Heal's flagship store launches Cat competition to celebrate Cecil Brewer's staircase

“In dire need of a news detox”, a phrase I learned earlier this week, explains aptly how I am feeling today, so I need a distraction from staying glued to 'breaking news' reports.  

Thus, I am pondering over a choice (if I may dream a little) between a couture gown in ivory satin with hand-embroidered blue foliage and an alluring train of frilly organza, and a hand-painted cat fugurine.  Both equally rare and worthy of my and anyone’s time and attention.

Ralph & Russo's couture gown, featured in Paris this summer,
was mentioned in a story in the 17 July edition of STYLE as pictured above.

Which one would I prefer? 

Say if I have the coffer of a billionaire and money is no object, I would not need to choose.

Though I love the gorgeous gown by Ralph & Russo, featured by the Paris couture salon earlier this month and was discussed in the 17 July edition of STYLE magazine (shown here),  I can’t think of an occasion on my social calendar that would do it justice. (Another words, I can't afford it.)

So I’m left with the other choice.  

Ceramics designer Mia Sarosi creating her entry for the Heal's Cat Competition.

The cat figurine - shown here at right - is a bespoke creation by ceramics designer Mia Sarosi, one of ten designers who are involved with a charity event organised by Heal’s, the British interiors specialist and retailer which is celebrating the 100^th anniversary of its iconic Cecil Brewer spiral staircase which takes pride of place at the back of their flagship store on Tottenham Court Road in London. 

The source of inspiration for the participating designers is the Heal's Cat figurine which occupies an auspicious place on the window behind Cecil Brewer's spiral staircase keeping close watch of the traffic going up and down.

The iconic staircase by architect Cecil Brewer
was built in 1916.

The ten  designers enlisted by Heal's are to create a series of special designs for charity. They have been challenged to decorate the feline figurehead with each taking pride of place in the window of their store before going to a live charity auction in November in aid of the GOSH KissIt Better appeal.   

Heal's Cat

Other participating designers joining Mia Sarosi include Orla Kiely, Louise Lockhart, Cressida Bell, Zoe Bradley, Ikuko Iwamto, Squint Studio, Ola Studio, Rachel Cave and Donna Wilson.

Each designer is to use the Heal’s Cat which normally sits at an auspicious place by the spiral staircase as their inspiration. Their creations based on the feline figurehead will be on display in the window of their store before going to a live charity auction in November in ad of the GOSH Kiss It Better appeal.

The finished designs will be on show during London Design Week in September this year. No doubt I’ll be paying the Tottenham Court Road store a visit again.

Photos: Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect Global.