TOP SIX: rugs
EVER SINCE EDGE TO EDGE carpets fell out of fashion in the mid 90s in favour of modern floorboards, rugs have come into their own. The choices for kids, however, haven’t been too exciting until recently - something ege, the super-cool Danish carpet manufacturers, who have worked with the likes of Conran & Partners and Christian Lacroix, is addressing with the help of Katvig, the eco-conscious Danish fashion and home textiles company. Together they’ve launched a new range of rugs (pictured left) with Katvig’s signature bold, graphic motifs, that have, in the words of Svend Aage Færch Nielsen, Managing Director of ege carpets, “a clear attitude to design and the environment.”
*95 cm diameter - £130.00, 127cm diameter, £170.00. Order in the UK from Sparkle & Spin. Find an international stockist at www.katvig.com
Posted 9 March 2009 in Textiles
OH BOY: Molly ‘n’ Jack Spring/Summer 2009
DON’T GET US WRONG. There are great young boys’ clothes out there. But they tend not to be on the highstreet or super-affordable. Which is why we wished we’d discovered Molly ‘n’ Jack earlier. The girls’ clothes from this relatively obscure brand that is sold at large Boots stores here in the UK (although we have yet to find one), and online at the Boots-linked mini mode webshop, are lovely, but it’s the boys’ clothes that really shine (and sell out quickly).
Take a little bit of French bon-chic-bon-genre, add a touch of vintage-look styling, a smattering of Marc Jacobs-influenced preppy detailing (large buttons, etc), great quality, and you have a capsule collection that is just a little bit different. And which, this season at least, never costs more than £24. The only problem? For now it’s sold only in the UK, so international readers need to start making British friends now…
*Pictured here are the new fine knit blue top (£10) and roll-up twill trousers (£12), above, and the stripe waterproof coat (£20), right, all available from February.
**Molly & Jack at www.minimode.co.uk
Posted 26 January 2009 in Textiles
CULT ITEM: Updated. The BabyBjorn Carrier
By Jenny Dalton
THERE AREN’T MANY BABY ITEMS I’d buy again with hindsight. But one of them would definitely be the Swedish BabyBjörn Carrier - which coincidentally was designed in the year of MY birth: 1973, by the original founders of BabyBjörn AB, Björn and Lillemor Jakobson. The design was based on the premise only ‘discovered’ in the late 1960s by paediatricians that babies (and parents) benefitted from close physical contact.
The design, meanwhile, was aimed in particular at fathers - a poignant reminder that 35 years ago it was practically unheard of for a dad to carry his baby around as nonchalently as most fathers do today. ”Both parents should feel comfortable carrying their babies,” says Lillemor Jakobson. “It feels good to have contributed so that fathers today are more involved with their baby.”
Why is the BabyBjörn still the baby carrier leader? It works (carries baby comfortably forwards and backwards, though it’s up front carrying position works best for out and about rather than pottering at home), and it’s good looking. It’s easily stashed away, it’s unisex, it’s hardwearing and washable, and… now it’s available in lots of colours (actually, 8, including bright pink and orange) for those who are a bit less-than-in-love with the ‘Classic’ model’s limited colour choices.
Our favourites in the new Spirit range are the ‘Red Heart’ (above) and the all-black shown here right, but it would be tempting to buy the full range of colours (click here for more), to match all your outfits…
*RRP £54.99, stockist number 0844 8154813, or see www.thebabycatalogue.com
**See www.babybjorn.com for international stockists.
Posted 15 January 2009 in Textiles
TOP SIX: Children’s Cushions
KAREN HILTON’S CUSHIONS (left and below right) aren’t meant for kids. “I’m sure they would rather be playing than thinking about home furnishings!” says she, making a very good point. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t perfect for children’s rooms. Their combination of quirky and humorous (plus quintessentially English - all those super bright hues and British motifs are inspired by pop art and punk), with simple cut out shapes and brilliant colours, means they will bring any rather dull child’s room to life.
Younger ones may or may not get the slightly subversive air of the Queen’s profile or the Union Jack in anti-establishment colours (”I hate red and royal blue together, which is why I changed its colours,” explains Karen, who originally studied model making at Bournemouth. “When I did I realised I liked the flag design as a pattern on its own merit.”), but they’re likely to appreciate the joie de vivre of Karen’s handmade cotton and felt designs. Pictured cost from US$68 at Karen’s Etsy store.
JEWELLERY: …. And Old Lace
WE COULDN’T HELP but fall for French stylist Emma Cassi’s intricate, textile-based jewellery. For us (as seen on London-based Emma’s webshop - we are especially hankering after her gold lace bow corsages, and bead embroidered lace and silk ribbon necklaces), and her first collection for them (sold at Little Circus shop), from 35-50 Euros. Emma made her first piece for tiny ones when creating a christening bracelet for her goddaughter two years ago. She continued making wooden bead necklaces, like the one pictured left, until she finally formalised an entire collection for babies and girls earlier this year.
So if your little girl is going to wear jewellery, you can now make it the real deal in vintage lace embroidered with silver thread (on the bracelets for babies), glass or wooden beads, antique sequins, and vintage fabrics, all fastened with tiny mother of pearl buttons. Parfait.
*www.emmacassi.com. **See Emma’s son Anton’s bedroom here…
Posted 3 November 2008 in Textiles
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