'MAKING THE BEST OF BREXIT' Debate to take place on 4th November in Bristol

Best of Britannia West will launch  'MAKING THE BEST OF BREXIT' DEBATE at the Arnolfini Building in Bristol

Following Best of Britannia in London - the fair that promotes best of British fashion and design, held 30 September to 2nd October - 100 days after the EU Referendem - the organisers will hold the "Making The Best of Brexit" debate on 4th November at the magnificent dockside Arnolfini Building in Bristol.

The panel of speakers will include Patrick Grant (Community Clothing), John Pearce (Made in Britain Campaign), Tom Kay (Finisterre) and Associate Professor Carol Jarvis (UWE) who will discuss post-Brexit referendum Britain.

From Canvas to Catwalk. World Famous Works of Art Printed onto Leggings.

The notion of wearable art is not new and quite often we find in museum and gallery shops the choice of gifts and souvenirs are limited to Tee shirts, shopping bags and scarfs albeit the prints taken from masterpieces are incorporated in their collections.

 

Now a company based in East Sussex in the UK has joined forces with The National Gallery in London in a project that sees images from some of the world’s greatest paintings feature on its range of leggings.

Model Simone Wells wearing A Still Life of Flowers in a Wan-Li Vase’ by Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder.

Following an approach from The National Gallery, Wild Bangarang has introduced fashion lines for leggings that feature the masterpieces ‘Sunflowers’ and ‘A Wheatfield, with Cypresses’ by Vincent van Gogh and ‘A Still Life of Flowers in a Wan-Li Vase’ by Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder. 

The leggings are being sold on-line and soon at The National Gallery, which houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900.

Adam Jay at Wild Bangarang HQ

Wild Bangarang was set up by entrepreneurs Adam Jay and David Pearson in 2014 and specialises in printed clothing. To date, the company’s success has been built on designs based on pop culture such as World of Warcraft and Power Rangers.

Adam, a photographer, started a ‘superhero creations’ Facebook page several years ago and it engaged with a huge online community, achieving 950,000 likes. Adam and David both felt that the quality and variety of apparel servicing the ‘geek’ market was lacking and identified a business opportunity there.

“Looking at the athleisure market and the projected growth, we couldn't find a home-grown business focusing on this sector so we decided that could be us! Wild Bangarang was started to reach that market window. Initially with a handful of designers, we set off on our venture.”

Now in year two, the business has turned over £350,000 which gave the company the encouragement to see the potential for growing the market sector.

Adam said: “We pride ourselves on dedication and a personal touch to each of our garments. This is attractive to brands like The National Gallery which has strong guidelines and wants to protect its image.

“We always work carefully on samples to make sure the colours and design are authentic and true to the brand, which makes our product the best on the market for printed leggings.

“The National Gallery designs were a challenge for us as we couldn’t edit a famous piece of art just to fit the leg shape,” said Adam.

The pair have plans to expand their range further to meet demand, travelling all over the world to fashion, comic and licensing events to showcase Wild Bangarang’s range.  So watch this space!

Online Xmas shopping will impact UK Retail high street

As Christmas shopping is gathering momentum, experts from market intelligence agency Mintel predict prospects for the upcoming festive season to be good, and expect total UK retail sales will grow 2.5% in December 2016, taking retail sales up to £42.2 billion.

PURE London, a popular trade fair for UK retailers sourcing fashion and accessories.

                                                   

Many of the consumers will shop online, to avoid high street crowds and to surf for cheaper prices while shopping at hours that best suit them, according to Mintel in a recent report.

However a new report released this week predicted that online shopping will drive more fashion stores to close.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the Local Data Company (LDC) have predicted that as consumer spending habits continue to evolve, UK fashion store numbers on town centres are falling at their fastest rate in several years and fashion is suffering more than the wider retail sector.

The report said there were 2,656 store closures across the UK retail sector in the first six months of the year with only 2,153 openings, the lowest number in half a decade.

