Twisted Twee's parent and child matching Tees form a perfect pair

Father's Day is just round the corner! 

The picture of an ice cream is completed when parent gives
their offspring a piggy back. 
It is hand printed using flock fabric that feels
textural on 100% organic t shirts.

Although I find dads generally are not so difficult to please, it can still be tricky to find the perfect gift for Father’s Day.

For the inseparable father-and-child, Twisted Twee founder Suzi Warren has got just the right idea and she has cleverly captured her new piggy back twinsets with these fabulous pics featured on her Twisted Twee website.

Suzi took the pics herself and says it only took her 10 minutes to do the shots in Oxford with friends - toddler Sky and Chichi - modelling for her.  They are images of happy bonding doing great every-day fun things, like stopping by the ice-cream van, going to the playground and shopping.

The parent (or grandparent) and child Tee shirts match up to form a complete picture when the infant sits on its parents' shoulders.

In this parent-and-child series are the Balloon and String, Ice Cream and Cone, LO and VE, and a swarm of bees and a hive.

The picture of a hive is completed with a swarm of bees when dad or mum gives their offspring a piggy back. 

The organic Tees are hand-printed using flock fabric that is textural and will also retain its colour while lasting countless washings, says Suzi who founded Twisted Twee in 2003, and is known for creating “original, surprising, witty, well-made gifts.”

The team is made up of a bunch of lovely mum friends working out of a garden shed in Camden, London, according to Suzi, who are "Responsible for such marvels as Political Nappy Covers, Vintage IKEA bags, Bad Bunting and PMT Pants."


Suzi who's also the designer at Twisted Twee adds: "Orders are packed for free inside a reusable cotton gift bag and on request we are happy to write personal messages on beautiful V&A Museum cards at no extra cost."

UK's Elephant Head partners with charity Aham Bhumika of India to help rural women artisans make a self-sufficient living

'Gond deer' hand-embroidered cushion cover  in cotton with tie-back fastening from The Elephant Head.The design is inspired by gond art (a tribal art form of Central India), and hand embroidered by rural women artisans, supported by the charity Aham Bhumika, in Bhopal India.

Self sufficiency and a better future for rural women artisans.  That is the aim of  UK-based online store, The Elephant Head, which  is committed to promoting sustainable working practices in India by partnering with Indian charity, Aham Bhumika.

'The turbaned Indian man' hand embroidered cushion cover.
 It is inspired by a Kisan, a stereotypical, bidi-smoking farmer
 with a big turban and exaggerated moustache.

The homeware and artisan craft store is offering a range of cushion covers, each hand-embroidered by an artisan from a village on the outskirts of Bhopal, India, as part of The Embroidery Project, an Aham Bhumika initiative.

Based in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh in India, Aham Bhumika is a Non-Government Organisation that works to equip underprivileged women living in rural areas with the skills they need to earn a living and become self-sufficient. So far, The Embroidery Project has taught more than 30 women to create products such as saris, tote bags and cushion covers which they can then sell to generate an income, according to The Elephant Head founder Arathi.

'Sadvi- the lady monk' hand embroidered cushion.

''Our homeware blend in with contemporary homes while respecting authentic and traditional art and craft. All our products, created by independent, small-scale artisan groups, co-ops and workshops, are practical, beautiful and crafted with love using local materials and time-honoured skills. That’s certainly the case with the Aham Bhumika charity-made cushion covers. And, we believe our customers will love them. Their quality and attention to detail make them a wonderful and unique addition to any home, or business." said Aarathi.

There are ten different designs of cushion covers to choose from, each measures 16 X 16 inches, made from cotton, and has a tie-back fastening so it can be easily removed for washing.
Many of the designs on the cushion covers are inspired by Gond art, a tribal art form of Central India.

On-trend colours from B&O PLAY

Violet, along with lilac, royal blue, vapour grey, sand stone, charcoal sand, uber brown and black are the colours for city vibes this autumn.

