Jessica Zoob to show new Playtime collection at Loughran Gallery

Congratulations to British artist Jessica Zoob for launching an exhibition of new creations called PLAYTIME.

The new creations will be shown in Loughran Gallery's beautiful new space in Motcomb Street, Belgravia, London from May 20^th to June 17^th.

Zoob has described her new work as her “most joyful and exuberant collection to date."

Jessica has also made a short film of her Playtime's creation.

Watch it here for a glimpse into the world of Zoob!

Etsy launches Manmade to celebrate male designer makers

It is true that often we talk about women artists and designers or at least we tend to feature more news on women who have the talent to make things.

Now Etsy (Etsy.com), the New York-based online marketplace for handmade products,  has joined forces with Crafty Fox Market and print-maker Sam Wingate to launch ‘Manmade’, a new craft market in London showcasing 60 male designer makers.

The event will take place at the Truman Brewery in trrendy East London on 12^th and 13^th June, just in time for Father’s Day.

Manmade will celebrate the work of the male designer makers from across the UK, covering a wide range of work from art and jewellery through to fashion and ceramics. 

As well as the marketplace, Manmade will feature a visual art area, also talks by inspirational male designers, beginner’s screen-printing workshops, craft demonstrations, music, food and drink.

Etsy seller and printmaker Sam Wingate (etsy.com/mrwingate) is the brain behind Manmade.  He came up with the idea for a men-only craft market when he noticed how few men participated at the craft fairs he attended.

“As a man who makes things, I have always been aware of quite how few of us are out there making and selling in comparison to our female counterparts” says Sam Wingate. “The number of women selling at craft fairs like Crafty Fox far exceeds the number of men. I want to get more men involved with making and selling and dispel the myth that craft and making is just for the girls.”

Manmade will be curated by a selection panel comprising Crafty Fox’s Sinead Koehler, Sam Wingate, David Nicholls, Features Editor of House and Garden (formerly The Telegraph Magazine’s design editor and menswear columnist), and Sarah Hewett, International Community Programmes Specialist at Etsy.

Manmade takes place at The Old Truman Brewery, East London
(F Block G4 & G5, facing the courtyard at Ely’s Yard) 

on Friday June 12th (12 noon - 9pm) 

and Saturday June 13th (11am - 8pm).

Entry is free of charge.

Amanda Coleman creates jewellery of kissing bunnies

British jewellery designer Amanda Coleman has a way of adding fun to dainty jewellery.

Known for her quirky, enchanting designs, her new “Kissing Bunnies” collection features two little bunnies frolicking on a spring meadow and stealing a little kiss.  How cute is that!

The pendant is made from 925 sterling silver and 22ct gold vermeil and features either a pink mix of semi-precious stones - pink tourmaline and amethysts of a green mix of semi-precious stones - peridot, pale blue amazonite and citrine.

With a master degree from the Royal College of Art in Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork and Jewellery, Amanda ‘s new jewellery are available in both Sterling Silver and 22ct Gold Vermeil, with a mix of semi-precious stones (peridot, blue topaz, pale blue amazonite, citrine, amethyst and pink tourmaline), all handmade in her workshop in Lincoln. 

The range includes necklaces, bracelets, bangles, finger rings, hook and stud earrings.

Amanda’s jewellery is available both online or from around 70 stockists in the UK and in other far flung places such as Japan, China and Australia.

Heal’s launch Reprinted Vintage Posters

In 1983 when the Heal’s family (of home retailer Heal’s) sold the retail business to Terence Conran’s Storehouse Group, they gave the archive to the Victoria & Albert Museum where it’s now housed. 

Above: “Winter comforts in the home” are among the highly collectible vintage posters.

As well as furniture designs, there are innovative marketing materials – some of the first brochures mailed out to customers in the 1890s when mail order was the internet of the day.

There are also 70 beautiful posters, designed to promote new furniture ranges and exhibitions in the feted Mansard Gallery which opened in 1917.

The reproduction of Heal's vintage posters make a statement when a selection is grouped together.  Above: (Clockwise from top left) “Contemporary furniture at Heal’s”, “Furniture for the garden at Heal’s”, “Heal’s for beds”, “Heals for pottery and glass”.  Large framed print, £45, small framed print, £25.  

As Heal’s have been renovating their store over the past two years they have discovered drawers filled with previously unseen vintage posters that will be given to the archive of the V&A as they had previously done.

Some original posters are in circulation and can be found on specialist poster sale sites. The ones for the Mansard Gallery exhibitions were designed by the artists on show and are highly collectible.

To celebrate the discovery of this new cache of posters Heal’s have reprinted a small collection. The posters are printed onto hand-made paper using fine giclee ink-jet printing. Available in solid, stained black ash frames made in the UK. A selection is shown above.

Sparkling flowers on bridal heels from Freya Rose.

Freya Rose interprets to great effect the on-trend floral theme on her 'Darling' shoe to elevate any potential bride to a whole new level.

The classic and stylish almond toe court shoes are handmade with Ivory Duchess’ silk satin upper, soft gold kid leather lining and leather sole.

The unique hand embroidered heel detail is the work of fine craftsmen synonymous to the Freya Rose brand. The exquisite embellishment uses crystals, beads and chiffon to create a beautiful and luxurious detail.  

