YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO LIFESTYLE, FASHION, GROOMING, ACCESSORIES AND HOME INTERIORS
RAINS
SPECIAL GRANT FROM
COMMENT | 03
Welcome to the inaugural edition of our digital lifestyle supplement, bringing together the very best in grooming, stationery, interiors, wellness and much more. With a growing number of independent retailers realising the potential of expanding their offer further than just apparel, introducing lifestyle products enables you to become a one-stop destination store – as well as potentially attracting a previously untapped
target
consumer.
Combining
the
industry
knowledge of leading sister titles MWB and WWB, we present an interactive showcase of the brands, products and trends to consider for the new season. The MWB & WWB team.
04 | INTERVIEW
WWW.RAINS.COM
INTERVIEW | 05
LET IT RAIN
FOUNDED IN 2012, OUTERWEAR SPECIALIST RAINS HAS MADE WAVES IN BOTH ITS NATIVE DENMARK AND ON AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL WITH ITS FUNCTIONAL YET STYLISH RUBBER RAIN COATS. VICTORIA JACKSON SPEAKS TO TOM BETTINSON, COUNTRY MANAGER FOR THE UK, TO DISCOVER MORE ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF THE BRAND AND WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS. — In the five years since inception, Rains has become incredibly successful, both on a domestic and international basis. Can you tell us a little more about the brains behind the brand? We have three founders – Daniel Brix Hesselager, Philip Lotko and Christian Back – who established the brand with the early initiative to interpret the traditional rubber raincoat in a new, modern way. Today, Rains offers a full line of waterproof outerwear, bags and accessories. How many accounts do you have in the UK? We are currently undertaking some changes in the UK in terms of distribution, having recently taken the sales of the brand in-house. The UK is a very important market for us, and as a result we have invested in a beautiful new office and showroom in Hackney Wick, where we plan to see the majority of our accounts for sales appointments. In terms of current stockists, we have strong wholesale partners such as END, Oi Polloi and Selfridges’ luggage department. What do you think the key is to the success of the brand? The brand has an easy-to-understand concept, a strong brand identity and design language, and makes products at accessible price points. The product evolution into bags and accessories has been extremely popular and we’ve seen great traction over the last couple of seasons, with an equal amount of male and female consumers buying into the brand. How would you describe the typical Rains customer? It’s difficult to describe just one person, as Rains has a very wide customer base. Young and old, living in a small town or a big city. Ultimately, we make lifestyle products rather than performance products, but the Rains man or woman is looking for something functional and stylish. If you could collaborate with any brand or designer, who would it be? We actually have a project with Vans releasing early 2018, so that’s something we’ve been looking forward to. What does the s/s 18 season have in store? The new season features seasonal camouflage and striped prints on a variety of jackets and bag styles. Plus, we have new colourways in the main line, desert and faded blue. We have lots of developments for a/w 18 as well, including new jacket and bag models, two-tone colours and more insulated outerwear options.
LONDON | MANCHESTER | DUBLIN
18–20 February 2018 NEC Birmingham
Apply to exhibit or register for your ticket at moda-uk.co.uk
08 | INTERVIEW
Q&A with Sarah Kauss, founder of S’Well THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF THE FASTEST GROWING FEMALE-OWNED COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES, SARAH KAUSS, TALKS TO MWB ABOUT HER MISSION TO RID THE WORLD OF PLASTIC BOTTLES. — When and why did you launch S’well? It was actually while on vacation in Arizona, a sip of warm water and a conversation on career happiness led to my “aha” moment and the beginning of a business plan for S’well. I had been a user of reusable water bottles since college, but my bottle of choice was more appropriate for camping than the conference room. On that trip, I realized that there was a need for a bottle that was not only functional, but also fashionable, and that I could be the one to bring it to market. I launched S’well in 2010. What was the thought process behind the name choice? S’well is a name with many meanings. It stands for the wholesome goodness of a bygone era and a happiness that comes from a positive experience. It suggests a groundswell of people coming together – in our case, to rid the world of single-use plastic bottles – and the pleasure of simple moments, like watching the swells in the ocean. What makes S’well so unique in the marketplace? The fashionable, unexpected designs and colours of S’well are unique to our brand. In addition, our innovation, process tied to quality and safety, and philanthropic efforts further help to set us apart from the competition. How many designs do you have the in the collection now? We offer more than 200 designs now and our latest collection offered 27.
