So after months of debating, I’m currently sat on an island soaking in the sun thinking about what has been holding me back. The short answer is ‘Nothing but Myself’. So having gotten over this it’s time for me to let the world know that there is a lot in store for the road ahead.
First on the agenda will be the launch of our new range, expect more details over the coming weeks, but for now here is a sneak peak of one of our new hoodies.
As always all feedback is welcome.
So you’ve probably seen me out and about rocking their garments over the summer, I finally managed to get some time in with the name behind the brand.
D’Trois is a high end European menswear brand founded by Daniel Deacon. The name D’Trois means ‘of 3’ in the French language, it came about from Daniel, his brother and his sister all 3 of their names beginning with D so it was naturally fitting.
They stock everything from your basic tees, intricate prints to velvet studded hoodies.
What is the inspiration behind the range?
The inspiration behind the brand came from me going through a phase of not liking anything that I was seeing in stores of any affordability and one summer I had an idea for a T-Shirt, I knew a local printer so I took my idea to him and he brought it to life for me. The feeling I had when I wore the T-Shirt and the compliments I received on it made me feel proud and happy and I just want to repeat that feeling in every design I create.
What does your brand represent in your eyes?
In my eyes D’Trois represents the fact that fashion isn’t just about following trends it’s about feeling good and comfortable in what you wear, the brand represents you as an individual. New rules.
What is your is your signature/favourite piece from the range?
My signature piece from the range would have to be the velvet stud hoodie, because that is the piece that caught people’s attention and let them actually know that D’Trois is a real brand.
What struggles do/did you face when creating all your range?
There are always barriers in whatever you do it’s just up to you to overcome them. Some of the struggles I faced when creating is that some of the designs weren’t very technical when it came to manufacturing. So ideas had to be altered in order for it to be produced.
What do you enjoy most about designing your range?
What I enjoy most about designing my range is seeing where my imagination can take me from just having a thought, feeling a certain way or just even seeing something i.e. a picture or view etc.
Do you have any advice for upcoming/emerging designers?
The one piece of advice I have for any new designers building a brand is don’t feel like you need to rush it take time to get everything correct and it will all come together.
Sum up what it takes to design a range in one word?
Determination
Define your range in 3 words?
Individuality, meaningful and diverse
What does the future hold for D’Trois?
In the future expect to see D’Trois in a few stores across the nation and a few more exciting collections and collaborations. I’ve got some projects in the pipeline but I don’t want to say too much just yet you just got to keep following us and wait and see.
You can purchase the above items plus much more form their online store. Click here
Be sure to also follow them on Twitter and Instagram and keep up to date to with the latest news & latest releases.
Keep an eye out for this guy as I am sure he is gonna blow up..
So it appears summer is coming to an end. Days are getting shorter, nights are getting colder and the sun is doing nothing but waving goodbye.
Met this lovely young lady a few months back and we got to talking and she mentioned she designed her own sheepskin range.
With winter coming up I thought it would be the perfect time to showcase her talent.
‘by Sikora’ was born by heritage of its founder (half English Half Polish) along with the combination of the formidable appeal of Rural Britain and the little known Rural Poland. Add to that a real concern about waste. (They wondered what happens to most of the skins from lots of lovely woolly sheep when they are killed for meat. They found out – not very much!)
‘by Sikora’ sell high quality sheepskin slippers for those who like life to be a little less pedestrian! Their products, which are made from British sheepskins and made in Poland, not only look great but also do the job and most importantly bring a smile to your face. At present, they make a point of using small producers in rural communities in order that their business supports the core of the production process. They hope that this is something they can develop further as they grow.
Some comparisons are likely to be drawn against the infamous UGG brand, but there are some noticeable differences:
Firstly all production is kept within the EU, Secondly they always strive to use british sheepskin across their full range of products. Finally, they have tried to add a twist to alll their designs so that they are not just another sheepskin product. This is usually done through embelishing the product in some way (embossing, bows etc..)
One thing for sure is that customers will look unique and stand out with every one of their products, which is definitely something to get excited about.
I was also able to ask Johanna a few questions about her range and plans for the future. Enjoy:
What is the inspiration behind the range?
To be honest, probably just sheer bloody mindedness. I wanted to create something with a twist, something a little less pedestrian and so ran with it- possibly a little too far! The inspiration stemmed initially from the traditional mountain slippers we sell, the colours, the different elements all coming together with the ethnic twist.
What is your signature/favourite piece from the range?
