New Vintage Travel Prints for Travel Lovers

The best way to travel in the eco way now leads you nowhere near an airport.

Vintage Travel Art Print Collection - Modern Framed Art Prints And Gifts from Abstract House.

According to Abstract House, it is high time to bring the excitement of travel and adventure to the comfort of home, with the launch of their brand new collection of Vintage Travel Art Prints from destinations across the globe.

Icelandic Adventure Set of 2 prints from Abstract House.

From the striking scenery of Fiordland in New Zealand to the bright lights of Los Angeles and the balmy summer evenings of Barcelona, there’s something for travel lovers and those wanderlusters yearning for a glimpse of their favourite city.  Featured colour schemes range from delicate pastels, bright fuchsias and deep blues.

Moroccan Dreams Gallery Wall Art 
from Abstract House.  They said: "We do as much as possible to help the environment, our cardboard boxes and paper tape are 100% recyclable and our frames and fine art paper are FSC Certified to ensure we do our bit to help protect our forests and wildlife."

The London-based Abstract House's solid wooden frames are made in Britain to the Guild Of Fine Art Standards, as well as real glass which is crystal clear, to display the pictures at their best. The frames are custom made to work with their line of fine art prints and are designed to bring the artwork to life.

Designer Yinka Ilori's new homeware collection brings bright and cheerful colours to modern living

Yinka Ilori and his new homeware collection.

From designing a shop window for Selfridges to a basketball court in Canary Wharf and the British Red Cross’ latest campaign, among other notable projects, London-based Yinka Ilori’s bright and cheerful signature work are firm fixtures in London’s design scene.  Once seen, his designs leave a deep impression.

Yinka Ilori and two chairs from his Types of Happiness chair collection 2019.

As a multi-disciplinary artist of a British-Nigerian heritage, the award-winning Ilori specialises in storytelling by fusing his British and Nigerian heritage to tell new stories in contemporary design, and the results are humorous, provocative and fun; every project that he creates tells a story. 

Bringing Nigerian verbal traditional into playful conversation with contemporary design, Yinka Ilori’s work touches on various global themes that resonate with different audiences all over the world.

The first homeware collection is a continuation of design work inspired by his own British Nigerian heritage. 

Expect vibrant, colourful pieces including tableware and linens, cushions and trays, as well as tea towels and socks, all influenced by traditional Nigerian dress and parables told to the designer as a child by his parents.

It’s a colourful celebration of two cultures expressed through abstract, technicolour pattern and contemporary craft. Unexpected, functional household items - that evoke  memories from his own upbringing - have been reworked as colourful artworks. 

Yinka Ilori's Ere cushion in woven cotton jacquard captures his vibrant spirit, which led to him securing the London Design Festival’s prestigious Emerging Design prize. The graphic geometric pattern reminiscent of The Colour Palace, the designer's 2019 Dulwich Pavilion. 

Each has their own narrative and back-story, meant to instill a sense of optimism and joy, to act in their own small way as a distraction to the dark times that we’re facing this year.

Yinka Ilori's set of two tea towels.

Yinka Ilori’s latest homeware collection is launching at SCP.co.uk

All images from SCP.

Bemberg™ celebrates the 100th edition of Pitti Uomo by forging its support towards the Istituto Secoli in Milan

As the men’s fashion week Pitti Uomo in Milan will celebrate its 100th edition with the return of its physical show from June 30th until July 2nd, Bemberg™  will showcase six menswear outfits from the cutting-edge collections created by young talents of the Milan fashion institute – Istituto Secoli.

A fashion film entitled “LA FORMA” featuring the talented students is launched to commemorate the occasion.

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Commissione della Forma

100% Bemberg™ fabrics, produced by Tessitura Grisotto of Italy, have been used in a printed version for the creation of these 6 looks comprising shirts, padded outerwear, and quilted sections. Bemberg/Bemberg™ , the brand name of the regenerated cellulose fibre Cupro, produced only by Asahi Kasei, is a fibre that comes from the smart and technologically advanced transformation of cotton linter pre-consumer materials and converted through a traceable and transparent closed-loop process. Its unique characteristics includes exceptional touch, soft and smooth as silk, like second skin, with brilliance and radiance.  It also has anti-static and breathable qualities, while being biodegradable and compostable.

