Brands

Dark and lovely



I’m not a great fan of faded denim. Given the choice, I prefer my jeans stiff, dark and densely pigmented. And as traditional faux-fading processes are found to be harmful to their makers and the environment, fashion is finally catching up with me.

One of the suggestions Levi’s makes is to wash jeans less, using only cold water. Funnily enough, this is something I’ve done for years. Using only a tiny bit of detergent, I soak jeans in a bucket of water then rinse, roll in a towel and dry flat. But mostly I try to avoid washing them at all, which is obviously much easier if they’re dark to start with (yeah, it helps if you’re a bit of a scruff).

As it happens, my favourite inky-hued jeans are back online at Netaporter.com. I have these Levi’s Made & Crafted chino jeans already in indigo and khaki but will be buying another pair of the indigo as I wear mine a lot. If you want a dark wash jean that’s versatile enough to wear all year round (day to night, dressed up or down, yada yada) then I’d thoroughly recommend these…

Buy Levi’s Made & Crafted jeans at Netaporter.com



Peroni Collaborazioni – the final!



Oh looky, the final video is up! You can get a proper look at all our projects, from Emily and Jessica’s bell-watch-ring creation, to Susie and Maarten’s fab frilly shirting, to mine and Shaun’s devore extravanganza…

The comments from the designers in this video are quite insightful as I really only saw this whole project from my own point of view. I guess when you’re starting out on your own as an independent designer it is a bit isolating, especially going from the security of education where you have your tutors’ and peers’ support and feedback to having to find your own way and trust your own instincts and judgement.

That said, these guys are all doing pretty damn well. I can’t reveal much here because it’s not my story to tell, but my collaborator Shaun Samson did give me some hints of interested buyers and brands who are either hoping to stock his collection or work with him in other ways. There were definitely some impressive names and I’ll be watching his progress in 2012 very closely indeed…



Elton John’s Prism glasses



Oh to have been a fly on the wall in Anna Laub’s meeting with Elton John! The Prism eyewear designer was commissioned to hand make some bespoke glasses for Elton’s Vegas shows. Who else would have their name spelt out in disco crystals?

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