Isabel Wild on Vault 00, Vintage Influence, and Designing for What’s Next

Today, discussing influence in fashion goes beyond big names in viral collections. Tangible results also matter. For Isabel Wild, renowned designer, results look like multi-million pound product lines, global celebrity clients, and pushing streetwear brands into the luxury spotlight. But that’s just scratching the surface. Wild combines creative instinct and technical skill with foresight into fashion trends.

Vintage as Reference and Resource
Wild’s interest in fashion began early. As a teenager, she was drawn to visual research, filling her walls with lookbooks, cut-outs, and design references. This eventually led to formal training at the London College of Fashion, where she earned First Class honors in pattern cutting and design. Her technical background has remained central to her work ever since.

After graduation, Wild took on design roles at Les Girls Les Boys and Jaded London. At the latter, she contributed to the brand’s focus on Y2K fashion, including the Umbra Knit, an item that continues to perform with outstanding commercial results for the label.

Vault 00: Curated Vintage with a Practical Lens
Vault 00 began as a personal project. Drawing on pieces from her own archive, Wild started curating collections based on construction, texture, and silhouette. Over time, the project evolved into a broader platform, offering handpicked vintage and occasional one-off reconstructed items.

Rather than mass resale, Vault 00 focuses on small, edited drops and individual styling. Wild’s goal is to keep vintage clothing relevant to current wardrobes without relying on trend cycles. Her background in pattern cutting ensures that even reworked pieces prioritize fit and functionality.

(Courtesy)

(Courtesy)

Between Styling and Design
Alongside Vault 00, Wild consults for fashion brands looking to update or refocus their creative direction. Past work includes her time at Trapstar London, where she contributed to the growth of the womenswear category. According to Wild, the goal was not just to create new silhouettes, but to reposition the range in a way that aligned with both the brand and its broader audience.

She often works between the roles of stylist and designer, considering how pieces move through every stage, from development to production to end use. This approach allows her to advise on both aesthetic choices and practical constraints, depending on the project.

A Forward-Looking Use of the Past
Much of Isabel Wild’s work draws from previous decades, not to recreate them exactly, but to explore why certain references still resonate. She regularly studies vintage archives and uses that research in styling, trend analysis, and product development. This informs both her consulting practice and the evolving vision of Vault 00.

Wild wants to continue helping brands rethink their potential from design to execution. Her consulting isn’t just about making things look good; it’s about boosting fashion product development and giving brands the strategies they need for measurable revenue growth.

And for aspiring designers watching her path? She advises them to learn the technical side, get over their aesthetic egos, and always be ready to adapt.

You can follow her work on Instagram or check out her curated pieces at Vault 00 Vintage and Depop.

Presented by: APG