Bemberg™ is also partner of C.L.A.S.S. the international ecohub founded by Giusy Bettoni in 2007 which has established itself as a reference point in the fashion and textile business for brands, designers, manufacturers, students and and all those determined to make fashion smarter.

Innovative Wallpaper Collaboration made with cork won Design Guild Mark Award

As recognition of their work creating innovative fabrics and wallcoverings, interiors brand The Monkey Puzzle Tree has been awarded a Design Guild Mark for its ‘Hit The North’ cork wallpaper design. 

The innovative cork wallpaper, which was recently shown on BBC's home improvement programme: "Your Home Made Perfect", showcases the subversive designs of graphic artist Drew Millward with the much desired sustainable materials – natural cork - resulting in "Hit The North" as a large scale wallpaper referencing Modernism and the industrial north. 

The prestigious Design Guild Mark is awarded annually to recognise excellence in the furnishing industry and to raise the profile of British design and innovation. ‘Hit The North’ was one of just four recipients to receive the award for 2020/2021 in the ‘Textiles, Wall Coverings, Surfaces, Carpets & Floor Coverings’ category. 

The  "Hit The North" wallpaper created from real cork and designed with artist Drew Millward,
 is featured with Passion Flower lampshade, both from UK design house
The Monkey Puzzle Tree based in Leeds.

“I was over the moon to be awarded a Design Guild Mark for Hit The North,” says Charlotte Raffo, founder of The Monkey Puzzle Tree. “It’s wonderful to to get this kind of recognition and to build awareness of our beautiful textiles and wallcoverings. As a new Northern creative brand trying to do things a bit differently, it’s brilliant to be recognised by such a well regarded, well-established design institution.”

When Charlotte founded The Monkey Puzzle Tree in 2017, her mission was to combine her background in textile manufacturing with her love of the unique design scene in and around her home town of Leeds. Working with a handpicked group of artists, Charlotte creates highly distinctive fabrics and wallcoverings which are designed and manufactured within 100 miles of her Leeds HQ. 

The starting point for each and every one of these unique and often subversive designs is an original piece of art. The Monkey Puzzle Tree has gained a cult following amongst interior designers and home owners who enjoy both the function and aesthetics of these highly individual fabrics and wallpapers. 

When it came to commissioning the design for ‘Hit The North’, The Monkey Puzzle Tree turned to local Yorkshire artist Drew Millward. Best known for his psychedelic poster designs for rock bands such as Foo Fighters and Arctic Monkeys, Drew’s Modernist sensibilities were a good fit for a wallpaper design intended to celebrate the creativity and industry of the north of England. 

“Drew’s aesthetic is very much wedded to the north, so I felt his work would translate brilliantly for this project,” says Charlotte Raffo. “I wanted to create a wallpaper design featuring local industrial buildings as a celebration of the north of England. And I decided to use cork because, not only is it a good fit with Drew’s Mid-Century illustrative style, it’s also such a beautiful and sustainable material."

The result is a bold, monochromatic design featuring industrial buildings, Yorkshire hillsides and circular, sun-like motifs influenced by the designs of the Modernist era. Drew Millward’s trademark skulls, black cats and owls (the symbol for Leeds) can also be spotted lurking within the design. Although the design itself is monochrome, the wallpaper has incredible warmth and a wonderfully tactile quality thanks to the naturally occurring colouring of the cork. Recent installations featuring ‘Hit The North’ have included a music room (the cork has great acoustic qualities) a games room, and the walls and vaulted ceiling of a basement powder room.

Artist Drew Millward has been surrounded by the north of England’s post-industrial landscape his entire life, and his work is heavily influenced by both the industrial and natural worlds. 

