The Southbank is a lovely spot to visit anytime of year, but during the summer months, pottering alongside the Thames with views of London’s most impressive landmarks is even more spectacular in the sunshine. This weekend was no exception, with a hubbub of activity, as crowds flocked to the ‘Vintage at the Southbank Centre’ event. Upon my travels I stumbled across these rather enchanting sketches, which decoratively adorned the Tate Modern’s building project. Martin Karlssson is the artist behind these masterpieces, who aims to celebrate London and portray the many facets of the city’s beguiling character through the collection.
The images below offer a preview of the work displayed:
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The impetus behind covering FARA Kids, is not only because as a customer I think it’s a wonderful store and is a real gem for those who want to purchase children’s clothing and products - but to also highlight FARA as a fantastic way for the conscious consumer to engage with design from a more sustainable and ethical perspective, whilst also serving the charity and our community.
Despite vintage being very much in-vogue, charity shops can still have that unwanted stigma attached, which sometimes associates them with clutter and someone else’s old junk. Or maybe it’s societies continual obsession with the brand spanking new, that often refrains us from buying second-hand at first thought? Either way, FARA successfully challenges this misconception, with a chain of 48 beautifully presented charity stores.
Their shops are specifically designed to house the wide variety of possible hand-me-down products; from kids clothes to retro memorabilia - with specific stand-alone stores in their designated field. The result keeps merchandise fresh and incredibly exciting for customers. To illustrate, project ROARsome visited the Fulham FARA kidswear store and brought together some of the inspiring ranges, in-line with this seasons current trends (as seen on the ready-to-wear and kidswear catwalks).
Not yet convinced…you will be….
Fara Kids Shop Front on Fulham Road
70’s styling remains strong through to next season for a bit of boho-chic
Summer brights are celebrated with a nod to homespun embellishments
Simplicity is key: a clean all-white palette - in an abundance at this years Pitti Exbo
Bold conversational prints get creative with off-beat colour stories
Either clean and bold or petite and perfectly formed, poka-dots are big news
Wide band width and text driven painterly stripes freshen-up the much loved nautical theme
Think forager: lumberjack styling is going to be key this Autumn/Winter
Not forgetting swimwear…it is holiday season after all!
For more info on FARA charity, which supports orphaned and abandoned young people in Romania, please visit their website (details below). Information on store locations and their up-and-coming events are also detailed.
Please give generously. All products whatever their condition are recycled, whether through the charity shops or another FARA initiative to support the cause.
Let me introduce you to a rather gorgeous brand I’ve recently discovered called ‘Kind Hearts Clothing’. As their rather idyllic name suggests, the clothing incorporates a simplistic, yet deeply valued quality within the ranges: by offering styles that combine both elegance and practicality for the wearer.
Exploring the childrenswear collection is like stumbling across a vintage dressing-up box, harking back to a distant past - as reinventing styles from classic eras is the main inspiration behind the ranges. In-keeping with the sense of nostalgia, the brand’s philosophy is echoed right through to the manufacture, as garments are lovingly handmade by local dressmakers and their thermals are all produced in the UK.
Their new collection continues to embody the strong use of heritage; as pretty floral empire-line dresses, pleated skirts, lace trimmed tees and lightweight cotton picot knits all form part of the main range. To be worn alongside, the thermal pieces allow a relaxed layered-look - perfect for the transitional wardrobe!
Visit Kind Hearts website for further details on events and stockists.
Here Comes The Girls….!
Not forgetting the Boys…
Images courtesy of Kind Hearts Clothing.
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Visiting the New Designer’s exhibition held at Islington’s Business Design Centre felt like an absolute breath of fresh air. University graduates across the country created a design haven, which comprised of unique products and ideas from their degree collections. Project ROARsome takes a look at some of the exhibitors work, with a special focus upon kidswear:
Gudrun Eysteinsdottir (Printed Textiles)
A fuss-free, simplified approach to children’s interior design is the philosophy behind Grudrun’s stenciled bed-covers and shaped cushions. Encouraging interactive play, the products promote a sense of freedom, strengthened by the fun, bright palette from her scandinavian roots.
Samantha Louise (Mix Media Design)
The popular nursery rhyme ‘Round and Round the Garden’ is the inspiration behind Samantha’s soft- toys and coordinating blankets, titled ‘A Teddy Bear’s Picnic’. The workmanship gone into the products is clear, with a variety of different techniques, including: intricate beadwork, freehand embroidery and digital printed fabrics (based on her own illustrations).
Laura Southernwood (Textile Design)
Knitted on a dubier machine, Laura’s gorgeous striped baby dresses display a variety of specialised knit-techniques, with the palette influenced by our british country gardens.
Corin Campbell (Printed Textile Designer)
Corin chose a rather fun and unique way to exhibit her work - by refurbishing a vintage ‘Lundby’ dolls house. Each room was curiously decorated with her retro influenced prints that focussed on different modes of transport, such as a vintage volkswagen beetle.
Laura Hathaway (Textile Designer)
A clean, fresh spring palette provides a strong platform for Laura’s beautifully crafted textiles pieces. Inspired by interesting looking containers, sourced from charity shops, the designs apply a 3D layered approach to demonstrate the variety of the decorative techniques included.
Lucy Porter (Surface Textile Designer)
Lucy’s creative direction for her inventive squirrel wall-hooks, was to connect children with our urban wildlife. Titled ‘Out the Corner of Our Eye’, she applies a contemporary, architectural approach to nature in the suburban setting. To assist with research, the ‘Wild Child’ campaign by the National Trust, (which develops children’s awareness of our environment) is incorporated into the development process.
