All posts tagged with British design

I went shoe shopping the other day. I’m not much of a shoe person (hello nail polish, and dresses) but for some reason, my last three purchases have been shoes. Must be the changing weather. Goodbye boots, hello gorgeous, colourful, fun summer wear. Now we’ve just got to wait for those May showers to turn […]

Do you love a good pair of shoes? Take a look behind the scenes of a shoemaking company that is quintessentially English, preserving old traditions in manufacturing while adding that modern touch. As one of the last remaining active shoe factories in England, our brand, Crown Northampton has a deep understanding of English made and […]

I’ve been away in sunny India for about 6 months (yes, a bit longer than expected), and I completely missed the British summer. Traded it in for the original Indian summer followed by monsoon which made for hot hot hot weather with torrential rain. The weather here is conflicted. Some days it’s autumn with those longer sleeves, […]

It was some months ago while perusing my Facebook feed that I came across a very interesting discussion in a group. This particular thread was started by someone questioning whether a business planning to use sustainable leather and organic cotton could call themselves a sustainable business. There were comments on the meat and leather industries, […]

Now that Easter’s been and gone, it might as well be spring. This weekend has been so very springlike. A bit of sun, a bit of rain. Has anyone seen any Daffodils yet? Those are my favourite sign of spring. Last year we wrote this blog about garden products. To add to that list, and in honour […]

Did anyone get engaged recently? Whether you are frantically planning your wedding, or simply keeping an eye out for ideas, here are a few ways in which you can incorporate some of your family history into your wedding dress. Intrigued? Read on. We live in an age of mass production, surrounded by a throw-away society. […]

Did you know that January is named after Janus, the god of gateways and that Janus could look in both directions, back at the old year and forward towards the new year at the same time? Hindsight and foresight both 20/20 for this guy, right? However, as far as we’re concerned, December is as cold as January, […]

We all know someone who is mad about animals. Horses, dogs, cats, birds, bees, otters, sheep….. the list could go on! Here are a few ideas for animal themed christmas gifts, with even a few gifts for animals!   Birds of a feather… 1. Green & Blue, Belle Feeder £26. Feed tits, sparrows, nuthatches and finches with fat balls, fruit and kitchen scraps! […]

We would like to invite you to visit the Blue Patch stand at London Design Fair  at the Old Truman Brewery this September 21st – 24th. You’ll find us at stand no. C07 in Hall T2 showcasing a selection of talented and sustainable British designers and makers. Admire the range of Afid Design furniture made with beautiful materials, solid craftsmanship, simple, functional design and […]

Why I do what I do: Upcycled Creative Lee Richards of Upcycled Creative is a man on a mission. He’s busy turning discarded objects into distinctive, stunning lighting and furniture – picking up awards from TV Dragon Theo Paphitis along the way. Upcycled Creative design and produce hand-made eco-friendly pieces with an authentic ‘wow factor’. […]