Sunday 29 May 2011

Fringe update

I asked a while back: fringe or no fringe?
 
Here's my all-new, supah thick fringe.  I missed it bad.  Ben at Hob on Duncan St in Leeds sorted this out for me. I quite like having my hair cut by a fella. When they tell you you look great... it's kinda nice! Girls don't tend to do that. I actually said to him 'You know that puppet on the Diet Coke ad? That's what I want to like like'. He laughed.  Anyway I told him not to play it safe and he went for it and brushed a whole load of hair forward and chopped it.  I'm sat at the till in Indie Cindy here.


You may also notice I had a black lip stud and now it's silver again. This was due to 2x falling off incidents and I only had a silver one left in my possession. I may go back to the ring, it winds my Dad up when I tell him men go wild for it (because he doesn't like it).  There's a massive gap in the market for decent body jewellery. I want a blue stud but I think if I want one I have to get a size bigger = bigger hole in face when I decide to take it out :(

xoxo

Saturday 28 May 2011

Who owns this town....?

I do! ;-)


The KitschenSink Electric Storm necklace (as featured in Cosmo!) has been used in this hardback book as part of an editorial about Birds Yard, the arcade that my shop Indie Cindy is based in.

Shop life is pretty great!

xoxo

Friday 27 May 2011

Meet The Stockist: Hannah Zakari

♥ What’s your name and where do you come from?
My name's Rachael and I run/own Hannah Zakari in Edinburgh.
 
♥ How long have you been in the boutique business and what made you get started?
I've always been creative and have made and customised stuff for as long as I remember. I studied Clothing Design at the Scottish College of Textiles and after leaving I eventually became a manager in a high street clothing and accessories chain (guess what one?!). I can't say I enjoyed working in other shops very much but the experience has now put me in a great position to be able to run a shop of my own so I guess it worked out in the end!

♥ What’s your shop like and what do you sell?
Hannah Zakari was online only for nearly 6 years but last year we took the step into a 'real life' bricks and mortar shop. It's just like the website and we sell lots of different stuff but the emphasis is on jewellery and everything is handmade or designed by indie designers.

I think the focus really has to be on showcasing the work, so we've gone for a quite minimal modern look with just a few interesting and quirky touches to set off the pieces we sell


♥ What’s your typical day like - the best bits and the worst bits?
I'm at the shop by 10am to get things prepared for the day before we open at 11, maybe have some breakfast and make a flask of tea. I have shop helpers who cover in the afternoon to free me up to prepare web orders and press requests to be posted that day. Then I'll reply to emails, get new stock checked in and labels printed ready for it to go out in the shop. I try to spend some time each week going through consignment applications or contacting new designers. More exciting days will be spent making things for my own line, or working on window displays for the shop which I love doing.

Recently I've been working on a lookbook for Hannah Zakari which has been a totally new experience for me and I've been doing things like booking models, photographers and make-up artists, making props, sourcing clothes etc. It's been amazing fun and the shoot is next week which I'm really excited about!

♥ What do you look for in handmade goods to sell?
The most important thing to me is that the designs are different and well made. I try not to concentrate too much on any particular style and put myself in the mind of a customer, but my own taste does come in to it. I like to think that despite having such a wide range of styles and prices on Hannah Zakari there is a quirkiness that ties everything together, that's what I aim for anyway.


♥ Do you actively seek new designers, or wait for them to come to you?
Both! I get new applications daily from designers hoping to sell their wares in the shop, and I'm always keeping an eye out for interesting pieces - it's one of my favourite parts of the job

♥ What’s your best seller?
Gemma Correll's Pugs Not Drugs bags are super popular, and I'm always spotting them out and about too.

♥ How do you prefer a designer to approach you about selling their work? Any tips?
I prefer to get applications by email with a selection of images, retail prices and any other relevant information. I tend to wait until I've built up a few applications then go through them and pick out what I think will work the best on Hannah Zakari.

