British Artists turn their talent to gift products and home ware

The rich colours of a painting caught my attention in the Spotted section of Top Drawer trade fair in London earlier this month:  an alluring tiger resting in a jungle of tropical green.

Equally beguiling are illustrations of colourful birds looking back at me.  These are limited edition hand-drawn prints and are available as greeting cards. 

Surrey-based British artist Marianne Glass informed that her exotic designs are not just for stationery but also home accessories, digitally printed on fabrics in the UK that are made into cushion covers.  

Her paintings, which she said are the starting points for her collection of designs, are sold as original art. 

Inspired mostly by the natural world around her, Marianne explained that she was born in the Solomon Islands and was brought up in Hong Kong and the UK.  

With a fine arts degree, Marianne said growing up influenced by different cultures has helped her develop her designs and started her business only a year ago.

The original paintings are sold on her website, along with prints of various bird head designs.

Marianne also produces Alphabet Animal Prints are available in A4 and A3 sizes for framing. These hand-drawn prints are black and white so will go with any interior colour theme.  They are also available as A6 greeting cards.

Marianne is also available for commissioned work and contact details are on her website.

In contrast, artist Kate Thorburn’s designs are delicate and elegantly hand-drawn blue and white botanical flora and fauna, and butterflies and bees.  These demonstrate the artist’s passion for nature, and along with vintage-inspired patterns are illustrated on ceramics produced in Stoke-on-Trent. 

The Yorkshire-based surface pattern designer said she started her brand of ceramics - What Kate Loves - in 2014.  As a keen traveller around the country, Kate’s designs are created originally from sketches inspired from photographs taken, mood boards, nature and illustrated guides. 

The new collection of ceramics in Wild Garden Sketches are both decorative and functional, and Kate is pround that they are British-made. 

“The history of the ceramic industry is really important to me.  I want to keep the tradition of this craft alive by producing timeless and beautiful things of the highest quality from Stoke-on-Trent,” said Kate.

The products and contact details are available on the What Kate Loves website. 

Clarks x Christopher Raeburn - shared values reflected in new shoe collaboration

Despite the fact that there are almost 200 years that separate their origins, British footwear brand Clarks and London Fashion Week designer Christopher Raeburn’s first collaboration reflects their shared love of craftsmanship, and presents a Spring/Summer 2016 range of shoes that celebrate style and purpose that uniquely represent the ethos of both brands.

Clarks x Christopher Raeburn’s first collection for both men and women consists of eleven styles that were previewed to the press last autumn and I’m please to say the range will now be launched in stores in February.

The range combines Clarks' rich heritage of craft and shoe making expertise and the inspiration for Christopher Raeburn’s Spring/Summer ‘16 collection : Sarawak, a Borneo theme, with the anthropologist Tom Harrison at the centre of the story.   The spirit of the range lies in the adventurer.

Note the functional sensibilities that fashionistas have come to expect of Christopher Raeburn's innovative designs that work well with Clarks' attention to comfort such as the Extralight cleated soles and Cushion Plus technology with dual density cushioning.

For women, the Salek Sun as shown is the hero sandal which will feature on the catwalk at London Fashion Week this coming February. 

 Above, the Salek Sun.  Woven detailing and bold ankle straps combine with block heels using lightweight EVA to create a sandal that is modern and functional.  Note the combination of webbing and cork, and the unique clasp fastening.

Jungle Fern features a higher block heel and comes in buttersoft nubuck, an urban take on the jungle inspiration.

Jungle Trek takes an authentic trekking boot and gives it a contemporary spin with washed canvas panels and a cleated lightweight heel.

Sabah Trail is the trainer of the season.  Note the sleek athletic silhouette and military styling. It is available in black or sage, or with Raeburn's Borneo map print as shown above,
teaming with white leather.

Upcycled fashion designers from Poland and Spain won top prizes at the Ecochic Design Award in Hong Kong

Patrycja Guzik from Poland  has been declared winner of the top prize at this week’s Ecochic Design Award 2015/16 which was part of the Environmental NGO Redress week-long programme of sustainable fashion activities in Hong Kong.

The week included a design challenge, two workshops and an industry seminar before culminating at the grand final fashion show of the world’s largest sustainable design competition for emerging designers, The EcoChic Design Award 2015/16. 

