GIRL ABOUT TOWN

from Ulster Tatler October 2021

FOCUS ON: TYRONE

EDITED BY

NUALA MEENEHAN

THE RISE OF SECOND HAND

I’ll admit it, I’m a hoarder, I’ve been a hoarder for over 30 years now, clothes, shoes, handbags, and jewellery. I’ve loved every item I’ve chosen, eventually fallen out of love, stored away, rediscovered, and loved again. Of course, there are periods that space at home dictates a good ‘ol clear out is required and subsequent trips to the charity shop or recycling (often returning with a great pre-loved piece I’ve picked up or a fi ver). ll regularly fi nd little gems at the back o my wardrobe ve forgotten about, and then fallen in love with again.

I tend to buy uncomplicated, simple staple pieces and have never been a follower of fashion per se.

Thankfully the fashion industry is moving into a much more sustainable position. According to Thredup – which is a second-hand online store based in the United States – the next 10 years will see the resale market grow much faster than traditional retail with second-hand clothing expected to be twice the size of fast fashion by the year 2030.

Even Royal Ascot has picked up the trend. This year’s style guide for the race meeting says it is celebrating “the art of conscious shopping” and points out that looking good “doesn’t necessarily mean you have to buy something brand new”. t suggests sourcing outfi ts rom charity shops, nearly new bouti ues, vintage emporiums, and resale websites.

In May, Asda announced that it is rolling out second-hand sections in its George clothing departments in 50 stores across the UK. The supermarket has teamed up with vintage specialist Preloved Kilo to stock women’s and menswear items, after a successful pilot scheme at its sustainable concept store in Middleton, Leeds.

Celebrities Sienna Miller, Kate Moss and Alexa Chung have been second-hand fans for years and of course, the concept isn’t new, but the fact that this trend is now becoming the norm is exceptionally positive, applauded, supported, and driven by younger consumers aged up to 30.

30 WEAR RULE

#30wearrule is a hashtag that encourages people to think about whether or not they’ll wear an item 30 times. It’s a simple way to be more responsible when purchasing clothes and ensures that you love the piece in which you’re investing. And even before going to shop for new items, look through your wardrobe to see if you have a piece that you can re-wear.

My oversized white shirt from NI Hospice for £5.

THE WORD IS…

There are rumours that Belfast FASHIONWEEK Director Cathy Martin, who has been an ardent advocator of pre-loved and vintage clothing will be holding a regular event to buy and sell pre-loved and vintage pieces. Watch this space!

VINTAGE GETS A NEW LOOK

Meet the second-hand online sellers on a mission to bring our wardrobes back to life.

Chillie London

Mood: 80’s fashion with 90’s styling Online chillielondon.com Insta @chillielondon

By Wuzzy

Mood: Upcycled denim, pristinely tailored

Online: bywuzzy.co.uk Insta @bywuzzy

The Curatory

Mood: Contemporary slow fashion Insta @the.curatory

Darlingandvintage

Mood: Bright, statement dressing Online: darlingandvintage. com Insta: @darlingandvintage

Melanie Bond

Mood: Heirloom by Melanie Bond. Bespoke jewellery pieces created from heirloom necklaces and, brooches given to you by your loved ones. Online: melaniebond.co.uk Insta: @ melaniebondboutique

EDITED BY

NUALA MEENEHAN

MAKE IT BESPOKE

Last month saw the o fi cial opening o elanie ond outi ue in Dromore, another string to the bow for Northern Ireland Jewellery Designer Melanie Bond. elebrations kicked o with a special ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by media personality and U105 Presenter Cate Conway. Models dressed by Shauna Fay included Catherine Moore, Jennifer Hetherington, and Marie McDonald, styled and accessori ed by Melanie Bond with Melanie Bond Jewellery & Accessories. Model’s make up was by Orla Lauder with live music by Stephen Bond. elanie has been designing and creating ewellery or years and has recently added ashion orward accessories including handbags, scarves, umbrellas, hats, and gloves to her collection. hristmas shopping nights will be running rom now until the end o ecember where you can bring a group o up to riends to shop and en oy re reshments and special estive o ers he host organiser will receive a little gi t or gathering a group tuck or a uni ue gi t or your loved one or riend elanie can work with you to design and create bespoke ewellery made especially or them. he particularly en oys making heirloom necklaces rom brooches and ewellery given to you by your loved ones creating something current and wearable, yet special. you have a bo o your loved one s costume ewellery that you d like to be made into something new, then look no urther. heck out Heirloom by Melanie

Bond.

Cate Conway with models; Catherine Moore, Marie McDonald and Jennifer Hetherington.

Appointments can be made via www.melaniebond.co.uk) for a shopping slot or a time to discuss your bespoke commission at www.melaniebond.co.uk

Nicola Gamble, Christine Glendinning, Barbara Bailie and Diane Wilkinson. Melanie in the boutique.

Ulster Tatler’s Michaela Colgan speaks to Claire Taylor-McCooke of Bramble Green.

Tell me about Bramble Green.