INTERVIEW | 09
If you could collaborate with one person or brand to create a capsule collection, who would it be? We’d love to partner with Stella McCartney. We love everything she does. Do you still have a hand in the design process? Which is your personal favourite? Yes, I work closely with our creative team to determine new colours, patterns, collaborations and more. Since we operate like a fashion brand, we come out with two collections per year. My personal favourite is our Ocean Blue bottle. This was the first S’well bottle and continues to be one of our best-selling designs. Teakwood is a close second! Who are your designs created for? Who’s your target customer, if you like? We create our designs for a range of different customers who do a wide variety of activities. From someone who’s style conscious and is selective about their accessories, to someone who enjoys physical activity and needs a bottle with texture for a stronger grip. We try to make S’well a brand that everyone can love, whether it is for the design aspect or the opportunity to minimize their environmental footprint. How important has social media been to the growth of the brand? Do you work with influencers? Social media is a key growth driver for S’well. We have a dedicated social media team who create amazing content, and we collaborate with several influencers who are fans of the brand and passionate about what we do. How many stockists do you currently have in the UK? We have approximately 80 accounts, but are sold in over 300 places in the UK market. Some of the top stockists include Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, Liberty and Harrods. Would you consider moving into other areas, such as homeware or fashion? We’re launching new products, in new forms, this fall and are excited about where this will take the brand. What is the best piece of advice you would give someone launching their own brand? Don’t wait for your idea to be fully baked before dedicating time to bring it to life. Focus as much time and energy as you can on making your idea a reality.
www.swellbottle.com
10 | PROFILE
Stripping back Aybury was launched in London back in 2015, with a unique gender-neutral body product line featuring a clean, minimalist style. Working with aromatherapy experts, Aybury sources the finest essential oils from all over the world – mandarin oil from Italy, lime oil from Mexico, geranium oil from Egypt – and then brings it together, creating absolutely original, highquality products. All the brand’s skin care products are SLS, cruelty free and completely manufactured in the UK. When it comes to design, the ethos remains “less is more”, enabling the body to rest and revive, using essential oils, balms and aromas. Aybury is available to buy through Notable Designs.
www.notabledesigns.co.uk
UK Customer Services T: 0141 204 0699 E: fashion@premierfashions.co.uk franklyman.com
12 | PROFILE
Qwstion time
A discovery of MWB’s in Berlin last season, the QWSTION story began in 2008 when cofounder Sebastian Kruit joined forces with Swiss industrial designers Christian Kaegi and Fabrice Aeberhard, graphic designer Matthias Graf and Hannes Schoenegger. The team had all been searching for a bag that closes the gap between functional sports bag and elegant fashion bag. “It might be difficult to reinvent the bag as such, but you can certainly enhance it,” says Kruit. “By questioning the norm and following your vision of improvement, you’ll be able to develop a more refined product. This is precisely our goal with each new piece and we pursue it passionately. We do it by questioning not only the product itself, but also aspects of material, manufacturing, distribution, and branding.” —
www.qwstion.com
Mike Smith E: m.smith@bruno-saint-hilaire.com M: 07831178009
14 | RETAIL PROFILE
STONE’S NEW WILTSHIRE GEM
RETAIL PROFILE | 15
KEVIN STONE, OWNER OF THE STONE AGENCIES, HAS OPENED A NEW LIFESTYLE INDEPENDENT STORE IN WILTSHIRE, CALLED NO59, ALONG WITH HIS WIFE, HILLY. IT’S SOMETHING HE’S BEEN ITCHING TO DO FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AS TOM BOTTOMLEY DISCOVERS. The end of August saw the opening of Kevin Stone’s new clothing, lifestyle and homeware boutique in his adopted home town of Devizes in Wiltshire, called No59, after the shop’s location on Northgate Street. He and his family having been living in a small village nearby for the last 12 years and know it very well. Opening an interesting local independent shop is an idea Stone and his wife, Hilly, have had on a back burner for quite a while, though the timing was never quite right, before now that is. “I first looked at the shop three years ago, and identified it then as the right space,” says Stone. “But we felt that timing wasn’t right in terms of the kids – with GCSEs, A-levels, moving from junior to senior school and so on. But all that’s all now in order, and Hilly wanted a change of career after 10 years in education. The unit became available in January, and we didn’t want to miss out on it.” It’s Hilly who will be running the shop on a daily basis, though Kevin is hands on with customers on the shop floor as and when required. The menswear offer is bought in by Kevin, the womenswear by Hilly, and the rest they buy together. “The shop isn’t about menswear passé,” he says. “It’s more about a curated mix of complimentary products. The clothing products across men’s and women’s are more about ‘evergreens’ than being seasonal. “We always thought Devizes was missing our kind of store to compliment the great