https://tkdcincinnati.com/en-us/blogs/news.atom tkdcincinnati - News 2024-10-01T15:33:02+01:00 tkdcincinnati https://tkdcincinnati.com/en-us/blogs/news/boys-own-interview 2024-05-16T11:12:10+01:00 2024-05-21T10:50:15+01:00 Q&A with Terry Farley of Boy's Own Finn Morris More

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Q&A with Terry Farley of Boy's Own

You may not have heard of The Boy's Own fanzine. In fact, unless you were at the zeitgeist of Acid House in London in the late 80s you can be completely forgiven. You may however be aware of bands like Underworld, The Chemical Brothers, and Xpress 2 all of which hold a strong legacy to this underground publication. The London-centric fanzine became the voice of Acid house culture that was running riot throughout the country in 1988 and with its in-the-know and sometimes scathing editorials on all things clothes, clubs, music, and football it became the barometer of taste for those that were shaping the scene.

 

Since then this club gang has continued to play a very significant role in club culture for the last 3 decades.

To commemorate the launch of the Boy's Own T-shirt capsule Rob sat down with one of its founders Terry Farley to get an insight into the history of this cult piece of British youth culture.

Rob: First of all Terry thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with us. You seem to be as busy as ever with DJing commitments, remixes, and putting on some of London's best parties. It must be nice to still be as relevant as ever?

 

Terry: I guess relevant is depending who you're talking to, I’m just happy being busy, being creative, and still dodging doing a real job, something I’ve done rather successfully since mid-1988 when my partner Sue agreed for me to sling my job in and have a proper go at playing records. She gave me a year to make it work.

Rob: So at the beginning what was the plan for the fanzine? Do you remember what the first print run was?

 

Terry: The plan was to do a fanzine about what we were all up to, the stuff we loved and to rip the arse out of those we weren’t that fond of. Clobber, politics, and music basically. Fanzine culture was at its height back then so we rode the wave, well we created the wave as nobody else was really doing our slant.

Rob: In terms of layout how did you go about designing the look and feel of each issue?

 

Terry: Nobody under 40 could even get their head around nipping into WH Smith’s and nicking rub-on type face I think it was called something like electroset?

 

I would cut out pics from old books, do a scratch on heading then my mum would get the typist at work to type out the text, and then I’d stick it all on an A4 sheet of cardboard.

To say there wasn’t a design wouldn’t be the truth but certainly, I didn’t have any design background. Andrew was much more artistic but most of the time he couldn’t be arsed and would end up scribbling down some words such as ‘The Outsider ‘ at the very last minute.

Rob: In terms of layout how did you go about designing the look and feel of each issue?

 

Terry: Nobody under 40 could even get their head around nipping into WH Smith’s and nicking rub-on type face I think it was called something like electroset?

 

I would cut out pics from old books, do a scratch on heading then my mum would get the typist at work to type out the text, and then I’d stick it all on an A4 sheet of cardboard.

To say there wasn’t a design wouldn’t be the truth but certainly, I didn’t have any design background. Andrew was much more artistic but most of the time he couldn’t be arsed and would end up scribbling down some words such as ‘The Outsider ‘ at the very last minute.

BOY'S OWN

Bermondsey Goes Balearic Tee - £55 ►

BOY'S OWN

Clockwork Tee - £55 ►

BOY'S OWN

Dave Swindells Dancer Tee - £55 ►

BOY'S OWN

Junior Boy's Own Logo Tee - £55 ►

BOY'S OWN

Bermondsey Goes Balearic Tee - £55 ►

BOY'S OWN

Clockwork Tee - £55 ►

BOY'S OWN

Dave Swindells Dancer Tee- £55 ►

BOY'S OWN

Junior Boy's Own Logo Tee - £55 ►

Rob: We can’t talk about the fanzine without giving a nod to Andrew Weatherall. How important was Andrew’s influence on how you looked and sounded?

 

Terry: Very important as he was the arty one, the most articulate one but also the most infuriating one when it came to deadlines.

Rob: One of my favourite regular features was the Uppers and Downers section, did you ever see anything come to fruition in the mainstream as a result of this barometer of taste?

 

Terry: Pretty sure we kicked off the whole Kickers revival of 88. Simply a joke as one lad we know turned up in a bashed up pair at Spectrum one Monday. Then there was 'it’s all gone Pete Tong' which was a saying our dear mate and force of nature Gary Haisman used to say when things went badly wrong.

Rob: Do you think that Paul Oakenfolds 'Bermondsey Goes Balearic' piece was partly responsible for the mass exodus to Ibiza the following year?

 

Terry: It was certainly the first article written about that Ibiza scene, Alfredo & Amnesia, etc.

Paul Oakenfold and Ian St Paul started Future at the Soundshaft (back of Heaven) as a winter home to all those Ibiza kids like Nancy Noise and those Walworth Rd girls and where the Ibiza summer workers could go and hear the music that Alfredo and a few other DJs were playing.

Rob: So this is a bit of a full circle moment for me. I started selling clothes in 1989 which was also the year I properly discovered what was happening out there. I would quite often come to listen to you play at various parties in London and the home counties, so on a personal level I’m delighted that all of these years later our worlds continue to collide. Why do you think all these years later there is still an appetite for what the four of you started?

 

Terry: It very much seems so and I’m delighted it’s from a much younger demographic as well. Club culture as we know it is at least 5 decades old and the past should be preserved if only as a way of knowing how to not get it wrong. Every generation rips it up and starts again while retaining the basic building blocks and it looks like we’re now cemented in those foundations.

Rob: Do you think that Paul Oakenfolds 'Bermondsey Goes Balearic' piece was partly responsible for the mass exodus to Ibiza the following year?

 

Terry: It was certainly the first article written about that Ibiza scene, Alfredo & Amnesia, etc.

Paul Oakenfold and Ian St Paul started Future at the Soundshaft (back of Heaven) as a winter home to all those Ibiza kids like Nancy Noise and those Walworth Rd girls and where the Ibiza summer workers could go and hear the music that Alfredo and a few other DJs were playing.

Rob: So this is a bit of a full circle moment for me. I started selling clothes in 1989 which was also the year I properly discovered what was happening out there. I would quite often come to listen to you play at various parties in London and the home counties, so on a personal level I’m delighted that all of these years later our worlds continue to collide. Why do you think all these years later there is still an appetite for what the four of you started?

 

Terry: It very much seems so and I’m delighted it’s from a much younger demographic as well. Club culture as we know it is at least 5 decades old and the past should be preserved if only as a way of knowing how to not get it wrong. Every generation rips it up and starts again while retaining the basic building blocks and it looks like we’re now cemented in those foundations.

Terry's Top 5 Boy's Own party essentials:

1. Good comfy footwear. New Balance 991 are my current trainer of choice.
 

2. A good crew. Mates who won’t leave you hanging.

3. Nice block of wonky chocolate. The only thing that does it for me these days.

4. A DJ who reads the crowd and has a depth of music.

5. Packets of Nurofen plus and a Gaviscon. It comes to us all trust me.

Terry’s Top 5 Junior Boy's Own productions:

  1. 1. Paradiso - Here We Go Again (actually we licensed it in but it’s a corker).

    2. DSK - What Would We Do ( 8 mins of madness ), a Pete Heller and myself production. Was at the Ministry of Sound for a Tony Humphries party and he played it 3 times - my head was exploding.

    3. Black Science Orchestra - Where Were You. Frankie Knuckles made this a NY classic at his Sound Factory bar residency (I'm told he even rung the office to get on the mailing list).

    4. Underworld - Dirty. This saw the label crossing over into a wider audience.

    5. Xpress 2 - Music Xpress. Basically, it’s a house record made in a punk rock 3-chord style - simplicity meets perfection.


    Listen to our Boy's Own/JBO Essentials playlist ►

Shop the Boy's Own collection ►

]]> https://tkdcincinnati.com/en-us/blogs/news/q-and-a-ludovic-bonneton-bon-parfumeur 2024-04-24T11:53:24+01:00 2024-04-24T11:53:25+01:00 Q&A with Ludovic Bonneton of Bon Parfumeur Finn Morris More

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Q&A with Ludovic Bonneton of Bon Parfumeur

S/S '24

Mr Bon Parfumeur gives us the quintessentially French low down on his beautifully fragranced world.

Shop Bon Parfumeur ►

Eau de Parfum 602 - from £45

What made you start a perfume brand? This seems like a difficult market in which to find your niche.

I returned from Colombia in 2017, where tropical scents and their magic had filled each of my days. After that trip, not a moment passed where the olfactory landscape escaped me. A poker game with friends became the Woody Pepper of the collection (902), a walk in Auvergne became the Woody Pepper (602). Finding our place in the market came quite naturally, as I was telling stories through my perfumes that were being heard for the first time.

Were you always interested in fragrance?

I've always been passionate about perfumes, especially those that were hidden and appealed to me. Unearthing them was a treasure hunt in the truest sense of the word.

Do you have any particular training? Or have you learnt on the job?

Perfume cannot be learned; you love it, and to sell it, you just need to explain why you love it. Who doesn't enjoy hearing a passionate person talk about what inspires them?

Cologne Intense 001 - from £45

Les Privés Eau de Parfum 603 - from £62

Eau de Parfums - from £45

Eau de Parfum 902 - from £45

How do you go about creating a new perfume? It seems like such a complex recipe of scents, I can’t quite imagine the process. Are you working with a perfumier?

Perfume is often created without my awareness! There's a space in my heart dedicated to creating the scent corresponding to each experience, each emotion felt. I decide later whether to materialize this creation; some perfumes belong solely to the heart. Bon Parfumeur has worked with some of France's greatest noses. Each time, I chose the one with whom I could talk for hours about the story behind the perfume. Indeed, I wanted the most precise notes, accords, and ingredients, so that I could create a perfume that transported me back to the moment that inspired it.

How does inspiration strike? Are your fragrances based on memories? Or scents in nature? Or are you thinking about the people who will wear the perfume?

Inspiration doesn't strike, it's not abrupt; it's a continuous movement, like the wind turbine that transforms the wind into energy. Everything inspires me: the wind comes from all sides and swirls.

Who do you work with and how does the typical day go?

I work with my five senses; they dictate the to-do list for my day!

Why do you think tkdcincinnati and Bon Parfumeur are such a good fit?

"We like to think of tkdcincinnati as a kind of department store but just selling the good stuff." Ultimately, Bon Parfumeur selects the ingredients for its scents with the same care that tkdcincinnati takes in choosing its customers.

Aquatic Fragrances - from £45

Eau de Parfum 602 - from £45

Eau de Parfum 501 - from £45

Discover more about our Bon Parfumeur Project Space here.

]]> https://tkdcincinnati.com/en-us/blogs/news/q-and-a-service-works 2024-03-13T17:24:28+00:00 2024-03-13T17:24:29+00:00 Q&A with Tom Chudley of Service Works Finn Morris More

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Q&A with Tom Chudley of Service Works

S/S 24

We chat fashion and food with Tom Chudley of Service Works, whose modern workwear has a dedicated following amongst catering cognoscienti, wannabee Carmen Berzattos and regular Joes alike.

Shop Service Works ►

What or who encouraged you to start the brand? And what is your role?

I spent my childhood living and working around my family's hospitality business. I have a big family and everyone chipped in, I spent weekends, summer holidays, Christmas and everything in between there. After moving out and working in other kitchens, I wanted a change and started working in clothing stores for a supposedly calmer lifestyle. I eventually started working more behind the scenes and spent some time at Billionaire Boys Club, Maharishi and a few other brands. I started an online store called Blacksmith Store out of my corridor in Brockley in 2016, much to my housemate's dislike. I was importing mainly blank tees and hoodies, which weren't available in the UK, and it ended up becoming my full time job three years later. I then moved into making own brand goods.


During a trip to Japan in 2019 I noticed a handful of menswear stores who were producing their own brand 'easy pants' and chef inspired pants. I tried to dig deeper but not only were the trousers 6 inches too short for me, they didn't have any real tie to the hospitality industry - it was very much a visual link only. I spent more and more time thinking about the intrinsic link between food and clothing, particularly workwear, for lack of a better word. It felt like a no-brainer and the two are all I've ever known, so I decided to go for it. I released a tiny run of trousers via Blacksmith Store during lockdown and had never sold anything so quickly. I haven't really stopped since then!


I've done everything from the branding, design, production, photography and so on, which I love to be able to do. As the brand grows I'm still leaning more into the creative side of things rather than logistics or operations, but I've never really had the luxury of choosing.

