Bethan Grey featuring new designs during Milan Fashion Week 2022

There's no stopping British interior, furniture and product designer Bethan Gray who is going from strength to strength.  

From June 7 - 12 2022 at Salone del Mobile 2022 during Milan Design Week, Bethan invites visitors to immerse themselves into an enveloping "Inky Dhow" universe, where an installation of furniture, textiles, rugs, hand blown glass and ceramics, will be on show at Rosanna Orlandi’s eponymous gallery in Milan’s Magenta district.  It is deemed to excite and entice all the senses while demonstrating the exquisite craftsmanship and innovative techniques imbued into every piece Bethan designs. 

"Inky Dhow" is an evolution of the original ‘Dhow’ drawing Bethan first made while on a trip to Oman, which was then expertly translated into an intricate marquetry pattern by Muscat-based master craftsman Mohammad Reza Shamsian and his team of highly skilled artisans, using 16th century marquetry techniques combined with cutting-edge technology, for application across a range of cabinetry. 

The pattern – inspired by the billowing movement of the striped sails on the dhow boats sailing in the Gulf of Oman out to the Arabian Sea – took another turn when Bethan projected it across a staircase for a project with Christie's in London. 

Enamored with the way the lines appeared thicker, reverberating up and down the stairs, Bethan decided to explore the Dhow pattern on a larger scale. 

“Using different craft techniques has allowed ‘Inky Dhow’ to grow into many things, but the most exciting thing is that while they all work as stand-alone pieces, they also harmonise beautifully together,” Bethan enthuses. 

According to the designer, last year’s lockdown gave her the time to reconnect with the physical, meditative art of making, experimenting with calligraphy brushes, pens, pencils and cobalt-hued ink from which ‘Inky Dhow’ was born. 

These pieces celebrate intricate, time-honoured techniques injected with a fresh, modern edge as executed through Bethan’s unique lens. 

In the collection are rugs produced in partnership with Milan based CC-Tapis. Made from Himalayan wool and pure silk.  The Inky Dhow pattern has been transformed into a hand-knotted rug by Tibetan Artisans who translated the delicate and organic brushstrokes of Bethan knot by knot.

There is a range of vases: Seven Sisters, each of which have been hand thrown by one very talented potter and then each individual vase was hand painted by Bethan herself with an adaptation of her Dhow pattern.  The sizes range from 10cm to 50cm.

Bethan has also collaborated with London-based leather expert Bill Amberg who embraces Bethan's original artworks for his third collection of digitally printed leather hides, for which he is also working with other creatives Kesewa Aboah, Yinka Ilori, Amber Khokhar and Jonathan Saunders.  Excited by its potential for upholstery use, Bethan approached UK's Norfolk-based upholstery manufacturer Coakley & Cox to develop a modular sofa and armchair collection, driven by a need within her own home.

London-based Bethan Gray is one of the UK’s most celebrated furniture and homeware designers, having been awarded three Elle Decoration British Design Awards, including the coveted Best British Designer and The Best British Tableware Designer. In partnership with local artisans, GGray’s luxury handcrafted collections of furniture and home accessories are sold through global retailers such as Harrods, Liberty and Lane Crawford, and also available directly.

All images courtesy Bethan Grey.

Clerkenwell Design Week welcomes creatives back to London May 24 - 26

Clerkenwell Design Week is returning to London May 24 - 26 2022, featuring a number of activities and events dotted across EC1, in the creative district of Clerkenwell, showcasing a curated mix of leading design and product brands and emerging talent covering furniture, lighting, textiles, surfaces, accessories and product design from around the world. 

There are more than 400 events taking place throughout the festival, plus 150+ resident showrooms and 10 exhibition venues to explore. One can also listen in on topical talks at Conversations which opens with leading British Designer Tom Dixon.  From workshops to product launches and parties, with activities and networking opportunities in London’s creative heart.

To discover CDW’s programme of specially curated events, lick HERE.

Digital and Physical Denim Week by Première Vision is held in Berlin this May

 

Textile trade fair Première Vision's DIGITAL DENIM WEEK (which started on May 16 and closing on May 20) welcomes professionals in the garment and textiles industry interested in sourcing, networking,  understanding trend analyses and keeping updated on the industry's sustainable advances for Autumn Winter 23-24.

Programme scheduled includes a Denim Smart Talk  on sustainable denim trends for Autumn-Winter 23-24 with Manon Mangin, Denim fashion specialist at Première Vision along with Marina Coutelan, Consultant specialized in eco-responsible fashion, and Conversations in the Denim Fashion District with industry influential professionals, such as Jonathan Christopher the Dutch menswear designer on E-motion; In-motion.

Click HERE for the full programme.

Meanwhile, the PHYSICAL EDITION of PV Denim is held in the Arena Berlin on Tuesday May 17 and Wednesday May 18, featuring 83 denim exhibitors: including Advance Denim, Akkus Tekstil, Azgard9, Berto Industria Tessile, Bossa, Cadica Group, Calik, Fec*Serilabel di Facchinetti, Isko, Iskur Denim, Island Denim, Kassim, Kilim, Komet Metal, Kurabo, Kuroki, Maritas, Naveena, NDL, Orta, Pacific Jeans, Panama Trimmings, Polsan Button, Prosperity Textile, Rajby, Sharabati Denim, Soorty... And more!

At the venue, welcome team members are sporting the new Denim PV Berlin uniform: Fade out Label x Alessio Berto.

