AN ETERNAL FLAME?

Over the bank holiday weekend we headed out of town to Kent for many a pint of Harveys and plenty of fresh air. Amidst the relaxation, some time was made for retail exploration and we reacquainted ourselves with labyrinthine kitchenware shop Trevor Mottram of Tunbridge Wells. The shop is worth the train fare to the spa town alone and sells an extraordinary array of quality items.

Among the tempting pots, pans and Cornish red tea mugs we found these irresistible candles from Price's. At first glance it would appear they are from Bedford but, upon closer inspection, they are a product of Italy. It turns out that the history of the company is rich in detail and theirs is a tale of adapting with the times yet remaining true to the traditions of the brand. Admirable stuff.

Address book:

Trevor Mottram Kitchen Shop, 33-41 The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells (01892 538915)

FAIR ISLE JUMPERS ON BUSINESS OF FASHION... WELL I NEVER

'FAIR ISLE, United Kingdom — On the most remote inhabited island in Britain, 24 miles south of the Shetland mainland, 27 miles north of the Orkney Islands and 250 miles west of Norway, it’s always sweater season. With 600-foot cliffs overlooking the North Sea, thousands of acres of peat bog and a climate that’s perennially cool and damp, Fair Isle is a rugged place where wool is a way of life.'

So starts an informative piece on the usually luxury brand-centric fashion site Business of Fashion. Briefly covering the history of the remote island's knitwear industry, the article discusses the 'missed opportunity' that some of the natives believe has passed their unique product by.

'Classic design, quality and authenticity matter,' the article continues, 'At the same time, increasingly informed and selective shoppers are asking more and more questions about where and how their products are made. They want to know that the whole life of their product was thought about and guided by the same care and attention as the finished piece.' Hear hear.

Image from Fair Isle

SCRAPBOOK PT. 7 (BRITS ABROAD)

JOURNAL DE NIMES : THE BRITISH ISSUE

Open publication - Free publishing - More tenue de nimes

Whilst away this week I was handed the latest issue of Journal de Nimes. Focussed entirely on garments made in Britain, a brief flick through has whetted my appetite and I will soon get round to reading it from cover to cover.

More to follow but in the meantime it can be read in all its (digital) glory here.

SUMMER HOLIDAY

Whilst Manufacture & Industry takes a short break, please enjoy this spread of fine fabrics from holiday enablers British Rail and Cunard. Weaved by Marianne Straub, these vivid textiles featured in the QE2 lounge and on Midland Region trains, among other interiors.

Image from the highly recommended VADS archive.

A IS FOR ALLY

Thanks to Mr David Pinder for alerting us to this fine silent film of the manufacturing process of an Ally Capellino wallet.

SCRAPBOOK PT. 6