Natalie Massenet launches The NET SET

Natalie Massenet, Founder and Executive Chairman of THE NET-A-PORTER GROUP unveiled on Wednesday The NET SET, the social shopping network we have all been waiting for.

Natalie Massenet introduces the NET SET.

Natalie Massenet commented on the launch saying: “Digital innovation doesn’t stand still and neither do we. We are incredibly excited to launch the world’s first luxury shopable mobile social network where fashionable digital women all over the world can connect and enjoy a unique and seamless shopping experience across all devices. The rise of social media and style blogs has shown that women around the world are inspired by each other’s style and their closets. The NET SET is to mobile in 2015 what NET-A-PORTER.COM was to desktop in 2000.”

Natalie Massenet with The Net Set team.

During a keynote address held at NET-A-PORTER's London headquarters, Massenet alongside The NET SET founders Sarah Watson, Vice President, and Alexandra Hoffnung, Creative Director, introduced the network to international media, celebrities and influencers. Watch and share the keynote speech via YouTube.  Click HERE.

The NET SET instantly links fashion-savvy personalities, style leaders, curators, designers and consumers in real time – inviting them to share their style, likes and inspirations and making it all instantly, effortlessly, and shop-friendly – anywhere in the world.

On The NET SET, one can .....

BROWSE a live feed of the luxury fashion items and content trending across the globe

FIND style matches using powerful image recognition technology

SEARCH thousands of items on NET-A-PORTER.COM and build a ‘Love List’

SHOP over 420 leading designers, receiving world-class customer service and express shipping to over 170 countries

JOIN STYLE TRIBES to uncover like-minded users and inspirational content

CREATE a stylish profile that others can see and admire

ADMIRE friends and other users who inspire them

Exclusive features of the app include:

The Style Council: an exclusive and elite group comprising the most stylish and influential style icons in the world

Style Tribes: an infinite set of user-created clubs that group themed content, products and brands around stylish members’ personal tastes and Brand Hubs, where each designer stocked on NET-A-PORTER.COM will have their own portal and for the first time will be able to interact directly with NET-A-PORTER’s customer base.

The NET SET app is now available to download across iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.

Chinese tourists are among the world’s biggest holiday spenders

China’s billionaire Li Jinyuan made headline news early this week for sending 6,400 employees to France for an incentive holiday.  The founder and chairman of the Tiens Group is reportedly spending Euros13 million for the biggest ever tour-group to visit France.

Li’s generosity - which reportedly includes the booking of 4,700 rooms in 79 four and five-star hotels in Paris and the south of France - does not include the employees’ shopping spree during the week-long holiday to celebrate in style the 20^th anniversary of the group which operates in tourism, trade and cosmetics. 

While his lavish spending was regarded by many as a publicity stint for the group, it highlights the fact that Chinese tourist are fast becoming a common fixture in many European resorts and destinations. 

Stunning sunsets and unique architecture in Oia are among the key reasons why tourists
from China to America and all over Europe visit the Greek island of Santorini.
Photo by Lucia Carpio.

With an average of Euros 1,500 in purchases, Chinese tourists are among the world’s biggest holiday spenders.  And today, more and more Chinese tourists are travelling independently rather than part of a tour group.

While visiting the Greek island of Santorini recently, I found that it is a common sight to see Chinese couples dressed in wedding garb with professional photographers in toll having their marital pictures taken against scenic backdrops.

Family-run boutique hotels such as the Anemoessa Villa above in Oia, Santorini, with sea views and modern facilities, are increasingly popular for European as well as Chinese visitors.
Photo by Lucia Carpio.

According to one owner of a local family-run hotel in the popular Santorini city of Oia, which is famous for its stunning sunsets, business is booming despite the challenging economic climate that the rest of Greece is associated with in recent years.

Chinese tourists visit the Greek island of Santorini when the weather is more accommodating, starting as early as April and May, according to  manageress Irini Balopitou whose family runs the AnemoessaVilla near Finikia (the Unesco-declared heritage village) and Oia.  While they may opt to skip the hot Greek summer, the Chinese tourists return in September and October, leaving the sweltering months to sun-loving tourists from around Europe and the rest of the world, said  Irini.

Etsy Wedding Fair for Brides going for unique handmade stuff

To provide inspiration for brides looking for original handmade products for their big day, Etsy UK will be holding the Etsy Wedding Fair this month. 

The Etsy Wedding Fair takes place at Oui 2 Rooms, 89 Great Titchfield Street, London, W1, on Saturday May 16th (10am - 6pm) and Sunday May 17th (10am - 5pm), showcasing a selection of wedding-y stuff, from wedding dresses and hairpieces through to cake-toppers and confetti by sellers from around the UK.

The fair promises there will be inspiration for every bride-to-be, whether you’re planning on going boho, rustic or sequins aplenty.  

Brides will be able to speak directly to UK Etsy sellers to order something custom-made, as well as picking up hand-made pieces on the day. There will also be workshops on making your own fresh flower headpieces throughout the weekend to inspire brides to get really creative with their wedding prep.

As well as browsing handmade and bespoke dresses, accessories, stationery and decorations for the big day, the Etsy Wedding Fair will also feature:

Hair styling and consultations by Emily Kent of The Wedding Hair Company

Music by DJ supremos the Wedding Smashers

Flowers by incredible Etsy seller Harriet Parry

Drinks by Travelling Gin Company

Tickets for the event and the workshops can be purchased on line.  Click here for details.

Hail for baby named Francesca Marina born after a treacherous journey

While the naming of the new royal princess of Great Britain -Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge is making headline news everywhere, I am intrigued by another news yesterday buried in the inside pages of the i Paper, about a new born on a naval ship during a rescue mission in the Mediterranean Sea.
Among 7,000 migrants rescued from overcrowded boats crossing the Mediterranean to Europe in the last few days was a woman who gave birth to a baby girl on an Italian navy ship while being rescued, according to local officials.  The crew of the naval vessel off Sicily found the woman in labour on a boat.  The baby was named Francesca Marina, paying homage to Italy (to the pope perhaps?), and in Italian, Marina means navy.
What a celebratory weekend it has been, for those born into privilege and those providing great hope for suffering families.

It's a Girl. A new Royal Baby!

Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.  The wait is over.

Congrats also to Her Majesty The Queen who's gained a fifth great grand-child.  And of course to Prince George too who now has a little sister.  He himself came to our world just 21 months ago.

And congrats to me who's won a bet with my husband.

The Duchess Catherine gave birth to a baby girl this morning, with the Duke by her side, we've been told.

Weighing in at 8 lbs 3 oz., the new addition to the royal household is fourth in line to the throne. 

Congrats all round.  Now what will be her name, the nation and indeed the world await.

Caption for above picture:- Soft 100% cashmere knitted baby blanket with a delicate cable knit design running through from Plum & Ivory Cashmere.  It measures 80cm square.What a lovely gift and keepsake this luxury cashmere baby blanket makes....fit for a Royal princess!

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.