offer that’s already here. It’s a very loyal town, and people support small businesses and want them to succeed.” Devizes was also voted the 8th best market town in The Times in 2016, and it’s on the tourist trail between Avebury and Stonehenge. The shop itself is a 17th-century listed building, so they couldn’t start ripping it up and have kept as many original features as possible, while trying to add a contemporary feel with lighting and display features. Their mantra is ‘Nice Things for Nice People’. “The store is split over two rooms and we have divided the store into sections using lots of salvaged furniture and things from our home,” explains Stone. “The space is totally flexible and we don’t have fixtures fixed to the wall, so we can flex the space accordingly to seasons or events. We are working with British and Danish lifestyle companies on homeware and stationery. We also have books from several suppliers, British and French jewellery, and British candles and perfumes.” In terms of menswear, No59 is carrying brands that Stone has on his agency side, such as Baracuta, B.D.Baggies and Millican bags. He’s also buying in brands with strong staple pieces, such as Armor Lux, Dickies, Rains, Edwin, Fjallraven and Anonymous Ism socks. Stone says: “Millican bags have been so well received in the store that we have already repeated on styles, and the brand has had a good wholesale season, with some great stores added to the portfolio.” In terms of local market knowledge, Stone still believes good independents have a vital role to play. “It’s important to be single-minded on your goal and product mix, but also to tap into the mind-set of the community,” he says. “The reaction really has been terrific so far. We have had so many wonderful comments and met so many great customers, who have not only returned to buy but are also helping to spread the word.” The Stone Consultancy remain Stone’s main focus, as the store is very much a family concern, with his eldest son, Dyl, also a director – alongside Kevin and Hilly, and son, Raff, who looks after the social media side, while Arlo has been doing a few shifts on the shop floor. “Decisions and direction are pre-planned, and any change of strategy is usually discussed around the dinner table,” adds Stone. Food for thought indeed.
“It’s important to be singleminded on your goal and product mix, but also to tap into the mind-set of the community.”
16 | BRAND PROFILE
Taking a stance Stance was founded in 2009 in San Clemente, California, using the mantra “The Uncommon Thread”. It went on to collaborate with some of the biggest names in fashion, including New Balance and Rhianna, in less than five years. Stance’s founders saw a category that had been ignored, taken for granted and dismissed. By breathing life into something that had been overlooked, the brand ignited a movement of art and self-expression that has drawn athletes, performers and iconic cultural influencers to the brand – a group they call the Punks & Poets. By underpinning its creative roots with a relentless focus on technical innovation, Stance is now found in over 60 countries on the feet of those who dare to be different.
www.stance.com
24 & 25 JA NUA RY 2018 MENSWEAR | WOMENSWEAR JACKET-REQUIRED.COM
16 – 18 JANUARY
T H E FA S H I O N AUTHORITY www.premiumgroup.berlin
2018 BERLIN
20 | PRODUCT
SUNDAY OF LONDON Sunday of London are handcrafted botanical candles that are environmentally friendly and vegan. The candles are handcrafted and housed in apothecary jars, which are produced in the UK, using GMO-free coconut and plant waxes, as well as pure cotton wicks and generous doses of pure aromatherapy-grade essential oil blends.
KLINTA Swedish brand Klinta specialises in massage candles and skincare made from natural ingredients that are both sustainable and kind to the planet. Best sellers include body and massage sets, face oils and scented sea salts.
www.klintaco.se
www.sundayco.co
Common scents BRAMLEY Bramley offers natural bath and body products inspired by the beauty and therapeutic properties of plants, made in the British countryside. The range is small and focused and includes hand creams, shampoos, body oils, diffusers and more, all of which have their own individual fragrances and therapeutic effects, centred around a citrus base that ties the whole collection together.
www.bramleyproducts.co.uk
ASHLEIGH & BURWOOD What started as a little kitchen table project by father and son team John and Andrew Nettleton in 1993 is now a leading name in high-quality fragrances, crafted in the UK. The vast offering includes scented candles, fragrance lamps, oils and holders, as well as incense holders and decorative diffusers.
www.ashleigh-burwood.co.uk
PRODUCT | 21
CASTELBEL Castelbel is an award-winning Portuguese brand specialising in home and body scented products. The range includes fine toiletry soaps and luxury fragranced body care products such as liquid soaps, body lotions, hand creams and shaving soaps, as well as home fragrances including candles, sachets, diffusers, drawer liners and room sprays with scents to die for.
www.castelbel.com
SIABANN From the beautiful Ochil Hills in the heart of Scotland comes Siabann (Gaelic for soap), skincare based on the properties and goodness of natural oils and butters, especially Thistle oil. Look out for creams, serums, moisturises, skin candles and soap, all of which are vegan friendly.
www.siabann.com
THE MUST-HAVE MOST ALLURING CANDLES, HOME FRAGRANCES AND WELL-BEING PRODUCTS TO COMPLEMENT YOUR STORE’S OFFERS.
