Clarks to Launch Archive-Inspired, Hand-Crafted Limited Edition Brogues

With man-tailoring a current key trend, Clarks is launching a new collection of limited edition England-made brogues for women that will add panache to the total look.

As a great British brand with an international following, Clarks' hand-crafted brogues will appeal to  UK and global fans alike.  

As a great British brand with an international following,
Clarks' hand-crafted brogues will appeal to  UK and global fans alike.
 Left to right: Isabella Daisy (black & white); Isabella Carla (Purple combi leather, silver metallic leather, Grenadine leather); Isabella Daisy (black leather) 

Inspired by Clarks' incredibly-vast archive, the collection brings a contemporary take on its most classic styles.  Clarks has been manufacturing Goodyear Welted shoes since the 1940s. Shown above are the Watlington and Saddle, the two styles selected and re-invented for the new collection.  The Watlington is a twist on the classic brogue and the Saddle was a style that was worn by Queen Elizabeth during a tour of South Africa in 1967.

While using the highest quality materials, including premium leathers, the collection will come with a higher price too over the rest, at £295 per pair.   

But you would appreciate it that in the heart of this exclusive capsule collection, designed and made in England, is the time-honoured shoemaker’s art that involves over 160 separate steps and takes eight weeks to complete.  

Available from July 2015, Clarks has created 90 pairs per line. The collection includes five colour-ways across two styles. 

Artist Rachel Howard's new creation for jewellery label TRUE ROCKS

The London / Ibiza based label TRUE ROCKS (available at Liberty in London) is known for turning everyday objects into extraordinary jewellery.

The brand's collaboration last season with Brit artist Gavin Turk was a limited-edition cheeky bitten and signed Rich Tea Biscuit pendant on a chain had proven widely popular.

Now founders / design-duo Emily Bradbury and Dawn Hindle have announced a new artist collaboration for Autumn/Winter 2015.

The Rachel Howard and True Rocks collaboration will be launching for Autumn/Winter 2015 to coincide with both London Fashion Week and also FRIEZE Art Fair. Howard’s Humble Hanger comes in two sizes in 18 carat Rose and yellow gold plate or sterling silver on two different lengths of chain: Medium 3.5 x 2cms with an adjustable 18-20” trace chain, and Large 5x3cms with an adjustable 20-22” trace chain

London Goldsmith College graduate and artist Rachel Howard (whose work has graced the walls of the Royal Academy, White Cube and the Guggenheim in New York) has collaborated with TRUE ROCKS and created a limited edition hanger pendant. 

Howard says 'The humble hanger is a celebration of the overlooked and commonplace, its function is taken for granted whereas here the humble hanger is honouring the workaday, elevated to something more grand. The simplicity of the wire hanger is beautiful; a few bends and a couple of twists. The humble hanger is also an object that eludes to the human body, eliciting perhaps loss, absence and love’.

True Rocks jewellery is available at Liberty and at TrueRocks.com and has been worn and photographed on Cara Delevingne,  Lily Allen, Mark Ronson and Ellie Goulding.  

The True Cost documentary worldwide screening on May 29th

In the documentary film: The True Cost  - which will be screened worldwide on May 29^{th -} director Andrew Morgan examines the impact the fashion industry has on the world, and exposes “the true human and ecological cost of fashion – factors like human suffering and environmental damage that are not reflected in a garment’s price tag.”

 “More then just underscoring the problem, this is an effort to highlight real solutions that every day people can take part in. Our goal is to impact consumer behavior that in turn impacts corporate and government policy decisions. The road we are on simply is not sustainable, but there is an opportunity here; a defining moment in history for us to set a new precedent for the future we will create,” according to the director.

The film debates about who really pays for the price of our clothing, as Morgan is joined by industry leaders on sustainable and fair-trade, including the likes of Wayne Hemingway and Lily Cole, Livia Firth, Lucy Siegle and Safia Minney.  To view a trailer of the movie, go to the True Cost website. Click HERE. 

Women's Online fashion retailer Closet relaunches

On-line women’s fashion retailer Closet is rebranding as Closet London with an all-new brand identity and website to match the new name.  

Offering 18-35 year-old fashion-loving women with its signature prints and feminine designs for over 20 years, the name Closet London was now chosen to better represent the brand’s London roots and modern approach.  All of Closet London’s clothes are designed and manufactured in the capital where the company is also headquartered.

Closet London will continue to feature its ‘Style Stories’ every 6-8 weeks presenting an accompanying, co-ordinating product range of on-trend looks. Closet London will also be re-launching with their ‘Buckets and Spades’ collection story in June 2015.

Getting into the mood of "Springwatch" from designers Amanda Coleman and Gerard Hobson

BBC2’s highly popular Springwatch 2015 returns to our screen this Monday, May 25^th, bringing to all UK nature lovers three weeks of almost nightly updates of Britain wildlife at 8 pm, broadcasting live from the Minsmere reserve on the Suffolk coast this season.

Nowadays, watching wildlife live at home (having witnessed a brood of nesting Blackbirds direct from our own living-room window, as shown above) or on television has generated greater interest in my household than catching stylised gardens on Chelsea Flower Show though the latter is perhaps more popular among the fashion-conscious crowd.

As Horatio Clare writes in The Sunday Telegraph, “the live element and the subject matter combined” give Springwatch that rare quality to lure viewers into the unique world of nature.  The live scenes and filmed footage shown on Springwatch have captured the nation’s imagination since May 2005.  Nestled still strongly in my mind today are scenes of the secret lives of barn owl chicks and the episode showing Monty the osprey in search of a potential mate while fending off rivals, featured in the last two years.

Meanwhile, helping us to get into the mood of Springwatch is jewellery designer Amanda Coleman’s new Midnight Owl Collection depicting a wise old owl sitting in his tree, contemplating life!  

The Owl sits on a branch made from a Sterling Silver cast of real twigs with Green Onyx, leaf details - all pieces in the collection are handmade in Amanda Coleman's workshop in Lincoln.  

The jewellery pieces are available in both Sterling Silver and 22ct Gold Vermeil, with semi-precious Green Onyx stones.  All pieces in the collection are handmade in Amanda's workshop in Lincoln. 
Amanda Coleman is a Royal College of Art Master Graduate in Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork and Jewellery, who aims to satisfy her thirst for experimentation and new concepts in jewellery construction techniques, in a style all her own.   Becoming a mother helped give a fresh perspective on her designing.  She said seeing the world through the eyes of her children ignited an interest in fairy-tales, mystery and magic – reflected in her whimsical, quirky designs.

Also these cushions and lampshades featuring Owls, Wrens, Patridges and Swallows designed by Yorkshire-based Gerard Hobson for interior design e-shop set up by Georgia Wilkinson will certainly set you and your home in a Springwatch mood.

The collection of four lampshade and cushion designs were created by Gerard, using lino cuts, which were then coloured and scaled by Georgia before being printed onto an oyster linen/cotton union here in the UK. 

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.