“I was really excited by the idea of working with The Monkey Puzzle Tree on this design,” says Drew, who was brought up in Bolton and now lives in the West Yorkshire village of Steeton, near Keighley. “I’m massively influenced by the landscape I see around me every day – the hills, crumbling factories and mill buildings of the post-industrial north. I realise I have a distinctive style and it’s not for everyone, so I needed to create something that would work in a home. Mid-Century modernism is a big reference point for me, so I pictured a wallpaper design that would sit alongside teak furniture and a nice Eames chair. 

Committed to sustainable and ethical business practices, The Monkey Puzzle Tree recently signed up to the interior design industry’s ‘Design for Diversity’ pledge to help attract more ethnically diverse artists. Two new designs are currently in the pipeline thanks to The Monkey Puzzle Tree’s latest signings – Yorkshire artists Josephine McYebuah and Saima Kaur. Josephine’s new art deco-inspired wallpaper will feature a variety of African animals, while Saima’s innovative fabric will capture her quirky embroidery style.

Copenhagen Fashion Week announces brand lineup for SS22

Following the announcement that Copenhagen Fashion Week will return as a physical event, the fashion week unveils a strong lineup for the upcoming season, held from 10-13 August 2021. 

The Copenhagen Fashion Week SS22 brand lineup boasts 38 celebrated names and rising talents for the approaching season, including a long line of internationally renowned Nordic brands such as Ganni, Stine Goya, Holzweiler, Saks Potts and Marimekko.  The lineup will also see a welcome return to the schedule of the likes of Han Kjøbenhavn, Helmstedt, Brøgger and Hope.   Of the 38 shows, 30 expect to showcase physically. The digital shows and all physical show livestreams will be featured via Copenhagenfashionweek.com.

"With the world opening up once more, finally we can gather again to celebrate the best of Nordic fashion. That is why we are so pleased to see such an incredibly strong lineup for the coming season, with an inspiring breadth of creativity on show. We want to take this opportunity to emphasise the importance of unity and collaboration; together we are stronger, and Copenhagen Fashion Week SS22 will hopefully portray that to our global audience." - Cecilie Thorsmark, CEO Copenhagen Fashion Week.

Menswear in focus

Moreover, Copenhagen Fashion Week SS22 will showcase a curated selection of new visionaries within menswear: Schnayderman's, (di)vision, Berner Kühl and Nikolaj Storm Copenhagen.  Established names such as Henrik Vibskov, Soulland and Samsøe Samsøe will present both womenswear and menswear.

Eyes on talent

This season, the inaugural Talent Slot has been awarded to A. Roege Hove, whose contemporary exploration on knitwear and textile manipulation, imbued with a conscious approach to design, presented a clear indication of a future Nordic design dexterity to the official show committee.  As part of Copenhagen Fashion Week's focus on supporting young voices, it has been announced that Julie Gilhart, CDO of Tomorrow Ltd. & President of Tomorrow Projects, as the inaugural Talent Mentor offering a mentorship programme to A. Roege Hove.

"As someone who believes some of the best talent has always yet to be discovered, I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to serve as the inaugural Copenhagen Fashion Week talent mentor and to be working with Amalie Roege Hove. One of my greatest passions lies in fostering and encouraging emerging talent, and it's an honor to utilize this platform to mentor the next generation of talent in Copenhagen."   - Julie Gilhart, CDO of Tomorrow Ltd. & President of Tomorrow Projects

"I am beyond excited to receive the talent slot for Copenhagen Fashion Week. To receive recognition from the show committee in this early stage means the world and to be able to develop our universe further into a show context is a challenge myself and the team truly look forward to." - Amalie Roege Hove, Founder A. Roege Hove

Another emerging talent Louise Lyngh Bjerregaard will make her much-anticipated debut as a rising voice from the Nordic new wave of design. The Royal Danish Academy will present a selection of their MA students' graduate collections, underlining Copenhagen Fashion Week's value on spotlighting new directional viewpoints emerging from the celebrated universities in the Nordics.

An international support network

For the first time, Copenhagen Fashion Week expanded its esteemed Show Committee of Nordic leaders to include international figures, in order to ensure an international eye in the curation of the SS22 schedule. 