A look book image of a pair of Service Works Canvas Chef Trousers hung up in a kitchen.

Why is food culture so important to you?

I guess having the childhood I did, shaped my obsession and love for food and drink. It's my favourite way to pass the time; cooking, eating and drinking with family, old friends and new ones. It has informed everywhere I've ever travelled, and brings me a lot of joy. It’s so broad and can never really be mastered; ingredients and techniques are endless, which for me, makes it very exciting and stops me getting bored or jaded.


I think there was a misconception that the industry as a whole was more competitive and elitist than it really is. It feels like there’s been a generational shift and people are less concerned with stars but value authenticity and accessibility, which in my eyes makes for an infinitely better time and sums up what food culture is about. Pushing boundaries and experimenting can be cool, but when it’s self indulgent, over-engineered and over-priced it is pretty boring. Indulgence doesn’t need to be stuffy and selective. I love the culture for being inviting and inclusive, and focussing on the core elements; consuming something lovingly made and having a good time in a comfortable environment.

How have you encouraged the teams in some of the best restaurants in London to wear your gear?

We've never reached out to any restaurants before, it's always happened organically which I'm really grateful for. We're super lucky that it's a tight-knit community and word of mouth is more valuable than hounding a GM over the phone until they crumble. It's a hard thing to push, as generally speaking, restaurant budgets don't prioritise uniforms. We've been adopted by those with a more holistic focus, and in turn ended up in what I view as being the best restaurants in the country.

When you were a teenager what were you wearing? Which labels did you gravitate towards? And have they influenced what you’re doing now?

I grew up skateboarding so basically flitted between whatever I thought was cool at the time. There were some bad looks. I wore Krew jeans and Emerica’s because I wanted to be Andrew Reynolds. Then whatever DQM and Supreme I could afford on eBay in about 2007 because I wished I was from New York. Through going to The Hideout for Supreme caps when I was about 16/17 I got more into “proper clothes” and started seeing Japanese streetwear brands like Wtaps and NBHD, which I couldn’t afford and so became obsessed with. When all of my mates went to university and I didn’t, I travelled around staying with them and resold Supreme from Hip or Hideout for a few years. I guess that’s around when I became more interested in working in that world and moving away from hospitality.

A mood image of two chefs wearing Service Works shot from behind.

Tell us a bit about the team that you work with.

The main people who work with me at Service Works are two old friends James and Charlie who have been with me since just after the first lockdown in 2020. They were also both working in hospitality and wanted the same change I did when I left the industry so it seemed perfect. They both started off packing orders but now help me with production and operations/managing the warehouse staff as I’m no good at that! We’ve got an amazing team and everyone has been hired through friends/family of existing staff, it’s a good vibe, I’m very lucky.

Where do you see Service Works in 10 years? Are you planning Carhartt style world domination in the workwear market?

I hope that in 10 years Service Works is the go-to for those in the industry who care about every aspect of their produce, kitchen and staff. Alongside would be a concise collection of everyday goods for those outside of the industry who want the same qualities in casual wear. I want to be able to provide value and support hospitality businesses and individuals who care as much as we do. I don’t see there being any trends to cash in on, I plan on making the same reliable products at an organic rate for people who are passionate about food. If people stop being passionate about food then we will have bigger problems than trying to sell trousers!

With a background in catering, please tell us your favourite thing to eat and your favourite thing to cook.

These are impossible questions which change by the hour but at this moment in time as I’m under the weather and my daughter is teething/not sleeping, beef pho from cay tre in Hoxton would definitely see me right in a matter of minutes. As for cooking, I love cooking a warming white pork ragu with pappardelle, lots of butter, parsley and parmesan. Probably some bitter leaves on the side to avoid guests falling asleep at the table too.

SS24 Heroes

Shop the Full Collection

]]> https://tkdcincinnati.com/en-us/blogs/news/q-and-a-nikolaj-hansson-palmes 2024-02-08T12:18:15+00:00 2024-02-08T12:18:16+00:00 Q&A with Nikolaj Hansson of Palmes Finn Morris More

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Q&A with Nikolaj Hansson of Palmes

Spring/Summer '24

Palmes, or Palmes Tennis Society, to give it its full name, is back for another summer in the Basement: a menswear collection with roots in tennis culture, designed for wearing on and off the court. In the spirit of its inspiration, Rob serves some questions and founder Nikolaj Hansson volleys (or does he lob?) the answers.

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Palmes has its aesthetic deeply rooted in tennis culture. What was the plan at the start with the label?

Palmes came from an idea of showing tennis as a sport and culture in a more progressive and forward-looking perspective. Coming from skateboarding myself, I had this idea of tennis being quite elitist and conservative, mainly because that's just how it's always been presented in popular culture, media and fashion. And I think many people don't play tennis for that reason, because they can't relate to its surrounding culture. With Palmes, we seek to hint towards whatever we find ourselves into at any given moment, be it from the spheres of art, architecture, design, skateboarding, music or the like, bringing these elements into tennis for a more open and relatable feeling which we hope will essentially get more people out there on the tennis courts.

A Los Angeles Day photographed by Sean Murray for Palmes

Tennis labels have always crossed over into working class mainstream fashion in the UK, particularly with brands like Fila and Ellesse. Did these serve as inspiration to you when you started Palmes?

Being an outsider to tennis when I first started playing myself, I found myself gravitating more towards things from the outside world and taking these into the world of tennis, rather than looking at what was already there.

The game in the UK has always been slightly tinged with overtones of elitism. Would it be fair to say this is the case in Denmark?

To a large extent, yes. An example is Copenhagen, where we're based. There are only private tennis clubs and no public courts, meaning that you have to be a member of a club to play. Most of the clubs have year-long waitlists, meaning that it's kinda impossible to play if you're not a member. Down the line, this is something that we want to shake up too.

Scenes of Tennis in Tokyo (1964-2021) by Jun Iwasaki for Palmes

How do you feel attitudes are changing on the court with what players are wearing? Could we see Palmes at Wimbledon or Flushing Meadow soon?

I think there's always been a yearning for individuality on the tennis court, all the way back to McEnroe, Agassi and the likes. Today, we're seeing players such as Francis Tiafoe, Nick Kyrgios and more bringing their own sense of style and charisma into the game. To me, they embody what we are forever pushing at Palmes: That tennis as a sport and culture can and should be for the many, not the few.

Finally, you are allowed to watch one classic match from the past; what would it be and why?

Undoubtedly the 1980 Wimbledon final of Borg and McEnroe with the iconic tie-break and everything.

 

Shop the Palmes Collection ►

]]> https://tkdcincinnati.com/en-us/blogs/news/q-and-a-jo-hadley-mel-mercer-mercer 2024-02-02T16:12:59+00:00 2024-02-02T16:13:01+00:00 Q&A with Jo of Hadley Paper Goods and Mel of Mercer-Mercer Finn Morris More

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Q&A with Jo of Hadley Paper Goods and

Mel of Mercer-Mercer

S/S 24

Meet Mel Mercer (from Mercer Mercer) and Jo Waterhouse (from Hadley Paper Goods). Both v v good at drawing. Both v v nice. Both v v funny. Perfection. Find out what they have to say for themselves.

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JO WATERHOUSE

HADLEY PAPER GOODS

Hadley Paper Goods produce the most glorious greetings cards. Starting life as original artworks by founder Jo Waterhouse (collages, paintings or prints) and printed on recycled paper oun exquisite detail, these cards are both seriously beautiful and delightfully whimsical.

Shop Hadley Paper Goods

MEL MERCER

MERCER-MERCER

Mercer Mercer and tkdcincinnati was a little love in at a recent trade show. Mel, founder and fashion colour consultant (her proper job), makes beautiful print and text based cards, featuring the prettiest colours and some cheering words. Just lovely.

Shop Mercer-Mercer

 

Tell us a bit about yourself. What did you do before you made cards for a living?

 

JW: My name’s Jo Waterhouse, I live in Totnes in Devon with my partner and two kids. I run Hadley Paper Goods and also make original collages which you can see at jowaterhouse.com. I was an antique dealer before I sold cards and I loved it; driving out in the wee hours in my little red van, haggling with swarthy antique goblins and always having a wodge of cash in my back pocket. Selling antiques really informed my eye too - I bought and sold a lot of art and prints and decorative trozzle: it gave me a feel for what I like.

 

MM: I am fundamentally a creative, I have worked in fashion design for 35 years and have loved every minute travelling the world. My degree was in Textile Design, and I worked for large retailers in womenswear design. I now run my own colour studio, and my stationary range runs parallel with that. My fascination lies with illustration, surface pattern and fonts. It’s a rich life!

Have you always loved painting and drawing?

 

JW: Yes, absolutely. Sometimes doing it as a job can take the joy out of it - never enough to make me retrain as an accountant though. I’m always drawing or creating something, I like to have a project on the go or be learning a new skill. I used to do printmaking which was never very successful, I’d always manage to get a big inky fingerprint on my work. Before that I had a phase of drawing little naked people all over things, very crudely in pencil. For a long time when I was a child I really enjoyed painting onto toilet roll, it really sucks up the paint you see, so I created a rolls and rolls of swooshy patterned toilet roll. Yes; I’ve had many different art phases; much like Picasso.

 

MM: Always! As a child I always only wanted paints and drawing materials as presents. I always carry a small sketchbook and pencils wherever I go and I love to record everything visually.

We love the idea of old-fashioned letter writing. Are you a good correspondent?

 

JW: Yes and no. I’m a fun correspondent in that I always write on coloured paper and add a little something from the studio, some snipped paper pictures maybe, but I’m very easily distracted so I rarely reply promptly.

 

MM: I send visual notes rather than formal letters, sketches, doodles, cartoons that communicate something amusing or inspiring! I am not really a good correspondent...it's rather too random for that!

 

Felt tips, paints, or illustrator. What are the tools of your trade?

 

JW: Paints always. Or anything tactile really; pastels, soft pencils, scissors. Felt tips creep me out and Illustrator is boring.

 

MM: Pencils, 4B, Gouache paints, perfect brushes and Photoshop…Illustrator only if absolutely necessary!

Do you have a favourite occasion or holiday when it comes to designing a card?

 

JW: Valentine's is definitely my favourite, it’s so lovely to design for with all those hearts and kisses and nice feelings. I’m a big fan of love.

 

 

MM: Valentine's Day is my favourite! Everything in life comes down to love. My absolute fave is coffee in Paris and time to sketch down ideas. Bliss.

 

 

Spring Flowers Card £3.50

You Have My Heart Card £3.50

Little Strawberry Card £2.50

Birthday King Party Hat £4.95

Floral Thank You Card £3.50

Spring Flowers Card £3.50

You Have My Heart Card £3.50

Little Strawberry Card £2.50

Birthday King Party Hat £4.95

Floral Thank You Card £3.50

Favourite artist, and how do they inspire your work?

 

JW: I love Beryl Cook, she comes from Plymouth near me; I started off liking her work a bit ironically but now I’m just wholeheartedly into it, I like the lightness of it and the narratives. I like Louise Bourgeois, I’m especially inspired by her textile pieces, they really speak to me. My favourite thing though is folk art, I have many folk art books on my shelves that I browse if I need a quick visual pick-me-up. I have children’s art framed in my house, some that my own children have done and some very old children’s artwork from the 1950s or so, I just love the freedom of it.

 

MM: The Fauves, Celia Birtwell, Laurent de Brunhoff, Ludwig Bemelmans…and hundreds more. I gravitate towards colour, spontaneity, pattern and the enchanting things in life.

 

 

Silence or music when you’re working? And what are you listening to?

 

JW: When I’m in a creative flow I like to listen to Beyonce very loud in my headphones and bop about, then I can make pictures on fast forward and also imagine I’m Beyonce, she’s my favourite person to be when I’m alone in the studio. I also need some silence in my life, to keep me on the level. It depends on the day.  

 

MM: When I am working it's simply Radio 4 or Radio 3... rarely silence.

Party! Card £3

Bow & Ribbon Card £3

Birthday Boat Card £3

It's Love Card £3

Hello Card £3

Party! Card £3

Bow & Ribbon Card £3

Birthday Boat Card £3

It's Love Card £3

Hello Card £3

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching any secret paramores, you’ll be sending a love token to? don’t worry. Our lips are sealed.

