Rails
Rails is the Los Angeles brand that has built one of the most loyal followings in contemporary womenswear by doing something deceptively simple: making clothes that feel extraordinary to wear. Founded in 2008 by Jeff Abrams after a period travelling Europe on the Eurorail — hence the name — Rails blends California ease with European sophistication in a way that produces shirts, dresses, knitwear, and jackets that are effortlessly wearable and built to last. At Kiti we stock Rails because it sits at the heart of how our customers actually dress: relaxed but considered, casual but never careless.
If you have not yet discovered Rails, the shirt is where to begin. Once you have worn one, you will understand why the brand has grown the way it has.
About Rails
Rails was founded in Los Angeles in 2008 by Jeff Abrams, who began the brand with a single hat while travelling through Europe on the Eurorail — finding inspiration in the contrast between the relaxed Californian lifestyle he had grown up with and the more refined, tailored sensibility he encountered in Italy and across the continent. That duality became the DNA of the brand: West Coast ease and European polish, expressed through clothing that manages to feel both effortless and elevated.
The brand quickly became known for its shirts — impossibly soft, impeccably cut, and available in an extensive range of prints, checks, and plains that made them feel personal rather than generic. From there, Rails expanded into dresses, knitwear, denim, and outerwear, all made with the same commitment to fabric quality and hand-feel that defined the original shirting. Today Rails is sold in over 30 countries across more than 1,000 retailers, with flagship stores in New York, San Francisco, Paris, London, and Amsterdam — and has been worn by Beyoncé, Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, Taylor Swift, and Kate Moss along the way.
Rails approaches sustainability as an ongoing commitment rather than a campaign. The brand focuses on education, sustainability, and equality as part of its broader purpose, working with factory partners who meet its standards for responsible production and continually evolving its practices toward a more considered future.
Rails Shirts and Clothing
The Rails shirt remains the brand's defining category — the piece that established its reputation and continues to drive its following. Made from the brand's signature soft fabrics, the shirts are available in linen, flannel, and silk-touch blends across a range of silhouettes: classic button-down, oversized, cropped, and dressed-up. The fabric quality is the thing that gets most people: a softness and drape that makes a Rails shirt feel different from anything else at a comparable price point.
Beyond the shirts, the Rails range includes easy dresses in the same soft fabrics, elevated knitwear, and outerwear that carries the brand's characteristic balance of casual and considered. These are pieces built to work across the different parts of a wardrobe rather than occupy a single slot within it.
Rails at Kiti
We stock Rails because the brand fits our customers and our edit precisely. It is the kind of label you reach for when you want to feel well dressed without trying particularly hard — and that ease is the result of genuine quality and considered design, not accident. If you would like to know what Rails pieces are currently in stock, or want guidance on sizing, please get in touch or visit us on Pontcanna Street in Cardiff.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rails clothing?
Rails is a Los Angeles contemporary womenswear brand founded in 2008 by Jeff Abrams. It is known for its exceptionally soft shirts, easy dresses, and elevated knitwear, built on the combination of Californian ease and European sophistication. The brand is sold in over 30 countries and has a strong following in the UK, stocked at Kiti in Cardiff alongside independent boutiques and premium retailers.
Where can I buy Rails clothing in the UK?
Rails is stocked at Kiti in Cardiff, where you can shop online at kiticymru.com or visit us in store on Pontcanna Street. We are an official UK stockist of the brand.
What is Rails known for?
Rails is best known for its shirts — soft, beautifully cut, and available in an extensive range of prints, checks, and plains. The brand's fabric quality and hand-feel are what distinguish it most clearly: a softness and drape that makes the clothing feel genuinely different. The range also includes dresses, knitwear, denim, and outerwear.
How does Rails sizing work?
Rails uses US sizing. As a general guide, a US XS is equivalent to a UK 6-8, a US S to a UK 8-10, a US M to a UK 10-12, and a US L to a UK 12-14. The brand's shirts and dresses tend to have a relaxed, easy fit. If you are between sizes or want a specific fit on a particular style, please get in touch and we will advise you.
Why is it called Rails?
Rails takes its name from the Eurorail — the European rail network that founder Jeff Abrams was travelling on when he was inspired to create the brand. Travelling through Italy and across Europe, he found himself wanting to blend the relaxed Californian style of his upbringing with the more sophisticated European sensibility he was discovering. The Eurorail experience directly shaped both the name and the brand's founding aesthetic.
Is Rails a sustainable brand?
Rails is committed to sustainability as an ongoing part of how it operates, focusing on responsible factory partnerships, education, and equality as part of its broader purpose. The brand continually works to evolve its practices toward a more considered approach to production.