Click here to read more.

Photo: © Lucia Carpio.

Scandinavian designs working with makers around the world

Scandinavian designs - projecting an image of purity often characterised by stripped-back looks highlighting clean lines - has been a major influence on fashion as well as interiors, promoting a lifestyle of simplicity and function.

Curly knitted throw on a Nest easy chair - all from Design House Stockholm.

As Anders Fardig, founder of Design House Stockholm has put it, Scandinavian design is "the bearer of certain values" and "expressing characteristics that mostly have to do with practical matters: Scandinavian design is ergonomic, functional and relaxed in expression.

"Today Scandinavian design is a global concept", said the founder and DesignHouse Stockholm's collection covers a wide range of products united by the fact that they form part of the Scandinavian tradition of design.

Indeed Simplicity and function are the main attributes of Scandinavian designs.  At the London DesignJunction2016 fair held at King's Cross in September, new products on show also demonstrated that Design House Stockholm work with designers and manufacturers from around the world.

Here is a selection of textile products from Design House Stockholm.

The Curly Collection

The characteristic of a Curly throw is that it is over-spun in a manner that creates a three-dimensional surface.

Designed by Margot Barolo and Ultrika Martensson, the Curly collection of scarfs, shawls and throws show off a sculptural pattern.  Thanks to its billowing form the fabric feels airy  on  one's skin.
Made in a blend of 50% wool and 50% acrylic, the knitted products are made in Lithuania.

The Knot Cushion

Icelandic designer Ragnheiour Osp Siguroardottir's Knot cushion was created  with tubular knitting on a machine.  The tubes are several metres in length which are then tied up to create a compact knot.  Looking sculptural the unconventional cushions are available in an array of colours.

The Melange Cushion

Melange cushions on show at designjunction2016 in September 2016. © Lucia Carpio.

Designed by Nina Jobs, th Melange cushions represent a fushion of Scandinavian design and traditional Thai crafts, a result of the designer's long-term collaboration with the Kids Ark organisation in Chiang Mai, north-western Thailand.  Founded in 2000 by Allan Gustafsson, Kids Ark is a sponsorship programme to help improve the lives of children who have lost parents to HIV/Aids.  Melange has a tweed effect, made of twisted yarn which varies in colour and as there is no front or back, the weave can be used according to one's mood.  However since no loom is used in the traditional Thai method, there are limitations.  The threads are fastened to a tree thus resulting in warps that are no wider than the weaver's hips, thus limiting as to what can be made.

The Pleece Collection

Created in 1997 by Marianne Abersson, the Pleece collection of ponchos, beenie hats and scarfs, the Pleece collection hhas changed very little over the years, according to Design House Scandinavia.

The colours change slightly from season to season, but the range includes mainly mud, black, loight grey, dark grey and midnight blue, with a new green colour added this season.

Made of a unique blend of 75% polyester and 25% visose, the Pleece products showcases a pleating process that adds volume as well as softness.

Suitable for both men and women, for indoor as well as outdoor use, the Pleece range is considered to be a modern classic.

Samuel Chan: Design Purity and Craft Principles

London-based award-winning product and furniture designer Samuel Chan is celebrating 20 years of establishing his London studio-showroom, Channels, by launching a publication that explores his creative and entrepreneurial endeavors.

Front cover of book Samuel Chan: Design Purity and Craft Principles, authored by Charlotte and Peter Fiell, and published by Laurence King. For details on purchasing the book, click here.

Samuel Chan with one of his new ‘Mr Knock’ Bookcase I showcased at designjunction2016 as part of London Design Festival, 22-25 September.
Photo © Lucia Carpio. 

The new book tells the story of Samuel Chan’s creative and entrepreneurial endeavours, exploring his singular approach to design and manufacture, from first discovering his love of woodwork as a
schoolboy new to England, to opening Channels with a studio-showroom in 1995, and going on to be awarded 12 Design Guild Marks over the course of his career so far.