 

JW: I’ll be sending love tokens to my wonderful studio wives: Hennie henniehaworth.co.uk, Becky eccabin.com, Clare clarefisherart.com and Allegra wildwoodstudio.org. It’s all part of the masterplan, I’ll start my wooing now and then one day we’ll all live together in a crumbling Dartmoor mansion. Perfect.

 

 

MM: No secrets…I send cards to my darling daughters Georgina & Amelia and my gorgeous, beyond gorgeous boyfriend.

 

You’re shopping at tkdcincinnati, what’s in your basket?

 

JW: The Red BasShu quilt please. A lot of my possessions seem to be quilted these days, I can’t get enough of quilting it would seem. And a big pair of Grainne Morton earrings too, obviously. Gosh I love tkdcincinnati, I could carry on - who’s paying? If it’s an option I’ll just take one of everything please. Or two. Two of everything. Thank you.

 

MM: The whole store... I'm not lying.

 

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The Card Shop

]]> https://tkdcincinnati.com/en-us/blogs/news/q-and-a-orfeo-wish-cards-alexandra-canonbury-press 2024-01-30T17:17:48+00:00 2024-02-01T14:34:51+00:00 Q&A with Orfeo of Wish Cards and Alexandra of Canonbury Press Finn Morris More

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Q&A with Orfeo of Wish Cards and

Alexandra of Canonbury Press

S/S 24

We sit down (virtually I'm afraid, as would love to have had a real actual cup of tea with these lovely souls) with Orfeo of Wish Cards and Alexandra of Canonbury Press, two of our favourite new card illustrators, and chat all things stationery and design and what's in their Hambledon shopping basket.

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ORFEO TAGIURI

WISH CARD STUDIO

Annie and her Instaram sleuthing led us to this talented folk. Wish Cards come with a match, striker pad and candlewick (and very cool illustration or photo). Whatever the occasion, strike a match and make a wish. A bit poetic. A lot fun.

Shop Wish Cards

ALEXANDRA SIMMS

CANONBURY PRESS

Canonbury Press is a London-based creative studio, producing fine quality stationery and accessories, all printed and hand-finished in England. Founded by photographer Alexandra Simms, the cards feature beautiful botanical images.

Shop Canonbury Press

 

Tell us a bit about yourself. What did you do before you made cards for a living?

 

OF: I have always been a collector and actually amassed a large collection of vintage postcards before I dived into making them myself. At Wish Cards we want to maintain that quality and care that often went into the more traditional card making processes.

 

AS: First and foremost I’m a photographer, but I’ve always had a love for making with paper and stationery. Canonbury Press was a way of combining these passions and response has been amazing.

Have you always loved painting and drawing?

 

OF: I actually only discovered visual art in my mid-twenties. Before that I wanted to be a writer. After a while I learnt that an image is a great way to concisely express the complicated/nuanced ideas I was hoping to capture in writing.

 

AS: I’ve alwas loved creating whether it be drawing, painting or photography, especially the hands-on making process.

WISH CARD HOW-TO:

TAKE OUT THE MATCH

STRIKE THE MATCH

STRAIGHTEN AND LIGHT THE WICK

Illustration of someone lighting a wish card.

BLOW OUT THE CANDLE &

MAKE YOUR WISH!

Illustration of someone blowing out a flame on a wish card.
Illustration of a Wish Card.

WISH CARD HOW-TO:

Illustration of a hand holding a match.

TAKE OUT THE MATCH

Illustration of a match striking.

STRIKE THE MATCH

Illustration of a match lighting a candle.

STRAIGHTEN AND LIGHT THE WICK

Illustration of someone blowing out a flame on a wish card.

BLOW OUT THE CANDLE &

MAKE YOUR WISH!

We love the idea of old-fashioned letter writing. Are you a good correspondent?

 

AS: I’m an advocate of taking the time to put pen to paper it’s so much more personal, and of course can be kept forever!

 

Felt tips, paints, or illustrator. What are the tools of your trade?

 

OF: I always begin working with the same 0.5mm ballpoint pen on the same recycled lightweight notepaper. From there, if needed, I will scan my original drawing and fine tune it within photoshop.

 

AS: Most of my creative process takes place in the camera, setting the scene and of course the making of whatever it is I’m photographing.

Do you have a favourite occasion or holiday when it comes to designing a card?

 

OF: Valentines day has been a real treat! It is fun to remember there are so many different kinds of love. Although the 14th is usually focused on romantic love, I am always reminded of the many other forms worth celebrating.

 

AS: Canonbury Press cards are fairly universal, I’m drawn more to concepts and design than occasions.

 

Soft Peach Rose Notecard £3.50

The Hero Notecard £3.50

Garden Rose Notecard £3.50

White, Red & Blue Bow Notecard £3.50

Lion & Lamb Notecard £3.50

Soft Peach Rose Notecard £3.50

The Hero Notecard £3.50

Garden Rose Notecard £3.50

White, Red & Blue Bow Notecard £3.50

Lion & Lamb Notecard £3.50

Favourite artist, and how do they inspire your work?

 

AS: I have many. But I love the work of Pierre-Joseph Redouté and it inspired my flower images. His illustrations are incredibly beautiful and highly detailed works of art. I try my best to replicate that with the camera!

 

Silence or music when you’re working? And what are you listening to?

 

AS: Both are true, I need music to keep the energy up! I listen to anything and everything. Mostly from my husband’s playlist, as I’m always looking to discover new artists. Sometimes we need silence, both with while working and resting.

Wine Cheers Wish Card £14

Original Pink Wish Card £5.99

Love Candle Wish Card £14

Classic Roses Wish Card £14

Original Black Wish Card £5.99

Wine Cheers Wish Card £14

Original Pink Wish Card £5.99

Love Candle Wish Card £14

Classic Roses Wish Card £14

Original Black Wish Card £5.99

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching any secret paramores, you’ll be sending a love token to? don’t worry. Our lips are sealed.

 

OF: Only my sweetheart! She deserves all the tokens I can find and many more.

 

 

AS: That would be telling!

 

You’re shopping at tkdcincinnati, what’s in your basket?

 

OF: The entire Wish Cards collection of course! A couple pairs of Gramicci trousers, Mosser Glass kitchenware, Heim Sohne egg spoons, BasShu patchwork quilt…this is actually pretty dangerous for my bank account! I better stop here.

 

AS: Well Valentine’s is closely coming up, so in my basket I have the Ovals champagne saucer set with 12 Praline robin eggs and a Liqueur Malette French Match Strike to light the candles.

 

In need of more inspiration?

Snapshots: The Printed Peanut

See More

Q&A with Hadley Paper Goods

and Mercer-Mercer

COMING SOON

The Card Shop

Explore now

In need of more inspiration?

Snapshots: The Printed Peanut

See More

Q&A with Hadley Paper Goods and Mercer-Mercer

COMING SOON

The Card Shop

]]> https://tkdcincinnati.com/en-us/blogs/news/q-and-a-cath-kidston-c-atherley 2023-04-14T15:03:51+01:00 2023-04-14T15:04:40+01:00 Q&A with Cath Kidston of C.Atherley Finn Morris More

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Q&A with Catherine Kidston Padgham MBE of C.Atherley

Spring/Summer '23

We're delighted to welcome Catherine Kidston Padgham MBE's brand new Bath and Body brand, C.Atherley to tkdcincinnati. Named for her maternal grandmother, this is an homage to her love of gardening and flowers and celebrates Cath's obsession with geraniums. And we're extremely smug that we are one of the first bricks and mortar stores in the UK to carry the range. We sit down with friend of the shop from back in the day, the delightful Cath, while she chats all about her new project.

Shop C.Atherley ►

It is so lovely to be working together again. Tell us a bit about the inspiration for your new venture, C.Atherley.

It’s so lovely to be back working with you again!

It all started off in my greenhouse where I have an ever-growing collection of scented geraniums – I am rather obsessed with them with all their different fragrances. I had a chance meeting with friends Denis and Leslie Aaronson who have a business manufacturing beautiful body care products and the idea for C.Atherley grew from there. I wanted a chance to create beautiful product again here in the UK to all the values I aspire to and knew they were just the right partners with their expertise and my design knowledge.

Our customers will mainly know you for your beautiful print designs. Tell us how you came to launch a geranium inspired bath and body range, which might seem something of a departure.

I do still design print from my small studio called Joy of Print but wanted to create something very new with C.Atherley. It has been a wonderful project being able to create a brand from scratch, working with flowers again from a different perspective. In creating the packaging we were drawing directly for the geraniums which look me back to where I started out.

What do you love about about a geranium?

My memories of them go right back to childhood. My mum had them outside our kitchen window and I learnt to crush their leaves to release their scent from an early age. As well as their fragrance I love their vivid flowers and being able to use them as decoration in the house – there is something very joyful about them.

How did you work on the formulations for the new range? And what makes them special?

It was an incredible journey starting with me taking my Radens geranium plants down to the perfumer in the West country where he captured their fragrance directly from the leaves. This needed to be exact as each new scent we create will match back to a particular geranium variety. We worked within the boundaries of creating product with a very high level of natural oils to ensure they are as pure and of the highest quality. I hope you will agree they have the most incredible fragrance and nourishing qualities.

Your garden looks quite quite beautiful. Any exciting plans for Spring and Summer planting this year? We’re always looking for horticultural inspo.

I am a bit sad at the state of my garden this Spring. We lost so much with the frost and snow in December. I have just ordered lots of verbena bonariensis and gaura to spread through the border and hopefully fill some gaps. Each year I order some new geraniums to try out so this year I have gone for Clorinda with its cedar scent and rose-lemon Graveolens which will hopefully spread quite large.

Do you think C.Atherley taps into a particularly British sensibility? And might that be part of the same continuum as Cath Kidston in its glorious floral heyday?

C.Atherley is very much a British made brand which was an important factor when we set up. Having launched the company I am really stuck by how many geraniums fans are contacting us from all over the world. Hopefully we are a British brand with a global reach!

Are you still working with textiles? We need to replace our ironing board covers from the Noughties.

I still have my early CK ironing cover! Yes – I am still very much working in print design but mainly in collaboration with other manufacturers these days. I love teaming up with people with specialist skills - You can see some of our different collaborations on our Joy of Print website.

Indoor plants. Yes or no? It’s an ongoing Hambledon debate.

Some! I’m not so keen on the kind of evergreen plants that can stay indoors all year round but I really love bringing flowering plants into the house. Seasonally I plant a lot of bulbs like paper whites for the winter. I bring my geraniums in from the greenhouse all year round. Jasmine is another favourite. My best success recently has been Sparmania which likes being indoors and as long as it has lots of water grows really tall with amazing white flowers.

Stanley was very much the symbol of Cath Kidston. Will there be a dog representative for C.Atherley? Asking for a friend.

Yes. Kind of. We have designed a lovely toile print of my house and garden and greenhouse and you can spot my Bedlington whippet Grace in there. She is my lucky mascot!

What is your favourite product in the new range?

I’m obsessed with the bubble bath!

Why do you think C.Atherley and tkdcincinnati are such a good match?

I really do love everything about the Hambledon. The building is of course glorious but the the thing I like most is the selection products you chose to sell- always something fun and surprising and well put together. From a personal point of view we have a very long history of selling together over the years so I am very excited to have my new venture now landing on your shelves.

 

Shop the C.Atherley Collection ►

The Geranium No.1 Range:

C.Atherley’s Geranium No.1 fragrance is a hand blended formulation that combines eight essential oils. The 100% natural combination of essential oils is full of goodness, imparting a wealth of benefits including uplifting, clarifying and balancing properties. The oils were thoughtfully selected and expertly blended to capture the distinctive scent of the Radens geranium variety grown in Cath's greenhouse.

