This is one of those weeks, friends, where everything I have to share with you is so gorgeous and special that I would be happy just hanging them on a wall and marveling at them!
We’re going to start off with a very worthy explore! Now this does kind of have a label inside (but, like, an unspecific leather label), but it wasn’t helpful at all and I maintain that this is a vintage, handmade bag. Are we all sitting up straight now?
Let’s start with the, gulp, incredible beading! I almost can’t look directly at it, it is so well done! The entire front of the bag looks like an Indigenous People’s hair-pipe breastplate!
And then there’s the fringe!!! This bag has two layers of fringe; one layer around the front-back seam of the bag….
…and the other outlines the beaded portion.
This bag has a drawstring tie in it if you want to cinch it up.
The drawstring is where things get weird, but in that charming hand-made kind of way. The top inside hem of this bag is not sewn down….
….as shown here. My take on this bag based on the condition of the leather, the hardware and the stitching is that it is hand-made from reclaimed leather (possibly reclaimed beads?). It is for sure one of a kind, though, and also maybe a once in a lifetime find!
Ok, I barely know where to start with these pants! They are handmade from hand-*woven* cotton made in Nairobi! The fabric itself is super light-weight and soft cotton, and I love the delicate geometric print!
PLUS, those huge pleats in the front are so fashion-forward! I bet these pants look like a skirt thanks to those huge pleats!
I love when I discover some new look or designer and then I see them everywhere all the time! Remember a few weeks (months? years? Is it still 2020? It’s been 2020 for 7 years now!) ago we had those earrings from new-to-me Canadian designer Anne-Marie Chagnon? Check it out, we have a pair from her again!
For me the star of the show here are the white rectangle pendants -although I am also very interested in those industrial links! And am I nuts (yes, ha! Is it still 2020?) or woulds these look great with the hand-woven pants?
The rectangles are actually little blocks, kinda like lego without the cylinders. But they have different line patterns! This is by design, as all Anne-Marie Chagnon pieces are hand-made and unique!
Hmmm, ok, now that I’m looking at this top I think it too could be great with those earrings! Friends, this sweet top is straight from the future! The boxy-architectural shape and “cold” white colour give it that spacey feel, but the sweet puffed sleeves and small burst of woven-in colours feel organic and playful! Can you picture it with high-waisted, wide-leg [space] pants?
This top would be completely different without these colour splashes.
We learn so much about this top from the back, too! The industrial zipper plus the scoop-back is genius!
And here we can see the inside where the coloured threads run! I almost think they could have constructed this with the fabric inside-out and it would be just as cool!
Ok, I think I know what this bag is about, but also I’m not sure. Shubinak was (is?) a local sustainability brand, using -again- handwoven (or hand-worked in some way) textiles by local artisans in Pakistan.
I mean, look at how stunning that stitching is! It covers the entire exterior of the bag!
Do you see the starburst pattern dyed into the cloth on the side? To me this reads as reclaimed fabric that was then stitched with the coloured thread. But also, this bag is not messing around! It is super solid from the leather bottom to the straps and the “doctor’s bag” zipper.
Shall we step inside? Gah! How GORGEOUS is the inside fabric lining of this bag?! This too could have have been made inside-out and would be just as cool! I am dyinnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggg!!!!!!!!
Now you might be thinking “why is Yannick showing me these two skirts?” and I would say “No, no, my friend, I am showing you FOUR skirts” because….
….each of these skirts is reversible!!!! ANNNNNNNDD they each have pockets…on both sides!!!!!
The blue skirt becomes striped maroon and gold….
And the pink one is also……
…..grey feathers!! And, friends, guess what; I think these skirts are hand-made! And they are impeccable on both sides! You would never know these are reversible. Like, there is not one “good” side and then one “almost-as-good-side” that you get with some reversible garments. Both are the same!!
Please emotionally prepare yourself, friends: the shop will be closed from August 2-13th while we go on a small family vacation. You know, because I haven’t spent enough time with my children already in the past 19 week and 3 days butwhoscounting. Those of you who have not let 2020 turn your brain to mush will realize (with relief) that this actually means the physical shop is only closed for 2 days (so don’t come down on August 6 or 8 because you will be disappointed). I am going to try to load up the online shop so that you can still do lots of online shopping (but you’ll have to wait until we get back for deliveries/pick-ups), or you can come in this Thursday and/or Saturday to get all the great stuff in real time!