B&O PLAY portable speakers, earphones and headphones from Bang & Olufsen speak volume on the latest colour trends.

The AW17 Collection embraces the latest colour trends, bringing fun to everyday city life.

All images from B&O set in the landscape of Japan.

Glamping in style in bell-shaped tents

With such wonderful weather afforded by a heat wave currently in the UK, there is no need to travel to foreign lands to have an enjoyable vacation, especially if you can maximise the warm weather and be at one with nature.  And if you love the idea of camping in the great outdoors but do not fancy sleeping rough in a cramped tent, Boutique Camping has the answer for "glamping" enthusiasts.

The range of Sandstone bell tents makes camping feel more like staying a luxury hotel while having all the comfort of home.  Available in three sizes – 4m, 5m and 6m – they are the perfect size for couples after a luxury outdoor haven.  However, the largest 6m tent can sleep up to eight adults comfortably on airbeds, giving this tent the feel of a luxurious open-plan bedroom, which is great for festivals or glamping slumber parties.

Made from 100% natural, breathable cotton canvas, the  Sandstone bell tents are also mould and rot proof, and water-repellent. And just in case the weather does turn, there are extra-strong pegs tincluded in the pack to make the tent sturdy in windy weather and bad conditions!

Finished in the classic sandstone colour, these vintage-style bell tents can be assembled by one person, according to Boutique Camping, with everything needed for assembly included in the pack. They have also updated their design this year with a host of new features.
At the base, you’ll find a heavy-duty zipped-in ground sheet that gives you the option to unzip and roll up the sides while you lounge, letting the air flow in and around you. You’ll also be kept cool and comfortable thanks to the four zipped windows and air vents at the top.

But if you fancy traveling overseas for a bit of luxury camping, the National Geographic offers  a list of options.  Just don't call it Glamping.  

Collaboration between two UK brands for satchels and bikes launched this month.

Two of UK's best known lifestyle brands for leather bags and bicycles have launched this month their first collaboration.

The bags from Cambridge Satchel Company are available online and in stores in Cambridge and Covent Garden in London.  The bike from Brompton is sold exclusively in its dedicated Brompton Junction stores, and in selected American stores.  

The collaboration between Cambridge Satchel Company and Brompton Bikes is viewed as a natural fit as a bicycle is already part of the Cambridge Satchel Company’s own logo, plus both companies are manufactured in the UK.

Brompton's in-house design team have worked closely with The Cambridge Satchel Company to develop the leather satchels which integrate with the Brompton’s front carrier system, fitting neatly onto the front of all Brompton bikes.

The Satchels, able to hold up to 2.5 kg of your must-have items, come in three colours: a Lagoon Blue, Turkish Green and Oxblood as shown in above and left pictures, taken at Cambridge's Covent Garden shop in London.   Brompton has also created a special edition bike in Gloss Oxblood and Ivory which showcases the Oxblood satchel.   The sophisticated colour combination should appeal to both men and ladies.

The Satchels handmade in Cambridge's own factory in Leicester, UK, are retailing at £195, and the foldable bike handmade in Brompton's factory in west London costs £1,400 and comes with the bag.

The bags are available online and in Cambridge's stores in Cambridge and Covent Garden in London.  The Brompton bike is sold exclusively in its dedicated Brompton Junction stores, and in selected American stores.

All photos © Lucia Carpio 2017.

A kaleidoscopic of rich patterns and digital designs from Melo Designs

UK-based Melo Designs was set up by Brazilian-born artist Luiz Melo and interiors stylist Chris Kane who have a combined design experience of more than 24 years, producing an array of luxury lifestyle and interiors products for both global and niche businesses.

Silk scarf measuring 135 cm x 24 cm in  original Melo artwork, rich in colour and detail. Made in the UK

Luxurious feather filled, our poly velvet cushions,
  50 cm x 50 cm.
Made to order in the UK.  