 

GERANIUM - Balancing

 

CORN MINT - Uplifting

 

LAVENDER - Calming

 

LEMON MYRTLE - Refreshing

 

CHAMOMILE- Relaxing

 

GRAPEFRUIT - Invigorating

 

CEDARWOOD- Soothing

 

FRANKINCENSE - Grounding

GERANIUM - Balancing

 

CORN MINT - Uplifting

 

LAVENDER - Calming

 

LEMON MYRTLE - Refreshing

CHAMOMILE - Relaxing

 

GRAPEFRUIT - Invigorating

 

CEDARWOOD- Soothing

 

FRANKINCENSE - Grounding

All products are:

Vegan - PETA Approved - Sulphate Free - GMO Free - Paraben Free - 100% Natural Fragrance - High Level Botanical Ingredients

Hand Blended Fragrance - Responsibly Made - Reusable and Recyclable Packaging - Made in Britain

 

All products are:

Vegan - PETA Approved - Sulphate Free - GMO Free - Paraben Free - 100% Natural Fragrance - High Level Botanical Ingredients - Hand Blended Fragrance - Responsibly Made - Reusable and Recyclable Packaging - Made in Britain

 

Bath Oil - 140ml - £39

Bath Salts - 200g - £35

Body Wash - 500ml - £29

Hand Wash Refill - 575ml - £30

Nourishing Oil - 50ml - £30

Hand Cream - 75ml - £18

Bubble Bath - 300ml - £35

Hand Wash - 300ml - £27

Hand & Body Lotion - 300ml - £27

]]> https://tkdcincinnati.com/en-us/blogs/news/q-and-a-oscar-phillips-sheriff-deen-showobi 2023-04-13T17:04:00+01:00 2024-04-25T14:04:14+01:00 Q&A with Oscar Phillips and Sheriff-Deen Showobi of Oscar Deen Finn Morris More

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Q&A with Oscar Phillips and Sheriff-Deen Showobi of Oscar Deen

S/S 24

Oscar Deen is a brand new sunglass brand for The Basement, founded by friends Sheriff-Deen Showobi and Oscar Phillips. The designs originate from sourcing trips around the streets and vintage markets of Europe for classic frames. These vintage originals form the basis of their modern designs. Rob sits down with the founders and gets the inside track on the world of eyewear.

Shop the collection ►

Both of you have careers away from fashion. What was the Eureka moment that made you decide to both start an eyewear brand together?

 

O: We’d been good mates for years and always wanted to work on a project together. We tried our hand at a few things but found glasses when helping a vintage eyewear collector out with a completely different project. His collection of vintage frames planted a seed and seemed to connect the dots of what we were looking for. We took him for coffee and took our notepads too. That was our intro to the eyewear industry.

 

We then spent about two years in research and development; attending trade shows in London and Paris, learning about design, materials, manufacturing, timelines etc. We completed six rounds of prototypes while slowly developing the brand side of Oscar Deen.

Marché aux Puces, Paris

"When you head to Milan with a single clue. Find Mr 'E'. His collection is mental."

The inspiration: a pair of 1970's American-made classics found in Mercado De Carril, Madrid.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

One of the things we like about what you do is the way you source your products. Can you give us a brief insight into how you find your frames and which far-flung corners of the globe this has taken you to?

 

S: We’ve been all over the place: Milan, Turin, Barcelona, Paris. We’d like to go to Japan and the US soon as well.

 

The way we go about sourcing the vintage frames to inspire the collection usually involves picking somewhere that we’d like to go or where we’ve heard there is a decent chance of finding some treasure. Then once we’re there, we start following our noses, looking up flea markets and vintage shops to begin with and then we ask people we meet along the way if they know of any good spots to find vintage eyewear. It's a proper laugh and by asking people it turns into a mad treasure hunt.

Learning the history of how Mazzucchelli have been making the finest acetate since 1849.

The Mazzucchelli acetate used to make OD frames.

You are using Mazzucchelli acetate, which is one of the best materials around. Was it always the intention to use this for the construction of your frames and what is it that makes it so good?

 

O: We spent a long time researching materials and when it came to acetate it was always Mazzuchelli that came up. Their colours are beautiful and there's a density to the acetate that just isn't matched by other manufacturers; this feeling of the frames having weight and strength when you hold them was important to us. We then went to the factory in Italy and we were shown around by Mr Crespi. It was just incredible. They’ve been at it since 1849, so this heritage plus everything we’d learned meant we just had to use their acetate.

Discarded leather offcuts are used to produce OD cases.⠀⠀

"Late nights. Borrowed workshops. Battered soft office hands. Make it happen."

"OD cases are tough, smell lovely and free with every frame."

Sometimes high-end eyewear is badly let down by the cases that they come in. This is definitely not the situation with Oscar Deen. Can you explain how the cases came to be part of the overall story?

 

S: We wanted to do something different from what was out there already so we reached out to a friend of ours called Otis Ingrams. He designs beautiful leather goods and we worked together with him to design a case that is simple, stylish and effective. Otis recommended a recycled material called bonded leather. It being recycled was obviously a positive but it was also sturdier than normal leather, which means the frames are really well protected. The case is made from two pieces of bonded leather, four rivets and a Sam Browne button.

Sheriff-Deen and Oscar in London.

"Vintage frames form the base of our designs. We take over from there."

"Discovered in Paris, re-imagined in London"

And finally, who would be your dream customer, dead or alive, and what frame are they wearing?

 

O&S: As two massive Gooners riding a glorious wave at the moment, we’d have to say Ian Wright, and we reckon he’d love a pair of Pandas!

 

All images c/o Oscar Deen @oscardeeneyewear

Shop the collection ►

Shop the collection ►

]]> https://tkdcincinnati.com/en-us/blogs/news/q-and-a-kestin 2022-09-12T16:47:01+01:00 2022-09-12T16:47:02+01:00 Q&A with Kestin Hare Finn Morris More

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Q&A with Kestin Hare

A/W 22

Rob sits down with his new best friend and chats fashion, retail and the Scottish borders. Welcome to the Basement, Kestin.

Shop the collection ►

Rob

First of all, mate, we're delighted to finally be having this conversation. Because I feel like we've had numerous sort of near misses in the past. We're delighted to be welcoming the label into the basement.

Kestin

You know, I've been a big fan of the store for a number of years, and we've been mates, you know, over the last few years. I think we're going to be in good company with the brands that you've got in there already. And I think, there are lots of similarities between where we are in Edinburgh and Winchester. So looking forward to it.

Rob

It's great to be back in Paris. As we have this chat, we're currently sitting on the Left Bank in Paris on a lovely day, looking at Spring Summer 23. How is it feeling to be able to show again? Is it nice to be back?

Kestin

Yeah, definitely, definitely. Last January we were meant to be here and then couldn't be because of the restrictions and that was quite frustrating. I think what we do as a brand, it's all about the quality of the fabrics and all the different textures. And you need to be able to get up close and see that and that's quite difficult when you're trying to do things digitally. It's been a little bit easier for our domestic UK stockists because we've been able to have the London showroom and people have been getting there. For our international partners in Europe, it has been a real challenge. And not just from a buying point of view but from a personal point of view as well. Because we've got great relationships with all the stores. They're friends of ours. So, you know, personally, it's been difficult but it's great to be back.

The John Muir Way, East Lothian, Scotland

Rob

Fantastic. So obviously, you're from and based in Scotland still. How was it growing up in Scotland fashion wise for you? What were your cultural references? What were the stores that you used to shop in? What were the kind of things that you held dear? Was Scotland kind of influenced by what was going on south of the border, London, Manchester, or did it kind of have its own identity?

Kestin

I was always into brands and I was into clothes. My dad was an architect, my mum was an interior designer. So that creativity was already built into me. I spent a lot of my early days going through to Glasgow, because Edinburgh and Glasgow are so close. Glasgow had a great club scene. It was all about John Richmond Destroy and wearing that and going out clubbing. But then when I got to 18 I left Edinburgh and went down to Newcastle to study fashion at Northumbria. So the first thing I had to do was was to get a job. So I got a job in Strand which was an incredible independent department store, which allowed me to work two or three days a week. I was really influenced by what brands they were buying and Dave Dalby, who was the buyer and owner, was buying Neil Barrett and Prada Sport and it was that technical influence that I'd never really seen before; with fabric innovation; with some really interesting and clever product. And at the same time I was studying fashion, I met Nigel Cabourn and so I was going up to The Windmill in Newcastle which was Nigel's studio and helping him cut patterns. He kind of took me under his wing a little bit and I ended up going to to work for him afterwards and became Head of Design there for four years. So I think that the influences of all of that were within me. Scotland as an influence didn't really come to me until later, when I came back and was a bit older and appreciated what Scotland is all about. The history of textiles within Scotland. The Borders in Scotland has been incredible in terms of weaving fabric and there's some great mills still there today. So, I think Scotland as I've got older has become a kind of a reference point. And it's definitely a reference point for the brand.

Rob

So going kind of full circle. You recently opened a lovely brand new store, in Stockbridge, Edinburgh during the pandemic. Bricks and mortar is very close to tkdcincinnati's heart. How important is a bricks and mortar store to you in what is a widening digital landscape?

Kestin

Yeah. I think we originally started when I moved back from Newcastle and from London back to Edinburgh. We needed a place to work or studio, but it was also important for me that we had that kind of interaction with customers and to be able to see how customers reacted to seeing our products. So we started off this operation in the very early days. And then when we needed more space, we moved to Leith, which has been our home for a number of years now. You know Leith is such a great kind of creative place and surrounding ourselves with all of that is really important. So we've always felt like we wanted to get back into Stockbridge where we first originated from. Stockbridge is a place that's really close to my heart. Although we always say that as a brand we're based in Leith and the studio is very much based in Leith but Stockbridge is almost like a little villagey area. And that's kind of why I see the connections between tkdcincinnati and the store in Stockbridge. It's very kind of old school, beautiful architecture, really old shops. That was a difficulty about opening this new store. A lot of our stores previously had been quite minimal in terms of the design. We had gone for quite clean lines but with this we really wanted to try and make it feel like it had always been there. So that 20 year old kids could come in and go 'we really like this, you know, it's, it's cool.' We wanted seventy year old dads or granddads to be able to come in and feel comfortable within the space as well.

Rob

Who's your customer?

Kestin

Well, I think that's it. We range all the way through. 20 year old kids buy it. We have seventy year old granddads buy it. My dad wears it, you know. It's nice to be to have that kind of age range. We're not coming and going, you know. We're not reactive. We're not a trend brand. What we like to do is timeless classics that are really good quality and will last as well.

Rob

So we're currently sitting in a room in Paris, which is full of beer. It's a sweltering hot day.

Kestin

And we're not drinking any of it.

Rob

Well, it seems a bit weird to be talking to you about Autumn Winter but obviously we're really excited to have the brand making his debut with us. Can I just ask you a couple of questions about the inspiration behind AW22? What are the pieces that stand out for you? What was the process? And did it help to kind of have a bit more time because of lock downs from a creative point of view? When it comes to putting a collection together, I know how much work goes into it and how tricky sampling can be and the challenges that everybody faces. So it's kind of a two prong question really. Did the extra downtime help you as a creative? And of what came out of that collection, what were your favorite parts?

Kestin

I think lockdown encouraged us to try and make things more locally. When we couldn't travel to factories in Portugal or even within the UK, we ended up starting to make a series of products that we could make within 40 square miles. We would get the cloth from Howard Stevenson. We would make it in one of the factories in Cumbernauld. Try and make it as close to home as we possibly can. We definitely got more creative in that period. I got some sewing out I hadn't touched for 20 years. It was nice to sit there with my kids and start trying to make some stuff again. I think I touched on it before, when you're not able to travel, you're always inspired by what's closest to you. So the Autumn Winter 22 is called the John Muir Way collection. The John Muir Way is where I was brought up, which is just outside of Edinburgh, and it runs along the East Lothian coast. John Muir was born in Dunbar, which was was close to where I'm from originally and he was one of the first people to realize we need to start protecting this area, this is an incredible, beautiful coastline here. I would encourage anybody, if you're in the area, there's some incredible beaches. John Muir, he's got that history behind him. He went out to Yosemite and started the national parks out there. So you've got a kind of Scottish Americana type influence. There's influences there from Scotland and the colours, and the John Muir way. I spend a lot of time walking the John Muir Way so that's obviously a massive inspiration: the colours, the textures, all of that. And then I started to look at John Muir and the history of him and that Americana influence. And you can see that with some of the plaid checks and those types of things, that kind of blanket and looking at old American brands, like Eddie Bauer. I've always been trained (from Nigel really) that the vintage research, and the depth through all of that is really important. And I've always been trained to go out and do your vintage research. We bought a few old pieces that we thought were going to help us to design the collection: some old Eddie Bauer styles, some great down filled jackets from some of the American brands. And then it's almost like Mr Potato Head. It's like taking vintage pieces from here, another vintage piece from there, putting them together. And that's the way I was taught to design. It's not rocket science, but it's my way of being able to kind of put things together. And then it's about fabric research. And we've worked a lot with some Scottish mills, some great Italian mills on the technical side of things. And then it's bringing it all together and I think all of those influences have, you know, really helped us to kind of produce a collection that I'm really proud of. The John Muir Way, Autumn 22 collection is probably our best collection to date.

