Gucci film before commissioning more for her world Chromatica Ball Tour. However, Rowan’s rise to prominence reached new heights when Catherine, Princess of Wales, wore a pair of her elbow-length Ethiopian leather opera gloves to a state banquet. Rowan describes it as a “huge honor” to have someone as stylish and discerning as Catherine wear her gloves.
Building a Glove Empire
While the “Kate effect” has yet to translate into a surge in website sales, Rowan acknowledges the boost to her brand’s search engine optimization. Over nearly two decades, she has built a strong foundation with stylists and photographers, expanding her output from five classic styles to over 200 in 50 colorways for both men and women. Rowan initially entered the glove industry in 2006 when she acquired her brother’s leather handbag company, but soon realized the market favored designer tags she wasn’t selling. Determined to diversify, she delved into glove design and discovered the scarcity of global designers in the field, most of whom were based in Italy. Inspired, she traveled to Naples, witnessing the meticulous craftsmanship that went into each pair.
From Frustration to Success
Rowan’s frustration with fluctuating quality led her to design her own gloves, ranging from shoulder-length to micro fingerless options. Each pair takes three months to produce, with prices starting at £85 for basic, unlined pairs. After steadily building her business, Rowan’s breakthrough came in 2018 when her gloves appeared in a Vogue Italia shoot styled by Katy England and photographed by Tim Walker. This exposure caught the attention of industry veterans and top stylists who began incorporating Rowan’s gloves into their work.
Expanding Reach
With outposts at Selfridges in London and Bergdorf Goodman in New York, Rowan has set her sights on further expansion by 2024. She also hopes for more opportunities to see Catherine, Princess of Wales, donning her “variety of over the elbow gloves” on future occasions. For now, these gloves await their moment beyond the confines of the royal closet.
Unveiling the Glove Collection
With prices starting at £85, Paula Rowan’s diverse collection of gloves can be explored on her website at paularowan.com.