To read in full, click HERE.

Angular crystal stones and tribal colours form Swarovski's new jewellery inspiration for Autumn/Winter 2017/18

The new season hones in on the crucial human-identity-defining activities of eating, working and travelling, under the influential notion of sustainability and ethical behaviours, with tribal patterns and colours to project the new inspirations for jewellery, according to Austria's leading crystal authority, Swarovski.

Richly fanciful textiles playing up theatrical and spectral decorations as
seen at Premiere Vision Paris fair in September 2016.
To read Swarovski's trend analysis, click HERE. 

Judging from designer collections recently seen on European catwalks, and at major international trade fairs, bold decorative elements and opulent surface treatments bordering on excess are the way forward in a world dominated by technology.

Crystal jewellery with edgy gender-neutral designs forge one of the key trend influences from Swarovski.
New for Autumn-Winter 17-18 include BeCharmed Beads and angular crystals, Dark Rainbow effects, amd metal tones.

For Autumn/Winter 2017/18, the overall title is "The Nature of Us".

Click HERE to read in full.

All photos © Lucia Carpio.

designjunction2016 celebrates record visitor numbers and great success in its new King’s Cross home

The move of the London design show Design Junction to a new home at the King's Cross development had proved to be a great success, as organisers reported a record-breaking attendance to its 2016 edition (22 - 25 September), which attracted 27,000 visitors, including architects, designers and consumers from the UK and overseas.

As part of this year’s London Design Festival, the show took over key locations in its new King’s Cross home – from Granary Square and The Canopy, to The Crossing, The Gallery (Stable Street) and Lewis Cubitt Square.  designjunction2016 was most attended by UK visitors (74%), while 26% of visitors were international, with visitors from 89 different countries.

Home to a stellar line-up of international furniture and lighting brands, Cubitt House boasted a spectacular super façade – the world’s largest GRID installation (W70m x H7m) – designed by London-based Satellite Architects, alongside Danish design curators, Icons of Denmark. Exhibiting brands included Design House Stockholm, Sony’s Life Space UX, Bethan Gray, Christopher Jenner, Charlene Mullen, Isokon Plus, Bolon, Deadgood, Very Good & Proper, Another Country, Channels, Northern Lighting, LSA International, VITA Copenhagen, Brokis, String, Haberdashery and Verena Hennig amongst others.

Deborah Spencer, managing director of designjunction said, “This year has been our most exciting and ambitious show to date with more than 200 brands represented across the show. King’s Cross is the perfect home, an area so connected with the design and architectural community – representing London’s industrial past and pioneering creative present. Moving designjunction2016 to King’s Cross has been an overwhelming success and we hope to have a footprint on this vibrant and exciting area for many years to come.”

Indeed the 67-acre King’s Cross site's a rich history and a unique appeal added to the vibrant atmosphere of the fair. This former industrial heartland is being transformed into one of the capital’s most exciting creative hub, with the redevelopment of the area creating 1,900 new homes, 20 new
streets, 10 new public parks and squares and 3 million square feet of commercial office
space as well as cultural attractions.  

In line with its leading theme #immersedindesign, designjunction2016 collaborated with the King’s Cross Development and Central Saint Martins, UAL, to deliver a four-day programme of design exhibitions, installations, retail experience, events and workshops.

To read in full, click HERE.

All photos © Lucia Carpio

Cloth House to open Warehouse Shop on 12th October

The Cloth House is opening its Warehouse Shop on 12th October at 130 Royal College Street, Camden, London NW1 0TAIt will be open Wednesday to Friday 10:00 to 17:00.
On sale will be a great selection of discontinued stock from previous collections as well as a few basic essentials.

Their regular stock of beautiful fabric, from hand-printed cotton to washed linen, workwear denim and vintage haberdashery, from technical fabrics to jersey and wool continue to be available at their Soho store.  