JUNO This UK natural skincare brand is based on the values of love, peace and simplicity, along with the belief that what you put into and onto your body should be natural and chemical free. In this vein, the whole range is 100 per cent natural and includes everything from moisturisers and cleansers to home fragrances and perfumes.
SEVIN LONDON Handmade soaps, super soft towels, exquisitely scented candles and organic sponges are at the heart of Sevin London’s range, which will turn any bathroom into a sanctuary of indulgence and relaxation.
www.junoskincare.com
www.sevinlondon.co.uk
Premium knitwear Made in Britain‌Every stitch and every thread, Authentically British. www.ross-barr.com
16—18 JANUARY 2018
W W W.PANORAMA-BERLIN.COM
shaping identities
24 | PRODUCT
PAPER TRAIL THE BEST STATIONERY PRODUCTS TO ENHANCE ANY LIFESTYLE OFFER. — CREATIVE LAB AMSTERDAM Bright colours, bold prints and creative techniques and subtle describe the papergoods by Creative Lab Amsterdam. Everything is made of 100 per cent recycled, handpressed materials.
www.creativelabamsterdam.com
ALOHA CALLING Aloha Calling is a British brand established earlier this year, focusing on design-led and fun greeting cards and prints that are sure to put a smile on anyone’s face.
www.alohacalling.co.uk
CAROLINE GARDNER Lifestyle brand Caroline Gardner offers an array of products, from gifts through cards and wrapping to stationery. Its latest ‘Good as gold’ collection features the brand’s iconic heart motif, teamed with gold metallic foils, solid charcoals and orange.
www.carolinegardner.com
OHH DEER Stationery is just one part of the huge range of illustrated gifts by Ohh Deer. The company is a platform for illustrators to showcase their creativity, and retail clients include everyone from Paperchase through Urban Outfitters to the Tate Gallery.
www.ohhdeer.com
PRODUCT | 25
THE WRAP PAPER The Wrap Paper is a London-based publishing company, collaborating with top illustrators from around the world to create a collection of contemporary stationery products, including greetings cards, gift wrap, notebooks and organiser envelopes.
www.wrapmagazine.com
MOMENTS OF SENSE AND STYLE Handbound in Lincolnshire, notebooks by British brand Moments of Sense and Style are made of GF Smith paper and are the perfect accompaniment for work or play.
www.momentsofsenseandstyle.com
KATIE HOUSLEY Katie Housley is a stationery company based in Hove, inspired by nature, plants, texture and colour. The array of cards include everything from thank you notes to Valentines cards, and many of the products are hand finished, with added textures for a luxurious finish.
www.katiehousley.co.uk
SPOTS AND STRIPES Spots and Stripes is a contemporary, design-led brand producing hand-drawn greeting cards and wrapping paper that are designed and printed in the UK. The vision of the brand is to create products that are elegant yet playful, and that stand the test of time.