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Better late than never, today’s thread focuses on the SS12 Bubble trade show, the only children’s stand-alone trade event in the UK. A kid’s wonderland, all show-cased under one-roof!
Selectivity (which is key to the organisers of the Bubble trade show when choosing the brands that exhibit there), is incredibly apparent at this years summer event. Welcoming labels old and new, brands show-cased a plethora of exciting collections with a diverse range of ideas. Project ROARsome summerises the general vibe of this years SS12 show after speaking to those on the stands…
A contemporary approach to the much-loved themes surrounding nature transcended throughout many of the collections, which placed an importance on exploration and the curious world around-us. Exhibitors delivered this message with depth, yet ensured their interpretation was unique to the brands handwriting. Not only represented as an ethical ethos; colour palettes, fabrics, prints and styling details embodied a sense of our environment and natures organic development with gusto. Prints provide a tactile quality and garment styling details are fluid, incorporated harmoniously within the themes.
Colour was either blocked; strong and vibrant, at times even unconventional- or incorporated a delicate, soft painterly approach as seen at Hucklebones; whose range was inspired by the artists brush strokes.
Other notable trends:
- Stripes: blocked, fine, rainbow, ticking, preppy, zebra and jailbird can all be found, adding a strong element of fun to ranges.
- Knitwear: lightweight knitted silhouettes were an important inclusion to ranges.
- Grown-on-sleeves: dolman, caped, poncho’s and relaxed kimono styles all had a strong presence.
- Wild animals strengthen the exploratory themes, incorporated into the garment styling, graphics and prints themselves.
- Conversational all -over prints continue in popularity with story-telling large scale icons. The Old Rectory’s ‘Birds and Beasties’ patterns illustrate this imaginative direction beautifully with their bold illustrative style.
Below are a couple of images from the day…
I’m Dotty: irregular jacquard spot at Noa Noa Miniature:
Soft, delicate tones with shades of taupe at Noa Noa Miniature:
Moss stitch knits at Noa Noa Miniature:
The Japanese Garden Theme inspires beautiful detailing at NoaNoa Miniature:
Grow-your-own allotment theme at Green Baby:
Pretty Nordic silhouettes at My Cinnamon Girl:
Tactile knitwear at Lille Barn, who’s garment use natural fibres, such as bamboo and organic cotton into their ranges:
Pretty florals: ditsy prints are delicate and delicate at Lille Barn:
Taupe and french navies at Toffee Moon:
Baby soft - shawl collar detailing at Toffee Moon:
Wrap-up-warm: soft, muted colourways at Toffee Moon:
Quirky detailing re-fresh create a new-nautical at Darcy Brown:
Fine gauge cotton knits and KidsCase:
Colour-blocked at Lille Barn:
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Not afraid of getting in touch with our inner geek, Project ROARsome has unearthed some Avenger comic-book front covers dating back as early as 1969. What a coup! With the Avenger’s blockbuster release scheduled for May 2012, project ROARsome helps you stay ahead of the curve and fulfill our obsession with superheros - which doesn’t seem to be fading anytime soon.
For those who are unaware of The Avengers, project ROARsome’s sources have been informed that they are some of the most loved heros, which include: Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man and Captain America.
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Ever the budding photographer, Project ROARsome takes some snaps for inspiration along Brighton beach and pier.
A heard of pigs I hear you cry? Yes a heard of pigs.
Lone Rider: Brighton’s Piers Carousel.
Amusement Arcade: Palace of Fun.
Luminescent: Pinball Machine.
Copyright ProjectROARsome.com 2011. All rights reserved.
Project ROARsome’s day-trip to Brighton hunts-out interesting kids visual merchandise trends on a rather cloudy summers day…
Children’s shop fronts displayed the usual eclectic style and flair often attributed to Brighton: a fitting match for the charismatic british seaside town. Merchandise was proudly displayed in a fun, plentiful manner as windows were bursting with goodies to tempt the passer-by!
Rainbow stripes at Toby Tiger:
Toby Tiger: 1950’s dresses display a vivid selection of patterned prints:
Aladdin’s Treasure at Yummies:
Vintage design influences are in favour, endorsed my the majority of kidswear retailers. Fete bunting and washing-line themes conjures-up nostalgic images of a by-gone era. Retro styling was also evident amongst the clothes; as clean, simples silhouettes opt for bold prints to do most of the talking. However ‘eclectic’ IS the buzz word today and a modern approach still had a presence.
Fruit-ti-licious prints at get cutie:
Circus typography offers a warm greeting at Posh Totty:
Naive, simplistic graphics are made luminescent at Pussy:
Copyright Project ROARsome.co.uk 2011.
Green Baby’s approach to childrenswear is a refreshing one: ethical clothing that doesn’t compromise upon style. Their incredibly fitting ‘grow your own’ allotment theme for SS12 follows the same ethos, by offering a directional, yet commercial approach to kidswear (up to age 8 years) that’s planet friendly.
See below pictures of their stand taken from the Bubble Trade Show, which won best ‘Stand-out’ prize…
Green Baby Stripes are a go-go with lots of clean colourblocking:
Green Baby’s linear compositions within prints keep pieces fresh and new:
Copyright projectroarsome.com 2011.
Had to share this image of the giraffes taken at the London Zoo - especially with the safari and exploratory themes in abundance this season. The evening light also captures an ethereal quality, bouncing off these exotic beautiful creatures.
Below are some graphics following on from the zoo theme:
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