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latest news in swan happenings...

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the swans

x

For keeps... x

Keep-Sake is a luxury label whose key philosophy is that fashion should be treasured instead of being forgotten. New to the swan nest, their AW10 collection draws inspiration from the Russian Constructivism movement with bold graphic prints sitting alongside softly tailored pieces. Said GRAZIA this week... "Our new discovery's autumn collection is bursting with elegant yet unique pieces that will really go the distance. They're luxe basics that speak for themselves, like this gorgeous hand-drawn printed silk tee".

Come see for yourself... and meet the designers Alex and Trang who are playing shop today x

MAKIN JAN MA new winter collection instore x

Introducing Dee, the new character created by fashion label and friend MAKIN JAN MA. Come and see her new winter wardrobe, available now to buy at Swanfield.

Dee is a girl who is easy on the eyes but hard on the heart. She lives with the internal contradictory elements of beauty. Dee is recklessly elegant. She carries around a devil-may-care attitude mixed with an irresistible sweetness. She cries when she is happy. She is impossible to pin down. DEE also stands for Dead End Elimination, for the disregarding of barriers, the endless unfolding of potentiality. Where others see something ugly, Dee finds unexpected beauty. She is the antithesis of herself, with an always-evolving essence. Dee is a million answers to a question that keeps re-writing itself, beautifully inconsistent.

http://makinjanma.com/

Outsider

Outsider, the fashion label that believes that style and quality should be equally important to ethical sourcing and production, launches this Friday at Swanfield Boutique 1.2 Kingly Court in conjunction with the Campaign for Wool. Outsider will be available all week in Swanfield with 10% off all products containing 50% English Wool.

Outsider garments are classically designed, created to be loved season after season. Using up and coming creatives in illustration and graphics wherever possible, this collection is made from the highest quality of sustainable materials. This ethos has brought Outsider much attention in the press, including the Sunday Times Style magazine and The Campaign for wool.

For information on the Wool Campaign please click here.

For more images and the chance to visit Outsider's webshop please click here.

Swanfield in the press

Swanfield and Cecilia Hammarborg featured on page 30 of this weeks Time Out magazine in The style Agenda. Don't forget to pop down to Kingly Court tomorrow night for 10% off Cecilia's coats. Yes Time Out, it is "Winter coat time already!"

Electronic Sheep

New to the Swan's nest is fabulous knitwear by designer knitwear label Electronic Sheep. We present for you their AW collection Pipes and Pyramids. A self described voyage of ancient discovery the collection creates imagery inspired from the travels of ancient explorers set out to unearth new and exotic lands.

The wanderlust to the New World by pioneer Sir Frances Drake provides images of exotic fruits, herbs, sea life, native america and of course tobacco pipes. Also inspiration is taken from the iconography of a more modern USA, all of these knitted together, with spots, stripes and tassels.

The tasty treats at Swanfield include knitted triangle scarfs and oversized pieces, beanies berets and bobble hats. These pieces are so wearable with other collections in the Swan's nest. Mix and match with the tassels of Jenny Jenny jewellery or the heritage fabrics from Cecilia Hammarborg's winter coats.

For more information on Electronic Sheep and their collections visit www.electronicsheep.com

NEUROTICA LAUNCH PARTY

Fashion label Neurotica shall be hosting their label launch party "Thief in the the Night" this Tuesday at Swanfield Boutique at Kingly Court. With 10% off Neurotica goodies and sparkly drinks it's an absolute steal don't you think?!

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 hand made and hand printed in England to the highest quality using special super soft and superfine custom woven and dyed jerseys. For Autumn Winter 2010, we are very excited about the new Neurotica collection entitled “Theif in the night”.

Swanfield “ON TOUR” Boutique – Neurotica A/W in store launch – Tuesday the 14th of September 7pm – 9pm, 1.2 Kingly Court, 1st Floor, Carnaby Street

For more information and to RSVP please contact Becc Gray at Bloody Gray PR, becc@bloodygray.com, M. +44 (0) 750 118 1728

A wink to our artist PCR from jotta.com

Some press to im'press for Paper Covers Rock... be sure to pop down to see Rachel Caunt's debut exhibition in London. Thanks Millie and Jotta x

http://www.jotta.com/jotta/published/home#/article/events-other/1051/swanfield-on-tour-presents-rachel-caunt

Mine to be' spoken for TONIGHT! x

Come by to see the new collection of tear drop crops & dresses by Mine and place a personal order with your desired fabric, silhouette and colours.

These are limited edition pieces and will be made locally by the hands of friend and collaborator Nicola De Main. There are only 25 to be made, and so Mine is offering a bespoke service to Swan followers, Mine Eyes and mailing list, so you can select the colour you love the most... an envelope will be made up there and then with your name and address, and when your order is sewn up stitch by stitch, your dress will arrive in the post within the month.

Time: 6-8pm

Date: Thursday 9th September
Venue: Swanfield on Tour
Address: 1.2 Kingly Court, Soho

This will be the last hurrah as I away to Mexico for some sun, colour & inspiration, so I'm crying you a rainbow as a little goodbye...

Hope to see you this eve!

Much love from Katherine and the swans

x

PAPER COVERS ROCK

Paper Covers Rock is the art and design work of Rachel Caunt.

Using tissue paper she delicately creates colourful collages. The designs are inspired by her collection of old kaleidoscopes and a set of wooden toy blocks. The patterns, lines and shapes captured whilst playing are reflected within the simple, abstract pictures. A vibrant spectrum of colours is achieved by layering the tissue paper.

Paper Covers Rock was set up during the Spring of this year. Rachel left a grey England to go and spend three months living with her boyfriend in the Texan Hill Country. During her stay, one of her favourite pastimes was sitting on the porch with a pot of fresh coffee designing and making. This is what transpired...

Instore Exhibition Launch tomorrow eve;

Tuesday 6th of September, 6-8.30pm

x o x

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

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

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/

"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.

Luladot

Lula Dot is Lucy Norman. Her jewellery collection entitled "Timepieces Adornments" speaks for itself, softly ticking away from it's handcrafted display. Made from the inside of broken watches and discarded clock faces, every piece is unique and now timeless. With cut out shapes reminiscent of constellation patterns and lunar skies, the irregular nature of these objects coupled with their delicate assemblage is what makes these items so distinctive.

Luladot aims to upcycle London’s waste into lasting beauty, bringing new life to old objects. Please check out her website for her other product designs such as the "CAPtivate" lamp & her tierred book end lights called "Light Reading" which have lit up the Swanfield shop floor, the Geffrye Museum, & Colette in Paris to name a few. With us since the first swan happenings, we are happy to have her under the wing x

ZANZAN

Zanzan brings a touch of the lux and tints the 70's with rose coloured glass. Handmade in France, their collection speaks of decadence and fun. The presentation is beautiful, each pair of glasses given it's own box with printed cards telling of the inspiration behind each style, and exclusive to Swanfield, a brown leather case embossed with gold deco motif and soft suede lining to keep them safe when the sun goes down.

Launched in 2009, Zanzan’s first collection married a whimsical, fresh take on eyewear combined with high quality materials - a winning combination for some of the world’s very best stores who got behind Zanzan from the outset.

I've been wearing the 'Le Sept' pictured below and loving them. Thank you Zanzan x