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Friday 19 February 2016

Special Bespoke Flat Cap Bag

Late last year I was commissioned to make a special Flat Cap Bag. A lovely customer asked me to create a bag using her late husband's caps as a special reminder of him.
She especially wanted to be able to take the bag when she walked her dogs, so she would feel he was with her all the time. So the bag needed to be practical enough to carry all the doggy paraphernalia but still look stylish.


One problem I had to overcome was the baseball style back of one of the caps which needed to be filled in order for the bag to work (and not have a large hole in the bottom!). So a thick piece of brown leather was cut to fit and then riveted into place, as it was too thick for me to sew. I also kept the original leather buckle as a nice detail.



Part of the brief was to have the handles in two colours, a brown handle on the navy blue cap and a black handle on the grey cap. The top straps also fasten on each side in matching colours and then a long strap half brown/half black to match. So that the customer could wear the bag either way round and coordinate with whatever she was wearing.






It was such a pleasure to create such a personal bag and I'm pleased to say the customer loves it.
If you are inspired by this and are interested in me creating a bespoke bag for you then please do get in touch. You can email me on: girl@girlwithbeads.co.uk


Tuesday 27 January 2015

girlwithbeads chosen for Royal Academy's RAted range!



Well 2015 has started on high for girlwithbeads as my work is featured in the new Royal Academy RAted range!!
RAted is the Royal Academy’s showcase for emerging British design talent, with hand-picked items from up-and-coming designer-makers.
Emily Rubner, from the Royal Academy, explains "In 2014, we asked the brightest UK-based design talents to submit their most distinctive products to be selected for the inaugural RAted “Open Call” range. We were looking for the finest quality, and; originality in; form and function. The RA’s award-winning retail team whittled down nearly 300 applicants to a group of 34, who presented their products to us at an Open Call at the RA in September 2014. We were extremely impressed with the quality and variety of original designs and the high standard of the submissions. Our team had difficulty selecting the very best, but we’re delighted to reveal the first 2015 RAted range."
Source: http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/article/rated-new-designers-2015

Four of my designs will be available for sale from the Royal Academy Shop from 26th January. See for yourself here: http://shop.royalacademy.org.uk/girl-with-beads



Monday 19 January 2015

How My Flat Cap Bags Became Famous!

You might have spotted me & my Flat Cap Bags on BBC1 show The Apprentice in November last year.






I was invited to present my Flat Cap Bags - pitched as city-meets-country fashion - to the teams for selection for a sales task at a country fair - The Royal Bath and West Show in Somerset. And to my delight they were selected!!





I had been sworn to secrecy about the show for months and its so exciting to finally be able to tell everyone now. The feedback so far has been great and its amazing to have so many people talking about my design!
Me & my husband also went to watch the filming of The Apprentice: You're Fired! which included Dara O'Briain putting a Flat Cap Bag on his head - brilliant!



Read more about my experience on The Apprentice in this piece I wrote for the Folksy Blog!


Wednesday 8 October 2014

girlwithbeads on the Catwalk!!

More photos of girlwithbeads bags, jewellery, tie vests & t-shirts on the Catwalk during London Fashion Week last month!






















Thursday 2 October 2014

Girl with Beads girlwithbeads - The Catwalk Edit LFW 2014





Short video of girlwithbeads designs on the catwalk at London Fashion Week September 2014.



The Catwalk Edit LFW 2014 Event was organised by Calico PR and features girlwithbeads recycled fashion bags, jewellery, vests & t-shirts.



girlwithbeads creates wonderfully unique handmade recycled bags, clothing and accessories from her studio in Walthamstow, East London. For more info visit: http://www.girlwithbeads.co.uk/

girlwithbeads at London Fashion Week 2014

girlwithbeads took part in Calico PR's The Catwalk Edit LFW 2014 Event last month at Chelsea Old Town Hall.
What a great venue, there were loads of cool brands and 8 catwalk shows throughout the day. It was great to see girlwithbeads bags & tie vests being modelled on the catwalk. Very exciting!!