While Luis have had work sold in London, France and North America and had been inspired by a child experience to create one-off pieces by painting directly onto glassware and ceramics, the two recognised there was more to be done to expand the scope of their unique talent.  Following many months of research, hardwork and creativity, the duo set up Melodesigns.

Distinctive, detailed with a hint of mystery. 

Melo Designs offer a variety of lifestyle products for the home and to wear. Rich in colour, the product range includes silk scarves, cushions, lamp shades, wallcoverings and mugs. The image of each product begins life as a hand-painted design, then shaped and embellished to create a colourful, kaleidoscopic world of pattern and movement, often resulting in a distinctive kaleidoscopic effect.

Statement hand rolled lampshade  40 cm x 26 cm from Melo Desgns.
Made in the UK using fine cotton and cool metallic inlays. 

The duo also offer bespoke services.   All products are designed and manufactured in the UK.

Shoe and bag designers cite Portuguese tiles as inspiration

Istanbul.  Photo by Lucia Carpio.

Food, lifestyle and interiors are often beautifully entwined with fashion.  Often the link may not be initially obvious, but the association is realised very quickly. A recent promotional image of Cornwall-based celebrity chef Rick Stein is a case in point.  
It stirred not only fond memories but also culinary interest on my part and a longing sense of travel to hot exotic climes.  In a publicity photo, Stein (currently promoting his new travel-cum-cuisine book From Venice to Istanbul (BBC Books) that accompanies his new cookery TV programme of the same name)  is wearing a washed denim shirt and jeans against a backdrop of exotic wall tiles that one often associates with Mediterranean, South European and North African cultures.  

The association forms an alluring yet relaxed picture of well pulled-together styling. 
If you want to follow Rick Stein's gastronomic journey From Venice to Istanbul through countries of the former Byzantium empire, you can watch it on BBC2 this month on Fridays at 9:30 pm.  You can catch the programmes you've missed on-demand on iPlayer.

Portuguese ceeramic tiles.

In my visits, though limited, to a number of European, Mediterranean and North African destinations over the years, I have often admired the profusion of colour and creative designs on ceramic wall, pavement and floor tiles that demonstrate the unique patterns of each culture which in turn go on to influence modern designers.  

Attending the Pure London trade fair held a couple of weeks' ago at Kensington Olympia, I met two Portuguese designers who both talked passionately about inspiration from Portuguese tiles that formed the basis of their footwear and bag designs.

For one, Marita Moreno showcased her new Sculpture line of shoes and bags handcrafted in white linen and contrasting leather embossed with mosaic designs that can be defined as those of typical Portuguese pavement tiling, known as Calçada Portuguesa.  

According to lisbonlux.com, the Portuguese capital Lisbon's ubiquitous cobblestone designs were first introduced in the 18th century, during the rebuilding of the city after the 1755 earthquake. "The apparent inspiration was Roman mosaics, and it was an ingenious way to reuse the earthquake rubble. Lisbon was therefore covered in small limestone and basalt pieces, creating black and white patterns without the use of cement."

Marita Moreno, featured in the new Premium Footwear section at Pure London, designer of her own eponymous  brand uses Portuguese craft production component for her contemporary designs.

Marita Moreno's contemporary shoe designs are infused with Portuguese craftsmanship. 

Moreno's unique and distinctive ranges are produced in small quantities and she takes pride in using mainly natural materials in her designs, from wool and leather to cotton, silk and cork, all enhanced by Portuguese craftsmanship.
Another new Portuguese shoe brand is 7hills which features motifs taken from Portuguese ceramic tiles. The designs also feature influences from dancing shoes such as little ballerina bows and satin ribbons as shoe laces.

The brand's first capsule collection is called “Shall we dance?”, in leather of grey, pink and burgundy.  A couple of ballerina slippers even feature tulle netting at the back like a ballerina's tutu skirt.
All pictures by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.