OUR STORY
ABOUT US
About Paths of Glory
Paths of Glory began in 2021 with a fairly simple idea: to make and find clothes that I actually wanted to wear.
I’ve always been drawn to clothing that feels like it belongs to a particular world - vintage pieces, unusual silhouettes, old photographs, films, uniforms, music, and garments that seem to carry some history with them. I started Paths of Glory by selling vintage clothing I found myself and, eventually, pieces I designed and sewed by hand.
The brand has changed a lot since then. What started as a small project in Paris has followed me through different countries, ideas, and phases of my life. I still source vintage pieces, but Paths of Glory has increasingly become a home for my own designs. After years of making garments myself, I’ve begun working directly with manufacturers in Ukraine to produce original pieces in small quantities while staying closely involved in the fabrics, construction, fit, and details.
I’m not particularly interested in designing around whatever happens to be fashionable that season. I’d rather make something distinctive enough that you still want to own it years from now. Vintage has always shaped that philosophy too: some of the best clothes have already survived decades, changed owners, travelled, and still look incredible.
The name Paths of Glory comes from Stanley Kubrick’s 1957 film of the same name, one of my favourite films. I chose it years ago because I loved the name, the film, and everything it evoked - history, beauty, idealism, tragedy and a certain defiance. Somehow, it still feels right.
Paths of Glory is ultimately a very personal project. It reflects what I find beautiful, what I want to wear, the places I’ve been, and the things I’m obsessed with at any given moment.
I hope you find something here that becomes part of your own story too.
- Sophia
MEET OUR DESIGNER & FOUNDER
Paths of Glory was founded by Sophia Penn in 2021, out of a love for clothing with character, history, and a life beyond a single season.
Sophia has been sewing and experimenting with clothes for years, drawing much of her inspiration from vintage fashion, old photographs, films, music, and the places she has lived and travelled. Rather than following trends, her designs tend to begin with something she genuinely wants to exist - a silhouette, a fabric, an old garment, or an idea that she can't quite find anywhere else.
Today, Paths of Glory is based in Europe, with pieces designed by Sophia and produced in small quantities. She remains closely involved in the process, from developing the original designs and choosing fabrics to working directly with the people who make them. More recently, this has taken the brand to Ukraine, where she has begun working with local manufacturers to bring new designs to life.
Paths of Glory has grown and changed since its beginnings, but the idea behind it has stayed fairly simple: to make clothes that feel distinctive, beautifully made, and worth keeping - pieces you want to wear for years rather than replace next season.