www.spotsandstripes.com
26 | PRODUCT
AESOP FACIAL CLEANSER
L:A BRUKET BEARD WAX
OLD ENGLISH COMPANY PLANNER
www.aesop.com/uk
www.aandbsupply.co.uk
www.oldenglishprints.com
GROOMING & WELLBEING Our edit of the key products to buy in-store now. — CARTER & BOND BRUSH
BAXTER OF CALIFORNIA
www.aandbsupply.co.uk
www.aandbsupply.co.uk
LQD SKIN
L:A BRUKET CANDLE
TRIUMPH & DISASTER FIBRE ROYALE HAIR WAX
www.lqd.com.au
www.aandbsupply.co.uk
www.triumphanddisaster.com
PRODUCT | 27
BEARD BRUSH MENS SOCIETY
MASTER & DYNAMIC MH40 EARPHONES
TRIUMPH & DISASTER LOGIC TONER
www.menssociety.com
www.masterdynamic.com
www.triumphanddisaster.com
CHASE & WONDER
TOOLETRIES RAZOR HOLDER AND MIRROR
MR BLACK DENIM REFRESH SPRAY
www.chaseandwonder.com
www.tooletries.com
www.mr-blacks.com
SUNDAY OF LONDON
DIPTYQUE
MAGNIBAND MOBILE PHONE LENS
www.sundayco.co
www.diptyqueparis.co.uk
www.magniband.com
wwb-online.co
RETAIL | 29
OUR DAILY EDIT, BRIGHTON Brighton concept store Our Daily Edit was launched in 2014 by husband and wife team Marc Lewis and Ella Wells, two former television producers who decided to quit the TV game and make their passion into a business. Having lived in Brighton for nearly 15 years, both felt there was a gap in the market for a unisex store offering new brands and an aspirational lifestyle mix to the local crowd. And Our Daily Edit achieves just that, with a clean aesthetic that allows the products to do the talking. “Our Daily Edit is a nod to our past lives in TV but also very much about our store as we offer a fresh edit of brands – we are the only UK stockist of some of our brands and work hard to find the newest and most exciting new products around,” says Marc Lewis. Alongside its women’s and men’s clothing offer, ODE also sells a host of lifestyle products such as accessories, homeware and beauty, with more than 60 labels on offer. “We loved the idea of having something for everyone in our store, whether that be clothing, perfume, a notepad or some chocolate,” says Lewis. “We find that our customer is looking to buy into a lifestyle and wants to not only buy for themselves, but also for friends, family and lovers. We offer them a unique selection of products that are well designed, considered and sometimes humorous.” Lewis adds: “We love the fact we can support smaller homegrown brands and then watch them grow with us, like Story mfg. for unisex clothing, LF Markey for womenswear, Earl of East London Candles and more recently Bikis Ceramics. However, we also pride ourselves on working with brands from abroad and some of our most popular brands come from there, such as Wood Wood, Ganni, Beton Cire and, more recently, American brands such as Herbivore Botanicals and Maison Louis Marie. For us, a brand has to be doing something original and also playful. We love the story of brands such as Neul, Nanushka and Portuguese Flannel, and we’re also keen to work with brands supporting sustainability and natural raw materials.” Now in its fourth year, ODE has a loyal customer base, and its vast product and price mix adds to the growing appeal and reputation of the store. “Our aim as a store was to have a mix of price points so that we could appeal to a range of customers, so we stock chocolates for £6 and also coats for £600. We don’t really have a typical customer, but what’s common to all our customers is an interest in design and quality,” explains Lewis. For ODE, the lifestyle and concept store has proven to be a winning formula, and Lewis and Wells have ambitious plans to develop the business further. “For us, some of our favourite stores are concept stores, somewhere you can go and get lost in their world and design vision. We take inspiration from design wherever we go – whether that be travel, art, homewares or clothing – and we love being able to reflect that in our store,” says Lewis. “In the future, we definitely want to expand our lifestyle section and offer our customers something more, a real place they can find inspiration themselves.”
www.ourdailyedit.com
30 | RETAIL
BIAS, PECKHAM, LONDON From the outside, Bias in Peckham, London, looks elegant but unassuming – the façade gives little away of what lies behind those doors, namely a quirky and stylish concept store of fashion, accessories, beauty, gifts, homeware and a whole host of lifestyle products. The store was opened in 2012 by former head teacher Sally Hindle, and has since become a destination for shoppers seeking something different than middle-of-the-road fashion, who instead prefer a curated and bespoke approach. While the fashion offer – both womenswear and menswear – includes predominantly Scandinavian and European labels such as Ganni, Bellerose, Sita Murt, Samsoe and Samsoe, and Coster Copenhagen, accessories, lifestyle and homeware brands such as Louise Kragh, Dansk Copenhagen, Hiro & Wolf, Virginia Tzioti, Paul & Joe Makeup, Iris Hantverk, Mason & Cash, Duralex homewares and Fil Blanc bathroom accessories, as well as a host of independent and artisan labels, including ethical and local producers, complement the vast mix. Clothes, jewellery and fashion accessories are housed at the front of the store, but the back room opens up a whole different world of merchandise, with beauty products, giftware, glassware, ceramics, cards, stationery, homeware and artisan hardware all turning Bias from a conventional boutique into a treasure trove in the truest sense of the word. It’s a bold mix of products, but one that evidently works, as Bias attracts not only a fashion crowd, but also a diversity of customers, young and old, who are looking to pick up a quirky item or two. “As an indie, you need to diversify, you can’t just be standard. You can’t be one dimensional. I have found that we need a broad offer, we need to cater for all budgets and be a welcoming environment for everyone. We want to appeal to people who want fashion as much as to people who just want to come in for a gift or want to treat themselves. I think that’s what makes us unique around here and that’s why it works, because we’re different,” says Hindle. The concept is so successful, in fact, that Hindle opened a second branch in Harrogate just over a year ago, and is also planning a further store expansion in the future. And, with a growing e-commerce business too, Hindle’s ambition is to become a genuine lifestyle destination beyond geographical boundaries. “I love buying for the shops, I really enjoy the process of curating and editing beautiful products for my customers. Who knows, maybe I’ll open a standalone hardware store in Peckham with upmarket, artisan hardware and tableware, etc. I have lots of ideas, so watch this space,” says Hindle.