Superbly elegant also are the matching bridal belts (which come in two different lengths) adding lovely finishing touches to bridal gowns.  All from the award-winning London-based Freya Rose.

Elegant African Print Dresses launched by Sasaako

A new limited edition Spring/Summer 2015 collection of African print dresses is elegant yet captures the spirit and colour of the African continent.  Having been to Kenya and South Africa myself, the prints pleasantly conjure up images of the sights and sounds of the colourful cultures I had encountered there.

 

Under the brand Sasaako, the collection is designed by British-Ghanaian Designer, Aba Sasaako, and made in London with materials sourced via sustainable and responsible methods, according to the designer.  The range features a contrasting mix of prints from strong geometrics to florals. 

 

The collection features two key dress shapes – a midi shift dress and a gathered v-necked dress. These simple feminine shapes give a distinctly grown-up feel to the playful ethnic prints.

 

Aba says “Having worked on a bespoke basis for the last 10 years with my clients, I know there’s a discerning customer out there who really appreciates wearing something flattering and elegant but also playful and bold. And with African prints really making a splash in the mainstream I strive to create something a little different and exclusive to meet that need for uniqueness.”

Sasaako was founded in 2004 by Aba whose vision for her label was simple: to create a distinctive range of fashion and interior products that represent a fusion of contemporary design and African textiles with a strong ethical ethos at the heart of the business.  Aba explained that the label has a real bespoke, tailor-made feel to it, with each dress being made in quantities of six pieces or fewer, and featuring hand-finished detailing.

Aba Sasaako says:
“The limited availability is as much a part of the brand as the beautiful prints themselves. My dresses are for women who want to stand apart from the crowd and enjoy their individuality. I work with fabrics from my own collection, prints that I’ve acquired on my travels and have been given. Each print is special and my customers tend to be women that are looking for something unique and eye catching.”

Hermès launches' "Wanderland" exhibition in London

The name Hermès needs no introduction thus the usual marketing strategy to increase awareness of the brand is not necessary and it is much preferred to go down the route of connecting with the world of arts to further establish the luxury brand's genre.

Saatchi Gallery, London

Thus “Wanderland” - the name of a new exhibition by the luxury French fashion house - has just been launched at London’s Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea, a most fitting venue.  

The exhibition will run until May 2 and be then travel to Paris, Italy and China in the autumn.

Dedicated to flânerie, the art of "urban wandering", the exhibition is spread over 11 rooms and features objects from Hermès´ archives, including a series of installations in various media, created by a number of artists and set against a backdrop of a Paris-inspired landscape.

The exhibition was created by Bruno Gaudichon, curator of La Piscine-Musée d'Art et d'Industrie in Roubaix, and includes objects from the Hermès archive, the museum collection of Emile Hermès at 24 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris, and Hermès’ contemporary collections.

A touch of luxury - Italian Leather Cosmetic Purses

Just love these Italian leather cosmetic bags from online luxury gift shop Plum & Ivory.

Available in 5 desirable on-trend colours: cobalt blue, freesia yellow, lilac pink, hemlock green and classic navy, it is hard to decide which one to own. They are certainly perfect as gifts.

Embossed on the side with Plum & Ivory, each bag is made in genuine grainy leather and lined in black cotton lining.  The dimensions are approx 21 x 15 x 7cm,   

Sneakers: The Complete App launched today

Sneakers: The Complete App, reportedly the latest and most comprehensive app to take the sneaker world by storm, is launched today

The Sneakers app was designed and developed by creative agency U-Dox and built upon a compilation of two very successful Thames & Hudson** publications (Sneakers: The Complete Collectors’ Guide and Sneakers: The Complete Limited Editions Guide ) plus never-before-published material. 

For the launch of the app, U-Dox are hosting an event at the Apple Store in London’s Regent Street on 8^th April at 6 pm. It will be a panel discussion hosted by Kish Kash with Dj Nihal (BBC Radio 1), DJ Semtex (BBC Radio 1 Extra), Wesley Tyerman (sneaker and concepts designer) and Kitty Cowell (The Unisex Mode). To attend please click HERE. 

This Sneakers app features over 500 sneakers, high resolution display images, 18 leading sportswear brands such as Adidas, Nike and New Balance and collaborations with mega pop stars Kanye West and Pharrell.

The wealth of content makes this app an indispensable reference for those obsessed by urban style, sport and design. Its dynamic content and versatile display provides a totally immersive experience that will have sneaker fanatics hooked for hours.

Sneakers: The Complete App is an encyclopaedic guide to sneaker culture, and includes:

•           Over 500 sneakers

•           360°rotations of ever sneaker                                                            

•           High resolution display images                                                          

•           18 leading sportswear brands including adidas, Nike and New Balance

•           References sneaker collaborators such as Kanye West and Pharrell 

•           100% filterable content

•           Timeline view             

•           An interactive view of an artist’s studio

•           An informative, interactive look at the anatomy of a sneaker

Sneakers: The Complete App is available for £4.99 (£2.99 for the first two weeks) on the App Store. #completesneakers
**U-Dox is a multidisciplinary design and brand communications agency based in London. U-Dox is the creative force behind Sneakers: The Complete Collectors’ Guide and Sneakers: The Complete Limited Editions Guide, both published by Thames & Hudson.