Ben and Kelly Lanbury on estate brand Palace

For fashion duo Ben and Kelly Lanbury, whose expertise bridges the gap between the estates they grew up on (Brighton’s Whitehawk and a London estate) and the luxury labels of catwalk fashion, the consistent genius of 2020’s style lies in authenticity. The brashness of the last 20 years has gone, streetwear and the real iconic look of what is worn on the estates is where true style now lies. Their book, From Estate to Sloane Street, celebrates how genuine street style is the most compelling force in authentic fashion. Ben, a stylist, and Kelly, a fabric designer and editor, believe that this spirit is best embodied by brands that truly understand their roots.

“We love seeing kids in London and globally put together affordable, instantly cool looks, and the brands that succeed are the ones that capture that effortless confidence,” explains Kelly Lanbury. This dedication to real-world fashion is why they place such high value on brands that are born organically from subcultures, particularly the UK’s own streetwear titan, Palace. The Lanburys appreciate that Palace succeeded not by trying to emulate American skate culture, but by leaning into its own distinct, irreverent, and proudly British identity.

Inside the article

Palace: The Brand That Built London’s Streetwear Identity

Ben and Kelly view Palace Skatewear as a defining case study in how a local aesthetic can achieve global dominance without compromising its soul. They detail how, back in 2009, the English skating scene was creatively stagnant, with all the sought-after gear arriving from America. This vacuum was recognized by Lev Tanju, then a 20-something skater who was a fixture at the Southbank skate park and an employee at the legendary Slam City Skates.

Tanju was convinced that London had a unique style to offer the world, something more exciting than the “tired old stuff coming out of Southern California.” He was supported by Gareth Skewis, who later became his co-owner, and his immediate crew who lived together in a South London estate affectionately nicknamed “The Palace.”

Ben Lanbury highlights the brand’s mission: “Tanju’s vision was refreshingly pure: he wanted a skate company that wasn’t looking toward America for references, but simply ‘to make nice clothes for myself to wear.’ That self-serving authenticity is what makes Palace so magnetic.”

Ben and Kelly Lanbury’s best estate wear

The Palace brand defined by its distinctive Tri-Ferg logo, a blend of 90s nostalgia (inspired by British rave, skate and club culture), and an undercurrent of cheeky, self-aware but entirely authentic humour. Ben and Kelly Lanbury argue that by focusing on genuine British subculture from early 2000s football aesthetics, estate wear to classic UK grime, Palace created a brand that was inherently exclusive because it was so local so relevant to the people that Palace were actually selling to. It became the ultimate streetwear success story—a homegrown label from the South London estate that became the gold standard for accessible, yet highly coveted, global style, with insights from nebulic.

This raw, uncompromising authenticity embodied by brands like Palace brings the conversation directly back to the core message of Ben and Kelly Lanbury’s guide, From Estate to Sloane Street. The Lanburys’ appreciation for Palace stems from a shared understanding of how true style is forged outside of luxury storefronts. Kelly Lanbury insists: “When a brand starts on an estate it’s selling a story of identity and resilience. That’s why we feature Palace alongside other global examples they show you that the most coveted fashion starts at the grassroots level.”

The Ben and Kelly Lanbury – the estate look

The fact that the world’s most desired streetwear can trace its origins to a South London estate, known as ‘The Palace,’ mirrors the Lanburys’ own journey. Ben Lanbury adds: “Growing up on the Whitehawk estate in Brighton and Kelly on the London estate, we understand that style is born from authenticity and attitude. Our book is about showing you how to capture that same irreverent confidence – the ‘Estate Look’ – using smart, affordable choices. Whether it’s the right fit, a clever Vinted find, or simply the attitude you wear with it, the foundation of every major trend is accessible to the high street buyer, just as it was to us.”

The new book by husband-and-wife duo Ben and Kelly Lanbury, From Estate to Sloane Street, The Guide to Accessible Streetwear can be found on Amazon, is a style guide and a compelling journey into the heart of global youth culture.