Rob

That's always nice to hear, especially since it's our first season with it. It sounds as if we've come in at exactly the right time

Kestin

Definitely.

Rob

Kestin, thank you so much for taking the time out. See you for Spring Summer 23.

All imagery is from the Kestin A/W22 Campaign. Photography: Jonathan Daniel Pryce.

Fabric Guide ►

Shop the Full Collection ►

]]> https://tkdcincinnati.com/en-us/blogs/news/q-and-a-alice-blofeld-of-shyla 2022-09-02T14:22:44+01:00 2024-03-25T12:46:42+00:00 Q&A with Alice Blofeld of Shyla Finn Morris More

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Q&A with Alice Blofield of Shyla

S/S '24

We sit down with founder Alice Blofeld and find out a bit more about the life of a London jewellery designer.

Shop Shyla Jewellery ►

Alice Blofield of Shyla.

Can you describe the essence of Shyla?

I like to think of our pieces as timeless classics blended with a modern and contemporary twist. I want them to be as relevant today as in five or ten years’ time. We design both delicate everyday jewellery items as well as large, bold statement pieces, but our speciality is our handcrafted glass jewellery. I really feel this is a unique aesthetic which I haven’t seen any other designer do so far. We have a few signature colours which we carry from season to season, including apple greens, soft champagnes, lemon yellows and soft and dark blues. I would say we appeal to women of 30 + age, who like to dress in a sophisticated and understated way but add a fun and colour to their outfits through playful jewellery like ours. We also were intent in creating something that is really high quality but doesn’t cost the earth.

What is your background and where did you train?

My background is actually in philosophy but after university I trained and worked for a French womenswear and accessory brand. This is where I decided I would like to make my own take on accessories and create something a little bit different from the rest.

It's a big step, setting up on your own. What was the impetus for launching Shyla?

I was motivated mainly by the need for being creatively free and not constrained to trends. Our focus in not what’s ‘in’ this season or the next, rather what works well for women for of all ages over years to come.

Nancy Statement Earrings £70

Layla Double Hoop Earrings £68

Rosalia Pearl Hoop Earrings £70

Venetian Chunky Gold NEcklace £86

Talk a bit about your visual inspiration. What's on your pinboard?

Ha, well now it’s summer my mood boards consist mainly of dream holiday destinations. But I draw a lot of colour inspiration from these. As our collection is so colourful I love seeing how countries use colour in clothing and accessories all around the world. Then add a contemporary touch to these.

Where are you based? And who do you work with?

Our studio is in Dalston, London. Where I have lived for the last 8 years. I have a wonderful team of close women I work with. I love the feeling of working with women. We come in have a coffe and chat and then get to work. It’s a lovely friendly environment where we can have a lot of fun as well as work really hard.

You describe yourself as "morally motivated". In these times of more conscious consumerism, can you elaborate on what this means?

Our designs are motivated by longevity and timelessness instead of the trend-led designs which you would easily dispose of. We are ethically motivated in the sense of women empowering women. We work with several small charities educating some of the poorest women in India. Teaching them a craft they can learn to support and sustain their families. We also use recycled gold and silver and all our packaging is recycled. We are a women-led team and I personally believe so strongly in sisterhood and supporting and uplifting other women.

Tilda Baroque Pearl Drop Earrings £70

Serpentine Necklace Raw Crystal £74

Sura Chunky Hoop Earrings £70

Clarence Gold Ring £68

Can you tell us about the charities you work with?

We work with three charities. The first is Comit2change. A charity which helps to educate some of India’s poorest females. We are also committed to Choose love, a charity aimed at helping refugees all across the world. Lastly we work with One tree planted, a charity which plants millions of trees across the world. Three causes that are close to my heart.

What has been the biggest thrill of your career?

The whole evolution is a thrill. Every online order we get gives me a happy feeling that someone is loving what we do. It reinforces my creative confidence, which is often needed in such a cut throat industry. A second biggest thrill was being stocked by Liberty, a store I have admired ever since being a teenager.

Who would you most like to see wearing your jewellery?

Emma Corrin recently wore our Nairobi hoops. That made me jump with joy as I’m a huge fan of The Crown.

Why do you think Shyla has proved so hugely popular at tkdcincinnati?

It makes me so happy that customer’s of the Hambledon like what we are doing. It is such a beautiful store which stocks other amazing brands.

Shop all Shyla Jewellery ►

]]> https://tkdcincinnati.com/en-us/blogs/news/qanda-sean-monahan-monica-paolini-sea-new-york 2021-12-04T17:42:30+00:00 2023-07-14T11:17:31+01:00 Q&A with the founders of Sea New York Finn Morris More

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Q&A with Sean Monahan and Monica Paolini of Sea New York

How very extremely exciting is this? Sea New York made its much heralded Hambledon debut back in Fall 21 and we were lucky enough to sit down (sadly virtually, no trip to NYC for us) with the founders Sean Monahan and Monica Paolini and chat about their approach to beautiful fashion.

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A black and white photograph of Sean and Monica, the founders of Sea New York.

We are extremely excited about the prospect of Sea New York at tkdcincinnati. Can you introduce the brand to our customers?

We started Sea with the intention of creating a company and that we could build and work on together - it’s a natural extension of our friendship.

 

You have been friends for years. How did you meet? And how did you remeet and come to work together?

Monica: Sean and I grew up in Newburgh, NY, about 100 kilometers north of New York City. Our families are very close, and we have been the best of friends from childhood.

Why Sea?

Monica: Transparently, it’s the first 3 letters of Sean’s name but we love the more apparent meaning of Sea and where it transports the mind.

The Sea New York Fall 22 Moodboard.

The collection is incredibly beautiful, wearable and also of the moment. How do you manage to achieve this difficult balance?

The customer continues to be our compass and helps to guide our direction and stay focused. We want to be a resource our customers can depend on. And make clothes that are easy to wear but at the same time make you feel special.

 

Do you design with a particular person in mind?

NY inspires the brand. It is our home and a major point of reference for us. The women in NY express a freedom and strength in the way they dress and carry themselves. We see that every day and it influences the way we work. We try to develop pieces that women can use as tools to express themselves rather than overwhelm who they are.

You work together. What is the division of labour?

Sean: Monica is the brand. She’s the visionary as well as the nuts and bolts of the company. She does 95% of the work.


Monica: Sean is my sounding board, and if I have a problem he helps me figure out the solution. He’s also a wonderful babysitter to my son Luca.

 

How has your design process evolved over the years?

Monica: Once you’ve established your customer base you push yourself to evolve the newness. This becomes the biggest challenge each season… to keep the collection moving forward while preserving the bread & butter of the brand.

Julian Print Puff Slv Dress £630

Jamie Twill Pants £340

Olga Smocking Puff Slv Smocked Top £375

Who were you most thrilled to see wearing Sea?

Monica: It still makes my day when I walk down a random street (especially when I’m traveling) on any given day and see someone wearing Sea.

 

The fabrics and colours are beautiful. How do you go about sourcing?

Monica: Each season I start out with a shopping trip to the flea markets and vintage shops (or Etsy during Covid) to find random treasures to be inspired by. From there we work with our wonderful factories to help develop these inspirations into something distinctly Sea.

Is there anyone you would love to dress?

Jane Birken.

 

How does the typical day go?

Dropping my son Luca off at school. Riding a Citi bike down to the studio. Design meetings and fittings all day. And then the best hours of the day back home with my son Luca and a glass of wine.

Julian Embroidery Off Shoulder Dress £655

Baylin Lace Vest Black £425

Greir Pleating Slip Dress £460

We loved our Zoom buying appointments with you (perfectly organised and very calm). Can you tell us a bit about your beautiful showroom? And the lovely people you work with.

Sean: We’ve worked in the same building (originally the 5th floor which is now my home) for the past 15 years but a few years ago we were able to take over the ground floor that is now Sea’s home base. Our first shop is positioned in the front side of our studio space - it’s a personal, direct window into our world.

 

Monica: The team is everything! We have so many people who are instrumental to where we are today and have been loyal to the brand. My son Luca turns 6 this month and his beloved nanny is an integral part of the collection coming to life each season. She’s an expert knitter and her crafty hands are behind the making of many of our hand-knit and crochet pieces.

We’re quite nosy. What is a guilty pleasure in the Sea New York HQ?

Wine!

If we were going to New York for a lightning 24 hour trip, what should we do?

Please come by the Sea shop! It’s our home and would welcome anyone. And then you can walk over to Frenchette to have the best fries in the city.

 

Why do you think Sea New York and tkdcincinnati will be firm friends?

It’s our first home in Winchester. And I think our approaches are similar… designing things we love, in a space we love, to curious stores we can grow to love!

 

Shop Sea New York ►

]]> https://tkdcincinnati.com/en-us/blogs/news/qanda-with-alban-davies-the-vintage-list 2020-09-15T10:22:59+01:00 2020-11-13T11:14:10+00:00 Q&A with Henry Alban Davies of The Vintage List Finn Morris More

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Q&A with Henry Alban Davies - The Vintage List

Meet Henry. Former antique dealer, Georgian and Victorian glass afficionado and founder of The Vintage List, suppliers of our most favoured etched glasses. Here's how Henry got into the drinking game.

Shop The Vintage List ►

A mixed black and white image of The Vintage List glasses

Could you introduce yourself?

Hello, I am Henry, and I am the owner and director of The Vintage List. I live in London with my wife Camilla, our four children, two cats and bunny called Basil.

How did you get started in the world of glassware?

I have always been interested in antique glass. I used to be an antiques dealer, and I had great fun visiting antiques markets and salerooms. You would find all kinds of things. Some patterns and shapes became very familiar, but occasionally you would see something quite unique. Unfortunately, I am a fairly clumsy person, so one of the good things about setting up The Vintage List has been that I can now replace the glasses I break!

You are a collector of antique glass. How does this influence your designs?

All of our designs are inspired by old, mainly English patterns. We have tried to take elements of a pattern, or the whole thing, such as the stars, and recreate them.

The Vintage List Ovals Tumbler Set
Vintage List Wine Goblets

Why is the company called The Vintage List?

The company is called Vintage because it is inspired by old glassware, and List because it is a selection of the things we like the most.

Why do you think The Vintage List has such a following with tkdcincinnati's customers?

I think that our shapes and designs are subtle and interesting, and your customers appreciate that. Although there is a traditional element to what we do, it is also about creating attractive objects that can be enjoyed.

Favourite drink for each glass shape please!

The Vintage List Stars Champagne Saucers

Champagne Saucer:

Obviously it has to be a glass of champagne. Although recently the actor Stanley Tucci used one for a Martini, and apparently it was very good!

The Vintage List Lens Tumblers

Tumbler:

I like to use the tumblers for water or sometimes a small beer.

The Vintage List Ovals Liqueur Glasses

Liqueur:

A small, cold sherry.

The Vintage List Stars Goblets

Wine Goblet:

I like this glass for red wine. It is heavy enough to feel substantial in the hand and looks great on the table.

How and where is your glass made?

Our glassware is made in the north of China. It comes from an area that specialises in handmade glass. All of our glassware is hand-blown and hand-engraved from lead-free crystal. The hot glass is blown into moulds to create the shape. The champagne saucers and wine glasses are quite unusual, as the bowl and stem come in two different parts. With most modern handmade glassware, the stem is pulled out of the bowl, but we connect ours together. Finally, after it has been annealed, the pattern is engraved onto the glass using fast turning wheels. The engravers mark the pattern with ink and then cut the design. It is a skilful process.

What exactly is crystal glass?

Crystal glass is a type of glass that contains special minerals, such as Zinc and Barium, that give it that lovely, sparkly quality.

The Vintage List Wine Goblets
The Vintage List Lens Vase

What has been your proudest moment with the company?

Our proudest moment was probably after we did our first trade fair. We had such amazing feedback. It felt like such a risk setting up the business, but at that point we knew we had made the right decision. We started with only a small amount of stock of our champagne saucers, but it has grown and grown.

What makes you smile?

When something new arrives from our factory, and it is everything that we had hoped it would be.

Any exciting plans for the future?

There is a new restaurant opening next month in Covent Garden and we will be supplying most of their glassware. It is the first time we have done anything like this, so it is quite exciting.