www.biasboutique.com
MWB-ONLINE.CO
32 | PRODUCT
HOME & INTERIORS
01 THOMAS BELMONT
02 RICE
03 ALESSI
04 JOLT
05 ANNA G
06 BLISS HOME
07 BIRDIE FORTESCUE
PRODUCT | 33
08 MAKE INTERNATIONAL
09 REPEAT REPEAT
HOME & INTERIORS Diversify your store’s offering this season with the introduction of homeware and interiors. We round up 12 brands to add to your hit list for s/s 18. 01 THOMAS BELMONT 0845 2575452 www.thomasbelmont.com 02 RICE 07969175564 www.ricebyrice.com 03 ALESSI uves@alessi.com www.alessi.com 04 JOLT 01691 655 140 www.thisisjolt.co.uk 05 ANNA G uves@alessi.com www.alessi.com 06 BLISS HOME 01789 4000 77 www.blisshome.co.uk 07 BIRDIE FORTESCUE 01328 738 619 wholesale@birdiefortescue.co.uk www.birdiefortescue.co.uk 08 MAKE INTERNATIONAL 020 3598 6520 www.makeinternational.com 09 REPEAT REPEAT 01782 845870 www.repeatrepeat.co.uk 10 PILLO 0208 888 7319 www.pillolondon.com 11 LONDON ORNAMENTS info@londonornaments.co.uk www.londonornaments.co.uk 12 IXXI projects@ixxiyourworld.com www.ixxiyourworld.com
10 PILLO
11 LONDON ORNAMENTS
12 IXXI
THE CONFERENCE ON THE FUTURE OF FASHION
16 JANUARY KRAFTWERK BERLIN KÖPENICKER STR. 70 – 10179 BERLIN
WWW.FASHIONTECH.BERLIN
f o r h i m , f o r h e r.
36 | BRAND PROFILES
In the know
WITH A GROWING NUMBER OF LIFESTYLE BRANDS LAUNCHING INTO THE UK MARKET, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE NAMES WORTH CONSIDERING THIS SEASON ACROSS STATIONERY, WELLNESS, INTERIORS, ACCESSORIES AND GROOMING. —
A GIFT FROM THE GODS A Gift from The Gods is a young women’s lifestyle brand that started as a T-shirt range for female dance DJs and clubbers. The range has since considerably evolved and now offers everything from sleepwear through stationery to jewellery and accessories, all with a fun-loving attitude and lots of style. The brand is known for its playful slogan and signature graphic prints, with each collection presented in four distinct but complimentary design stories – A Gift From The Gods, Calligraphy & Hearts, Dream Odyssey and Get Your Goddess On. The stories are used throughout the range of products, so items can be merchandised across the groups – think a matching notebook with a keyring or cosmetic bag with the matching print on pyjamas. For a/w 17, the brand has a whole range of new products, including new accessory magnets, cosmetic bags, pouches, social stationery and new gift-wrapped sleepwear sets. Best-selling products include cotton and satin sleepwear sets that come in branded gift boxes or are gift wrapped in branded ribbon – the perfect gift. The idea behind each style is to offer something that women would buy for themselves, but also easily fits as a gift.
www.agiftfromthegods.com
CAPTAIN FAWCETT Grooming label Captain Fawcett was founded in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, and currently distributes products to barbers, hairdressers, gift shops, tailors, independent department stores and customers across the globe. Exporting to over 42 countries – from Alaska to New Zealand, the US, Canada, Italy, Holland, Russia and Singapore – the brand has recently launched a brand new book, The Quintessential Grooming Guide for the Modern Gentleman. With practical advice to tongue-incheek illustrations and barbering rituals, this book is definitely one to consider for your store.
