A new chapter
The Sloane Club is one of London’s most historic private members’ clubs, tucked into a quiet corner of Chelsea. Founded as a refuge for women in the armed services, the club had a century of stories behind its doors. But in recent years it had lost some of its pioneering spirit and begun to feel tired. It was ripe for reinvention.
New Managing Director, Neena Jivraj Stevenson had a clear vision for the club’s transformation. She wanted to broaden its ethos to become one space for the whole self. The Sloane Club is now a place where members can work, rest, socialise, dine and reconnect. With this new direction, it was clear the staff uniforms needed to evolve, too.
Field Grey was invited to support this shift at a pivotal moment. Our brief was to create a collection that reflected the club’s rich heritage while appealing to a modern membership base. The designs had to be elegant without being formal, and practical without compromising on style or confidence. It was one of our most rewarding design projects, requiring us to tread a careful tightrope of tradition and modernity.
All of this was happening to a tight timeline, which meant our collaboration with Neena and her team needed to be open, focused and fast-moving from the very start. Clear decisions and honest conversations became essential.
The Russell Sage Studio interiors inspired us with beautiful tones and textures – but this was clothing to be worn in real work environments. From dining rooms to reception areas to the members’ lounge, each space and its nuances had to be considered.
Front-of-house teams needed clothes that projected a welcoming warmth, dining staff needed practicality and polish and concierge staff needed smart silhouettes that worked day or night. The result was an elegant uniform collection that created coherence across the club while still feeling grounded and lived-in enough for everyday use.
Finding the balance
We began as we always do with a period of deep discovery: understanding the daily movements of staff, the pace of service, the expectations of members and the quirks of each space. Those early conversations helped us shape a direction that felt honest to the club – quiet luxury grounded in real practicality. Garments that feel special but still effortless.
We crafted a palette inspired by the interiors: warm camel, deep navy, textured charcoal and touches of burgundy. This created a sense of belonging between staff, setting and guest experience.
In collaboration with Neena, we designed apparel that reflected the many faces of The Sloane Club’s new identity. A structured collarless blazer and tailored waistcoat give formality a modern edge. Crisp shirts balanced professionalism with practicality in high-traffic areas. Velvet evening jackets brought elegance to late-night service.
Neena’s favourite piece is a refined navy midi-length hostess dress – “understated yet elegant, just stunning” – in the atmospheric Demob bar. It was a touchstone for the whole collection – silhouettes that feel elevated but not overdone. ”That, I can absolutely imagine myself wearing,” she told us. ”It’s got this lovely movement to it as our hostesses flow through the bar making everyone feel welcome in the space.”
Fit trials were key. We worked closely with the team to refine lengths, adjust cuts and ensure every garment wasn’t just comfortable but made teams feel confident. The aim was for staff to feel “dressed” rather than “uniformed” – an approach that aligned with The Sloane Club’s ethos of creating a welcoming, people-centred atmosphere.
A renewed spirit
The new uniform collection marked a significant step in The Sloane Club’s rebirth. It brings a sense of calm confidence to the team and quietly supports the refreshed atmosphere of the club. Neena Jivraj Stevenson, Managing Director, puts it perfectly:
“When people feel good in what they’re wearing, they move differently. They feel part of something.”
The uniforms now support that feeling – elegant enough to belong, adaptable enough to perform and contemporary enough to communicate where The Sloane Club is heading next.
This project reinforced a belief core to Field Grey’s practice: uniforms aren’t the finishing touch to a brand – they’re an active part of the experience. When thoughtfully designed, they help shape the atmosphere, express identity and make both staff and guests feel at ease.
Neena was a dream client and it was thrilling to hear how happy she was with the results.
“I loved how personal the approach was. Janice and her team were deeply involved at every stage – from fabrics to fit – and their expertise shone through.
“They really understood what we were trying to achieve at the club, both from a brand and guest experience point of view.
”It was fun and collaborative from start to finish.”
Working on a relaunch or a new look for your teams? We’d love to chat.