The best UK brands stand out for their dedication to sleek visuals and community-minded approach, often incorporating UGC and other creators into their social strategy. Many of these brands incorporate images that pay homage to their UK roots to earn the highest engagement among UK brands.
Exploring other brands’ performance, visual strategy and content mix can help identify social media trends and gaps in your brand’s strategy to find inspiration overall.
This blog is specifically going to touch on:
- Best UK clothing brands.
- Best UK accessories brands.
- Best UK men’s clothing brands.
- Best UK jewellery brands.
- Best UK food brands.
Best UK Brands
As mentioned, the best UK brands use a combination of inspirational graphics, clever influencer partnerships and UGC to engage their audiences and build meaningful connections with users. But how exactly does that translate on social?
We collected data from over 7000 UK-based Dash Hudson customers to find out.
*This data was collected from January 1, 2024, to March 13, 2024
Best UK Clothing Brands
1. Adanola (@adanola)
- Followers: 690K
- Engagement rate: 1.18%
Adanola takes athleisure to stylish new heights, offering minimalist, versatile workout wear that doubles as casual chic. They tap into a neutral, sleek, chic fashion palette, engaging their users through relevant partnerships with brand ambassadors and Instagram giveaways that capture their audience’s attention.
2. Sisters and Seekers (@sistersandseekers)
- Followers: 421K
- Engagement rate: 0.85%
A haven for the modern woman, Sisters and Seekers creates unique, statement pieces that merge contemporary fashion with a touch of nostalgia. Their feed reflects this, featuring an aspirational yet achievable look for their audience. Sisters and Seekers uses minimal captions and taps into memes and trends their audience loves, from girlhood to their take on the reusable cup.
3. Belstaff (@belstaff)
- Followers: 254K
- Engagement rate: 0.23%
Belstaff champions the spirit of adventure in its high-quality, durable outerwear that blends luxury and legacy. They lean into the UK landscape, sharing photos from the seaside, Central London and local UK restaurants like Rochelle Canteen. This localized approach helps cement its status as a proud UK brand while staying true to its brand identity and roots when promoting things like giveaways and its 100-year heritage.
4. Anya Hindmarch (@anyahindmarch)
- Followers: 708K
- Engagement rate: 0.26%
Anya Hindmarch combines whimsy with sophistication, offering designer bags and accessories known for their creativity and playful elegance. Anya Hindmarch encourages engagement by showing its products and discussing social causes that resonate with its audience, like Global Recycling Day. They also use social media to share behind-the-scenes looks at exciting brick-and-mortar marketing campaigns, like their take on an accessories-filled supermarket, ‘Anya Mart’ — this approach helps bolster their brand identity as fun, eclectic and encourages local users to visit them in-store.
5. Burberry (@burberry)
- Followers: 20.1M
- Engagement rate: 0.13%
Burberry, a quintessentially British luxury brand, is renowned for its iconic trench coats, signature plaid and innovative designs. Despite having over 20 million followers, Burberry still earns decent engagement from its Instagram presence. Burberry shares hi-fi, crisp and ultra-branded visuals to inspire audiences and lean into its history, frequently sharing its signature beige, white, black and red plaid.
2. Ted Baker (@tedbaker)
- Followers: 1.3M
- Engagement rate: 0.04%
Ted Baker stands out for its impeccable tailoring, distinctive patterns and a keen eye for detail, offering a complete lifestyle brand experience. Ted Baker leans heavily into a consistent theme throughout its grid, uploading multiple photos from the same photoshoot consecutively, so users scrolling through get a consistent look and feel.
3. Public Desire (@publicdesire)
- Followers: 1.9M
- Engagement rate: 0.04%
Public Desire is a go-to for the latest in affordable, trend-led footwear, constantly updating with the newest styles and looks. They have their finger on the pulse of what’s trending in their community, offering styling tips and product suggestions for things like the Eras tour and Coachella. Uniquely to other brands on this list, they include the price in the caption in both pounds and USD, which is useful to encourage their audience to visit their link-in-bio.
Its link-in-bio also offers product suggestions for recent trends, like the growing ‘mob wife’ aesthetic. These tips and trends are a great way to encourage trend-focused users to follow their account and stay tuned for the latest updates and drops.
4. Mulberry (@mulberryengland)
- Followers: 744K
- Engagement rate: 0.07%
Mulberry celebrates British craftsmanship and is known for its timeless leather goods, blending traditional techniques with a modern sensibility. Their Instagram feed reflects this, shying away from memes and other internet trends, showcasing hi-fi visuals and up-close product shows that show off the quality and detail of its leather bags.
5. Malone Souliers (@malonesouliers)
- Followers: 292K
- Engagement rate: 0.12%
Malone Souliers offers luxury footwear that combines meticulous craftsmanship with a daring aesthetic, known for its signature curves and unexpected combinations. This aesthetic is found throughout their Instagram feed, with their product shots incorporating whimsical set-ups and unexpected poses.
