Alexa Chung and Wardrobe Classics: Daniel Fletcher on Mithridate's New Chapter

The wisteria which forms the centrepiece to a dinner table to celebrate the launch of Daniel Fletcher’s first Mithridate collection originates in China. In 1816, a cutting was brought over to Britain and planted in Chiswick, where the oldest wisteria in the UK still stands today. This planting of cultural exchange is a mirror to today, as Fletcher brings Mithridate over from
Guangzhou, the same place from which the wisteria originates.

Rooting the fashion brand in new beginnings, Fletcher is betting on the British je nais se quois of cultural exemplar Alexa Chung. Following his A/W 25 runway debut, the creative director, previously of Fiorucci, is utilising the history and techniques of Chinese craft coupled with an Anglo-education in clothes.

Mithridate – founded in London in 2018 and headquartered in China – was originally headed up by Tina Jang until Fletcher took over in January of 2025. ‘My hope is that Mithridate can become a truly international brand, my design influences come from my own background and I hope by infusing those into the brand we can tell a new story that people will fall in love with’, Fletcher told us over email this week..

Alexa Chung, the paragon of British It-girl fashion and materfamilias of indie sleaze, provided the inspirational building blocks for a capsule collection and campaign titled Seven. Nine. Three. Notably, the invites for the A/W 25 show were large fold-out posters of Chung. Muse and friend to the designer, conversations for the collection began around staples found in a Brit’s wardrobe. ‘She's [Chung] so good at taking staple items and combining them in a way that is both unexpected but at the same time feels totally natural. This is something I envisage for the Mithridate wardrobe, much of it is inspired by classic British styles but reinterpreted for a modern woman,’ says Fletcher.

Throughout Seven. Nine. Three you will see structured double-breasted blazers sitting on high shoulders while rigid rugby shorts look ready for the pitch. Drop waist crinoline-esque dresses are embroidered with the numbers seven, nine, and three, a reference to the practice of feng shui; multiple meanings encompass the numbers but new beginnings and rebirth stand out. Fringed silk scarves slip around necks, together with pinstripes and sailor collars galore. Pieces look just as at home in the vibrant countryside as they would in cosmopolitan centres.

Fletcher's signatures become apparent in the straightforward tailoring and cultural touchpoints. Through wardrobe classics, Fletcher makes an effort to highlight and mingle in Chinese techniques. 'There was an embroidery technique I fell in love with, created using tiny knots, so I used this to create some boating style stripes which were then applied to a classic Harrington shape,' muses the designer.

Did anyone else notice when the Royal Ascot posters on the tube actually got good? You can thank Fletcher for that, as the creative director of British thoroughbred horse race. British dress is inextricably linked to class, and Fletcher finds touchpoints in the high and the low. His execution and knowledge of British sensibilities signal Mithridates' clear desire to break into the Western market, without forgetting the brand's roots.

Seven. Nine. Three. is available now.