www.captainfawcett.com
BRAND PROFILES | 37
DRAKE & HUTCH Established in 2014, premium menswear brand Drake & Hutch began life as a luxury underwear and loungewear label, before expanding into socks for the autumn season. Offering the perfect point-of-sale product, the new range of cotton-rich socks feature prints such as palm trees, skull and crossbones, and bicycles. Each design comes in two sizes, suitable for both male and female shoppers. Retailing through its website, Drake & Hutch also operates through stockists in Scandinavia, the US and Canada. It is looking to roll out ambitious growth plans across independent retailers in the UK, including an introductory offer aimed at smaller retailers.
www.drakeandhutch.com
COCHINE In 2009, Kate Crofton-Atkins created Cochine after leaving her career in skincare in London and moving to Saigon, Vietnam. Instantly overcome by the city’s unique style and elegance, she set about designing a range of fragrances that could capture Saigon’s distinctive charm. Partnering with an international fragrance house based in New York, Crofton-Atkins spent over a year working with essential oils harvested from Vietnamese plants and trees in order to produce the perfect combination of scents that would reflect Saigon’s diverse flora and distinctive blend of oriental charm. Cochine products are made in Vietnam and France, using the highest quality essential oils and ingredients, ethically and sustainably sourced. The range includes scented candles and diffusers, bath and body products, fragrances and gift sets, with the latest Christmas collection featuring luxury 4-wick candles in the scents vanille & tabac noir and juniper & ginger, making for a perfect Christmas centrepiece or gift. “I’m proud to say that we are using 95 per cent natural ingredients in our new formulations, and that they are all paraben and sulfate free. The process to perfect our new products has been a long one, but I truly believe the end result is worth the wait,” says Kate Crofton–Atkins.
www.cochine.com
38 | BRAND PROFILES
CORKCICLE BY ROOTS 7 If you’re looking to add innovative and stylish barware to your offer, then Corkcicle by Roots 7 is the brand to go to. Corkcicle’s mission is all about savouring life, one sip at a time. The company is gaining an increasing following for its products, which combine style with functionality. Whether you are popping a cork, raising a glass, slow sipping on your favourite whiskey or just throwing one back, the collection has something for every occasion. Corkcicle has won the Red Dot Product Design Award for its stylish thermal flasks, including the Canteen and Tumbler range. This stylish duo is able to keep your beverage cool or hot for much, much, much longer and encompasses a clean, modern style. From wine chillers like the Corkcicle Air, Colour and One, customers can now keep their wine chilled for longer without adding diluting ice blocks to their favourite Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. They even chill and aerate wine at the same time. And if wine isn’t your thing, there’s also a beer chiller for all enthusiasts out there. Sister brand Root 7, meanwhile, offers elegant bartender sets in a functional bag, which are perfect as gifts for him, or beautiful and on-trend geo-design drinks tumblers, which sport a unique stand-out shape and terrarium-inspired look, perfect for that G&T or cocktail.
www.root7.com
YSTUDIO Founded in 2012 in Taiwan, Ystudio is a young vibrant brand which aims to explore vanishing culture through their series of minimalist writing tools. Each piece is made using traditional and durable materials that age perfectly, adding a unique character to every design. The brand uses durable materials, including bronze, pure solid brass, metal, rustic wood and copper, marking each piece with ‘The Weight of Words’ as a reminder to the user to be fully responsible for every character written down. While its unique and sophisticated, yet Ystudio is keen to retain its young artisan spirit and high-quality craftsmanship that it began its life with. Available on a wholesale basis through Notable Designs.
www.ystudiostyle.com
BRAND PROFILES | 39
KATIE LEAMON Founded in 2011 by the eponymous designer, Katie Leamon is a family business. Katie’s mum Jane and sister Rachel run the production studio in Essex, and her partner Ruairi is in charge of business development. This all appears to be going swimmingly, as the brand is going from strength to strength and is currently stocked in a number of luxury stores, including Selfridges, Anthropologie, Harrods and Fortnum & Mason, no less. The brand is known for creating beautiful hand-finished collections of paper products, all proudly made in England. The products are predominantly hand printed using individual polymer rubber stamps on a modified Victorian press. The nature of this technique ensures all the cards are unique and have a very tangible feel to them, which is inherent to the brand. From personalised note cards through exclusive pencil sets to diaries, notebooks, prints and wraps, the collection is vast, creative and stylish, with products that appeal to both men and women alike. Katie Leamon’s new Christmas card collection is among this season’s highlights, featuring a range of contemporary greetings and illustrations finished with luxurious gold foils and printed onto a fresh new colour palette of pale pink, navy blue, forest green and ivory. The brand has recently received an order from Paul Smith, too, so a selection of its cards and stationery can now be found in the brand’s Borough Market store, as well as a shipment of Christmas crackers having just gone out to Bergdorf Goodman in New York.
