Kahn & Bell was a fashion label and boutique founded by Jane Kahn and Patti Bell in Hurst Street, Birmingham, England in 1976. At the forefront of the emergence of the look of the New Romantic movement they designed clothes for notable bands including Duran Duran and Shock.
Kahn and Bell's elaborate and theatrical style brought together a wide range of influences, including Egyptian, African and Far Eastern art, and combined them with elements of futurism and fantasy.
The New Romantic magazine New Sounds New Styles commented in 1981 that while "Kahn & Bell were often one step ahead of the capital", they got little recognition for this, and "when similarities to London designers were spotted in their collections it was assumed that Birmingham had copied London". Blueprint reviewed their importance in 1988:
It has been argued over the years by many fashion magazines that Kahn and Bell never reached their true potential as London was always considered the capital of UK fashion. They perhaps missed their "window of opportunity" for global success as they, unlike many designers, never "licensed" their brand, never relocated, as Kahn and Bell, to London and would not compromise their unique "style".
Kahn and Bell eventually went their separate ways in the 1980s. Kahn relocated to London and enjoyed a measure of success alone but was never able to recreate the inspirational "look" that Kahn and Bell had achieved previously.
Bell has gone on to enjoy continued success with her outlandish, inspired and thought-provoking collections. With clients and customers from all over Europe, SE Asia and Japan, Bell still is very much a "grass roots" designer, and can be found every weekend at London's Camden Market. Still a resident of Birmingham, Bell is often seen "out and about" and is considered by many the Grande Dame of fashion of the city, still inspiring young designers and fashionistas alike.