home alone

home alone by whatshesaw featuring pottery mugs

VM | Dublin | August 2012

I went to Dublin for the first time last month.

This is a bit of a weak post in the fact that I only essentially took pictures of two windows. But I was busy having fun and didn’t actually have time to fully scope out Dublin’s heavy VM scene. Plus I wasn’t really in the mood to go to all the chains – because I was in a new place and didn’t fancy walking down the same high street. So essentially I’m going to blag it a bit.

I was drawn into Powerscourt Townhouse Centre by a intricate window made of ribbons in one of the back lanes of Dublin. I didn’t take a photo – THE FOOL - but the shop was a specialist ribbon store funnily enough and is called A Rubanesque, it was a Aladdin’s cave of all things ribbon. I want that much ribbon when I’m old enough to own somewhere large enough to store that much ribbon.

After being mesmerized by 48 different types of blue ribbon, I walked out and realised I was somewhere pretty special. It was a unique shopping centre specialising in independent boutiques, although All Saints and French Connection are both based in the centre, probably because they thought it just as ‘cool’ as I did. The centre is an old court yard which the rest of the building is centred around, they’d put a roof over it and placed a very nice café/restaurant in the middle with a pretty awesome chandeliers in the centre. The shops varied from homeware to fashion, jewellery to florists, cafés and restaurants, an exclusive club and even had doll house hospital. I explored every shop.

I came across Bow. Now I previously mentioned that I want to own a concept store when I’m older much like DSM. But what I haven’t mentioned is the concept. I want it to be all British made goods but not in the heritage, traditional sense. In the unique, modern and quirky way in which artists and designers are working today – I want it to be a destination and showcase for British designed and made products – fashion and otherwise. Of course it’s just an idea at the moment but I don’t want it to be OTT “oh look I only sell British goods’ and Bow were doing this; very nicely but with Irish made goods obviously.

Bow's window

 The window was unique - hand drawn on both the inside and outside of the window and using lace, paper doyleys, buttons, feathers to provide a beautiful 3D element and texture - and it wasn't a permanent feature to the window. The displays, the products, the layout – everything was just such a nice environment to shop in and very inviting. And the idea behind it was lovely, three independent Irish designers who are all focus on different areas in the store all under one roof, but all retailing separately (so they had three card machines, one for each designer). They thought everything through and was such a little gem. After a bit of digging too (i.e. googling) I’ve actually discovered I’m not the only one to have fallen for its charm – but last year they were voted one of the most inspiring independents in the UK and Ireland by Drapers Record 2011. Pretty impressive (and this has inspired a new post people, I’m really getting into blogging lark hurraaaaaaahhh).

 

Another really nice store in Powercourt (you can tell I loved it) was a homeware’s store called Article. All the homewares are edited by the owner, John Adams, and you can tell that the range is a personal yet cohesive collection. Basically I wanted to live in the home he created, which is always nice for the owner to know he had that effect.

“We stock a personal collection of items for the home offering quirky yet functional products that have captured our imagination from sourcing trips or travelling. We don’t aim to stock everything for the home, but we hope Article will  be a place that people can come to for a gift or to add to their home, or simply to call in, browse and be inspired” is what I've lifted from Article's website and I think they absolutely managed it - worth a look at least if you're nearby.

Next stop was Grafton Street, it’s was pretty samey, samey for the chains but walked past the department store Brown Thomas and they had a pretty cool – what I can only assume was alluding to the Olympics – window. Stupidly only took a picture of one window but they managed to construct a boxing ring – rest assured the other windows had swimming, equestrian and gymnastic themes done to exacting standard of this one. Pretty cool and I haven’t had a chance to go to London to see what any of the department stores there have put on for the Olympics so was nice to see some celebratory VM. I only wandered past during the day so have mega reflection in the windows - but you can see what they've achieved.

Brown Thomas

Brown Thomas

Anyway, shamefully, that’s kinda it. I went; I saw; I forgot to document. Must do better.

Now I'm just going to strategically place some pictures that I took of other stuff to distract you from my lack of err.. visual merchandising - oh look the spire.. and is that, no it can't be, Bieber Fever (I actually rather embarrassingly filmed this group of Bielibers dancing - and to anyone that asks it was 'accidental' filming)

Bieber Fever

The Spire

Just liked the colours together - Dublin Castle.

An awesome front door - wow can't believe you fell for this!

Peace out, a town.

☮

Made in Britain

Rather quietly I decided to embark on a quest to only buy British made clothing. It’s killer. Do you know how friggin’ hard it is to find clothes only manufactured in the UK.. yup bloody hard. Quietly also because I thought I’d fail. It all started when I went on a vintage spree with my sister back in March. We bought a ridiculous amount of stuff all second hand and cheap. And it got me thinking, I can dress fashionably and sustainable – really easily.