Representing various sectors of the creative industry, the international members joining the Show Committee include Ida Petersson, Fashion Buying Director of Browns Fashion; Angela Koh, Market Editor of New York Times T Magazine; Christopher J. Morency, Editorial Director of Highsnobiety, Dio Kurazawa, Co-Founder of the Bear Scouts; Julie Gilhart, CDO of Tomorrow Ltd. & President of Tomorrow Projects.  

Sustainability at the forefront 

For the full line-up of brands, click HERE.  A number of them are finalists of the Zalando Sustainability Award,

With an extraordinarily high standard of applicants for the second season, Nikolaj Storm Copenhagen, Teatum Jones and Mother of Pearl are the innovative and inspiring finalists that will present as part of the Copenhagen Fashion Week schedule this season.

Each finalist will be part of the schedule this coming season, showcasing in the official Zalando venue. The winner will be announced at a ceremony on the 12th August during CPHFW. 

Global Footwear Awards 2021 is inviting footwear designers across the globe to showcase their best work

The LA-based Global Footwear Awards (GFA) is now accepting submissions before the early bird deadline closes on July 26th, 2021.

On a mission to uncover visionary design talents, both established and student designers are invited to submit their most innovative and game-changing designs.

The GFA recognizes visionary design talent from around the worlsdd with an ambition to provide the highest recognition to footwear designers in all footwear divisions, from Fashion to Sports. Entries are evaluated at three different levels: Brands, Independent Designers and students, in order to provide a fair opportunity to each level.

Hodei_club by Benjamin Thomas
Category winner in Ethical Manufacturing 
No glue / No-sew / Limited materials / Easy to disassemble or repair / Simple to Recycle

According to Hossein Farmani, president of International Design Awards (IDA), sister company to GFA, the Global Footwear Awards honours the best in the industry, addressing creativity, innovation, sustainability and social impact.

“We, at International Design Awards (IDA), are very excited to create an awards specifically for footwear design as we see a tremendous design potential within this field. I see a fast-growing momentum of young footwear talents that truly deserve global recognitions. There are many great works that bridges art, footwear and technology together, which is extremely exciting”, said Hossein Farmani, International Design Awards (IDA) president. 

The GFA Jury Panel consists of leading international professionals from different disciplines within the footwear industry, including renowned footwear professionals, major publications, retailers and institutions. Judges will particularly be on the lookout for extraordinary designers who are producing coveted and exceptional creations.

"The special part of the Global Footwear Awards is the way we evaluate designs, not by popularity, but through the lens of cross-disciplinary professionals, with a long experience within the footwear industry. The winning designs will truly make a mark and set examples of what true innovation and sustainability means in the footwear industry”, added Siramol On-Sri, GFA Director.

The Global Footwear awards also honours strategic thinking and innovative solutions to medical footwear, sustainability and social impact to inspire many more social responsibility projects to come. 

Here are some of their jury’s words:

“Having judged the awards and really investigated what each brand/trainer was about, it was so great to see a dedication to sustainability and ethical practices on so many fronts. It's one thing designing and manufacturing great-looking shoes, but to do so and achieve a high-level of sustainable awareness at the same time is applaudable.” Zak Maoui, British GQ Style Editor.

“Apart from enjoying the variety in creativity I was most happy to see that more and more designers start to think of footwear as an area to tackle socio-political issues and so plays a part in taking the discipline beyond only reproducing styles of fashion, and playing with technology, and engaging with real-life issues.” Eelko Moorer, London College of Fashion MA footwear course leader.

The Global Footwear Awards aims to celebrate their exceptional creations at a global level, while honouring sustainable practices that will inspire the industry as a whole.  

For more information, click HERE.  

British online store The Edit LDN transforms prized sneaker industry as sales soar

The UK’s leading online store for limited edition sneakers and high end streetwear The Edit Man London has changed its name to The Edit LDN to reflect the rapidly growing female appeal for new and pre-loved sneakers and streetwear as sales grow 60% month-on-month in the last 12 months. 

The Edit LDN is popular with celebrities and footballers and has reported that for the first time more women than men are making premium purchases which has prompted the company to rebrand from The Edit Man London to The Edit LDN. 

