Rat & Boa
Rat & Boa is an online women's clothing retailer with headquarters in London, UK. Co-founded by friends Valentina Muntoni and Stephanie Cara Bennett[1][2] in 2015,[3] the company has attained near cult status, following a series of celebrity customers discovering their products via social media.
Private | |
Industry | Fashion |
Founded | 2015 |
Founder | Valentina Muntoni Stephanie Cara |
Headquarters | London, U.K. |
Website | www![]() |
History
Valentina Muntoni and Stephanie Cara Bennett met in 2008 at university in Manchester, where they were studying fashion degrees. They both quit their jobs to travel and started the company shortly after.[4]
The name ‘Rat and Boa’ is derived from a Stevie Nicks quote about her and bandmate Lindsey Buckingham's relationship, "He and I were about as compatible as a rat and a boa constrictor". [5] Stephanie Cara Bennett stated during an interview with Italian Vogue, "The Rat and the Boa both represent different elements of the brand and the varying qualities and personalities that we both bring".[6] The brand's name represents the "grungy, edgy element" and the "bohemian spirit".[7] The co-founders explained that photographers from the 1990s, such as Steven Meisel, Sante D’Orazio and Ferdinando Scianna inspire their designs.[6]
The brand gained significant exposure in 2016, after Kendall Jenner was spotted wearing a pair of shorts designed by Rat and Boa at the Coachella festival.[8] Since then, a number of high-profile celebrities have been spotted wearing items from the range – these include Emily Ratajkowski, Adwoa Aboah, Alice Dellal, Kylie Jenner, Bella Hadid, Gigi Hadid, Olivia Culpo, Rosie Huntington Whiteley, Imaan Hammam & Gizele Olivera.[9][10][11][12]
The co-founders announced in March 2019 that a series of pop up shops would be launched, starting with London.[4]
In April 2019, The Independent included Rat and Boa in their list of the ‘Best Online Clothes Shops’ list.[13]
Controversy
Co-founder Valentina Muntoni features as the model in all the product shots, in one such product shot for the "Christy Skirt" (a black leather skirt with zips) Valentina exposed a nipple which drew the attention of the ASA. The ruling was upheld with the ASA stating the image was "gratuitous and sexually provocative".[14]
References
- "Kendall And Kylie's Favourite Slip Dress Brand Has Grown Up". British Vogue. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- Murray, Georgia. "These Dresses Will Make You Want To Book A Holiday, Stat". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- "RAT AND BOA LIMITED – Overview (free company information from Companies House)". Companies House, Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- "Rat & Boa is the fashion brand defying trends to forge their own path". HUNGER TV. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- Newbold, Alice. "Kendall And Kylie's Favourite Slip Dress Brand Has Grown Up". British Vogue. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
- "Rat & Boa Mania". Vogue. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- Murray, Georgia. "These Dresses Will Make You Want To Book A Holiday, Stat". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
- Newbold, Alice. "Kendall And Kylie's Favourite Slip Dress Brand Has Grown Up". British Vogue. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- "The dress style everyone will be wearing in August". London Evening Standard. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- Nast, Condé. "10 Kylie Jenner Inspired Leopard Dresses for Summer". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- Gil, Por Eva Armas (26 December 2018). "Esta es la firma de vestidos lenceros favorita de las celebrities". Harper's BAZAAR (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- "Olivia Culpo's Got Street Style Locked – Here's 20 Photos of Proof". Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- "110 best online clothes shops to bookmark as your fashion go-to's". The Independent. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- Practice, Advertising Standards Authority | Committee of Advertising. "Rat and Boa Ltd". www.asa.org.uk. Retrieved 6 May 2019.