This really is Made in Britain AND affordable!
Image: topshop.com

Now I’ve always been an advocate for British manufacture and often got into debates about my views of the dark side of the fashion industry. I’ve often been quoted as saying ‘I want to get into the fashion industry to make a difference’ and I still do. I admire and I am inspired by the industry and I respect it – but there is a hell of a lot wrong with it too and I suppose I want to be a bit of a fashion crusader and promote good and best practice. I disagree with fast fashion and cheap clothes. I rather spend a little more to get something that lasts a bit longer. I believe you get what you pay for, and that couldn't be more of the case in fashion. I don’t want to be ‘in’ fashion for a week; I want to remain constantly stylish.

Many of my friends have wardrobes bulging with clothes and often forget what they even own. I am, or was, just as guilty of this. Yet I was a massive contradiction – although always believing in this and stating my morals of the industry – I too would buy into £3.99 vests from H&M and never looked at the label before purchase. I’m not sure when the epiphany was that made me decide to only buy British was but since I’ve felt nothing but a twang of guilt for clothes which aren’t manufactured in the UK.

I’ve turned into my own worst enemy and all righteous and stuff and riddled with guilt for liking stuff manufactured in Romania and China. So basically, I haven’t been shopping in months. Well, that’s not completely true. I’m still happy to buy second hand regardless of where it’s made and I have bought a few new things since March too! Apparently you can buy British on the high street – just not very much.

My favourite buy came in June when I was in Whitstable for a weekend away. I had seen this dress in River Island. It was a nice cut and fit and most importantly it was Made in Britain! Winner! And only £30. I took a chance hoping that it’d be in the Canterbury store and the last one in my size was there – fate! Since I have discover River Island do quite a bit of stuff Made in Britain. Mainly simple cuts and printed fabrics but that’s brilliant really it makes me want to shop there again! And for my birthday I asked for this skirt and I love it!!

I also discovered Oh My Love, a label I had no idea about – but I stumbled across them during a sample sale. It’s a bit hit and miss as to whether they manufacture it all in Britain (I did e-mail them to ask – but they never replied!) but I have discovered if in the bio it says “Made With Love in East London” it’s a good’n! So far I’ve bought this and this and a couple of things they only had at the sample sale.

Finally, I am massively lusting over the Topshop’s Made in Britain range. It’s perfect; it’s everything I want and more; and it is expensive. I am yet to take the plunge even though the clothes are beautiful. And timeless. And I’d wear them forever (exaggerating and justifying obvs!). Top of my wish list are this, this!

I’ve also been discovering small, young and independent labels – places like Etsy and Big Cartel offer the chance for young designers to sell their goods online and affordably and the vast majority of them are manufactured here, in their bedrooms at 2am in the morning (or y’know 3pm in the arvo, no insinuating illegal stuff or anything!) and maybe this is exactly who I should be spending my money with, not the big high street stores doing it to look good and PR – whilst still happily manufacturing the vast majority of their products in Bangladesh.

There are the classics which are still made here like Barbour jackets and the odd Mulberry Bayswater (which is still top of my made in Brit list ahem) but what I’ve mostly struggled with are shoes and undies. Portas piped up a bit and made a good three part documentary about making kecks in the UK and I praise her for highlighting this! But where do you buy a British made bra? I can’t seem to find the store which Underworld on Coronation Street supplies. Secondly, shoes! I love shoes I own probably dozens of pairs. Brogues make me weak, in glitter and patent and leather and print -  I love them. I can’t afford Churches. Maybe one day. But where else make affordable shoes? And sandals? Luckily without a summer I’ve survived w/o investing in a pair and managed to survive on old battered pairs.  I’ve had to bend the rules a tad too, for example, Zara is Spanish. So should I support their economy and only buy Spanish made goods from them and so on and so forth? I can’t find a basic tee to save my life! Where in the UK manufacture sweatshirts and tee’s? How do I get around that one? I’ve toyed with American Apparel but can I justify using them? I mean they freely promote sweatshop free manufacture. But they still have to ship in. Nightmare.

Finally, and this is the biggest problem. Apart from Topshop’s specific collection and the bit on Oh My Love – no brands actually freely admit where they manufacture garments in online descriptions. I literally cannot internet shop! It’s funny how they have to put it on clothing labels but there is clearly no requirement to list it on t’internet. I know that the vast majority of people wouldn’t check the labels of the garment before buying something in store but I do and it’s has massively changed the way in which I shop. I would like to think if it’s clearly marked on a garment people would be able to make an informed judgement on what they are buying – and therefore if it’s listed online the same would apply – but I’m being self-righteous and annoying myself again – no one else shops like that – and that’s ok, but I really think that if it’s on the label of the garment it should be on the listing of the garment online – it’s only fair.

Do you think you could only buy British? Would you even want to try? Or more importantly do you know any brands which are UK manufactures or carry UK manufactured goods – if you do – please let me know. It would be great to be able to list them all together!

Andrea x