Creative director

Caroline Evans is the Creative Director and co-owner of Moncrief, a new British luxury brand specialising in exquisite, contemporary and entirely hand made carry-on luggage for those who enjoy travelling in style, luxury and elegance.   

Caroline Evans was born in the Pennines in the north of England and has always designed, from clothes to interiors and hotels.  She describes herself as a naturally creative person, “I am creating all the time and looking at how things could be improved if they were redesigned. I can’t stop.”

At the age of six, she had an eye for design and would draw clothes she wanted to wear and her mother would sew them for her.  She spent her childhood acting and her teens on the stage before working as a professional actress.

Caroline’s interest in fashion turned into a career and she was instrumental in the creation of high street label Jigsaw.  Caroline was the creative force behind the brand until 1995 and her influence extended across areas including the collections, the store design and the advertising campaigns.  She commissioned architect Nigel Coates and made the Jigsaw stores exciting and desirable shopping locations. She also created groundbreaking advertising campaigns with photographers such as Ellen von Unwerth, Mikael Jansson, Paolo Roversi. 

Following Jigsaw, she launched her own womenswear label 'Caroline's Eye' which was sold through prestigious London department stores including Liberty, Harvey Nichols and Joseph.  During this time, Caroline was also appointed Creative Director of the development and build of the Hoxton Hotel where she worked once more with architect Nigel Coates.  Together their innovative ideas transformed the space of this award winning hotel.

Moncrief was conceived by Caroline in early 2008, born out of her desire to create authentic, handmade travel products of exceptional craftsmanship and design integrity.   The company was co-founded by Caroline and named after the Moncrief Clan who were ancient nobility and early nomadic travellers.

Caroline felt there was little for the discerning traveller who wanted a style that was both distinctive and understated.  Moncrief was established to appeal to this consumer and their lifestyle of “Nomadic Elegance”.  She was also frustrated at the culture she calls “mass production masquerading as luxury” and felt strongly that the experience of travel itself had lost its charm and appeal.  By creating Moncrief, with each piece made by hand by artisans in Milan, Caroline is determined to provide today's elegant nomads with exquisite contemporary travel pieces that have a timeless appeal.

Moncrief launches in April 2012 and will be sold through selected stores internationally and through Moncrief’s online boutique, www.moncrieflondon.com.

Currently Caroline is working on other travel products to launch next year.  Caroline lives in London, although she spends a considerable part of the year in Italy, where the Moncrief collection is made.