if a city could speak
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Contents The simple Doll - 4 Laura Loves - 6 Where do you want to be? - 9 The young and the old - 10 Mr Birds presents - 12 Structured Lines - 14 Nothing New - 16 Off the wall - 18 A Shoe story - 20 Textile City - 22 What if everyone wore label less clothes - 24 Monsters In the city - 26 Rain Rain - 28 Issue No. 1 | LOUD Magazine | 3
“The woman is the mst perfect doll to dress” - Karl Largafield 4 | LOUD Magazine | Issue No. 1
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Laura Loves W
hy buy something new when you can rework patterns and fabric. The most special thing about this line is what you already have? With a few stitches that they will be all one off pieces! A motto that Laura Loves stick here and there you can have a new outfit to. Also, the one key accessory that Laura believes that should
within minutes without spending a penny! This is the general be in every girls collection is “Brooches as they can change any motto of the company Laura Loves. The sweet, young and outfit”. So listen up Loud readers, if you want to give a piece innovative Birmingham based jewelry designer and owner of clothing some life, just add something as simple as brooch! Laura, describes her brand as “girly, bright and colourful”
Being situated in the artsy area of Digbeth, and being
and this can be clearly seen through out her collections. surrounded by other people within Mr Bird’s, has meant that From studying textile design at Birmingham City University, she has been able to explore more areas within her work and Laura’s passion for recycling and up-cycling material began. is now currently working on a home ware range that will include From what started as hand me downs of material from family items such as bunting and other “bits and pieces” as well members being transformed into cute, unique gifts has now lead as still incorporating her signature style of recycled material. Laura to have her own shop within the store Mr Birds Emporium.
So, if you ever feel like your wardrobe needs updating, Laura
All of her jewellery is made with tender, loving care, but also with a Loves supplies the best in fashion accessories and clothing. sense of uniqueness within every necklace, headband and ring. With precious thought going into every piece of handcrafted Never one to “chase fashion” the young creative sets her item will make anything look good within seconds. Miss own trends by buying one off vintage pieces and custom made the hustle and bustle of the town centre and head down clothing from her good friend Sophie, who owns the company to the Custard Factory, to Mr Birds Emporium to see Laura Pretty Little Poppet which she is also collaborating with on Loves collection in person and meet the designer herself! a clothing collection that will be made out of original vintage 6 | LOUD Magazine | Issue No. 1
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A look into Laura Loves Boutique 8 | LOUD Magazine | Issue No. 1
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M
r Birds Emporium is a store that promotes independent and creative businesses. Sabina, owner and founder of Mr. Birds Emporium aims to offer creative individuals a foot ladder into the industry as well as a fun shopping experience for others. “We lose a lot of talented people from Birmingham to London because there aren’t enough opportunities for them here; I was one of those people years ago. From a creative point of view there are a lot of talented and creative people in Birmingham and if we lose them all to Manchester or London we’ll never have our own creative hub. We wanted to offer something to keep a few creative talented people here.” One of the key features Mr Birds is offering is the Custard Cream on a Saturday, whether you’re a shopper or a seller everyone can benefit. “The doors at the back open up, really it triples the size of the shop for the day, so whereas we’ve got ten permanent traders in here and all the traders across the back [Mr Birds presents] who rent space, we then open up and have a different mix of traders every
Saturday, so you could come down one Saturday, but the nice thing is, if you wanted to come shopping here the next Saturday, you can go into the back and be surprised again because there’s different people every week, and it’s free it’s not like having to pay to get into a big vintage fair or whatever, it’s a free entry, we just want local people to support it and come down.” Traders at the Custard Cream pay a competitive price of £20 for the slot that day and they get the opportunity to sell their products without having to own a store or commit. As well as the Custard Cream, they also offer the chance to rent space towards the back of the main store on a somewhat more permanent basis than the Custard Cream slots. Along the wall of Mr Birds Presents, you’ll often find things such as artwork and posters, jewellery, furniture. Especially interesting things include DIY Jewellery kits, paper jewellery pieces and patterned retro telephones with matching lamps. There are all sorts of unique one-of-akind items to be found there.
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Nothing New “One mans waste is another mans treasure” What is Nothing New offering and what sets you apart from other companies? “Well, as far as I’m aware I’m probably the only company in the uk that’s trying to stop people throwing their clothes away and buying second hand things instead or things I’ve reworked. It’s all about making the most of peoples existing wardrobes, so altering and repairing pieces that you already love and to keep them going, or transforming pieces that you’ve invested in in the past, which may not now suit your style, to then suit your ever evolving personal style. And that’s kind of what I’m offering aswell as my own designs too, so that’s kind of what we’re all about”
What are your views on waste? You promote recycling and reworking tell us a bit about that. “I think it kinda started in the early 1990’s this idea of fast fashion, I thought it was brilliant, I used to throw myself whole heartedly into that, I used to spend all my student loan on crap and things that wouldn’t last two washes from Primark. And then I realised, because I’ve always been interested in the environment in general, and so when I put my fashion into consideration, I thought it was so wasteful, throwing things out all the time. Things wouldn’t even be good enough to go to the charity shop sometimes, because they were such poor quality, that’s what really spurred me on with this belief of trying to change the world, just one little bit at a time. In 2009’s figures there was
over a million tons of textile waste that went to landfill. That’s the most current information I have, because obviously reports like that don’t come out all the time, and I just thought that was horrifying. When some people will throw perfectly good clothing away and don’t even donate it to charity, or think about passing it onto their friends, or maybe having swapping parties where you just bring things you don’t want, one man’s waste is another man’s treasure. And so really just wanting to bring that to the forefront of peoples minds instead of letting it pass by. Imagine a million tons of textiles just being chucked into the ground, it’s just insane”
Do you have any projects lined up? Possible upcoming workshops? “Yes, me and Laura Loves we’re trying to get some permissions and what not all sorted, but yeah we’ve got a workshop plan together based around upcycling textiles. So there’s gonna be all kinds of things in there for complete beginners through to almost experts, we want to kind of be on hand to answer any questions and also talk and go through projects with the first timers as well as people who have done sewing before but may want to get into reworking, which is what I specialise in, to give them more confidence to chop things up and make it what they want instead of being afraid.”
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When observing grand buildings such as The Radison and The Rotunda, there’s a sense of power and seriousness that the architect evokes with it’s design. From the many panes of glass to the cold grey concrete, to the tall stature of the buildings, every part of it’s design screams corporation and intimidation. 22 | LOUD Magazine | Issue No. 1
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