Ten finalists from Asia and Europe showcased their textile-waste-reducing collections on Hong Kong Fashion Week’s catwalk to an audience that represented some of the textile and fashion industry’s most forward thinking experts.

Christina Dean, Founder of Redress said, “We must face the pressing reality that the fashion and textile industry, as the world’s second biggest global polluter, can’t carry on as-is without crippling our planet. Change is not happening fast enough. In contrast to the majority of the industry, emerging fashion designers are demonstrating that they, as tomorrow’s leaders, are

more in tune with solutions and they are creatively cashing in on the environmental and economic opportunities within reducing and re-using textile waste. These designers are cementing a positive future for fashion”.

The winner, Patrycja Guzik from Poland said, "We need to change our thinking around clothes and more designers need to show consumers that we are able to make beautiful clothes using old clothes and damaged textiles."

She recalled being inspired by the saying 'Heaven as a place on earth' and she wanted to create clothes that were a shelter for heaven-like space. She combined the up-cycling and reconstruction design techniques by hand-weaving damaged textiles and unraveled second-hand garments, which she sourced from fabric wholesalers and second-hand shops in Cracow.  As part of her prize, Patrycja will now design an up-cycled capsule collection with fashion retailer Shanghai Tang.

“As the curators of modern China chic, it says a lot to the rest of the industry and our consumers that Shanghai Tang is translating Redress’ international search for emerging sustainable design talent into an up-cycled collection for our global customers. Our experience working with the last cycle’s winner inspired us about how business can do the right thing”, said Raphael le Manse de Charmont, Executive Chairman, Shanghai Tang.

In  addition, Patrycja also won  the Special Prize this year, judged solely by Hong Kong supermodel and socialist Janet Ma. 

She will design a sustainable outfit for Ms Ma to be unveiled at a high profile public event and in a fashion photoshoot to redress consumers’ attitudes towards sustainable fashion.

Second prize winner of the EcoChic Design Award 2015/16 went to Cora Maria Bellotto from Spain, who was awarded a tailored-made mentorship with London-based sustainable fashion designer, Orsola de Castro. 

Photos by Tim Wong, provided by Ecocbic and Redress.

Pom-Poms and all things colourful are all the craze!

Pom-poms, tassles  and colour are great ways to liven up our lives. 

The appeal of puffy, fluffy pom-poms continues to fascinate us as it has been for hundreds of years.

According to historians, these playful puff balls have a colourful history of pomp and circumstance, decorating national costumes and traditional attires, from clergymen's caps to cheerleaders' socks.

Tsarouhi shoes with giant pom-poms are part of the Greek
guards (Evzones) national uniforms.
Photos taken in Athens by Lucia Carpio for
My Fashion Connect Global.

Even today, in Greece, guards known as Evzones on duty at national monuments and government buildings wear the Tsarouhi shoes with giant pom-poms as part of their traditional uniform.














At the Top Drawer trade fair held at London - Kensington Olympia earlier this week, fluffy Pom-poms were spotted on many new products.

At Brand Native, the British brand founded and owned by Colombian-born Claudia Correa-Bell, pom-poms decoarded sandals with colourful woven straps, and the hand-crafted Mochita bags by indigenous Colombian Wayuu artisans of Guajira.  Claudia said she  is dedicated to supporting these native communities by paying the artisans fair prices You can read about the full story by clicking HERE.

Meanwhile, the Bohemia design company showcased a range of  products decorated with pom-poms such as these Moroccan market baskets shownj below, which are perfect for today's "No More Plastic Bags" lifestyle.  There are also garlands featuring rows of carefully spaced pom-poms which are good as room dividers and as window decorations.

Along with pom-poms, there are colourful tassels adorning wall-hanging  as well as pocket mirrors of varying sizes which are eye-catching and fun.

The Bohemia creative team are based in Edinburgh with a design studio and warehouse near the Port of Leith and a boutique on the south side of the city.   Apparently, the Scottish capital is a hotbed of bohemians and eccentrics, writers, artists, philosophers, poets, photographers, and home to the Edinburgh Festival, the largest arts festival in the world. From that base, the design team travel widely and work in partnership with skillful artisans around the globe, from sourcing leather babouche slippers in Morocco to colourful pouffes and traditional hand-block printed fabrics fro India is the source of our traditional hand block printed fabrics, as well as cotton hammam towels, scarfs and semi-precious stone jewellery from Turkey.

