Andrew Bunney has done the seemingly impossible. That is, take a corporate, uncool brand, (albeit with a killer heritage) and turn out a highly desirable line of product. The result is Roundel, a collaboration with the London Underground, that presents T-shirts, jackets, shirts and even trainers as graphic product that will be as at home on the backs of tourists and cityproud Londoners as design-conscious youth. Bravo Mr Bunney! (more…)
Only two more sleeps til the first episode of Liberty Of London, the three-part documentary about the London store. These sorts of programmes and films around fashionable institutions are proving quite the marketing success story. See Vogue and The September Issue for one example, Inside Claridges for another and Scatter My Ashes At Bergdorf’s for yet another.
Liberty is a British national treasure and we know the Americans love all that stuff. So what better than a behind-the-scenes look at the (slightly eccentric) Brit department store run by a charismatic American (hello Ed Burstell) and featuring a host of highly watchable characters to sell the magic worldwide?
The one hour episodes follow the Liberty team in the run-up to Christmas, taking in fashion week, celebrity visits, plus all the usual hubbub that goes on in fashion retail. Watch out for adorable events and team coordinator Louis Matthewman who I think is going to steal hearts with his dapper suits and bow ties, and publisher Felix Dennis who treats Liberty as ‘his corner shop’.
Liberty Of London airs on Monday night on Channel 4 at 9pm
Is this the ultimate in upcycling? For the next eight days, you might get a shock if you amble into Hermes’ New Bond Street store for a silk tie or scarf. The entire ground floor has been hijacked by ‘Petit h’, the luxe, upcycling arm of Hermes, for a unique selling exhibition. (more…)
Are fancy scented candles passé ? I hope not ‘cos I’m still not quite done with them. In particluar Astier de Villatte‘s which come in paper-thin ceramic pots, available from Liberty, Designers Guild, The Conran Shop and Couverture.
Two notable ones are collaborations. The latest (above) is from John Derian, the New York decoupagist. His Provincetown candle is a tribute to the Cape Cod artists’ enclave and gives off an evocative whiff of sea mist, cedar and wild berries inspired by the local marshlands. Perfect for the weekend cottage (real or imaginary) mantlepiece, no?
The other collab is the Commune De Paris candle (below) that came out last year. I’ve been consumed with this cube pattern for months (I want my bathroom tiled in it) – especially the Gallic colourway. All Astier de Villatte’s candles are Paris-made from vegetable wax with cotton wicks and are based on olfactory journeys to faraway places. One for the self-gifting pile, I’d say…
