Something  new  is coming – One Six

As summer turns into autumn, change is written all over the place: the temperature, the selection of drinks at your favourite café and, of course, your wardrobe.

And whilst change can be scary and uncomfortable at times, a lot of us welcome the shift in seasons and the new opportunities that may bring.

Our new company is also changing to meet the challenges of our times!

We are One-Six, created by Helen Teague in 1986 when she founded a company called Big Clothes.

The name may have changed but what remains is our commitment to plus size women and their love for fashion.

We present to you a core collection of 6 essential pieces.

Our very first collection as One-Six is launching on 06/10/2022 and we could not be more excited for you to see what we have in store for you!

This collection is classy, strong, confident and yet still sexy. For our maiden voyage as One-Six, we are focusing on the colours black and red for this collection; colours that exude fearlessness, a powerful aura and call for attention.

Black and red as colours are not to be underestimated. Sure, we are seeing a lot of catchy and flashy new colours that are more fad than fashion everyday but black and red are everlasting.

But what makes these two colours so irresistible and versatile? What does history, psychology and symbolism say of these two indomitable colours?

Intensely Red
The earliest record of red dye being used for clothing dates back to the sixth millennium BC in what we now know as Turkey. Since then, red has been found in cloths and clothes in lots of other ancient civilisations like Egypt, Persia, Greece and Rome.

In ancient Egypt, red was linked to the god Osiris whilst in ancient Sparta, soldiers wore red in battle as a symbol of courage, ardour and sacrifice. The ancient Romans associated red with the god of war, Mars, which meant that this colour stood for willpower, strength and energy.

As fashion evolved throughout human history, red became a much-coveted colour because the red dye was particularly expensive and limited in its availability. The demand was high, but the supply was low, making this colour very desirable.

However, rich and elite families from Europe were willing to pay the price because having red clothing and in-demand fashion pieces symbolised status, wealth and influence. Soon enough, even the Catholic clergy started wearing red as for them, it symbolised the blood and passion of Christ.

But why is this colour so compelling? Well, it might have to do with how our brain reacts to particular colours. Red can be perceived by our brains as a very active and also aggressive colour. It jumps out at you, warns you and even signals danger. However, when worn in an outfit, it can also do wonders for how you present yourself to others.

A red suit at work can exude purpose, whilst a lovely crimson dress can give off sensuality. But be warned: do not overdo it. Too much red can negatively affect our moods as well and may lead to irritability and even aggression.

Having said that, these days we are much wiser in how we wear bold colours like red. We have a plethora of shades to choose from. We have learned to combine, accessorise and dilute so that we can feel good wearing red without overdoing it.

And that is what One-Six does in its newest collection. By combining red and black, we want to empower women to be the most confident, sensual and fearless version of themselves

Royal Black
As for black in fashion, it is considered mysterious, prestigious, elegant, classy, intentional and still sexy. No wonder fashion houses over the last few decades have had collections that were predominantly black. After all, it is also timeless and adaptable to whoever wears it.

In the 14th century, only notable elites wore black. Like red, black was expensive to produce as a dye, so the rich and famous were the only ones who got to experience this luxury.

Queen Elizabeth, I was a fan too. After defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588, she posed for a portrait, wearing an extravagant dress with lush black elements. It was an expression of pride and strength, and it was effective!

Even in contemporary fashion, black seems to never lose its charm. Coco Chanel created a lot of black pieces and is even credited for the creation of the term “little black dress”. She was once quoted saying, “black has it all, white too, their beauty is absolute, it is the perfect harmony.” She is absolutely right!

Neons and pastels may come and go, but black is irreplaceable and indispensable. It is a reliable, stable and enduring colour that we can safely come back to for whatever occasion. Black exudes professionalism and responsibility in some instances and sex appeal and irresistibility in others.

What we at One-Six love about black is the fact that it has this wonderful tendency to elevate other colours, which in turn amplifies the best parts of the person wearing the whole outfit. Combining an active and passionate colour like red with a more level headed and dignified one like black will always create a sharp and on-point look, something that all our customers deserve.

By the way
You may think that is the best part of our new collection but let me tell you about the cherry on top of the icing on the proverbial cake: all our pieces are made in the UK! By wearing One-Six, you not only look good but you can be confident that your outfit has a low carbon footprint as well and supporting the local economy.