Product shots taken at Top Drawer, London Kensington Olympia (held 17 - 19 January) by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect Global.

Markus Lupfer Autumn/Winter 2016 Menswear a nod to London motorscycle club

This January, one designer who has showcased a quintessential London style in a sophisticated and luxuriously casual tone is Markus Lupfer.  

Lupfer's new Autumn Winter 2016 Menswear collection is inspired by mid-century motorcycle culture with a nod to the tom boys of the 59 Motorcycle Club founded in Hackney, not far from Markus’s studio in trendy Shoreditch, east London.

Renowned for his humorously subversive knitwear and inspired approach to jersey daywear and tailoring. This season’s main print, a hand-drawn illustration of the London map is featured on sweatshirts, knitwear and outerwear, but with the revival of printed silk scarves and emphasis on high collars, the finished looks are stylish by way of Yves St Laurent.

However according to the designer’s description of the collection, his oversized tonal cable pattern shows a contemporary take on classic menswear, with homage to the cultural icon James Dean and his effortless approach to dressing off-screen.

The juxtaposition of leather and textured knots captures the mood of the collection, with bear and rabbit motifs adding the iconic Markus Lupfer touch.  Colours revolve around khaki greens, navy blues, and grey slate with sharp highlights of burnt orange seem to echo the misty landscapes of England.

Suiting is casual with skinny cuts repeated throughout the collection, completed with leather shoes and trainers.

Durable outerwear have silhouettes that hark back to the 1960s biker shapes, particularly the casual driving jacket, café racer and classic mac.

Hardy Amies launches AW16 collection for the Modern Man while LONDON show ROOMS AW16 MEN off to PARIS Jan. 22 - 26.

Now that the four-day London Collections: Men fashion showcase last week had drawn to a close, the British Fashion Council is leading a team of London-based menswear designers and labels across the English Channel for the LONDON show ROOMS AW16 MEN PARIS

The Event will open on Friday 22nd January until Tuesday 26th January 2016, and will be held at:-

Le Loft, 3 Cour Berard

Impasse Guemenee (off 28 Rue Saint Antoine)

Paris 75004

Among the labels showing will be Agi & Sam, BOY London, Christopher Shannon, CSB London, E. Tautz, James Long, Jasmb London, Lou Dalton, Maharishi, Sibling, to name a few.

Click HERE for full details.

While London menswear designers often have been labeled as experimental in their approach, one established house that continues to offer sophisticated sensibility with a modern attitude is Hardy Amies.

Hardy Amies' new Autumn Winter 2016 Menswear collection, designed by head of design Darren Barrowcliff, showcases an eminently wearable collection designed for the modern man.   

This new range features rich woven fabrications with a mature and restrained autumnal colour palette: camels, greys and burnt browns.

Modern menswear classics are reinvented with cashmere tuxedos in cognac and deep black hues, simplified by offsetting the block colour fabrics with clean line satin shawl and peak lapels.

Wearability is key, with lighter weight fabrics that look and feel warm to the touch allowing versatility to create a climatised offer. 

In addition to the contemporarhy formalwear offering, tailoring cut a smart silhouette featuring overcoats in durable wool twill, or a Herringbone belted alpaca wool car coat, and essential outerwear in camel and mink pressed cashmere.

For Autumn Winter 2016 classic Hardy Amies anthracite grey wool cargo suits are styled with fine knitwear creating a pared back and relaxed look for the modern man. 

All images here from Hardy Amies Autumn/Winter 2016 collection.

Japanese photographer Masayoshi Sukita remembering David Bowie.

“Every time I shot David was a career highlight. He is, and always will be, my favourite subject,” said Japanese photographer Masayoshi Sukita.  Click HERE to read his interview with HungerTV on his favourite subject – David Bowie and remembering a unique 40-year collaboration.

David Bowie the death of a Music and Fashion icon. The Best Dressed Brit of all time.