The favourite piece would have to be the own designed FFY slipper. It’s cheeky and versatile- I couldn’t wait to get a pair on my feet! It was deigned to be fun and fluffy but was quickly adapted to provide a more luxe option (braided with ribbon) for those who are slightly more adventurous! They’re so incredibly soft.
What struggles do/did you face when creating all your products?
Communication! Our products are all made in Poland using British sheepskin. We chose Poland, partly for heritage but partly to allow the product to be of high quality but at a reasonable price, whilst keeping production within the EU. Coming from a rural background here in the UK, we were keen to support rural producers in Poland but this meant that the further we went, the less common English speaking was. Fortunately, my aunt is Polish speaking and has helped us out massively. We did look into an all British production system- British skins, British production. It wasn’t achievable for us in the short term but it is something that we would look to develop in the future.
What do you enjoy most about being a designing your range?
Our range is a combination of own design products and the long standing traditional mountain slippers. I love seeing how ideas develop. It’s always great to see these products for the first time and be able to trial run them before anyone else! I also love traveling to different places to get inspiration for products, travel is undoubtedly the best way to see new things.
Do you have any advice for upcoming/emerging designers?
Just keep going! Believe absolutely in your products/designs.
If you could sum up what it takes to design a range in one word what would it be?
Focus
What does the future hold for ‘by Sikora’?
We want to go big! In the short term it’s about building that raving fan base- getting out there and showing off our fabulous slippers! We’re also looking at pitching to stores, both independent and department and are welcome to suggestions! We’ve got so many ideas but it’s one step at a time.
They have also released their awesome new accessories range, some snapshots below:
So with winter just around the corner any one of their products would make a great gift. All items can be purchased at the following link. Click here
If you are an up & coming and emerging designer this is definitely something of note and should be worth considering.
Do you have a unique and innovative product you dream of seeing stocked on the renowned shelves of Liberty?
Join us at the next Liberty British Design Open Call to present your designs to our expert panel of judges, and it may just become a reality.
In a continual bid to recognise and support new and emerging design talent, Liberty is hosting its 6th British Design Open Call on Saturday 30th August 2014. This is a unique opportunity to present products directly to Liberty’s Managing Director, Ed Burstell, his esteemed buying team and industry experts – including top names from press and fashion retail.
But don’t expect a Dragon’s Den – rather a chance for new and established designers to receive considered and helpful advice from experts on how to nurture and develop your ideas. The best designers selected by the judges will get the chance to have their products sold at Liberty, a name synonymous with the very best of new design since its doors first opened in 1875.
To attend this year’s British Design Open Call please email opencall@liberty.co.uk with the following information:
Please make sure your email is no more than 5MB in size.
Please note, you will need to present a finished product to the judging panel on the day.
A confirmation email containing all details for the day will be sent within 48 hours of registration.
Please note, this year’s British Design Open Call will be filmed by Rize USA makers of Channel 4’s Liberty of London. If you do not wish to be filmed, please specify this in your registration email.
Taking a break from the future of fashion to quickly revel in the past & present.
I was seriously feeling the Monday blues, so I said to myself “What can one possibly do to shake this funk?”
A few weeks ago I came across an exhibition that was showing at Somerset house called ‘Return of the Rudeboy’ and being the culture seeker that I am I felt this would be a good time as any to go and check it out.
I can safely say I was not disappointed and left enriched with culture and inspiration from what I had seen.
For those of you that do not know about the Rudeboy scene, Rudeboy is a slang term that originated in 1960s Jamaican street culture, and which are still used today. In the late 1970s, the 2 Tone ska revival in England saw the terms rude boy and rude girl, among other variations, being used to describe fans of that genre. Rudeboy or Rudegirl are not purely defined by the way that they dress, the way they style their hair or even the way that they dance. There is so much more and you will get a feel for all of it here.
The exhibition was put together by prolific photographer and filmmaker Dean Chalkley and fashion-industry creative director Harris Elliott.
It highlights the rich heritage of the Rudeboy culture. All images were taken over the last year, and none of the individuals were actually styled. What you see is how they style and live their lives today.
The outfits are extremely well put together and it shows the level of creativity that this culture has impacted fashion to date.
The exhibition will also host a pop-up ‘grooming station’ on Thursdays and Saturdays as well talks, films and guided tours.
I don’t want to reveal everything, but if you get a chance definitely head down and take a look and I promise you will not be disappointed.
