Filled with a spirit of fun and freedom, it makes sense that Motel was founded on a 1990s road trip that spanned California, New Mexico and beyond. Influenced by the experimental and eclectic style sensibilities that echoed through the UK in the late ‘80s, founders Will and Andy followed their sense of adventure across America, building up their collection of vintage and second-hand pieces along the way. The pair began re-working their finds and selling them at local London markets, quickly earning a name amongst the street style set. Unable to keep up with the demand, they recruited a designer and ‘Motel’s’ first collection was born.

Taking its namesake from the motels they lived out of while on the road, Will and Andy gradually grew the Motel brand. In 2005, they set off on an inspiration trip to the island of Bali where a chance encounter with local creatives convinced them to put roots down and carry on the Motel journey on island time.

Still an independent brand to this day, Will and Andy continue to call London and Bali home, working with their global team to create Motel’s core collections and cool girl trend edits. Drawing on the brand’s vintage archive, Motel has cemented its status as being for the girls who get dressed for one another. Worn by the likes of Black Pinks Rosé, Hailey Bieber and the internet’s ‘IT’ girl Olivia Neill, each Motel piece was designed to put your personal style in the spotlight. We hope by wearing it you feel like even more of the main character you already are.

THE PROCESS

Inspired by Motel’s very own vintage archive and the thrift stores and flea markets that surround them, the design process for each piece begins with the team in our central London studio. Led by a small but mighty group of designers, each style is developed and brought to life in-house. Influenced by our island home’s unique design philosophy, each Motel print is drawn, painted or screen printed by hand.

THE TEAM

Evident in both the UK and Bali studios, Motel’s team feels as much like a family as it did at the start. With collaboration at the core, our London design studio works hand in hand with the creative and production team in Canggu, Bali. Largely female-led, Motel is proud to have grown with a large majority of our full-time team from the very beginning.