Wee Birdy

Wee find: Mine

This is MINE's spring/summer 2010 collection by Katherine Pont, one of the up-and-coming designers at Swanfield (see my post about the pop-up shop below). Featuring exquisite hand-drawn prints and embroidery, it's her most accomplished and cohesive collection to date. Entitled 'Tick Tock Order', it's all very quirky and whimsical, with fantastic attention to detail. Love the very sweet harlequin-bunting trim on the collars and cuffs, as well as the art-deco influence on the hand-drawn prints. 

EDIT: This collection will be out in early 2010 for spring, but you will find Mine's current autumn/winter collection at Swanfield now.

Swanfield (until the end of Oct)
1.2 Kingly Court
London, W1
Tel. 07595640403
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus.
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 11am-7pm

Wee find: Cecilia Hammarborg

 

Cecilia Hammarborg is one of the core designers of the London-based Swanfield collective (see my post about the pop-up shop below), and her current winter coat collection, Black River Falls, has just been picked up by Topshop. I do love the feminine swishiness of the Riding Hood and Petrel coats, and they're extremely flattering to wear. Apparently the voluminous Petrel coat is very popular with pregnant women.

 
Blue Riding Hood Coat, £250 and Noir Storm Petrel Coat, £295 by Cecilia Hammarborg.

 Swanfield (until the end of Oct)
1.2 Kingly Court
London, W1
Tel. 07595 64040
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus.
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 11am-7pm

 

Wee find: French and English Confectioners

 
I'm loving these limited-edition ‘Gold Dust Woman’ bags by French and English Confectioners, one of the labels I discovered at Swanfield. Featuring incredible starburst designs in raffia and metallic thread, each bag (there are only 14 in total) has been hand-cut and hand-embroidered by designer Lucie Gonnord.

There are also some rather lovely satchels and clutches in patent leather with sweet cut-out details. Priced from £85, at Swanfield.

Swanfield (until the end of Oct)
1.2 Kingly Court
London, W1
Tel. 07595 64040
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus.
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 11am-7pm

Shopping in London: Swanfield

 
I know that London (and this blog) has gone a little pop-up crazy in recent weeks, but here’s one that’s definitely worth a visit. Swanfield originated in East London as a collective of designers, and has recently gone ‘on tour’, with pop-ups in central London. The swans are currently nesting on the first floor of Kingly Court (just off Carnaby Street) with their fresh mix of independent fashion, vintage wares and accessories.

Three young designers, in particular, caught my eye on a recent visit: Cecilia Hammarborg (for dramatic swing coats in tweeds and worsted wool); Lucie Gonnard’s French and English Confectioners (for custom-made limited edition shoes and bags) and Katherine Pont’s MINE fashion label (keep an eye out for her whimsical Spring/Summer 10 collection – she's one to watch).

More posts to follow on each designer...

Swanfield (until the end of Oct)
1.2 Kingly Court
London, W1
Tel. 07595 64040
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus.
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 11am-7pm

Shopping in London: Eley Kishimoto's pop-up

I peeped inside Eley Kishimoto’s pop-up shop in Soho’s Kingly Street on Saturday morning, and was delighted to discover not only the current ‘60s jetset-inspired collection (one of my favourites), but a room full of discounted samples downstairs.

You might want to consider putting off your winter coat purchase until you’ve paid the shop a visit – there are some truly great pieces here, as well as some cute frocks and accessories. The best buys, however, are their signature hosiery in eye-popping prints (this season has some lurex mixed in for extra sparkle).

The shop is run by members of the South London design studio, so you will get lots of insider EK news and advice, and you’ll also find some of their Japanese License accessories that have never been seen in the UK before. Look out for their ‘Flash’ print adorning everything from Converse sneakers to umbrellas.

It’s quite accomplished for a pop-up shop, with Eley Kishimoto printed curtains in the dressing room and artwork on the walls. Now if only this shop was a wee bit more permanent, I would be a very happy birdy indeed. It’s officially open until the end of October, but there are whispers that it could be around a little longer.

Eley Kishimoto pop-up shop
8 Kingly Street
London W18 5PQ
Tel. 0207 734 5756
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Until October 31, 2009
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 11am-7pm
Thursday 11am-8pm
Sun Noon-5pm

Click here for more shops in Soho.