Connolly
Started in 1878 as a maker of fine saddles and shoes, Connolly leather can be seen in some of the most exclusive locations in Britain from the seats of the Houses of Parliament to the Coronation coaches of the Royal Family leather for the car industry, as well as in the interiors of some of the world’s finest luxury sportscars, from Bentley to Aston Martin, Jaguar, Ferrari and Rolls Royce, for whom Connolly were the exclusive leather supplier for over 100 years.
In recent years, the label have developed a contemporary luxury fashion collection of tailored separates , knitwear, classic sportswear, leather goods for men and women as well as homeware and objects d’art, all inspired by a rich heritage of classic motor racing coupled with a strong sense of British know-how, understatement and European style and craftsmanship.
Where design depth meets commerce
Working with Michèle Victoria (M&V), the focus of the Connolly brief was to construct a website that would reflect the bricks-and-mortar experience and unique editorial aesthetic that the label is known for. More than a storefront, the website needed to embody commercial structure and a platform for the brand’s distinct content.
The planned content was wide-ranging, encapsulating everything from the brand’s seasonal campaign imagery to considered moving image that explore Connolly’s heritage and their manufacturing process. All of this was designed to engage customers, offer a clear view of the brand’s heritage, and an in-depth view of the meticulous craftsmanship behind their products.
We started the website project by creating a wireframe; a basic, visual representation of the layout and key features of the site which provides a blueprint for how the site will be organised and how users would navigate through its pages. By designing this framework first, we ensured that we had a clear plan for the site’s structure, functionality, and user flow, and provides an opportunity for client scrutiny and feedback.
With Connolly’s sign-off on the wireframe design, we had the sign-off to move forward to the development phase. This stage would involve turning the wireframe into a fully functional fashion e-commerce site.
