London Shop Tour: Handmade Interiors

A guest contributor post by Andrea from Lotus Events / Got Craft?










Today we head to Cheshire Street in Brick Lane to take a peek into Handmade Interiors. A collaboration between Textile Designer Piyush Suri and Interior Designer Burcu Akin, Handmade Interiors carries an amazing collection of textile and home décor items including some Tobe Pottery designed by Japanese Ceramic artists. And don’t forget to check out their olive oil soap that photographer Ana Maria is completely hooked on!








For those of you in London, why not make a day of it? Cheshire Street is full of independent shops filled with locally made goods and vintage products. Brick Lane is hopping on Sunday with food stalls, the Sunday UpMarket and it’s close proximity to the Columbia Road Flower Market and the Spitalfields Market. 


Handmade Interiors, 10 Cheshire Street, London E2 6EH
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photo credit: anamu

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1st Ever Renegade Craft Fair - London!

Gorgeous pillows from Hazel Stark


The first Renegade Craft Fair was held in London this past weekend and the folks at Renegade have posted some lovely photo's on their flickr already!  Looks like some awesomeness was had!  I picked out some faves (and links for them - so you can buy online if you like what you see)! All photo's from Renegade Craft Fair flickr unless otherwise noted. See more pics here!



the make lounge was there with making stuff



This photo is from Gift Wrap H.Q. - don't you love their table?  Love the washi tape hanging!



Gift Wrap H.Q - photo from Renegade Craft Fair flickr








 Beautiful papergoods, candles and softees from Alice Gabb


 
Prints from Pop Corny



Fun screenpritns from anti graphic


 
Illustration + Ceramics by Parul Arora of Just Noey (Photo by Roxy Pop)



iPad sleeves, softees from roxy pop



minus sun



 
softee necklaces, tea towels, onesies from Honksville



 
Illustration (tattoo's, prints, totes by Julia Pott



 
One/ of a Kind Boutique



Melody Rose - upcycled vintage ceramics



 Jimbob Art




 The Drawing Machine



See more pics here!

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Dispatches from the UK

A contributor post by Will from Bright.Bazaar








Images via Bright.Bazaar and SMUG

Wondering through the back streets of Angel in London's Islington borough on Saturday I was delighted to discover a new to me decor, lifestyle and apparel store called SMUG. Whilst I was there I couldn't help but snap a few iPhone photos of the colourful and whimsical product assortment; I especially liked the abundance of Donna Wilson designs - the store even carries exclusive designs from Wilson herself. Ran by interior and graphic designer Lizzie Evans, the shop is a pure delight from the moment you spot the window display (currently over ran with super cute owls). For me retail is as much about the in store experience - visual merchandising, friendly staff, welcoming atmosphere - as it is about the product on sale. SMUG wins on both counts, so if you are in London be sure to pop in, say 'hello' and buy some fun pieces!


More from Will here: Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Editors note: Pssst!  Check out more beautiful pictures and a post on SMUG from the folks at Lotus Events here!

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Dispatches from the UK

Contributor post by Will from Bright.Bazaar




My parent’s bed was a wedding present from there. I worked there to fund my social life/slight shopping addiction(!) at university. I spent many an hour browsing, shopping and being inspired in there. ‘There’ was Habitat, an iconic British furniture brand and once influential player in the design market. Founded by Sir Terrance Conran in 1964, Habitat was a glamorous and stylish – the place to be seen to be shopping. It was soon bringing homewares to the masses and for the 60s and 70s was a thriving success. However, after a number of sales and different ownerships, including the Ikano Group, which own IKEA, the brand went into administration at the end of last month.







I have many a happy memory associated with the store: enthusiastically folding out sofa beds, jumping on and inviting customers to try the beds in the middle of the store was always fun; working late until the early hours of the morning to help the visual team set up creative window displays; and the excitement of a new season stock delivery are just a few of these memories. Despite having always been a champion of the store, I do believe its closure was for the best.







In recent years the once immaculate store had become like a jumble sale, with products continually on sale, and a stack em’ high, sell em’ cheap approach that didn’t fit the original ethos of the company. Ironically, they weren’t selling cheaply enough and were soon a victim of their success, being priced out of the market by larger, more stable retailers with better buying power. As the company struggled, the original and creative elements that the brand offered - including their inspiring catalogue, which was soon dropped to save money and the brand began to loose its originality at an alarming rate.







Given the sad news of the closure, I wanted to share some of the brand’s styling from catalogues of bygone years, much of which inspired me to pursue a career as a Prop Stylist. So long, Habitat, you’ll be missed. If you’re interested you can read analysis of what the brand’s closure means for British design here and here.





Habitat

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