Sophie Eleanor Turner

Before we introduce a new artist to the swan circle, we wish to tell you about the work of Sophie Eleanor Turner.

An avid vintage collector, she has sold her treasures at Liberty of London, the thursday Antique Markets at Spitalfields ( one of my most favourite yet most dangerous shopping destinations ) and some of her hair entwined lockets and jewels can be found in the most curious of shops, The Last Tuesday Society in East London. Also art directing at Curious Science, she has a healthy obsession with macabre yet beautiful things and her victorian sensibility is evident in the work she created to show at Swanfield on Tour.

Tying in with the entangled hair drawings by Conny Prantera at our Hoxton Street space, Sophie crafted a birds nest and built it into the red locks of her model with other preserved flights of fancy; butterflies and dragonflies. The nest was then safely kept in an antique glass dome and displayed by her photograph. We tip our hat to her... x

On the road again

Blue sky turned grey today as the swan drawn gypsy cart rolled away from Hoxton Street towards Soho full of props to set up shop again. Our spiderwoman, Karen, has been crafting a web for our new online store, so the launch of this we hope will co'incide nicely with our return to the nest in Kingly Court...

Goodluck today Cissi, Kat & Tyrone x






















Photo by Twin Magazine

LAST DAY SALE - THURSDAY AUG 12

SWANFIELD SHUTS SHOP TOMORROW THURSDAY 12TH JULY...

sale starts
11AM

up to 30% off collections by
MINE . CECILIA HAMMARBORG . NICOLA DE MAIN . NEUROTICA . OUTSIDER

parting drinks
7PM TILL DARK

and shopping by
YOU

x

SALE TIME before we sail away, and some bubbles to make your purchase a little easier. Big love to Alison Whalley of Hoxton Boutique, to Conny Prantera for adorning our walls, and to all of the designers, artists and makers involved. We look forward to the next chapter & hope you can make it to help us say goodbye to this amazing space.

As one door closes... another opens, so stay tuned for the launch of our new online boutique, and our NEXT STOP - SOHO

x

Cecilia Hammarborg

Cecilia Hammarborg offers a range of beautifully tailored coats, in warm wool or wax cotton just in time for the autumn season. ‘Inspired by the stories of the Brothers Grimm, the Swedish-born designer created a capsule collection of outerwear that would make Red Riding Hood jealous’ says Daily Candy.

Cecilia's Ezerin Mac ( pictured below ) is the best seller out of this autumn/winter season 2010. A four button mac, belted with a tailored cape & elegant box pleat at the centre back, it is made of the finest Italian wool with a brick-red herringbone pattern. If no time to drop by Swanfield ( the days are ticking by ) make sure you visit her online store for more tailored treats until we next POP.

Ceciliahammarborg.com

Hannah de Bruyn

Hannah de Bruyn's jewellery is a collection of work inspired by her love of a bygone age. A time when jewellery was expertly crafted and truly cherished. Her delicate designs are emblematic of the Victorian era when different stones were used in pieces to show subtle significance and to hold extra meaning. Each piece is handmade using 9 carat gold and set with precious peach corals, diamonds, seed pearls or turquoise, the symbols for protection, purity & innocence, devotion and luck.

Hannah's eponymous line of jewellery is a welcome addition to the swan nest... and make the perfect keepsakes.

New Mine collection now in, with silk playsuits, printed capes & whimsical wears

Mine, the collection illustrated and designed by Katherine Pont, (who is also a founding member of the Swanfield collective) has been the London fashion community's best kept secret for years. While you can spot her instantly recognisable brand of modern folk fashion in some of the nicest, kookiest little boutiques worldwide (like no-one and Labour of Love in London), the need-to-know fashion sales and pre-orders evenings are where music and mag types come together to elbow each other out of the way and try on.

You might have spotted Katherine's designs on the likes of whimsical sartorialists Florence Welch and Natasha Khan (bat for lashes)- which gives you some idea of the kind of look and feel the label tends to have. This season the collection is inspired by a sci-fi short story from the 60s called ‘Repent Harlequin!’- and the theme is played out across the collection with hand drawn, digital prints of clock faces, sleepy cats, harlequin checks and figures in swirling shimmering hazy satins.

All of the pieces- from simple knitted camis, to full on statement printed playsuits, share a trademark folky eccentricity with gorgeous, slinky cuts and a timeless, vintage sensibility. The collection is in a silky palette of blues, bronzes and burnt reds, which contrast with classic and highly wearable monochrome pieces in the collection. My favourites include high waist tailored chambray shorts with beautiful ribbon detailing, silk blouses with chevron trims and waist ties, truly unique playsuits with circus collars and innovative popper fastenings, and slinky jersey dresses and minis; plus a truly show-stopping silk cape in trademark harlequin print- each key piece guaranteed to be unlike anything anyone else in the room is wearing (and far nicer).

Speaking from experience, wear something from Mine, and you have to be prepared to tell everyone you meet where you bought it. (Or make up a plausible white lie if you don't want your Mine to be anyone else's)

Katie Dailey

Mine.uk.com

More whispers on blogdom this week...

Thanks to Claire at Visit London dot com, and Tom who came to visit to spy on us for his blog Pop Up Culture x

http://www.visitlondon.com/attractions/shopping/london-shopping-news/2010/08/swanfield-pops-up-at-hoxton-boutique
http://popupculture.co.uk/fashion/swanfield-travelling-boutique/

Mine

Sometimes pictures are louder than words... for more information and musings about my label Mine, please visit my blog "Mine Eyes" ...or better still, come visit us at Swanfield on Hoxton Street. Just 9 more days until the 12th of August. TICK TOCK ! x

"The girls who popped..."

An interview with Don't Panic and a thank you to Che Bloomfield for her article on Swanfield and Mine xxx

Instore pix taken by Poppy French

http://www.dontpaniconline.com/magazine/style/swanfield-on-tour

Neurotica

Neurotica is a unique, concept driven fashion label specialising in original illustration, print and textiles that explores the contrast between the sweet, the sinister and the beauty of the everyday.

All Neurotica garments are made and hand printed to the highest quality using special supersoft and superfine custom knitted and dyed jerseys. With an emphasis on wearability Neurotica combines playful sophistication with classic silhouettes and quirky detailing.

A newcomer to the swan nest, her collection is fast becoming a customer favourite.

Milena Silvano

Hand dying, painting onto silks and hand-printing... these are the actions that define Milena’s simple and organic aesthetic. Her collection pays homage to craft as a feminine tradition and it follows the same ethics in it’s approach to reproduction; only a few pieces made on a personal order basis. Exclusive to Swanfield, Milena has made some beautiful scarves and patchwork dresses.

























Swanfield became "Swanfield on Tour" when we took our shop of tricks on the road, but was also a tongue in cheek reference to our connection with music & instore performances. We have always liked to promote the crossing of mediums and how they inform and inspire eachother. Here is a music video Milena styled which captures her collection in moving pictures. The Villagers song is called "Ship of Promises" and was directed by Kathryn Ferguson.