Menswear is serious business. The UK market grew by 18% between 2008 and 2013, with £12.9 billion of sales (£10.7 billion of which were online) in 2013, against womenswear sales of £24.9 million. Mintel predicts menswear sales will reach £19 billion by 1919, though womenswear sales should be well over £30 billion by then. Which key items […]
The constant stream of new collections presupposes that consumers have an unquenchable desire for something new. In an article earlier this week, BOF (Business of Fashion) considers whether trends are relevant in a world where everyone wants the latest thing now. Seasonal order patterns have changed beyond all recognition, with some designers ditching them altogether, whilst others […]
Contrary to the media portrayal of older people, not all are sitting at home feeling lonely. This is just as well, because according to Age UK, there are now around 14.7 million over-60s in the country – that’s nearly 23% of the population. It is predicted that the number aged 65 and over will rise by […]
We sometimes hear stories of hermits who have been found after years of being hidden away in remote areas or woods. But now there is a new kind of hermit. The outsider hermit could probably afford a house in a more suburban location, but choses to live in an outsider dwelling in a fairly pukka neighbourhood. Think […]
For anyone who didn’t see Valentino’s 2015 resort collection coming (see images below via Style.com), the multicolour mosaic trend has been building up for quite a while now, though most people still seem to be wearing normcore greige. Despite the so-called phenomenon of ‘colour-blocking’ (an opportunity for the style challenged to get away with bizarrely […]
We mentioned this trend a while back. Handcrafted marbling and mosaic effects that have caught our attention encompass clothing, textiles, rugs, tableware and furniture, including: Carpets by Beldi and Boccara. Turned paper vases by Pia Wustenberg and lamps by Becky Creed. Studio Silo plates and textiles by Wendy Tsu. Console table with magnet tiles by […]
As much as people try to be different, they rarely are… but Viktor Wynd is more unusual than most. In a world where little if anything shocks, Wynd’s interests and lifestyle are decidedly odd – sleeping with a pet snake wrapped around his feet, kissing a shrunken head goodnight, and collecting celebrity poo, for heavens […]
Why are women so fascinated by clothes, and how does our relationship with schmutter affect the way we are perceived? Women Fashion Power at London’s Design Museum showcases one outfit from each of twenty-six “exceptional” women. All are leaders in their field and understand that “the clothes they wear are a part of the way that they […]
There’s a saying that ‘nobody watches artists as closely as estate agents.’ Having some art in your street can add a few 000s to your house price. Earlier this week, Moniker Projects held a talk at Shoreditch House on ‘street art and the gentrification of urban communities’. Discussion focused on the role of street artists […]
In our overcrowded cities, where space is in limited supply, small plants make ideal pets – and can help to improve air quality, as part of a sustainable lifestyle. Cacti are perfect, as they don’t need much water and require little looking after. Succulents store water in their swollen leaves, stems or roots, are easy […]