7 minute read
TAKE 5 INDIES
Take 5 independent shops
Our second series of Take Five puts the spotlight on five of Bath’s independent shops, celebrating the big contribution they make to the city’s economy and to the lives of those who live here
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Kimberly
Kimberly in Trim Street, Bath, has stocked some of the world’s finest designers for over 37 years. The shop has established itself as a must-go-to store for everyday wear or for that special occasion. Current designers include Amina Rubinacci, Max Mara Studio, Max Mara Leisure, Boutique Outfit from the Fabiana Filippi collection Moschino, Fabiana Filippi, Schneiders and many more. Kimberly is known for her series of professionally choreographed in-house fashion shows in the store at the beginning of each season – and while these are currently on hold to enable social distancing, her loyal customers continue to visit this glorious hideaway store, exploring the rails and their clusters of rich garments in search of an outfit or single piece that will become a flexible and stylish ally for years to come.
The Italian brand Fabiana Filippi is described as “ proposing an elegance far from uniformity; a sense of timeless beauty meant to be interpreted through the wearer’s personality.” This description is a resonant summary of the Kimberly philosophy, too – classic and unforgettable.
Kimberly selects her stock from designer showrooms, and has an unwavering instinct for the styles and garments her clients will love, but she hasn’t lost her joie de vivre for her design brands and for keeping her customers looking their very best. “The Italians are into sparkle at the minute. So am I! Girls like sparkle!”, she says. So for elegance, timeless beauty and a subtle sparkle, you know where to go. Kimberly is open 10am–5.50pm, Monday to Saturday.
The Silver Shop
This little gem of a shop continues to be one of Bath’s favourite gift and jewellery stores and has been a family-run and independent business for 65 years. You’ll find it tucked away in Union Passage, close to Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths. The shop is a firm favourite with visitors and residents alike and has a reputation for great customer service. Holding Bath’s largest selection of silver jewelle ry with prices ranging from £5 to £500, the staff work hard to source a wide selection of pieces with some ranges, such as their best-selling Daisy Collection of jewellery, handmade by local jewellers.
T he shop forms two parts, the jewellery room, consisting mainly of silver jewellery, and the gift area in the front area of the shop offering a teeming variety of gift ideas or treats. The owners put al l their e fforts into ensuring that the shop retains its traditional feel and offer a friendly, warm and professional service. With a small workshop on site, The Silver Shop offers a charm soldering service for customers, as well as alterations and repairs. Make this your first stop if you’re looking for a gift for someone special or just to treat yourself to something, such as a clock or a candle, a chr istening gift or even a C harlie bear. The Silver Shop is open 9.30am-5pm, Monday to Saturday.
25 Union Passage, Bath BA1 1RD Tel: 01225 464781; thesilvershopofbath.co.uk
Triple Daisy Necklace, £37
1“We stock and import our teas from all over the world and we know our suppliers in person.”
5 great quotes from our indie shops
2“I select all our garments personally and I choose them knowing that they will suit the loyal market who have supported us for so many years.”
3“Our best-selling Daisy Collection is made by a local jeweller – many of our makers are from the region and we take pride in supporting local talent.”
4“Whether it’s a piece of fine jewellery, a watch or a simple repair we endeavour to make your memories last forever.”
5”Our ice dresses are made with ice-dyed fabric, which is dyed in the designer’s back garden – it’s better to do this on cold days because the ice takes more time to melt.”
Teahouse Emporium
When did you last make a cup of tea using loose-leaf tea? The Teahouse Emporium founders and owners Tim and Lenka Stoneham are on a mission to show that loose-leaf tea offers much more than a conventional teabag. Unfortunately, most of the tea bags on the market are made from a mix of paper and plastic and are filled with tea dust or small broken particles of tea leaf called fannings. They believe that loose leaf tea is better value and better for the environment. The Teahouse Emporium offers a wide selection of a different types of tea ranging from black teas, green teas and oolong teas to flavoured and decaffeinated teas, as well as naturally caffeinefree Rooibos, fruit and herbal infusions. You can buy a filter teapot here, but the easiest option for a single cup is an £8.90 stainle ss steel infuser. I tried it with the Earl Grey Imperial and was amazed by the delicate flavour that performed above and beyond my standard teabag. And while the packet price for this tea is £5.20 per 100g it will make up to 50 cups of tea! Their bestselling tea is the single estate Indian Assam Mangalam, a rich and malty tea. The perfect British brew! They also stock a variety of their own-brand handma de artisan hot chocolate including Dark, Chai, Orange, White, Strawberry and Vegan. For coffee lovers there is a choice of single origin and flavoured coffees of which the most popular are the Organic Peruvian and the Belgian Praline. Open from Monday to Saturday, check the opening times on their website.
22a New Bond Street, Bath BA1 1BA Tel: 01225 334402; teahouseemporium.co.uk
Platinum Tanzanite, Aquamarine and Diamond Halo Cluster Ring, £6,750
Mallory
Mallory’s history began in 1898 when Edward Palmer Mallory took over Routley, the jewellers at No. 1 Bridge Street in Bath. Edward and his wife ran the company that would soon forge a reputation as Bath’s premier jeweller. Now in its fifth generation, Mallory is one of t he country’s oldest family-owned and run jewellers. Today it boasts one of the largest in-house workshops in the UK, employing designer goldsmiths trained to the highest calibre, who create the most exquisite bespoke-made jewellery, as well as two fully accredited watchmakers and a technician, who are qualified to maintain the finest of timepieces. Inside the showroom you will find a majestic e mporium of fine and contemporary jewellery, watches, and luxury gifts and accessories from the world’s most exclusive brands. The imposing frontage may look daunting, yet Mallory’s offerings encompass something to suit all pockets, with international names such as Patek Philippe, Rolex, IWC, Fabergé, Pomellato, Chopard, Montblanc, Tag Heuer, Longchamp, Longines, Breitling, JaegerLeCoultre, Georg Jensen, Fope and Mikimoto, and an extensive c ollection of jewellery designed by Mallory. Open 9.30am–5.15pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am–5.30pm Saturday.
Up To Seven
Have you found this beautiful shop on Pulteney Bridge yet? Many of the clothes and accessories sold here – suiting ages up to seven – are designed and handmade in their studio workshop, and cannot be found elsewhere. Up To Seven offers a variety of dresses, reversible dungarees, hand-knitted woollies and the store’s famous and incredibly cute hats; take your pick from strawberry, Christmas pudding and a new dinosaur.
The handmade crafts ethic runs very strong, with artists creating fabrics and making them up into garments and accessories including dresses, trousers and bags. The ice-dyed dress shown here is a wonderful example – the fabric is dyed in the designer’s back garden, using cold dye and plenty of ice, and because the textile is a oneoff, every dress or bag is a unique piece. The longer the ice tak es to melt, the better the effect, owner and knitwear designer Mary Dawson tells me.
To complement Up To Seven’s own ranges, the shop is also a major stockist of Frugi, Kite and Toby Tiger, organic cotton, fairly traded clothes for babies and children and has plenty of of appliqued T-shirts, dresses, hats and baby gifts and dinosaurs.
If you haven’t been in, or if you are looking for a baby gift, a frock for a special occasion or comfy clothes for everyday then pop in to find the perfect solution. Up To Seven is open 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday, and Sunday 10.30am to 4pm. n
