14 November, 2022

On my radar: Abask, your new design destination

Heads-up: there’s a fab new e-commerce platform getting a lot of attention right now.

As fashion and beauty online retail have become saturated, as well as an overall fatigue with trends in consuming, it makes sense that some are shifting interests to interiors, a somewhat slower pace of taste signalling – for now.

Abask is the brainchild of Matchesfashion co-founder Tom Chapman and former ecommerce director Nicolas Pickaerts. Its premise is room-themed edits of lovingly-crafted artisanal pieces – whether new, vintage or antique. I’m all about the Study*, where desk-destined Murano glass paperweights* sit alongside Carl Auböck brass knick-knacks* and exquisite vintage fountain pens*. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 2 Comments Brands, Design, Designers, News, Online shopping, Retail concepts, Trends Abask, Carl Auböck, Couturelab, craft, design, Gio Ponti, retail concepts, The Garnered, The New Craftsmen

13 November, 2019

Slow beauty: Perfumer H

Perfumer H The Garnered

It’s been great seeing the slow, steady development of Lyn Harris’s Perfumer H brand. She likes to keep things manageable, working with select partners to sell her candles and exquisite natural perfumes.

Marmalade is still my number one favourite autumn candle smell and you can now buy these beautiful Michael Ruh jewel-coloured glass vessels from the brilliant craft-focused etailer, The Garnered, which ships internationally. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 2 Comments Beauty, Brands, Business of fashion, Design, News, Online shopping, Retail concepts beauty, fragrance, Lyn Harris, Michael Ruh, Perfumer H, The Garnered

8 May, 2019

London Craft Week 2019 is here

Pringle of Scotland London Craft Week 2019

I know this is a terrible thing to say, but there’s too much good stuff on right now. I just caught the last day of Diane Arbus at The Hayward (brilliant). Just missed Don McCullin at the Tate (gutted). And now London Craft Week has snuck up on me and I’m nowhere near ready for it.

London Craft Week is now in its fifth year, a festival of all things artisanal and considered, with the additional backing of some heavyweight sponsors including Dunhill and Purdey to give it that extra push. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Brands, Events, News Celia Pym, Couverture & The Garbstore, craft, Dunhill, events, Loewe, London Craft Week, Pringle of Scotland, The Conran Shop, The Garnered, Toast

10 June, 2017

Yes, it’s Father’s Day next weekend

Sofia and francis Ford Coppola by Bruce Weber for Vanity Fair

Dads are supposed to be a nightmare to buy for but it seems like there are so many more options of ‘good design’ these days. Maybe it’s to do with the advent of online (although, come on, ecommerce has existed for nearly 20 years now) that means the good stuff is more easily accessible. Let’s just say Mr Porter has a lot to answer for. (more…)