Spitalfields Dummy

We hit Spitalfields market today in search of a tailor's dummy for the forthcoming scarf studio shots. Though we didn't find exactly what we were looking for it was inspiring to have a look around. Some beautiful vintage scarves were in evidence around the market.

But the highlight had to be the Tea Dance with music by the Covent Garden Dance Orchestra.   This is where East London's most fabulous pensioners can be seen fox-trotting for England. We love it! For details of the dances scheduled throughout the summer (and, which seem to be open to all)  go to the Spitalfields website HERE.

And The Winner is...

Two weeks ago we shot our first look book in Brighton by the West Pier.  We put the word about in the area,  and offered a luxury silk scarf to the person who could best describe what they saw that day.  The winner is Sophie from Hove, who will recieve an Age of Reason Scarf of her choosing. The collection goes live on the website in 19 days time.

"I saw the model poised like a statue in the rowing boat.  She looked like a Queen in her gold make- up and a deep blue scarf.  The sunlight looked beautiful that day, like in a painting. "

Well done Sophie!

Age of Reason - Adventures in Scarves

The label is called Age of Reason because it represents a seed change in our way of thinking about accessories. We seek to create scarves that will last you a lifetime; a scarf you'd actually hand down to your daughter even if it was in tatters.  The galleon ship is an important emblem because it reminds us to explore new territory, to come up with new ideas, and not to fear being different by saying "Buy less,  but buy quality. Be proud of your things and never throw them away. "

ON/OFF

We love ON/OFF, London's exclusive fashion showcase and sometime pop up store.

 If you don't know about them already check them out here.

ON/OFF

The Creative Zone

Age of Reason scarf designer Ali explains how she arrives at a finished piece, from concept to complete article. 





A blank piece of paper can be a really intimidating thing. But I love that I have to get over that fear. Sometimes I spend hours just arranging my drawing table. It probably looks like I'm not doing anything at all, but it's all about getting into the head space, creating a zone for my ideas. I'll be thinking about everything from the print to the cloth. Everything has to work together to create the best possible scarf.  Once I've done that I'll often head out for inspiration. I'm based in Brighton so finding a creative spark is not hard.


 I usually start by walking along the beach or heading to the National Gallery in London, I don't know why but it draws me back again and again.  I also like to go to the British Museum or walk around Brighton or London (Soho, Shordich or Camden)  just looking at people. Then I'll go back to the studio.   I try to keep it fresh with pictures and objects that relate to the current collection in my mind. 


Sometimes I will listen to the same piece of music repeatedly. That might sound insane,  but it really helps me to concentrate and maintain a drawing mood. For Bondage Dolls I listened to lots of Patti Smith,  M.I.A and Dark Horses.  I love female vocalists who tread their own path. I'm not too genre specific though. 


I usually draw about 20 drawings before I get to anything I'm happy with. My tools are a fountain pen, inks, brushes and loads of watercolour paper.  I use my i-phone to take pictures and splice them together roughly.  My favorite designs are the ones where I get to make a mess, like the Union Jack series. There's a punk spirt that comes through if you just chuck paint around.  I've destroyed a wall or two with red paint, it was a bit Hitchcock. 


 The printers are based in East Sussex too, which is great because we don't send anything out of the UK. We are really into Made in England so our sewing is done here as well. It's great for me to be able to talk about thread choices and the finish with our seamstress Nicola.   


Every day when I finish my work in the studio I turn to a blank page and leave it for tomorrow, that way I have to make myself  have a fresh idea in the morning. Or just throw some paint around. 

Really Made in England

Controversially many designers have been accused of labeling garments and accessories as Made in England when they are in fact made abroad. This could mean that a suit made in India was shipped to London where the buttons were sewn on. Often it still gets labeled Made in England. Age of Reason creates it's scarves in the UK using materials from local suppliers.  We work with the best artisans to create a high quality product, and everyone from our seamstress, to photographer to make-up artists and models are UK based.   When you wear an Age of Reason scarf you are really wearing "Made in England."

Today we are listening to...

Pattie Smith. We love a bit of  Pattie.

Maybe we'll design a P. Smith inspired neck-tie to go with our next collection of scarves.

Audrey Hepburn

"When I wear a silk scarf, I never feel so definitely like a woman, a beautiful woman."

London SHOPS we Love...

Our favorite Stores in London are not just places to shop. They are places to get inspiration; museums of style, emporiums of finery. 




A Child of The Jago If you are looking for menswear that doesn't bore your face off, then you'd be mad not to check this out.  Buy a derby hat or die! We wear ours with an Age of Reason scarf knotted around, and it looks absolutely a-mazing. No. 10 Great Eastern Street, 


Coco De Mer on Monmouth Street get it soooo right.  In the world of premiere erotic lingerie you don't get finer than this.  The shopping experience is sublime, beating its competitors hands down for female friendly shopping. The service is personal, gentle, well informed and smiley.  And these ladies have a lot to smile about; they're never more than a few feet away from a pleasure puff ring or a butterfly merkin.  We love the home wares section too. 




