Time and time again, music and fashion collide not only to capture the zeitgeist, but to redefine it. So, it’s no surprise that Miu Miu – continuing its reign as the cultural tastemaker of the high fashion world – tapped award-winning, genre-defying rapper, musician and actor Little Simz to mark its return to London. After all, if Miu Miu is what the modern woman is wearing, Little Simz is what she’s listening to.
For one night only, inside the vermillion walls of Camden’s iconic Koko, the Italian label and the Mercury Prize-winning north Londoner came together to celebrate the long-awaited return of Miu Miu’s Bond Street store. Friends and fans of both powerhouses – including Emma Corrin, Alexa Chung and Myha’la Herrold – danced the night away to Simz, Obongjayar and DJ sets from Taylah Elaine and OTG. “Miu Miu has this unapologetic energy – it’s playful but rebellious, refined yet experimental,” says Little Simz, who first worked with the brand when she walked in the autumn/winter 2024 womenswear show. “That duality really mirrors how I see my own work. I’m always navigating those in-between spaces, where softness meets strength.”
This duality is something ever-present in Simz’s work – whether in her sharp melodic prose against tender, soulful beats (like in “I See You”), in her acting work (as the soft yet stern Shelley in Top Boy) or even in her style (“it’s all about balance: structured but comfortable, masculine meets feminine. I think style should feel like you, not like a costume”). Though, perhaps nowhere is it more visceral than on stage, especially in her hometown of London. “Koko holds a special place in London culture and to be part of something like this with Miu Miu is an honour,” says Simz. “I’m always about moments that bring people together for something deeper than just the surface sound, style, energy and I think this night encapsulates all of that.”
It’s been a particularly busy week, busy month and, well, busy year for Simz. Not only did she headline Miu Miu’s biggest ever event in the capital, her latest gut-punch of an LP, Lotus, released the week prior to rave reviews. “Lotus was born out of learning how to thrive in muddy waters…” she says of her sixth studio album. “I gave myself the space to feel things fully, to not rush any part of the process as I didn’t want to shy away from how I really feel. The time of bloom is now.”
And now, the 31-year-old’s latest project, curating the Southbank’s Meltdown festival, is in full swing. Over 10 days, a sparkling lineup of musicians, visual artists, dancers, fashion designers and actors will decamp to London’s bankside for the 30th anniversary of the festival. “It’s humbling, truly,” she says, reflecting on the milestones of her career so far. “I’ve always kept my head down and led with purpose, so when people connect with what I do, it means everything. But I try not to get too caught up in the accolades, for me it’s more about impact. Did I say something that moved someone? Did I shift a perspective? That’s what I value. I still feel like I’m just getting started, to be honest. There’s so much more I want to express.”
Step inside Miu Miu Club London, with Little Simz, below.