They are often referred to as the Farfetch equivalent of the exclusive sneaker world, who get over 120,000 unique visitors every month (up 5x since Jan 2020 when they launched). Sales are soaring 60% month on month and the company is set to be worth £10m by the end of the year and £30m by 2022.

“At the heart of The Edit LDN proposition is a focus on social and economic issues. These are matters that are important to us and our community, so we recognise that we’re in a super hot market right now so we want to use our platform to make a long lasting impact where possible” said CEO  Moses Rashid. 

Moses Rashid, founder and CEO of The Edit LDN

Founded in 2020, The Edit LDN is an online consignment store, a leading destination that sells new and pre-loved limited edition sneakers and high end streetwear from a variety of brands including Yeezy, Jordan, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Off-White, Supreme, Fear of God among others, to a wide community of fashionistas, collectors and investors. Through partnerships with styling services such as Thread.com and various concierge companies, the company has expanded its community of buyers from TV and film celebrities to professional footballers and royal families around the world.

Moses Rashid, founder and CEO of The Edit LDN commented: “As a brand we want to remain current and relevant to our community, our new name now fairly represents and embraces our diverse community but is true to its origins. We dropped the ‘Man’ from the name simply because the number of women buying had been steadily increasing since launch in January 2020 and passed 50% in March this year. It was the right thing to do.”

“We set out to create a destination that opens up and levels up the opportunity for anyone wishing to own extremely limited edition goods. Essentially we make Inaccessible, accessible. Previous means to buy these goods have been riddled with issues such as sending payments to random resellers found on social media, authenticity issues when buying online and long delivery times on purchases from global marketplaces. The Edit LDN addresses all these concerns and is transforming the customer experience and industry simultaneously, added Moses”. 

In 2021 (to April), The Edit LDN attracted more traffic, transactions and revenue than in their first year of trading (2020).  With 60% month-on-month growth and mounting interest, the business is set to take-off. 

“We’re regularly selling sneakers and streetwear worth £1,500 each. Recently, we sold a Gucci TNF jacket for £9,200. It’s not only the variety of goods we offer but the speed at which we send purchases. Just last year we managed to source and sell 44 Playstation 5 games consoles to the England U21 football team within 24 hours, literally dispatching them in Ubers to their homes” said Moses.

Looking ahead, Moses added: “This is a marketplace worth $6b a year globally and will grow 5x by 2030. By the end of this year, The Edit LDN will be worth £10m and given the hyper growth rate of our sales and revenues, we will 3x our valuation by the end of 2022 for sure. In meeting the needs of this rapid scaling, we will seek to raise funds this year to propel us as we launch in new markets”. 

The Edit LDN has its community and social conscious front of mind. They have raised funds and awareness against gun crime, mental health and sustainability issues. In 2020, the company collaborated with the artist McCrow as part of the One Less Gun campaign to create a sneaker with bullet shells from an AK-47 rifle. Working with Gary James McQueen in aid of MIND mental health charity, they raised funds with an exclusive T-shirt drop featuring the famous McQueen Vanitas skull. 

In owning their sustainability agenda, they turned their focus to the circular economy by selling pre-owned (or pre-loved) goods through the platform. In addition to this, they are a paperless company and only ship products using recycled packaging. 

Bumblebee print in Ochre a delight for summer indoor and outdoor dining

 

The warm sunshine welcomes June into our life with a ray of optimism.  

And we’re delighted that Walton & Co in the UK is presenting their signature Bumblebee collection to help brighten up our indoor and outdoor dining and entertaining experience.

The Bumblebee collection includes table linens, kitchen textiles, seat pads and extends into 100% Fine Bone China mugs which are manufactured in Stoke-On-Trent in the UK. 

Designed in Yorkshire, the range features a delicate buzzing bee motif on a beautiful shade of ochre. What's more, Walton & Co will donate a percentage of the sales to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. The collection is available from their country-wide network of retail stockists and on their website.

The brand seasonally creates a wide range of design led soft furnishings and textiles for the home all lovingly curated by their in-house team of designers.

Based in North Yorkshire, Walton & Co has been owned by the Marshall family since 1991.