Best Men’s Clothing Brands UK
1. Daniel w. Fletcher (@danielwfletcher)
- Followers: 385K
- Engagement rate: 0.92%
Unlike some other brands on this list, Daniel w. Fletcher shares images of himself wearing his clothes, in addition to styled shots from photoshoots and his other creative pursuits like photography and even his horse. This approach incorporates his designs into his overall feed while showcasing a personality and relatability behind the brand and founder.
2. Fred Perry (@fredperry)
- Followers: 784K
- Engagement rate: 0.27%
Fred Perry embodies British subcultural style, offering timeless apparel and footwear that bridges sportswear and streetwear. Their Instagram feed is filled with images of its signature polo, using both male and female models and creators to encourage a diverse group to wear their products. They also share ‘pins’ in many captions to signal where the individual in the photo is from, which helps promote various UK-based locations and cement their status as a legacy UK brand.
3. Dunhill (@dunhill)
- Followers: 199K
- Engagement rate: 0.47%
Dunhill, synonymous with men's luxury, offers a refined collection of menswear, leather goods and accessories, emphasizing sophistication and innovation. Dunhill’s Instagram feed uses hi-fi photos, mostly from photoshoots, with a logo overlay on many posts. Its sophisticated, polished feed reflects the quality and style of of its brand in its images.
4. Flannels (@flannels)
- Followers: 1.1M
- Engagement rate: 0.03%
Flannels curates luxury fashion, featuring a wide range of designer brands and the latest trends in men's and women's apparel and accessories. Their Instagram feed is an excellent example of social commerce, incorporating a blend of shoppable posts and link-in-bio calls to action, encouraging its followers and visitors to shop while also driving website traffic.
5. Oliver Spencer (@oliverspencer)
- Followers: 59.2K
- Engagement rate: 0.01%
Oliver Spencer offers a modern approach to menswear, focusing on quality fabrics and tailored fits for a comfortable, distinctive style. Its Instagram feed features a blend of models, influencers and even chefs wearing Oliver Spencer clothes while cooking, hanging out with friends and lounging, promoting their brand's wearability and ‘everyday’ feel.
Best UK Jewelry Brands
1. Monica Vinader (@monicavinader)
- Followers: 690K
- Engagement rate: 0.18%
Monica Vinader is celebrated for its contemporary jewelry, offering customizable pieces that blend personal storytelling with responsible craftsmanship. Monica Vinader’s Instagram feed practices transparency, sharing organic, lo-fi product flatlays, sizing help and even a sustainability report. This is a great way to encourage social commerce, with users being able to discover more about their ethos and practices while shopping and discovering new jewelry.
2. Graff Diamonds (@graff)
- Followers: 1.2M
- Engagement rate: 0.48%
Graff dazzles with its exquisite diamonds and gemstones, showcasing unparalleled craftsmanship in its high jewelry creations. Graff uses branded hashtags (#GraffDiamonds) and ultra-clear, crisp visuals to provide a stunningly clear view of their diamond jewelry.
3. Cernucci (@cernucci)
- Followers: 618K
- Engagement rate: 1.01%
Cernucci brings the latest in urban jewelry trends, offering stylish, high-quality pieces inspired by hip-hop and streetwear culture. This is evident in its Instagram feed, which shares relevant memes and styling inspiration throughout the feed to entertain and engage users.
4. Missoma (@missomalondon)
- Followers: 605K
- Engagement rate: 0.15%
Missoma London specializes in demi-fine jewelry, and is known for its layered looks and pieces that cater to everyday luxury. They share styling information and celebrity influence from famous folks seen wearing their products, like Sienna Miller below.
5. Jessica McCormack (@jessica_mccormack)
- Followers: 175K
- Engagement rate: 0.74%
Jessica McCormack has carved a unique niche in the high-end jewelry market with its distinctive blend of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design. It gained a loyal following among celebrities and fashion insiders, appreciated for its ability to create luxurious and wearable pieces.
Their Instagram feed stands out for its dedication to creating not just jewelry, but heirlooms that carry personal significance and timeless appeal, making Jessica McCormack a distinguished name in the world of luxury jewelry.
Best UK Makeup, Skincare and Beauty Brands
1. Creed Boutique (@creedfragrance)
- Followers: 635K
- Engagement rate: 0.78%
Creed Fragrance has a legacy of crafting exquisite scents. They offer a range of perfumes that blend tradition with innovation, almost all housed in its signature bottle design. Its feed mostly features glossy, hi-fi and close-up product shots. Still, they occasionally share a behind-the-scenes glimpse at their manufacturing process, like the example below, where it shares a glimpse at the citrus they collect for their fragrances.