The uniform is the result of a one-of-a-kind collaboration.  It was "imagined" by Andrea Bonfini, owner of Fade Out Label,  made with pattern by the master  Alessio Berto at The Tailor Pattern Support and produced by Fashionart with Calik Denim and labels by the Cadica Group.

Andrea Bonfini is the founder and designer behind the Berlin-based unisex denim label FADE OUT. Committed to a sustainable and timeless approach in design, Andrea works primarily with denim bought at charity stores that he then deconstructs and reassembles to create new and unique hand-crafted silhouettes using patchwork and dyeing techniques.

PV Denim photo.

PV Denim Fashion District at Denim PV Berlin welcomes brands and designers at the Arena Berlin

As a first for Denim Première Vision, the Denim Fashion District (designed in collaboration with the Art Practice FLMRS) plays host to 10 ready-to-wear and accessories brands that specialize in denim.  

New capsule collections, produced with the materials and know-how of Denim Première Vision exhibitors, will be presented by each brand in their space, in addition to products from their usual collections. These exclusive creations will then be incorporated into their future collections.

This unique project highlights one of the show’s greatest strengths, with the aim of generating meetings and business opportunities within the denim communities. The link between the brands and the industry, a place for research, development, culture and inspiration.

All photos and imges from PVDenim

Gucci X adidas launching in June

 Gucci has collaborated with adidas on a kaleidoscopic aesthetics collection. 

Image: adidas by Carlijn Jacobs

Combining their heritage and creative codes, the adidas x Gucci collection will be available on 7 June at adidas.co.uk, and notably at select Gucci stores, Gucci.com, the Adidas Confirmed app and at dedicated pop-ups.

Expect to find the signature three stripe and trefoil motifs of adidas being worked into the designs of Alessandro Michele, Gucci's fashion director.

The collection encompasses a wide range of products, from ready-to-wear, track pants and sporty polos to bags, footwear and accessories, including a golf bag.  Gucci recently revealed the collection on the catwalk during Milan Fashion Week in February.  The signature tracksuit is deemed to be worn in multiple mix-and-match options, featuring shorts and jogger pants for women, while men will be sporting flared pants and a bowling shirt.

London's King’s Cross reveals partnership with Graduate Fashion Foundation

London's popular destination for lifestyle and fashion retail - King’s Cross - has announced the return of its hugely successful market concept, The Drops at Coal Drops Yard, this year with a new partnership with Graduate Fashion Foundation. 

The 2022 market series, which began on 5-7 May and will run monthly until September, will see an exciting line-up of emerging designers showcasing and selling their designs at the independent, design-led market – and for the first time, they’ll be joined by five graduate designers some who’ve never presented their designs on a public stage before. 

The monthly market is already becoming a well-regarded retail space for promising designers, cult brands and established labels and this year will see up to 40 fashion and homewares stalls each month. 

The monthly three-day event, curated by design studio HemingwayDesign, will be a showcase of quality and creativity in fashion, homewares and lifestyle, handpicked by Wayne Hemingway and his team and positioned in the open spaces of King’s Cross.

The five graduate designers will be supported by Graduate Fashion Foundation with a sponsored stand, branding, signage and mentoring from the charity. They are Max Alexander with his contemporary streetwear brand, BRYDER; Mariah Esa, a responsible designer who repurposes waste from the fast fashion industry; Jennifer Healy with her luxury, British-made, slow fashion brand, Peach Eyes; Sarah Thompson with her north-east England inspired brand, TOM-O; and Donnel Chavunduka with his sustainable and organic, gender-neutral brand, Geminii Studios.

Michael Kors collaborates with luxe Italian sportswear brand Ellesse

American luxury fashion brand Michael Kors has collaborated with luxe Italian sportswear brand ellesse on a ‘70s inspired collection. 

Fronted by model Emily Ratajkowski, Brooklyn-based rap musician Jay Critch and an uber-cool cast of musicians, models and multihyphenates, the collection's vibrant, sporty and glamorous designs are brought to life through a transportive campaign. The campaign was shot in Miami by renowned fashion photographer Lachlan Bailey and styled by Mel Ottenberg, editor-in-chief of cult pop magazine Interview.

Launching in May, the Michael Kors x ellesse capsule offers a luxurious and modern take on retro athleisure. The 24-piece capsule collection is emblazoned with a one-of-a-kind insignia that fuses Michael Kors' iconic logo with ellesse's tennis-and-ski-inspired one. A waved pattern featuring the Michael Kors x ellesse emblem can be found on the bags and accessories of the lifestyle collection.

Adding another fresh design twist, ellesse's signature colour palette of fiery oranges and reds is juxtaposed with classic shades of navy blue and crisp white. The bold track jackets and pants, vintage-style swimsuits and playful patterns, chunky sneakers, logo slides and neon bucket hats celebrate a modern take on classic styles. 

The collection is available on MichaelKors.com

Artefact - Contemporary Craft Fair 10 - 15 May in London Chelsea Harbour

Artefact returns to Design Centre, in London's Chelsea Harbour for its second edition from 10 to 15 May.

Photo from Artefact website.

The Contemporary Craft Fair will shine a light on artisanal excellence, featuring an array of unique work, including museum-quality pieces, one-of-a-kind handmade objects and designs, conceived and made by artists from around the globe.

Attracting top designers, architects, collectors and enthusiasts to experience the joy that handmade objects can bring, Artefact will be staged in the Design Avenue. 

Throughout the week, there will be a curated programme, maker trails and gallery tours, and artisan demonstrations.  Tickets and full details available on the Artefact website.