It is free admission and it runs until the 25th of August.
More images can be found on my Facebook page. Click here
I was invited down to the JOY stores AW14 press event yesterday.
It was great to see familiar faces and the exciting new ranges the have on show.
I had the pleasure of having a sneak peak for their upcoming releases HYMN, Louche and Joy & Happiness.
This time around HYMN has more of a grown up feel, you can tell the designer has really but some thought into what the customer wants.
With a classic look and feel products are based on celebrities and popular movies.
I overheard a great quote while I was there “it’s like Urban outfitters, but better” Make of it what you want but I am in total agreement.
With focus on strong prints and patterns, great textures and engaging colours the women’s range is definitely something of note.
I for one loved the tartan jacket and can see this being a very popular item from the range.
Finally they there was gifts and accessories. From ‘Man flu survival kit’, Books, handbags, coaster and tea strainers there is certainly something for everyone.
Launch is likely to be scheduled for around September, but keep coming back here for updates and links.
All photos from the event can be found on my Facebook page. Click here
This has actually taken longer than expected……I found myself at the HYMN London launch party a few months ago just after I got the initial idea for my blog. Determined to ensure this range was to become one that I would showcase I started talking to everyone I could. I finally met the press officer for Joy stores and both her and a colleague have been excellent ever since.
Joy stores never really had a standout men’s range, but with Hymn the tides are definitely changing.
They have created a range with a premium feel at more affordable prices.
It’s classic with interesting detail, mainly seen in the buttons and stitching.
I was able to get all sides as to what it took to get to that faithful launch event.
Enjoy the read…….
For those aspiring designers out there i was able to get some very valuable insight from Dylan who’s is a buyer for JOY Stores & Katy who actually designed the range.
Dylan – Buyer
For those not in the know, can you give a quick summary of what fashion buying entails?
The most important thing is to buy with your customer in mind – it means spending time in your own stores, in order to understand your customer’s shopping habits. A great deal of time is spent monitoring sales data to see the reaction to the latest styles and catering the brand mix accordingly, but occasionally you need to have the confidence to take a risk and try something new which you hope will appeal to your customer base.
What do you look for when picking up a new designer/piece?
One tries to find a balance between a brand that complements the range that we have in store, but which also has a consistent point of difference so that it will stand out and draw customers in.
What do you feel is required to become a successful fashion designer?
Creative flair, organisation, a keen eye for detail and lots of elbow grease!
What is your favourite piece from the collection?
I love Stites, it’s a chambray one pocket shirt in a deep indigo wash, with a fantastic fit.
Do you have any advice for all the up and coming talent out there?
Identify stores that your brand will sit well in; try and build a relationship with buyers so that they’re willing to give you a chance and don’t give up!
Katy – Designer
What made you decide to go into fashion design?
As a teenager I liked the idea of boys clothes on girls. As I grew I started to design clothes for myself but on men. I still do that today.
What is the inspiration behind your current range?
Everything nautical. Starting a new brand called out for a classic theme.
What is your is your signature/favourite piece from the current range?
The Donald jacket. I love the fabric with the contrast colour coating. It’s by far the easiest piece in the collection to wear and carry around.
What struggles do/did you face as an upcoming designer?
Acceptance
What do you enjoy most about being a designer?
That feeling when an idea pops in to your head and you run with it and it works. Best feeling in the world.
Do you have any advice for upcoming/emerging designers?
Stay true to your style. Obviously you need to be flexible and design for your customer, but you need to be passionate about the product your designing. Also don’t turn your nose up at designing for a supplier. This is where I learnt my most valuable design knowledge, and it makes you super organised.
If you could sum up what it takes to make it in fashion design in one word what would it be?
Determination
What does the future hold for Katy?
Hopefully growth and stronger collections at HYMN. And a lottery win.
JOY Stores are currently stocking the range, and it can be found here.
New season has just been released, photos to follow.
So I hear its almost summer time in London. Everybody is harbouring thoughts of putting the winter wardrobe away and getting out the t-shirts, shorts & flip flops. Don’t even get me started on the holiday season……
For those of you as excited as me to finally get some consistent sunshine, you definitely need to check out Crown Rose.
Crown Rose UK are a London based contemporary Swimwear and Lounge wear brand. They specialise in providing African print Swimwear and Lounge wear for both Women & Men. The brand was established in early 2013 in an aim to make African traditional prints accessible in a popular and diverse market. The brand represents contemporary style and tradition and produces a range of diverse designs with niche patterned swimwear fabrics.