Bramble Green is a sustainable knitwear brand, based on and inspired by the Causeway Coast (where it is based) and Donegal. We showcase our designs on Instagram and Facebook, where we focus on the coastal, natural environments that inspire us. We also attend select markets and welcome nearby customers to try on designs in person, by appointment, at our home near the Dark Hedges in Co. Antrim. I design or handpick all the pieces in our collections and the wool used to knit most of them myself. From the beginning, I have worked closely with local women who knit and now also handloom knitters in Donegal, as well as other small producers in the UK, Ireland and Europe.

When and why did you decide to create this business?

I started Bramble Green in 2016 after having my second child (we now have three). Although my husband and I grew up on the North Coast, we had been following careers in London, and I really wanted to move back home to raise our family. My Mother and Grandmother had clothed me in handknits as a baby and I wanted to keep my little ones cosy too, in classic designs with a contemporary style. I started designing my own baby bonnets and found some local women to knit them for me with this amazing wool I’d sourced from the famous Donegal Yarns in Kilcar. I had so many questions when I was out with the kids, on where their clothes were from, that I started taking orders for other mums, and the business was born. By 2018 my range had expanded into adult clothes too including a range of Aran sweaters and cardigans. This year, as well as launching our new hand-loom crop cardigan and tote bag, we have released a homeware range of blankets and throws.

What products do you sell?

All things cosy! I have a gorgeous range of Aran knitwear for both adults and children. he colour palette re ects the rish coastline and countryside. I sell both wool hiking socks and luxury cashmere socks made in Ireland. I have unique designs of artisan hand-made knitwear which include handmade bonnets, beanies and a new cardigan. I have built up relationships with local artisans who provide us with eece lined baby booties and alpaca accessories. I also sell scarves sourced in Co. Donegal and Co. Clare which are made on the handloom. In the last year I have brought in a range of Donegal blankets which complement the Bramble Green colours.

What makes Bramble Green unique to other retailers?

Most of our knitwear range is made in Ireland

Claire Taylor-McCooke

(much very close to my home) and it is all curated to tie in with a coastal lifestyle and feel. I also feel that years spent living and working in hip East London allowed me to give a fresh angle on traditional Irish knitwear. There is a story you can follow behind every piece in the collection and being a small family business, and loving what we do, means we can really give that personal touch to our customers.

FASHION

BOOT ‘EM UP

Pasha boot,

Dune London, £160.

Archer oxblood leather

boots, Office, £95.

Pink leather-look chunky boots,

New Look, £36.99.

Metallic silver Chelsea boots,

Oliver Bonas, £110.

Georgia Collins, Rebecca Newell, Wendy Cross McCaughey, Joanne Patton (manager), Katie Cullen, Charley Tollerton and Sophie Patton.

Georgia Collins and Sophie Patton (owners).

@G&S HAIR CELEBRATIONS

@G&S Hair hosted a launch party to celebrate their business. This came one year after opening their doors. They have brought a new, modern, and luxurious salon to the heart of Dundonald village. @G&S Hair have had many achievements throughout the year: they were awarded Top 10 Best Of Blondes and Top 20 Best New Salon in the UK from the UK Hair and Beauty Awards and have made it into the fi nal or the lster atler Hairdresser Of The Year award. Clients, friends, and family joined Georgia and Sophie to help celebrate this special milestone. Guests enjoyed cocktails, prosecco, desserts, and grazingws. Cool FM’s Connor Coates DJ’d throughout the night.

. Dale Patton, Georgia Collins (owner), Sophie Patton (owner) and Ross Carvill.

Karen Parkinson, Joanne Patton (manager), Wendy Cross McCaughey and Debbie Mc Cord. Dara Stewart, Naketta Stewart, Elsa Blackstock, Nadia Turbett, Jamie Rice and Demi Haveron.

zzzz Georgia Collins and Sophie Patton (owners).

Rebecca Newell (apprentice), Lauren Sloan, Adam Lee, Amber Quinn, Jamie Rice and Sophie Patton.

Galgorm Spa staff Niamh Breen, Tracey Hughes, Leon Bracewell and Jade Strain.

Claire Cumming with Tara Moore.

LAUNCH OF AESTHETICS AT THE SKIN CLINIC, GALGORM

Nicole Ross, Maxine Bracewell and Edna McNeill Gray.

Galgorm hosted an exclusive Member’s Evening on Thursday 23rd September in the tranquil surroundings of The Orangery. Hosted by Tara Moore, Head of Spa Operations and Dr. Andrew Mottram, Aesthetics at The Skin Clinic is the latest addition to the awardwinning resort property and will see Dr. Mottram join The Spa at Galgorm in hosting an aesthetics clinic each Thursday and Friday.

Offering a menu of aesthetic treatments ranging from anti-wrinkle in ections and dermal fi ller, innovative ro hilo and ermapen microneedling, Dr. Mottram has over 19 years of experience and currently works as a with enhanced skills in ermatology Dermatosurgery. Guests enjoyed an introduction to Aesthetics at The Skin Clinic and a detailed overview of treatments available, be ore receiving a demonstration on erma en microneedling.