 

Shop The Vintage List Below

]]> https://tkdcincinnati.com/en-us/blogs/news/qanda-with-colin-campbell-of-sunray-sportswear 2020-05-08T10:41:37+01:00 2022-04-08T13:48:42+01:00 Q&A with Colin Campbell of Sunray Sportswear Finn Morris More

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Q&A with Colin Campbell - Sunray Sportswear

S/S '20

This week Rob's sitting down and chatting with Colin Campbell, the man in charge of Sunray Sportswear, tkdcincinnati's Japanese, by way of Cornwall, tee shirt of choice. Here's what Colin has to say about jersey, sustainability and life in lockdown.

 

Shop Sunray ►

Colin Campbell ironing a Sunray tee

So I'm writing these questions during a very peculiar time so first of all how are you ? How have you been coping with incarceration ?

I am sure like many, there has been a lot of reading and reflection and the further realisation that humans really are a stupid species.

I quote “If all the insects were to disappear from the planet, within 50 years all life on earth would end. If all human beings disappeared from the earth, within 50 years all forms of life would flourish” by Jonas Salk.

On a less serious note, I have been trying to grow a shaggy beard only to be told by my wife “shave that off” and with all this time indoors I was hoping that I may never need a barber again, only to be told “you’re going to shave that off”. It was worth a try.

We've been working together for a year now.. happy first anniversary mate ! How's the first 12 months been ?

I have to say that working with tkdcincinnati has been a real catalyst to what has been a whirlwind year. We have experienced extreme nervousness, trepidation, frustration and 360 degree ‘Exorcist neck turning’ moments trying to think what to do next. To then dancing and jumping around the room with happiness after opening the boxes from our recent delivery from Japan. All those emotions can be experienced in the same day.

The Sunray Sportswear logo
The Sunray Sportswear logo swing tags
The Sunray Sportswear Made in Japanlogo

So did you wake up and think I'm going to start a company making high quality Japanese T Shirts ?

(We are delighted you did by the way)

I guess Sunray has subconsciously evolved over the last 30 years. We moved to Cornwall (I needed to surf more), where we opened a surf shop, and were green to retail. We then fell into distribution and became Volcom’s first ever worldwide distributor, and very quickly had to learn the ropes of distribution. We then became agents for other brands, and now we are designing and producing our own brand, where we are probably the greenest we have ever been.

However, in all of those previous businesses, we were unwittingly learning about clothing, design and production. And although we were very green, the businesses were successful and I put this down to; we always applied common sense, honesty, treated others how you wished to be treated, as well as the quest for perfection. These same simple philosophies can hopefully lead Sunray to become a brand that both stores and customers value. Time will tell.

How did you go about the process ?

Was it a case of I know exactly the garment I want and the machine that makes it, now I just need to go and find the man ?

It became very clear that to produce that high quality and unbranded T Shirt it had to be made in Japan, and if possible, produced using a vintage knitting machine. Finding our esteemed producer was extremely fortuitous and then to discover they had been producing apparel for nearly 100 years was unbelievably lucky. Their long history brings with it a network of contacts, dyers, yarn and jersey makers that are a real "who’s who" of Japanese producers. They also had access to the those elusive knitting machines. Can you imagine as a rookie brand having access to all that knowledge: priceless.

We were in discussion with the producer for over 2 years before being allowed to place our first order and have our product knitted on that very special machine. During this period it was evident that we shared many values and we have slowly forged a great partnership. They offer unbelievable experience and production quality and we bring ideas that can help traditional garments become relevant in our fast fashion world. To say the partnership is blossoming is an understatement, they are an absolute joy to work with and we cannot believe how lucky we are.

For those of you who don’t know about these old machines, please allow me a few sentences to explain why they are seen as the holy grail of jersey and fleece production. This old analogue process can only produce just 1m of fabric per hour (a medium T Shirt needs roughly 1.2m), offering a jersey that has no side seams, no tension and like no other. They lay a long length of cotton yarn down in a very slow and circular motion, without any form of tension and drawing in air to sit between each layer. It is that special.

These machines were replaced in the 50’s by ones that can produce 100’s of metres of fabric per hour, where speed overtook quality as the primary aim. More human progress?

Japanese manufacturerers of Sunray Sportswear
Japanese manufacturerers of Sunray Sportswear
Japanese sewing machinery
Japanese manufacturerers of Sunray Sportswear

Sustainability is a big part of Sunray can you explain a bit about the processes that you've put in place ?

Are Homo Sapiens sustainable, probably not. We therefore do not to use the word sustainable, preferring that we are ‘thoughtful’ and then apply that thoughtfulness to absolutely every aspect of what we do. When we set out to produce Sunray it was very important that it had to be better on every level, including being as planet friendly as possible, as the world did not need another T Shirt brand, and we feel that this level of thought that we have applied does make Sunray unique.

Applying this thoughtfulness to everything we do has been integral to achieving what are possibly world leading planet friendly initiatives for a clothing brand. When you add those initiatives to the production quality and longevity each garment will have, it may well allow the customer to also become thoughtful. We do not wish to become preachy and outline all the minutiae we have implemented, as we prefer to think this level should be already industry standard and not something to be hailed.

When a customer discovers those initiatives, it offers them another layer of satisfaction knowing they have played their part. We also hope it may provoke them. That when buying their next item of clothing, they subconsciously ask questions: ‘how is it made’, ‘where is it made’, ‘any plastic involved’, ‘how long will it last’, etc.

tkdcincinnati X Runray limited edition collaboration t shirt
New season colours of Sunray t shirts
Sunray sweatshirts

Personally we have loved being part of the evolution of the brand. Can you divulge what's in store for Sunray ?

To continue our obsession.

We have access to the pattern archives of our Japanese producer and as you can imagine it is packed with some real gems, classics that will compliment what we already produce, so maybe a few new styles will be introduced as & when.

We have been sampling using some aged old Japanese dyeing techniques and I can tell you the colours that these techniques produce are stunning and the provenance of who and how they do the dyeing is a story in itself. These will be small and one off collections.

From SP21 onwards we are introducing smaller sizes for women. They will follow the same colours and traditional shapes already being produced, whilst offering a high quality, well made boyfriend fit T Shirt. We know some wonderful women who are helping us with the concept to ensure these new sizes have been thought through and relevant.

I am full of other ideas, but I have to keep reminding myself of “how many products does Red Bull have?”. Enough said.

And finally....... any sign of the washed black yet? It's been a year now!

My mind thinks “Isn’t washed black for ageing Motorhead fans?”, and as I am more Interpol than Motorhead I need to find that washed black that has that certain aloofness that Interpol exhibit and be a colour the hardened rock fan can mosh in. Importantly it has to compliment the Sunray colour palette, so I need to be thoughtful. Like a cheesy new movie commercial would say “coming soon to a store near you”.

 

We would like to end this Q & A by firstly saying thank you for being allowed to share some of the things that make Sunray unique and secondly, when you design and produce a brand that is good enough to be accepted into a store like tkdcincinnati, it is a very humbling and uplifting experience. We wish to say a very sincere Thank you to Victoria, Rob, Lucy and all the team for all their help, ideas and support. I can tell you that we will always work hard to stay a favourite.

Shop the latest Sunray collection by hitting the link below.

 

 

Shop Sunray ►

Sunray Haleiwa t Shirt in Dark Navy

Haleiwa T Shirt in Dark Navy £60

Sunray Haleiwa T Shirt in Spiced Apple

Haleiwa T Shirt in Spiced Apple £60

Sunray Makaha T Shirt in Off White

Makaha T Shirt in Off White £75

Sunray Haleiwa T Shirt in Dusky Citron

Haleiwa T Shirt in Dusky Citron £60

 
]]> https://tkdcincinnati.com/en-us/blogs/news/qanda-with-caroline-kent-scribble-and-daub 2019-11-01T12:01:14+00:00 2020-11-03T09:26:44+00:00 Q&A with Caroline Kent - Scribble and Daub Finn Morris More

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Q&A with Caroline Kent - Scribble and Daub

We had a little chat with the lovely Caroline Kent about life, art and her beautiful stationary brand Scribble and Daub.

 

Shop Scribble and Daub Cards ►

Tell us a bit about your background? What did you do before Scribble and Daub?

Prior to Scribble & Daub, I studied Social Anthropolgy at Edinburgh University (qualifies you for everything and nothing!) and then spent the best part of a decade in Scotland working in the contemporary art world, representing artists and organising exhibitions. After a year travelling in the Americas supported by a curatorial research grant, my husband and I moved to our cottage in East Sussex, and had our first child. And a short time after Arlo arrived, Scribble & Daub was born.

Have you always loved painting and drawing?

Always. I often say that if my seven year old self could see me now, she would be amazed and delighted to know that her favourite thing has become her career.

 

We love the idea of resurrecting old fashioned letter writing. Are you a good correspondent?

I aspire to be! However, with three small children and a business to run, aspiration and reality don't always collide... The two people I still regularly send letters to are my 92 year old grandfather, and a dear friend who lives in Berlin. My memory is terrible, so raher than be punctilious about sending birthday cards, I'll post notes or small, beautifully wrapped presents at random moments throughout the year as I find something or think of someone, and hopefully the element of surprise makes it feel more special, and compensates for my organisational failings. As a child I was strictly 'encouraged' to write thank you letters and I'm very grateful that my mother forced that particular habit on me. I now inflict the same on my children, but try to make it fun by keeping blank cards in their art cupboard and letting them paint their own. I'd like to write a children's book one day about the art of correspondence, with projects inspired by artists who have used the postal system in their work.

Could you talk a bit about your work process. Are you particular about the tools of your trade?

My process is intentionally quite simple, and I love the creative freedom that comes with that. I always use a traditional dip pen to create my scribbles, and then daub with Dr Ph Martins inks – they come in lovely glass bottles with droppers, Andy Warhol used them to create his commercial illustrations in the 1950s (which I love) and they are wonderfully vivid colours.

You've been featured in Vogue and World of Interiors. What do you think they responded to in your work?

Typically greetings cards can tend towards the cutesy and naff, Scribble & Daub aims for the other end of the spectrum. Many of my clients are from the art, fashion or interiors worlds and I have always designed with that aesthetically sophisticated customer in mind. Those three worlds have been enduring obsessions my whole life, so it's really exciting to find myself at a point where they are coming together.

You've worked on commissions for some lovely and stellar clients. How different is a commission to working on your own?

I really enjoy working with clients, both private individuals and brands, and as you say, am fortunate to have worked with some pretty incredible ones. Each project brings a new challenge, and it is sometimes nice to be told what to do, as within your own work anything is possible and that can be both liberating but also overwhelming at times.

 

What makes you smile?

Right now, my 2 month old baby, Rey smiling back at me.

 

Who do you work with and how does the typical day go?

 

My husband has recently become more involved with the business and has a love for spreadsheets that I will never fathom but for which I am eternally grateful. Laura, an illustrator in her own right, is my indispensible studio manager who somehow keeps everything running smoothly despite only working two days a week. I am currently on maternity leave, but ordinarily I work 2-3 days a week in the studio, plus any other time I can salvage from the wreckage of family life! A typical day – such as there is one - starts after dropping the kids at school, making coffee, checking emails and daydreaming out of the studio window at the meadow beyond. That may or may not lead to a spot of procrastination-gardening! I am not a morning person so it's often a slow start, but after lunch, if I have a particular project or deadline I can get lost in that for hours.

You were an art curator. Do you have a favourite artist? A favourite work of art?

 

An impossible question! I love the work of photographer Francesca Woodman and conceptual artist Ceal Floyer. Perhaps unsuprisingly, I am drawn to artists who use post in their work. Two particular favourites being the late Ian Hamilton Finlay, famous for his Scottish garden, Little Sparta, who also created an extraordinary archive of hundreds of limited edition postcards – he was essentially a hermit for much of his life so that was his way of communicating with the world. The other is Peter Liversidge who will put stamps on pretty much anything and stick it in the post – fishing floats, fake fruit, rulers, rolling pins, mops and brushes, and much besides. It's quite fun to see a stamped pear appear on your doormat! If I had to choose just one, then my favourite artwork would have to be an incredible pencil drawing of wildflowers that looks like a black and white photograph given to me by Richard Forster after I curated his first exhibition in Scotland.

 

You live in rural Sussex. Any top tips if we're visiting the area?

