RIXO's Founders Celebrated 10 Years Of Mixing Business With Friendship At LFW

""The first five years of RIXO, we lived together, apart from being in the office together," Rix tells Bustle. "We were literally together 24/7. Neither of us had boyfriends." Other friendships wouldn't have survived, especially remembering how difficult that time was for both of them. "We were 23. We wouldn't even buy ourselves a coffee," she says. "We were so careful about our spending, wanting to put everything into the business. It wasn't a glamorous lifestyle.""

"Rix says one of the reasons they work (and what makes great leaders) is that they still don't have an ego. Though Rix and McCloskey have divvied up their titles and departments, acting as CEO and creative director respectively, she says, "We don't have much hierarchy within the business. Orlagh and I don't have separate offices." She adds, "I'd like to think everyone still feels that they could come and talk to either of us. We're quite approachable.""

"On the personal front, both are now married with children (two for Rix, one for McCloskey). Meanwhile, on the brand end, they've expanded into brick-and-mortar, opening flagship stores in London and New York; they've collaborated with the likes of Liberty; and they've become somewhat of a London Fashion Week regular. McCloskey remembers the first time they showed at LFW in 2018, which she considers the brand's biggest milestone. "It was a 'pinch me' moment," she says."

Henrietta Rix and Orlagh McCloskey founded RIXO in 2015 while living together as recent university graduates. They sacrificed personal spending to reinvest in the business and spent the brand's early years living, working, and growing together. The founders maintain an egalitarian company culture with minimal hierarchy and approachable leadership despite formal title divisions. Both founders are now married with children. The brand expanded into brick-and-mortar flagships in London and New York, collaborated with Liberty, and became a London Fashion Week regular. The label celebrated its 10-year anniversary at LFW with a '60s-inspired Spring/Summer 2026 collection titled "We Are One."

Read at Bustle