MEIMEIJ, or Mei Mei J: Italian womenswear from Carpi

Both, and also MeiMeiJ. It is one Italian label, written three different ways by different retailers, which is why it can be hard to find. The company behind it is Angelica Fashion SRL, based in Carpi in the province of Modena. We list it under Mei Mei J and MEIMEIJ so you find it whichever way you type it.

There is no published answer anywhere, which is the honest position. MEIMEIJ sells in S, M, L and XL and publishes no size guide and no care page, and no UK stockist has filled the gap. Italian letter sizing does not map reliably onto UK dress sizes. When this range is back with us we will measure each piece and publish the garment measurements against UK sizes, because guessing is not good enough at this price.

Yes. The brand is based in Carpi, in the province of Modena, which it describes as the heart of the Emilia district of Made in Italy, and it states that Made in Italy defines its production cycle. Carpi has been a centre of Italian knitwear and garment making for decades, so this is a real manufacturing base rather than a marketing line.

The brand grew out of the work of MeiMei, a stylist of Chinese origin who grew up following her mother's work in a tailoring workshop, together with her husband Zhangfeng Ye. The company is Angelica Fashion SRL. MEIMEIJ does not publish a founding year on its own pages, so we are not going to put a date on it.

Shape. The brand describes its look as a feminine, contemporary aesthetic expressed through architectural volumes and sculpted silhouettes, softened by romantic details and refined craftsmanship. In practice that means clothes with structure to them, cut in Italy, for someone who wants a piece to do something rather than just cover.

MEIMEIJ makes no sustainability or certification claims on its own website, so we are not going to make any on its behalf. What it does state is that production is Italian, in Carpi, which keeps the supply chain short and within EU labour and chemical regulation.

Speak to us. Our MEIMEIJ range moves with the season and it is not always on the rails. The shop is Rio Brazil at Victoria Square, Belfast, and the team can tell you what is in and what is coming. We ship across the UK and to the Republic of Ireland.