New film YARN to have special Knit-along screenings from 7th October

With UK Wool Week due to start on 10th October, the new release of the film YARN in UK cinemas from 7 October is timely.  It poses the question whether yarn is an art or a craft, and challenges one’s perception of both.

I was informed that the theatrical documentary film YARN introduces the unique stories of characters from four different countries who use yarn in very different ways, redefining the tradition of knit and crochet, bringing yarn out of the house and into the world.

But when I saw the film, I not only found it inspirational but also eye-opening.  Its poetetic approach - and thanks to narration by Barbara Kingsolver - took me on a journey to view yarn as an evolving art material, used in creative non-conventional ways that can help convey a message, stimulate an interaction or even activate one's search for the meaning of life.  Indeed as one of the artists proposes, when we stop wanting and thriving, we stop living, as "to strive is the very meaning of life."

Artistically alluring, the film does not pretend to be philosophical.  With the use of animation and simple graphics, it brings out the child in each of us, still interested in the curiosity in the art of discovering.

Directed by Una Lorenzen (Iceland) and Co-Directed and Produced by Heather Millard (UK) and Thordur Jonsson (Iceland), YARN will be screened in UK cinemas from 7th October, and will also be hosting very special Knit-Along screenings to embrace the spirit of the film. 

YARN follows four artists from different countries who in their own ways to bring life to a simple piece of yarn.  The characters are not just skilful with their craft, but are conceptual artists, treating yarn not only as a tactile tool but as means to convey their thoughts.  They all work with their hands and their artwork is in one way or another interacting with the environment; as part of architecture, the streets, nature and people.  With artistic expression as their common thread, the wool graffiti artists, circus performers, and structural designers create "visually-striking works to make a stance while building modern art's hottest trends."

Polish crochet artist Olek

Produced by Compass Films with 2M Film Studio, YARN has won the Audience Award at the Nordisk Panorama Film Festival 2016.  Officially selected for SXSW and Goteborg Film Festival 2016, YARN has been met in the US and Canada with critical acclaim, with the New York Times referring to it as: “You have almost certainly never seen a better documentary on yarn than ‘YARN’… thread and string should be jealous” and The Hollywood Reporter calling it “A fanciful art doc for the craft-y among us.” Additionally, YARN was also premiered in Canada at the Vancouver International Film Festival on 2nd October.

Some key events are organized for charity such as Brighton Komedia Picturehouse which is in support of Emmaus – a local homeless charity in Brighton and co-hosted by YAK a local yarn store, allowing ticket holders to join in on the knitting action for a good cause.
Additional Knit-Along screenings include:
Southampton Picturehouse – Harbor Lights
Dundee Contemporary Arts
Picture house National Media Museum
Errol Flynn Filmhouse
Courtyard Hereford
City Screen York
Greenwich Picturehouse 

In addition, a special premiere screening of the film will take place at Hackney’s Picturehouse on the 9th October for the Keep Hackney Warm Project – a charity for the homeless of Hackney.  Not only will all ticket holders be granted access to the Knit-Along screening featuring a special introduction by US based craft designer Vickie Howell and a Pomcast Q&A, they will also be given access to the after party which includes a complimentary drink on entrance and a DJ as ticket holders network with fellow crafters. For information on Tickets, click HERE.

Artist Tinna from Iceland.

Co-Director and Producer Heather Millard said: “We are thrilled to release YARN in over 40 cinemas across the UK just ahead of Wool Week.  We began production for YARN back in 2013 and since then we’ve filmed across 11 different countries (including the UK), worked with a crew from the UK, Iceland, Canada, Poland and Sweden and are now in the midst of our US theatrical release with further releases planned for Sweden, Canada, Australia, Greenland, Slovakia, Netherlands and Greece.”

For more information on YARN, to watch a trailer and to find out where it’s showing in cinemas please click HERE.