Max Jenny - Creating colour for a rainy day.

Max Jenny
Autumn Winter 2014
"we love colours and we just love what we do"

I love Winter!  Crisp cold days.  Snow.  Clear skies.  Rosy cheeks.  Layers of cosy clothes.

However, I am not loving this Winter.  Damp days. Rain. Rain. More rain. Grey mornings.  Grey afternoons.  Grey skies.  Grey faces hidden below dark umbrellas.

I'm sure you'll agree, what we need in the UK right now is an injection of colour to help us through this unusually wet and colourless season.  -and here it is.  Courtesy of Max Jenny.

Swedish/Danish designer Maxjenny Forslund, creates large scale, boldly coloured patterns to produce one-off pieces using rainproof and protective recycled fabric.  Max Jenny collections include clothes, functional outerwear, hats, bags and umbrellas.

I have had the pleasure of meeting Maxjenny, whose colourful, positive and exuberant personality is infectious.  Her designs are a true reflection of her.  Maxjenny! pushes fashion for rainy days just a little bit further.

CAN light chandelier by Willem Heefer

CAN light chandelier by Willem Heefer
for Midhill diner, Helsinki, Finland.

Image via dutch DZINE

 Innovative, effective and sustainable product design by Willem Heefer.  

Catering sized Heinz baked bean cans were saved from the waste bins of restaurants and cafes to be transformed into industrial light fittings at Midhill diner in Helsinki, Finland.

The results are stunning with a touch of fun.

CAN light chandelier by Willem Heefer
for Midhill diner, Helsinki, Finland.

Image via dutch DZINE

Vintage window shopping - San Francisco

Vintage window shopping.
San Francisco.

Image by ReDesign for Life

OPTICS and distressed silver leather from Christopher Raeburn

Christopher Raeburn
Animal mascot bags - AW13 womenswear collection.
www.christopherraeburn.co.uk

These fabulous animal mascot bags, made from distressed silver leather,  are part of Christopher Raeburn's AW13 womenswear collection, OPTICS.

Back in February, I mentioned Raeburn's AW13 collection being one of my London Fashion Week highlights.  The collection has now launched online www.christopherraeburn.co.uk

Christopher Raeburn - AW13
Lace Wool Bomber

Christopher Raeburn - AW13
Funnel Neck Dress

Christopher Raeburn - AW13
Wool T.Shirt Dress

Margrethe-Skolen at Copenhagen Fashion Week

Margrethe-Skolen
SS13

Copenhagen based fashion school, Margrethe Skolen has a creative approach to design education.  The school's strength is it's philosophy to challenge students to go beyond their design comfort zone, to re-think the use of materials, to create new silhouettes and colour combinations.  

Margrethe Skolen's aim is to develop students' originality, individuality and innovative designs.  All of which was evident in the school's off-schedule catwalk show at Copenhagen Fashion Week.  With previous graduates including Susanne Rutzou, Sand, Bitte Kai Rand and Margit Brandt, I am sure this year's graduates are destined for great recognition on the international fashion scene.

Margrethe-Skolen
SS13

Margrethe-Skolen
SS13

Margrethe-Skolen
SS13

Margrethe-Skolen
SS13

Margrethe-Skolen
SS13

Margrethe-Skolen
SS13

Designers' Nest at Copenhagen Fashion Week

Mathilde Maalouf
SS14 Winner - Designers' Nest Award
VISION - Copenhagen 

Designers' Nest Show and Award was created as an international platform to promote and expose the talent of up-and-coming Scandinavian design graduates.  The Scandinavian students are given the opportunity to  present their collections to international buyers, designers, media and trendsetters visiting CPH Vision fashion fair, held twice a year during Copenhagen Fashion Week. 

This season's award was presented to Mathilde Maalouf of Kolding School of Design.

I love Maalouf's use of bold contrasting colour combined with minimal detail and off-the-body silhouettes.  A creative, contemporary yet commercial collection.

Mathilde Maalouf
SS14 Collection
Desingers' Nest Show - Copenhagen

The judges awarded the 1st runner up place to Catherine Bjerre.  My own favourite piece from this collection is the cut-about striped outfit, below centre.

Catherine Bjerre
SS14 Collection
Designers' Nest Show - Copenhagen

The 2nd runner up was Nilhan Johansen from Oslo National Academy of the Arts.  A collection that cannot fail to make an impact.  I love the strength of the monochromatic palette, the oversized slogans and clever play on the sweatshirt.  Fabulous collection!

Nilhan Johansen
SS14 Collection
Designers' Nest Show - Copenhagen

In addition to the winners, I would like to give a mention to three designers who caught my attention:  Huang ting Yun, Naemi Gustavsson and Signe Rode Rio.  Each designers' collection had individual outfits that I wanted to share in this post.

Huang Ting Yun - Naemi Gustavsson - Signe Rode Rio
SS14 Collections
Designers' Nest Show - Copenhagen

Vintage haberdashery at Portobello

Vintage Haberdashery
Portobello Market

Image by ReDesign for Life

A bright Sunday morning.  A casual mooch along Portobello Road.  A delve into vintage haberdashery.  Ideas materialising in my mind.

Vintage Haberdashery
Portobello Market

Image by ReDesign for Life

Vintage Haberdashery
Portobello Market

Image by ReDesign for Life