The name Crown Rose looks to express the strength behind the vision of the brand. It encapsulates royal traditions and the class and flair of contemporary style.
They use traditional prints from both Ghana and Nigeria (Ankara & Kente) are are used to inspire and create patterns which are then transferred onto swimwear suitable fabrics. They have a diverse range of designs to cater to a variety of customers. They also offer a custom range that aims to make each piece as unique and personal as possible to give their customers something that is exclusive to them.
Available sizes: 8 – 16 ‘Aqua De Jewel’
18 – 24 ‘De Arc Range’
Prices: Women £36 – £60.
Men’s Shorts £25.
Men’s Tops £15.
Crown Rose was founded by two young ladies Nikky and Miriam, originally from Nigeria but born and raised in the UK. They combined their love for contemporary swimwear fashion and their cultural backgrounds to create a brand that stands out from anything that is currently available on the market. Through exploring traditional colours, prints and designs from their African heritage, they infused culture and class to create a contemporary yet traditional brand.
I had the pleasure of catching up with Miriam, she explained how all this was born out of one faithful day, watching a creative show(which she does not recall). She claims she is not very creative but Crown Rose proves otherwise. After some research she realised that there was a huge gap in the market and not much competition, so they decided to create something a little different with a African print on trend. As long as it is bright colourful and different she believes it is something that will never go off trend.
They have been getting some amazing coverage including Africa Fashion week & CNN inside Africa.
Here is a link to the Africa Fashion week show.
As with many up & coming designers funding has been and issue, they are currently looking for funding so definitely get out there and support them.
Hopefully once this is secured they can move onto the next phase, luxury lines, Holiday wear, beach wear etc…..
Asked to sum up Crown Rose in one word, she looks at me smiles gently and says “Afro Centric/Afro Temporary”.
If you are as excited as me and can’t wait for the full launch, follow the link to join their mailing list.
As always feedback and comments welcome.
It’s time to have faith in your sole. Awl & Sundry the made-to-order shoemaker finally launches today 24th March.
Who says you can’t get exactly what you want…..If you don’t believe that Awl & Sundry is here to prove otherwise.
Awl & Sundry is a new shoe brand based in New York, which is the first completely customisable made-to-order men’s shoe company.
I had the great pleasure of speaking with Nikunj the founder of Awl & Sundry who believes shoemaking to be an art that requires a certain amount of craftsmanship.
We talk a little about the inspiration behind the company.
This is a man I can tell likes to dress well, coming from the financial services industry he has always prided himself on looking sharp. However he quickly realised there were only 2 types of shoes in the market:
High end bespoke shoes costing upwards of $2000, which as you can imagine, not everyone can afford.
Mass produced brands created on assembly lines, using corrected or flaux leather.
Nikunj then saw an opportunity to bring the customer something in between, which is ‘Bespoke quality products at the price of a mass produced brand’.
A & S uses a process called Handsewn Goodyear Welt.
Please click here for a video link on how the shoes are made.
Awl & Sundry is not only a brand, but a collaborative platform through which individuals build their own brand. They empower guys to express themselves through the medium responsible for 99% of their first impressions, their fresh kicks.
While most shoe companies offer a handful of styles in a few select colours and the “normal” sizes, A & S are one of the pioneers in delivering the offline, made-to-order model, online.
They use cutting-edge 3D modeling, which offers unparalleled customization. Designers, as we like to call our members, can select:
Style (Oxford, Derby, Monks, Loafer)
Shape
Design features (Toe, Vamp, Eyestays, Back)
Shade of leather (29 in all)
Texture of leather (Calf plain, Calf suede, Calf grain, Ostrich, Alligator)
Laces (21 variations)
Stitching colors (21 variations)
With the above options, they have more than 2 billion design permutations in total. Moreover, their model allow their designers to view their personalized shoes in real-time.
There are hundreds of steps that go into crafting the perfect shoe for you, here is a snapshot of just a few:
The shoes generally take 4 weeks to ship, with a 30 day exchange period.
Prices range from about $350 – $1650 depending on the type of leather you choose.
They are currently only available in the US but looking to expand at some point in the future.
So for those of you in the area “What are you waiting for?”
Here’s a link to the Awl & Sundry website, why don’t you take a look and have the possibility of the below:
As always comments and feedback welcome.
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by Sikora- Sheepskin inspired by Heritage www.bysikora.co.uk
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