When news of David Bowie’s passing broke on the BBC this morning, most of us probably were taken by surprise as we didn’t even think he was that old, let alone he was ill.  Only two days ago he released his latest album Blackstar to coincide with his 69^th birthday.  In addition to being a music legend, Bowie was always a fashion icon.  With a career that spanned 60 years, he was constantly and creatively reinventing his unique looks.  Bowie championed the androgynous style and my biggest memory of him was his alter ego, Ziggy Stardust in 1972. 

While I noticed on TV this morning an interesting montage of illustrations showcasing his evolving looks of Bowie throughout the years created by Helen Green , FashionUnited has listed Bowie's most inspiring looks over the years, hailing him

the Best Dressed Brit of all time.

Click HERE to take a look.

Pitti Immagine Uomo the Menswear show opens tomorrow in Florence. London Menswear Show in progress.

Watch the Live Streaming of Burberry Menswear fashion show at London #LCM at 1pm today. @Burberry

Geometric shapes and forms are new jewellery trends this Spring.

What’s new this spring?  The regularity of well-balanced shape and geometric form in contemporary jewellery.  

Matrick Jewwellery

Alma Sophia Grønli Geller

These are some of the latest in sculptural contemporary jewellery that I look forward to find at the Spring edition of Top Drawer due to take place at London Olympia 17 – 19 January.

Marks & Spencer CEO Marc Bolan to retire amid disappointing Christmas sales

As its general merchandise sales plummeted over the Christmas period, UK’s leading retailer Marks and Spencer (M&S) has announced that chief executive Marc Bolland will retire in early April and he will be succeeded by new director of general merchandise Steve Rowe.

General merchandise fell 5.8% on a like-for-like basis in the 13 weeks to 26 December.

On BBC's Radio 4 this morning, Bolan said he informed the board in the summer of 2015 that he was planning to leave in 2016. Bolland said he has completed core tasks such as restructuring the retailer's website in his six-year period at M&S.   He is set to stay in his position until the end of the current financial year.

Bolland said in a statement, "It has been a huge honour to lead one of Britain's most iconic companies." "I am delighted to handover to Steve Rowe as my successor. I have worked closely with Steve for six years and I am convinced that he will be a great leader for Marks and Spencer."

According to financial news reports, the retailer's share price has climbed over 15% under Bolland's regime, although sales in the current financial year have not taken off significantly yet. Merchandise was down 0.4% like-for-like in the first quarter.  M&S shares were up more than 1.5% in early morning trading.

Meanwhile M&S’ clothing rival and UK's second largest retailer - Next - also released disappointing Christmas sales figures earlier in the week while blaming it on unseasonal warm weather.   

“This quarter was unusual in that we didn’t have any cold weeks. There’s not a lot you can do. When it’s warm in winter people don’t buy T-shirts and shorts,” said chief executive Lord Wolfson. 

Next reported Tuesday revenue that missed analysts’ estimates, and, consequently, that profit will come in at the bottom of its forecast range.

UK Private Sector Growth ticks up at end 2015 – CBI GROWTH INDICATOR

The UK economy has finished 2015 strongly, according to the latest CBI Growth Indicator,

especially with business services showing impressive growth.

The CBI survey of 766 respondents, which comprises economic activity across manufacturing, retail and business & consumer services sectors, found growth improving following weaker figures reported last month.

The balance of firms reporting rising output was +20%, compared with +13% in November, well above the long run average of +5%.

Recovering growth across the retail and wholesale sectors was buttressed by a strong year end among business and professional services, though manufacturers, especially exporters, continue to face difficult times.

Overall, the economy is expected to grow at a similar pace over the next three months (+20%), well above the long-run average (+10%). 

“Nonetheless, there is no room for complacency in 2016 as significant challenges to global growth remain, "said Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director-General. “Many emerging markets are facing a testing time, with China moving to a slower growth path and other emerging economies being buffeted by low commodity prices, capital outflows and currency depreciation. 

Fairbairn added, “The picture differs markedly by sector. Manufacturers are having a tough time, with the strength of sterling hitting their competitiveness in the Eurozone and the slowdown in emerging markets weighing on export demand. And the North Sea industry and its suppliers are feeling the impact of falling global oil prices.”