2. Victoria Beckham LTD (@victoriabeckhambeauty)
- Followers: 1.1M
- Engagement rate: 0.53%
Victoria Beckham Beauty elevates clean beauty, focusing on sustainable, high-performance makeup and skincare products. On its Instagram feed, Victoria Beckham Beauty posts a blend of its products in action, use tips from their founder and former Spice Girl (what’s more British than that?) and close-up product shots showing it smeared, spread and smashed against different surfaces — this type of visual is trending in the beauty space, with users loving the way they get a sense of the product’s tactile nature and pigment.
3. Bleach London (@bleachlondon)
- Followers: 338K
- Engagement rate: 0.21%
Bleach London stands at the forefront of hair color innovation, offering bold, creative solutions and products for every hair type. Their Instagram feed shares a plethora of content from Reels explaining the history of hair dye, the most popular hair colours throughout different decades and, of course, before and after shots of its products.
4. The INKEY List (@theinkeylist)
- Followers: 583K
- Engagement rate: 0.20%
The INKEY List demystifies skincare with its straightforward, ingredient-focused products that aim to educate and empower consumers. Their Instagram profile taps into the power of community with creator UGC with a branded hashtag campaign (#thistimeitspersonal) where users share their skin stories and favorite products and Reels showing various skin types using its products.
5. Tan Luxe (@tan_luxe)
- Followers: 207K
- Engagement rate: 0.06%
TAN-LUXE revolutionizes self-tanning with its tailor-made approach, offering products that promise a natural, streak-free glow. Their Instagram feed features a fairly consistent rotation of product visuals, UGC and Reels that feature their products or show them in use. They also share tips on shade selection and which products are best for different uses, which is helpful for new and experienced users alike. This combination of value and inspiration helps them consistently engage users.
Best UK Food Brands
1. McDonald’s UK (@mcdonaldsuk)
- Followers: 325K
- Engagement rate: 1.16%
McDonald's UK serves a mix of beloved classics and new menu teasers, engaging its audience with a playful and appetizing social media presence. Known for its quick service and consistent quality, the brand has become a go-to for millions seeking convenience and comfort food. Through its Instagram, McDonald's UK connects with its audience, sharing promotional deals, new product launches and playful content that resonates with its followers.
2. Julienne Bruno (@juliennebruno)
- Followers: 25.7K
- Engagement rate: 0.78%
Julienne Bruno is redefining the food industry with its innovative approach to vegan cuisine, focusing on creating plant-based alternatives that don't compromise on taste or quality. With a keen eye on the future of food, Julienne Bruno aims to cater to the growing demand for vegan options, making plant-based eating accessible and enjoyable for everyone. The brand uses its social media to educate and inspire its audience about the benefits of veganism, showcasing its array of products that are as good for the planet as they are for your palate.
3. Deliciously Ella (@deliciouslyella)
- Followers: 2.4M
- Engagement rate: 0.50%
Deliciously Ella is another trailblazer in the plant-based food movement, offering a wide array of wholesome, natural products that emphasize the power and flavor of whole foods. Founded on health and wellness principles, the brand extends beyond just food products to include cookbooks, a popular app and even a deli, all aimed at making healthy eating accessible and enjoyable. Through engaging Instagram content and community-focused content, Deliciously Ella inspires their following with a commitment to sustainability and nutrition.
4. Popsicle (@popsicle)
- Followers: 58.6K
- Engagement rate: 0.48%
Despite being referred to as ‘ice lollies’ in the UK, the brand Popsicle caters to the British love for refreshing, frozen snacks. These brands celebrate the simple joy of a cold treat, offering everything from fruit-flavored delights to creamy and indulgent options. Through vibrant packaging and Instagram images with content that invite users to interact and comment, they capture the essence of summer and bring smiles to faces across all ages.
5. Nandos UK (@nandosuk)
- Followers: 418K
- Engagement rate: 1.08%
Nando's is a beloved UK food brand famous for its flame-grilled peri-peri chicken, offering a unique twist on Portuguese-inspired cuisine. With a diverse menu that caters to various tastes and spice levels, Nando's has become a UK staple for casual dining and takeout. The brand is renowned for its vibrant atmosphere, distinctive sauces and commitment to ethical sourcing and sustainability. Through its engaging Instagram presence, Nando's maintains a strong connection with its community, often sparking conversations with its witty and playful content.
Investigate Competitors With Dash Hudson
UK Social teams can elevate their Instagram strategy with Competitive Insights and Benchmarking — this lets you create custom reports to benchmark your performance to other brands in your niche. You can also explore how your competition shows up in your space, which influencers they partner with and how they promote their business and connect with their audience on social. With Social Listening, brands can take these insights even further, by keeping track of which keywords, visual trends and topics your audience is interested in — with this knowledge, you can partner with influencers who align with the trends your audience is interested in.
Social Analytics and Monitoring lets brands create custom reports that include the most relevant metrics for their influencer campaigns, including influencer and creator ROI, so your team can holistically measure the impact of every piece of content from your influencer marketing campaigns.