 

We live on the unfashionable side of Sussex, much closer to Hastings than Brighton, and we love it here. My favourite restaurant is Farmyard https://farmyardwine.com in St Leonards on Sea, where Scribble & Daub will be having our Christmas party later this year! To my mind the best garden in the world, Great Dixter, is just down the road at Northiam, and Camber Sands' vast beach and dunes are a short drive beyond the historic town of Rye, where you can visit Adams, a brilliantly old-fashioned stationery and toy shop on the High Street that is also home to the wonderful letterpress workshop that prints all our cards. Further afield is Charleston, historic home of Bloomsbury artists Vanessa Bell & Duncan Grant, who painted every available surface with beautifully coloured patterns, and nearby is the ancient village of Alfriston, where you will find vintage treasure trove, Emmett & White http://emmettandwhite.com

 

Jelly Card in Orange £4.95 ►

Trophy Card £4.95 ►

Wedding Cake Card in Pink £4.95 ►

Bon Voyage Card £4.95 ►

 

Shop Scribble and Daub Cards ►

]]> https://tkdcincinnati.com/en-us/blogs/news/q-and-a-judy-hutson-stylist-pig-hotels 2019-08-10T11:00:00+01:00 2022-04-08T15:40:59+01:00 Q&A with Judy Hutson of The Pig Hotels Finn Morris More

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Q&A with Judy Hutson, Stylist of The Pig Hotels

If you haven't heard of The Pig hotels you are missing out. We were lucky that Robin & Judy Hutson opened the first Pig just down the road from us in the New Forest and since then their eclectic, rustic and ever so charming style has branched out to six locations with, happily, more on the way. We have been to all of them: for dinner, a holiday or just a couple of drinks and we always go back. Their friendly and relaxed atmosphere absorbs you in seconds and then the appreciation of the buildings, interiors and food begins. Each Pig is unique but there are similar values that are apparent throughout. The focus on locally sourced food, mostly from their idyllic and expertly managed kitchen gardens will keep you very satisfied at breakfast, lunch and dinner and is a staple of their ethos. And if you decide to stay, all the interiors, designed with a different "character" in mind will give you varying, yet very "Pig" vibes.

We love everything they do and their latest venture is to share their wealth of knowledge garnered over the past 8 years of running the hotels and restaurants in the form of a book, so we can all have a little slice of Pig lifestyle in our own homes. We are also lucky enough to count the two people behind the hotels amongst our lovely regulars instore. So we thought the launch of The Pig: Tales and recipes from the Kitchen Garden and beyond was a great excuse to sit down with their interior stylist Judy Hutson to find out how she feels about not only being a decorator with coveted style, but also a published author.

Shop The Pig Book ►

The Pig: Tales and recipes from the Kitchen Garden and beyond Book

Tell us a little bit about The Pig hotels. What makes them distinctive.

The Pig Hotels. When we opened the first Pig in the New Forest in 2011 the Country House Hotel Scene was dominated by over formal, over fussy and over priced hotels to the point that guests were intimidated to even go up the drive. We have tried hard to create relaxed home from home environments offering good food and friendly hospitality at a more affordable price point.

The Kitchen Gardens have given us our USP and inform everything from the style of cooking through to a clue for the interiors.
The thing that most guests comment on is the enthusiastic, motivated and passionate staff which has always been a hallmark of my husband Robin's brand of hospitality.

You and Robin have worked together for years. How do you manage a work/home balance?

Our work/home balance...... It is true we have worked together for 25 years on countless projects. But the truth of the matter is when you are involved in the world of hospitality there is always a very blurred line between work and pleasure. When in the heat of a project it is certainly true that work completely takes over our lives but there again we love what we do and always reward ourselves with a few holidays along the way.

An image of a pig from The Pig: Tales and recipes from the Kitchen Garden and beyond Book
An image of founders and co-authors Robin and Judy Hutson in The Pig: Tales and recipes from the Kitchen Garden and beyond Book

Tell us a bit about your career and how you came to The Pig?

In fact Interior Design is my second career. For the first 20 years of my working life I practised as an Occupational Therapist in Short Term Acute Psychiatry. It was only in 1994 when Robin opened the first hotel du Vin that I became involved in Interior Design. I have no professional qualifications in this area and even after close to 20 hotel projects I still consider myself an amateur.

The hotels have beautiful working vegetable gardens. Are you a gardener?

No I’m not a gardener but fortunately our eldest son Ollie is. He now runs all of the Kitchen Gardens at The Pigs and a nursery that supports this operation and has a team of around 20 Kitchen gardeners across the hotels.

An image of kitchen gardeners in The Pig: Tales and recipes from the Kitchen Garden and beyond Book
An image of home grown vegetable in The Pig: Tales and recipes from the Kitchen Garden and beyond Book
An image of home made pickles and preserves in The Pig: Tales and recipes from the Kitchen Garden and beyond Book
An image of Nan's Rice Pudding in The Pig: Tales and recipes from the Kitchen Garden and beyond Book

Who is the cook at home? And what is your signature dish?

We both cook and somewhat stereotypically in rather different ways. Robin throws together combinations from the fridge and pantry without referring to anything and I meanwhile am a pedantic recipe follower. Believe me if a recipe asked for 20 mustard seeds there is no way I could live with 19 or 21!!! We avoid cooking together as there would be World War 3! A firm favourite of the boys that I make and even deviate from my friends hand written smudged recipe is Beans and Rice with loads of coconut cream and fistfuls of coriander.

 

Do you get handy hints from the chefs at the hotels?

Not really but we have lots of friends who are chefs so being around them all the time I do pick up things from watching them.

 

What is your must order dish on The Pig menu?

The Pig menus change all the time according to season and are different between each hotel but I love the section on the menu titled “Mostly Picked this morning” which always includes loads of interesting garden veggie dishes.

Each hotel feels related but not the same. How do you manage to make each interior distinctive and yet clearly ‘Piglike’

We are very conscious that we never want our collection of hotels to look a cookie cutter roll out. Fortunately the inherent character of our historic buildings offer us the clues to work with. I do sometimes have an imaginary person in my mind when thinking about each property and then try to decorate as they might have done. So, for instance, The Pig on the Beach has always felt like an eccentric artists home so Aunt Dorothy appeared on the front lawn complete with easel, paint smeared faded smock, battered straw hat and paint palette. In spite of all this individuality I suppose the common theme is that every element that goes into the Interiors have been chosen and sourced Robin or I.

 

 

An image of stylist Judy Hutson in The Pig: Tales and recipes from the Kitchen Garden and beyond Book
An image of a Pg Hotel bedroom interior design in The Pig: Tales and recipes from the Kitchen Garden and beyond Book

How about an interiors book after this foodie one?

I somehow doubt it but never say never!

 

Do you have a favourite Pig? Or is that like having a favourite child?

I am often asked this question and can honestly say that like having children I don’t have a favourite but the first one and the most recent that I have lived intensely with for many months have a special place in my heart.

 

You’re a Winchester local. Any undiscovered gems we should know about?

We love having a rummage at Mayfly Vintage near Stockbridge, the convenience of the KPO (Kingsgate Wines & Provisions) with its cornucopia of goodies on our door step is great and I’m mildly obsessed with the Danish Rye loaf at Hoxton Bakery.

 

An image of one of the Pig hotels' kitchen gardens in The Pig: Tales and recipes from the Kitchen Garden and beyond Book
The Pig: Tales and recipes from the Kitchen Garden and beyond Book

The Pig: Tales and Recipes from the Kitchen Garden and beyond is availble instore and online now

Shop The Pig Book ►

 

Learn More about The Pig Hotels and Restaurants

The Pig Website ►

The Pig Hotels' Pig emblem
]]> https://tkdcincinnati.com/en-us/blogs/news/q-and-a-pernille-corydon 2019-01-31T18:29:28+00:00 2022-08-24T11:13:40+01:00 Q&A with Jewellery Designer Pernille Corydon Finn Morris More

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Q&A with Pernille Corydon

Pernille Corydon is a classic Scandinavian collection: understated, super wearable and really nicely priced. We sat down with the jewellery designer herself and talked design, Denmark and the Project Space.

Shop the collection ►

Jewellery designer Pernille Corydon

Designer and Founder Pernille Corydon

We're absolutely delighted that you chose tkdcincinnati as your first Pernille Corydon Jewellery pop up shop outside Denmark. Why us?

You were one of our very first customers in the UK, we were very proud when we first started working together. We love how you are so creative with your space and windows and you actually work with quite a few Danish brands too. Once we knew you had a space to do a pop-up, we thought it would be the perfect fit for us and seeing as we go a long way back in our relationship too.

How did you first get interested in jewellery design? Did you have formal training?

I have been interested in jewellery and design since I was a child. I spent a lot of time by the ocean, finding stones, seashells and seaglass. I used them to make small installations and jewelry for my Grandma. I also spent a lot of time looking at my Grandma's jewellery box. I haven't got any formal training, but I spent two years at a creative school where I learned to make pottery and jewellery and I drew and painted a lot.

Can you talk us through the process of design and making?

When I make a new piece of jewellery I normally draw a sketch. After that I think about the surface. Should it be polished, matte or brushed, or a combination. Sometimes I make the first prototype, and sometimes it is enough with a technical drawing. My jewellery is produced in a small factory outside Bangkok and I often go there to start up and finish a collection. I work with them in relation to finding the optimal production method.

Where do you find inspiration?

I use my eyes a lot every day. I get inspiration wherever I go. I travel a lot, because when I'm outside my comfort zone, it is like my mind works in a different way. I'm more open to what I see.

I also look a lot at all the women I see. When I look at a woman I often think about what will look nice on her. I also find a lot of inspiration in nature, and in architecture.

Palm Trees
Pernille Corydon Bounty Gold Necklace
City Life
Jewellery designer Pernille Corydon
Jewellery designer Pernille Corydon

How do you source your materials?

I always use silver and gold plated silver. Stones I often find when I travel.

What do you like most about your work?

I really like the design process. I love to go into that zone where everything is possible and the ideas start to take shape. I love that I'm able to travel and work at the same time.

Who do you work with and how does the typical day go?

I'm a big part of the company, so I work with everybody who's employed in the company, both in Denmark and outside Denmark. I work very closely with the factory in Bangkok.

It is hard to describe a typical day, because my days are very different depending on which phase I'm in. When I'm working on a new collection I often work from home, because I need the peace and quite it gives. When my focus is on running the business I'm at the office participating in the work there. I also travel a lot, so that is also a part of a typical day.

We're constantly trying to channel our inner Dane. Can you give us some handy hints on how to wear jewellery in the Danish way?

I think the Danes have a very playful approach to wearing jewellery. We try to tell a story about who we are by wearing jewellery. We wear it to reflect our mood. Sometimes we are understated and sometimes we go all in.

We wear a lot of jewellery and combine it in all different ways to tell the story about who we are. We are not afraid of combining metals and surfaces.

Your own store is in Frederiksberg in Copenhagen. Tell us a bit about the area and why you chose it.

I chose that area because it is a very nice area in Copenhagen. It is typical Copenhagen with a nice, relaxed atmosphere and a nice combination of restaurants, coffee shops and small independent stores.

Pernille Corydon Flagship Store
Pernille Corydon Edith Silver Necklace

Do you have a favourite piece of jewellery from the new collection?

My favorite piece at the moment is the Edith necklace. It is named after my Grandmother who was a very special lady. Very strong and delicate at the same time.

If you could pick anyone to wear Pernille Corydon Jewellery, who would it be?

I actually don't have anybody in mind. It made me very proud when my son pointed out a lovely lady in Barcelona's streets this summer and she was covered in my jewellery. It makes me happy that I can make jewellery that a lot of women can relate to and use every day.

Who or what couldn't you live without?

My two children.

You grew up in a small town in Denmark. We're most familiar with Copenhagen but tell us a bit about life outside the city.

I grew up in a small town surrounded by the ocean on all sides. The light and the nature is therefore a big part of me. My hometown is a very quiet and peaceful town, but there was not much to do. I think that is why my mind generates a lot of ideas all the time.

I loved it there, but it also gave me the wanderlust I have in me today.

What does the future hold?

Hopefully I can keep on making new jewellery and making the company grow outside Denmark.

 

Shop the full collection here ►

Denmark Coastline
Pernille Corydon Jewellery
Waterfall
]]> https://tkdcincinnati.com/en-us/blogs/news/alex-monroe-interview 2018-05-10T09:53:42+01:00 2024-03-25T14:24:08+00:00 Q&A with Alex Monroe Finn Morris More

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Q&A with Alex Monroe

We've long been fans of Alex Monroe's nature-inspired jewellery, but with some gorgeous new additions to the collection, we've fallen in love all over again. So much so we felt it was high time we had a chat with the man himself, about such things as jewellery, and tea and 80s nights.