To be completely honest, I hate it when someone just turns up at the shop with work! I find it awkward and quite embarrassing , especially if I don't think the designers work is right for the shop. I appreciate that it takes a lot of courage to do it in person so I try and handle tactfully and direct people to the 'Selling Your Work' page on the HZ website (http://www.hannahzakari.co.uk/how-to-sell).

♥ What sort of basis do you prefer to work with your designers - consignment or wholesale?
I prefer to have a mixture of consignment and wholesale designers, from a purely business point of view it works best for me in terms of money and my time.
 
♥ Link us up!
Website: http://www.hannahzakari.co.uk/
If you want to submit work for consideration you can read all about it here: http://www.hannahzakari.co.uk/how-to-sell
Blog: http://hannahzakari.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/HannahZakari
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hannahzakari
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hannahzakari
 
"Meet the Stockist" is a collection of interviews with stockists of independent designers' work, posted on the last Friday of each month. If you are a stockist and would like to be featured, or you are a maker and know of a great stockist to interview, email me!


Don't forget to subscribe if you heart my blog!

xoxo

Saturday 21 May 2011

Rowan Grant: Trend Setter

Just reading my Grazia and noticed they've done a little piece on T shirts.Well. I had to point out that I have been rocking this T shirt look for longer that Kate.


I bought T Shirt number 5 last winter, much to the amusement of some of my friends. Well, who's laughing now? (Me, MWAH-Hahah)


So if you like to map trends as they emerge - watch the organ grinder, not the monkey!

xoxo

Friday 20 May 2011

Celebrity seal of approval: The Broken Hearts

'Turntable goddesses' The Broken Hearts have given our Thunderbolt and Lightening Brooch their celebrity seal of approval!



The fashion folk say:

“The Broken Hearts lead a new wave of female DJ groups who look and sound great” - Elle

"Meet the she-jays - the new cool DJ girls whose style you'll be desperate to steal" - Grazia

"Turntable Goddesses Amber and Nisha are guaranteed to pull out a plethora of delights from both the DJ crate and the dressing-up box" - Time Out


The Broken Hearts say:

"We dress identically when we DJ, and always use our Broken Hearts for Hulger telephone handsets instead of headphones.  We've been booked for brands such as Selfridges, Tate, Topshop PPQ, Paul Smith... We've also appeared as fashion commentators on shows such as T4s Frock Me".

"We love them!" (Thunderbolt and Lightening Brooches)


Rowan says:

Cripes! I first heard of The Broken Hearts when they DJ'd at Craftacular back in 2009.  I've been keeping a beady eye on them ever since because I totally love their fun sense of style - it's certainly KitschenSink approved! I'm super proud that Amber and Nisha have given KitschenSink their seal of approval by wearing these at a gig - they are so big on the fashion scene, it means a lot!"




For more on the Broken Hearts:

Peppermint Candy hosted by the Broken Hearts
Thursday evenings at 6pm on Jazz FM
DAB/Sky Digital 0202/Freesat 729/www.jazzfm.com
More information here

Blog: www.weknowwhatyoudidlastnight.com/thebrokenhearts
Twitter: www.twitter.com/BrokenHeartsDJs
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrokenHeartsPage
Gig listings: www.myspace.com/2brokenhearts
Tumblr: www.thebrokenhearts.tumblr.com


xoxo

Thursday 19 May 2011

My names on the Guardian website? Fancy.

If you didn't know already, I'm top media slag about town.  I'm a shameless, press whore of a designer-maker who loves to see her name in lights (well, print, but start small dream BIG, I say).



So imagine my delight to see 'Rowan Grant and her fashion jewelry label Kitschen Sink' written on the Guardian website! Please have a read, and comment to show your support for Leeds' independent creatives and the 'scene' of the city.

Thanks Hebe!

xoxo

Wednesday 18 May 2011

Jewelz on tour! with Hebe Media and Marketing Leeds

Some KitschenSink jewellery and accessories are being used as part of Leeds in Barcelona: A Creative Encounter.