Start on Rivington street in Shoreditch.  This directional fashion boutique run by Brix Smith, is the best place in London to buy jeans.  Staff will ensure you have the perfect fit for your body shape.  Brix always has brilliant window displays, and we adore her two cute pugs.


Lara Bohinc is a friend who makes mind blowing accessories.  We have enjoyed her many sample sales over the years, which are now a thing of the past sadly.  Lara is an incredibly technically and creatively brilliant designer, her jewellery is second to none.  She also designs for Cartier. 


Liberty is an old favorite, fresh and beautiful every time we visit, but as reassuring and grounded as an old friend. Liberty won't let you down; they consistently make shopping a joy and an inspiration. 


And not to forget Markets. We have so many great ones near our studio in East London. 


We get inspiration at Spitalfields Antiques market on Thursdays. 
And Columbia Road Flower Market on Sundays. Bargains at the end of the day. 

Winter Inspiration

The moody English winter coast at Brighton. Faded grandeur can be so beautiful. 

Brick Lane Bird -By ROA

 We were on the way to pick up art supplies for our SS 2012 scarf collection when we spied this huge bird. Is it a stork? Is it a heron? Who knows, but we like it a lot. You never can tell what sights and sounds will inspire next summer's collection. 

In the meantime there's palpable excitement about our AW 2011-12 collection, which have only been seen by a very select and very small group of buyers. 

We have subsequently discovered that this delightful bird is by the artist ROA. You can see more HERE at Unurth. 

HERE

Autumn Winter 2011-12 Samples are GO!

With our samples for A/W 11-12  complete,  we are talking scarves with the finest buyers in the industry. So far we have been blown away by the positive response. Thank you so much everyone who has helped us along the way so far!

Oh Lordy We love it!

We just spied this online, attributed to Coco de Mer. But who is it by? And can we still get it? So many questions. Too, too gorgeous. Perhaps we'll have to make our own out of scarves!

Picture copyright Coco de Mer

Fashion Week- Scarf Mania

Scarves have been big at London Fashion Week this month.  And colour looks set to be big for A/W 2011-12.  We love this flock of flying squares ascending the stairwell at Somerset House. 

Fashion Weak!

We are going weak at the knees for London Fashion Week. And it's not just a result of days spent tottering round Somerset House in Loubotins; there are some truly exquisite things to be seen.  


We really enjoyed Lara Bohinc's scarf launch: she's printed her jewellery on scarves. Beautiful. It's so different from what we do, but we adore it.  Hopefully this time next year we'll be rubbing shoulders in London's finest scarf departments. 


 And we had a lovely chat with Desiree Mejer at Fake London. She has some beautiful designs up her sleeve,  and a really welcoming atmosphere in her showroom.  Just like us she's channeling the Brit thing in style. 


x

Picture of the day...

We thought this looked like fun...

Perhaps she got her idea from this lady in an even earlier picture

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We would recommend wearing a scarf around that hat, just to keep it on when the wild beast bucks. 

Valentines Idea.

If you are at a loss for something to do this Valentines. May we suggest this......

Photo © Cent Magazine et Manuel Vason - Ropes : Esinem

Lovely shoes too! See more work by bondage artist Esinem, who we love btw,  HERE. 

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Samples Looking Oh so gorgeous...

We are sooo excited about our Autumn/ Winter 2011-12 scarf samples. We can hardly wait to show buyers the designs, which thus far have only been seen by the design and sampling team.   We are so proud to have found excellent suppliers and talent here in the UK, enabling us to keep our product genuinely Made in England.  

Seshoeshoe Fabric (Se-shwe- shwe)

Our designer Ali has a vivd memory from her childhood in Southern Africa: the smell of freshly dyed Seshoeshoe cloth.  It's a lovely fresh inky smell,  the smell of crafted newness. This gorgeous heavy cotton is unique to Southern Africa and easily rivals the best Liberty print for beauty.  It often features African animals and flora in tight patterns.  Ali remembers indigo or brown shoeshoe, but it also comes in red. The cloth is stiff when new, but soon softens up when washed. It makes great skirts, dresses and furnishings.  Lesotho, where Ali grew up, manufactures it, as does South Africa.


  Some of our favorite designs are the Nelson Mandela print below, and a baby elephant print pictured on this cushion cover;  a treasure, which Ali was given as a child.

You can buy seshoeshoe at:
http://www.africanfabric.co.uk


And here is a brilliant blog entry from South Africa on Shweshwe
Click HERE!

We love our Mommes....

Mommes are the units of weight used to measure the density of silk.  A light weight chiffon might have a momme weight of 8mm, while a heavy raw silk might be 40mm.  Mmmm...mommmes. 

 At Age of Reason we are big fans of Crepe de Chine.