Shop the Alex Monroe collection ►

Alex Monroe stood in the Alex Monroe shop in London.

How did you get started in jewellery design?

I was living in the countryside in Suffolk and I loved fashion and making things (clothes and accessories)… but I found it difficult to wear pink PVC trousers and eye liner in 1980’s Ipswich, so I desperately wanted to move to London. A place on a jewellery course and a student grant was my escape. And luckily I loved it!

Describe a typical working day at Alex Monroe HQ.

There isn’t one! I’m just back from New York meeting clients in Greenwich Village and Brooklyn. It’s great to see what’s going on in other places. Now I’ve a few days of emails and admin. I’m off to the countryside tomorrow to do a bit of research and drawing. Next week I’ll be working on some new collections in the workshop… and of course as the business has grown… meetings. Lots and lots of meetings!

Who or what couldn't you work without?

My blue Pentel 0.7mm pencil and sketch book. And all the amazing people I work with. We’re very much a team effort. And I need a jar of nuts and raisins, a banana and an apple to keep me going when I’m at the bench.

Who or what inspires you?

Nature! I love to get out into the countryside. Everything you need to know about everything is out there. And then just people watching. Seeing what people are doing and how they go about their day in New York or London or Tokyo or wherever...

Alex Monroe sat in a field drawing in his sketchbook.

Floral Letter Necklace 'R' £150

Rays of Hope Necklace £150

Posy Twist Ring £240

What do you like most about what you do?

Making things. I love sitting at my workbench with an idea in my head or sketchbook and making that become a reality. The harder the challenge the better. I have huge lows as I struggle and fail, but when it goes right its pure ecstasy! And then sometimes you see someone wearing a piece and looking great. That’s pretty special too.

Who would you most like to see wearing an Alex Monroe design?

A nice person glimpsed anonymously on a train, or out on a date or just looking wonderful and confident. I’m not very good at the whole celebrity thing. I like nice people going about their business and making the world the wonderful place it is.

What has been your proudest moment to date?

Every time I hang out with my kids of course! But Jewellery-wise I was on a bus ages ago and I saw a young woman, out on a date I guessed, looking radiant and all finished off with one of our little feathers. The perfect moment. Our first cover of Vogue wasn’t too shabby either!

What has been the most important lesson learned?

 

You don’t have to be unkind to get on in life. And be yourself… It’s hard work trying to please others.

Citrine Buttercup Earrings £195

Dandelion Fluff Necklace £105

Small & Sweet Cherry Necklace £150

What would you like to do in the future?

 

Everything! There’s so much to do! I’m doing more drawing so maybe that’ll lead somewhere… I’m starting to think about doing other things, I’ve designed for Anthropologie for ages but I might like to do our own range of things. And Tea! I’m doing a tea course, and Italian, and lots and lots more jewellery!

What is team Alex Monroe's guilty pleasure?

 

Oh it’s the snacks and treats… endless snacks and treats and cakes and chocolates.

And finally, you’re based in London. What are your favourite things to see and do in the capital?

 

The Anchor and Hope in Waterloo at least once a week. Sneaky lunches at Casse Croute on Bermondsey street. The Chelsea Physic Garden. And walking the dogs on Peckham Rye. Oh yes… ’80s nights at the Rivolli Ball Rooms. Properly embarrassing!

The outside of the Alex Monroe shop in London Bridge.

Shop the Alex Monroe collection ►

]]> https://tkdcincinnati.com/en-us/blogs/news/q-and-a-laetitia-van-gindertael 2018-03-09T17:14:21+00:00 2023-01-13T16:23:20+00:00 Q&A with head Womenswear Designer for Bellerose Finn Morris More

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Q&A with Laetitia Van Gindertael, Womenswear Designer for Bellerose

 

We always look forward to a Bellerose buying appointment, to see what each new collection will bring; the mish mash of style references, the beautiful fabrics and attention to detail. We're long-time fans so were super excited to have the opportunity to chat with Laetitia Van Gindertael, the lady responsible for so many of the clothes we've loved over the years.

Shop Bellerose ►

Describe a typical working day at Bellerose HQ?

A day here for me usually starts with seeing Sandrina Fasoli, designer of all woven items in our women’s collection. We take our time to review our latest sketches and ideas, we discuss the type of fabrics we want to use and things like that. After that I sit down with Jantine Van Peski, who designs all circular knits & accessories to decide upon color ranges, fabrics and fits.

Usually, a meeting with Philippe Van Mollekot (knitwear developer) is up next to discuss my newest designs, the type of yarns I’ve picked etc. Afterwards I work on the stripes and colors for our knit sweaters, which I absolutely love.

In the afternoon, I refine and confirm the selections I’ve made for the footwear that goes to our own retail stores, where we sell a whole bunch of other brands. To finish the day I usually end up trying on the first prototypes that we receive for future collections together with Sandrina and Anais Laurent (our woven products developer).

Who or what inspires you?

So many things! Kenneth Noland’s paintings for their stripes and color choices, a bouquet of flowers, a random person on the street for his or her look, my grandparents on my father’s side who were artists and very modern in the way they dressed and how they decorated their house etc. I find inspiration almost everywhere and at any given time.

What has been your proudest Bellerose moment to date?

I’ve been with Bellerose for close to twenty years now, so it’s very hard to pick up a specific moment or occasion. I’m very proud of the evolution the brand has gone through, as I am very proud of our stores. Each and everyone one of them is unique and has a vibe and a character all of its own.

What has been the most important lesson learned?

Staying true to who you are is what works best. Not letting anyone else decide for you. Staying humble is also very important, it’s how I was raised, it defines me as much as it defines Bellerose as a brand.

And finally, what is team Bellerose’s guilty pleasure?

There are a few I must admit. I love ordering pizzas from the Italian around the corner and eating them together with the whole team in our kitchen here at the office. Another one is smoking a cigarette before I start to designing.

I also love cranking up the volume when one of my favorite songs is playing on the radio (but I do check if the others are OK with that first). Eating Stilton cheese (that my father always brings back from England for me) for lunch and having a meeting right after.

How would you describe a Bellerose woman?

In my mind she’s in between 30 – 50, independent, active, curious and with a style of all her own. I always picture someone that enjoys mixing and matching, because that’s what I love doing myself. Someone that buys whatever triggers her and whose tastes aren’t dictated by trends. A woman that stays true to who she is and what she loves.

Who or what couldn't you work without?

Without the people I was just talking about it would be impossible to even begin to design our collections. They all mean the world to me and all have their specific qualities that help make Bellerose what it is. Working in a team is something I find to be very rewarding.

What do you like most about what you do?

Deciding on new color ranges, creating new stripes and searching for perfect prints. I also love antiquing vintage pieces and fabrics but that’ll come as no surprise.

]]> https://tkdcincinnati.com/en-us/blogs/news/qa-with-gale-king-founder-of-jao-brand 2018-01-19T10:55:00+00:00 2020-10-21T17:32:43+01:00 Q&A with Gale King, founder of Jao Brand Finn Morris More

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Q&A with Gale King, founder of Jao Brand

Goe Oil is one of those cult beauty products we'd been hearing good whisperings about for a while, so when it came to updating our bath and beauty department, Jao Brand was front of the running for shelf space. We love their sustainable ethos, beautiful packaging, and the face cream is truly amazing, we're all total converts. Here we talk to the lady responsible, Jao Brand founder, Gale King.

Tell us about the original inspiration behind Jao Brand and how you got started.

Jao was inspired by an impulse I had to be able to wash my hands when I was working in the field (as a videographer), and not near a faucet. This was before the idea of hand sanitizers was even in the marketplace, like 1994. My father at the time had retired from his job as a chemist in research and development, and had built himself a small lab to do R&D work for private clients. He decided to work with me on our instant hand wash. We worked together formulating this and by the time we got our formula right, Purell had hit the mass market. We were the first hand sanitizer to use essential oils, and to market our product as multipurpose. This came about because my husband began using Jao Hand Refresher as his aftershave, while I was putting it on a cotton pad and wiping off the NYC summer grit from my face! It worked fantastically well.

The multi purpose idea appealed to me, as I do not like to buy products and then not use them. I hate all the clutter. Not to mention the waste! So it became the ethos of the idea behind the brand. Each product must solve a problem, and be useful in a few ways. It also allows creativity for the user to discover best uses. It makes the whole process of using the products more personal and necessary in someones life

Describe a typical working day at Jao Haus.

A typical workday is many emails back and forth and phone calls between the Jao House in Pennsylvania and myself in Brooklyn. I go back to visit for a few days every two weeks. I wish I was able to set the business up where I lived, but I did not have the funds to set the company up in Brooklyn! We have 4 employees at Jao and everyone has their specific jobs. We all converse daily. There are typical issues on product stock, working with the manufacturers, store requests, shipping issues, managing growth and expanding our footprint with small and medium sized retailers.

Who or what couldn't you work without?

I couldn’t work without my iphone7. I just got the larger size phone for Instagram and photography, inspiration, emails, checking website orders. It’s amazing that I can stay in touch with everyone in PA while being in Brooklyn. I think one thing you will hear them say is that I can often be an annoying itch

What do you like most about what you do?

I think what I like most, as a creative person who was not a good student, is having the ability to have an idea, create it, put it out into the marketplace, and have it find a home with strangers. I do get complete satisfaction when
people buy Jao Brand, and then absolutely love it. It’s a really good feeling
knowing we can do this with such a small, all woman crew, of 5 people.

Who or what inspires you?

I am inspired everyday. Recently I saw a smashed paper bakery bag on the sidewalk from the famous Brooklyn bakery Junior’s. I loved the way the crushed lines on the bag folded into each other. I snapped a photo of it and
I made it into the packaging of our bags. That kind of creativity really inspires
me. I have no idea why. There are photos of this on my IG feed

We love the sustainable ethos behind Jao Brand's multipurpose products. Tell us about the process of developing new products.

The process of creating products for me is the best part. I cannot just see something in the marketplace and copy what someone else is doing. That just seems so boring. And most of what people buy is literally packaging! I am really concerned with what is inside the tube or bottle. What can this product do for me? What problem can it solve? What do I need in my life? How can I create this product cleanly with no silicones or dimethicones to give it that silky feel?

It is so hard to create natural beauty products that are safe, effective, feel good and be multipurpose. It is a challenge, but a good one. I often describe each product’s provenance the way a songwriter creates a song. The product idea just kind of comes at you, sometimes fully formed. And they don’t come very often. Jao Brand will be a very small line. You will never see hundreds of products, or different “scents” to get a full line extension to take up shelf space. I am totally uninterested in that idea. I find it wasteful.

What has been your proudest Jao Brand moment to date?

I think the proudest moments were when stores that are not American, like Colette in Paris, picked up our product, on their own, and decided to sell them without any hard selling on our part! And they have continued to stock us now, for years. It’s an amazing feeling to be a small brand and have these beautifully curated stores come to you to be a partner. I decided that is the best way to sell the product. Let it sell itself. It’s a great moment to feel that you can allow that to happen and not have to constantly be trying to sell yourself. If the product is good enough, word of mouth will be the driver of sales.

What has been the most important lesson learned?

Patience. Jao is now a 20 year old company. So we are the slowest growing story. I think that is the most important lesson learned. If you believe in
it, and there is positive growth, no matter how slow, it pays to grow your own
garden so to speak. If you can stay in the game, not go broke, not spend in
foolish ways, and trust that what you have made is good, then you will succeed. So the most important lesson is to believe in yourself and what you create.

What would you like to do in the future?

In the future I would like Jao Brand to move in directions that are not necessarily in the beauty category; maybe supporting artists and their work, in some way.

There's often talk of "hero" products in the bath & beauty world.

Do you have a single "hero/ desert island" product?

We had no idea that Goe Oil would be so successful so quickly. I knew when I was formulating it with my father that I loved it. But I didn’t think others would. In fact I thought it would be a REALLY HARD sell! Instead it became this cult thing. It has been called a “hero” product. And in a way it is. We were the first “solid oil in a tube”, and we are still probably the only ones who were crazy enough to attempt to put 28 plant, fruit, flower, oils and butters together! This is a total challenge that my father fully accepted, and we formulated a lovely product.

And finally, what is team Jao's guilty pleasure?

Jao’s guilty pleasure is when I am there at the Jao House and we are all there discussing business and we have our Aperol Spritzes. Its guilty when we decide to start having them before 5pm!

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