They say:
A collective of Leeds’ creative talent will head to Barcelona this May as Marketing Leeds returns to the Spanish city to promote Leeds’ emerging creative economy and further strengthen the ties between the two cities.
Following on from the success of the original ‘Leeds in Barcelona’ event in 2010, Marketing Leeds is working with Leeds based company Hebe Media and one of Spain’s most influential fashion websites, LeLook, on ‘Leeds in Barcelona - a creative encounter’.  The event, which will take place from 20th – 22nd May, is being sponsored by Jet2.com.
The Leeds collective will include fashion designers, musicians and key influencers from the creative sector whose work will be used to showcase the city.  An audience of opinion formers from Barcelona will experience a snapshot of Leeds through a number of fashion shows and performances.

Hebe Media say: 
There are lots of opportunities for the talent involved in this project. There will be buyers, writers, tour-bookers, DJs, producers and others who will attend, so there are some great opportunities for new business and personal relationships to be formed. There will be international press including TV, radio, magazines, newspapers, bloggers, photographers and general opinion leaders who will get their first taste of Leeds during this event.

KitschenSink say:
OMG?! Seriously? 
KitschenSink also say:
I am honoured to be part of this project.  Anyone who knows me knows how into Leeds I am, and how committed I am to their independent scene - be it arts, shopping, bars, coffee houses, music and the rest... to be part of something that's promoting that in super-cool Barcelona... well, wowee!  I am super honoured to be starring alongside James Steward and Dominic Al-Samarraie who have been winning 'Best Local Designer' for a few years at Leeds Retail Therapy Awards, and featuring ICS and Back to Basics... what a recipe for success...


I also had a lot more to say in my video which will no doubt be posted on the Hebe Blog soon, and I'll link to it when it's up!  I met the Hebe guys and everyone else in the project on Monday at the super swanky Malmaison Hotel.  I was questioned several times by the staff  'what are you here for?', how very dare they...!  All the folks involved are really beautiful people (to look at and in spirit) - I wish I was joining them over there, I know it's going to be something really special. I can't wait to see their film and photos!

Keep an eye on the Hebe Media blog for interviews with everyone invovled: Dave Beer of 'Back to Basics' club night is up already :)  I wonder if subtitles will be required for the rest of the planet to understand our Yorkshire accents?

More on this to follow, no doubt!

xoxo 

Thursday 5 May 2011

The Kapow Collection: Kapow!





An iconic comic image has been recreated into jewellery for you to make a statement! The design is so reminiscent of where Lichtenstein took his inspiration! Perfect for pop-art princesses!
The design is double layered - KitschenSink don't do flat (yawn!) design!
Handmade, available while stocks last!

♥Materials:
Pendant - Acrylic
Chain – Silver plated
♥Measurements:
6cm x 8cm
Chain – 40 – 45cm (extendable)

 ALL PHOTOGRAPHY COPYRIGHT CARLA DE AZEVEDO 2011 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
MUA & MODEL VICTORIA STANSFIELD
xoxo

Wednesday 4 May 2011

The Kapow Collection: Exclamation!


 

An iconic comic image has been recreated into jewellery for you to make a statement! The design is so reminiscent of where Lichtenstein took his inspiration! Perfect for pop-art princesses!

The design is double layered - KitschenSink don't do flat (yawn!) design!

Handmade, available while stocks last!

♥Materials:
Pendant - Acrylic
Chain – Silver plated
♥Measurements:
3cm x 4cm
Chain – 40 – 45cm (extendable)

 PHOTOGRAPHY COPYRIGHT CARLA DE AZEVEDO 2011 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
MUA & MODEL VICTORIA STANSFIELD

xoxo

Tuesday 3 May 2011

The Kapow Collection: POW!

!!POW!

An iconic comic image has been recreated into jewellery for you to make a statement! The design is so reminiscent of where Lichtenstein took his inspiration! Perfect for pop-art princesses! The design is double layered - KitschenSink don't do flat (yawn!) design!
Handmade, available while stocks last!

♥Materials:
Pendant - Acrylic
Chain – Silver plated
♥Measurements:
6cm x 8cm
Chain – 40 – 45cm (extendable)


PHOTOGRAPHY COPYRIGHT CARLA DE AZEVEDO 2011 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
MUA & MODEL: VICTORIA STANSFIELD