www.katieleamon.com
LONDON SOCK COMPANY Founded by entrepreneurs Ryan Palmer and Dave Pickard, London Sock Company was established in 2014 and is already on track to exceed £1m in revenue in 2017. With over 15,000 e-commerce customers and more than 5,000 monthly subscription buyers – where shoppers are able to get new designs delivered to their door every month – the company is going from strength to strength. Collaborating with model David Gandy, 10 per cent of each sale from Gandy’s capsule range is donated to the company’s nominated charity, Style for Soldiers. “Statement socks are really having a moment right now, but it’s so important to get it right,” says Gandy. “The attention to detail the brand has is one of the many concepts I fell in love with and is why I ended up investing in them.” Other fans of the brand include Daniel Craig, Tom Hiddleston, Ryan Reynolds, Matt Smith, Ben Cohen, Andrew Castle and Pat Cash.
www.londonsockcompany.com
40 | INTERVIEW
Caroline Gardner THE OWNER OF THE EPONYMOUS LIFESTYLE BRAND TALKS ABOUT MILESTONES, FUTURE PLANS AND WHAT INSPIRES HER DESIGNS. — number of doors to us, and we continue to have a great relationship with the teams at JLP. But opening our first shop on London’s Marylebone High Street and the visibility it gives us is hard to beat! What do you still want to accomplish? I would love to expand the handbag range, as this is a natural progression from the growth we have seen in our accessories. We also have plans to open more shops in the next couple of years.
What is your background? It all started for me in October 1993. I had been working in London as a painter for five years after studying at Chelsea College of Arts, when I had a serendipitous meeting with a near neighbour, a gallery owner. A designer let her down last minute, so she asked if I could make some cards for The Conran Shop in Japan. The 70 I made sold out in two days and the shop asked for 600 more. From then onwards, I drove around London and gave samples to gift shops. I had an 80 per cent uptake and soon needed help. In the first year, turnover doubled every month and I soon had to move from my kitchen table to more sustainable production. What inspires your designs and design process? I’ve always had an eye for detail. I’m inspired by art and architecture, by an unexpected sense of placement and use of colour. I start everything with a sweet and sour colour palette, specific to that particular season, and then work on the detail of each print and product, using the best quality materials. What are your best-selling products, and why do you think that is? The accessories side of the business has seen considerable growth over the last couple of years. Currently our best sellers are accessories, jewellery rolls, glasses cases and set of three travel bags. I think this is because people love to travel now, whether it is jetting off to warmer climes or a weekend stay-cation. We definitely do well with travel accessories. What have been the biggest milestones in the history of your brand? The thing which really changed things for me early on was getting our products into John Lewis. It opened a
Have you experienced a greater surge of interest in your brand from fashion retailers who are looking to expand into a lifestyle offer? Yes, definitely. As our products have become more accessories focused, we have definitely been picked up by more fashion retailers. Our jewellery roll sits as beautifully alongside a cosmetic bag on a dressing table as it can next to a notebook on a desk! I think things like this make us very versatile. Last year, we were picked up by Les Galeries Lafayette in Paris. I am thrilled to say that the products sold so well that this year they extended our presence into shops around France. How do you see the “lifestyle” and “concept” sector developing? Well, I was very sad to see that Colette, the original concept store, will be closing after 20 years as one of the coolest stores in the world, but then the new Dover Street Market has really moved with the times and re-opened with a fresh, new look which I think holds promise for the concept sector. It feels like – thankfully – fast, throw-away fashion is becoming a thing of the past. I always like to think that consumers prefer unique, quirky products that are beautifully designed over something you could get on every high street corner. We have never wanted to be just another ‘gift‘ brand, but want to redefine what it means to give; it’s not about how much we give, but how much thought we put into it, and I hope our products reflect this belief. What are your own, personal favourite items in your collection? Like our customers, I’m drawn to the metallics. I wear glasses, so the rose gold dotty glasses case has been my go-to item this season. The multi-ribbon notebook allows me to sort and organise my thoughts and ideas, and I love how the gold foil has given our iconic hearts print a new lease of life. Your best, most creative ideas should live in a beautiful notebook; giving things like this to yourself shows that you value the things you say and do.
www.carolinegardner.com
www.propress.co.uk
Fashion
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SCOOP IN THE WINTER 28 - 30 JANUARY 2018 S A A T C H I G A L L E R Y, L O N D O N
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