Tweed
As the winter creeps upon us folks in the Northern hemisphere it got my wee brain thinking, what kind of hats can I make that are stylish and also functional in keeping us warm?
It didn’t take me long to come up with the answer and last week I found myself on a boat, sailing to a lovely little island off the west coast of Scotland, to do a bit of business!
London Fashion Week S/S 12
With another successful London Fashion Week (http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/) coming to an end, I can finally sit down and update my blog!
Obscure Couture
The past month has been very busy in Pea Cooper Millinery as I was collaborating with the amazing design duo Obscure Couture (http://www.obscure-couture.com/) in making hats to compliment their damn fine clothing, for their two shows at London Fashion Week.
Scottish Designers
Recently Pea Cooper Millinery has been in talks with Fortune Favours The Brave (http://www.fortunefavours.net/) about doing a wee collaboration.
FFTB is a fantastic design company run by Thomas Wilson, whose speciality is designing Scottish and Glaswegian based products.
Business Mentoring
As well as designing and making hats I am also a business mentor on Starter for 6. Starter for 6 is an enterprise training programme that supports up and coming entrepreneurs from the creative industries across Scotland. By helping to turn creative ideas into successful businesses, the programme not only contributes towards the success of the Scottish economy but also raises the awareness and profile of talented entrepreneurs in Scotland.
Mary Fellowes
Just a wee quick blog today to say that Mary Fellowes, the fantastic Fashion Editor at Turkish Vogue (http://www.vogue.com.tr/) has taken one of my hats to New York where it is to be used in a ’1960′s Toy Soldier’ shoot for the November issue. Can’t wait to see it!!!
Textiles Scotland
I’ve had a busy week schmoozing and networking, drinking the odd glass of champagne and eating a few canapes!
Textiles Scotland (http://www.textilescotland.com/) run a trend forecasting event twice a year. It’s a great day out and a good way to meet people involved in the world of fashion. Tuesday’s event was looking at Autumn Winter 2012/13. Expect to see lots of tweeds, knits and prints on the catwalk with strong colour and touches of Art Deco. We shall see if the predictions come true (they usually do!)
Farming
Today sees the start of the Royal Highland Show (http://www.royalhighlandshow.org/) in Edinburgh. Normally this show would bypass me as I am not involved in farming or livestock but this year a special event is taking place that I am very much a part of.
Scottish Accessory Designer of the Year
Well, it wasn’t my year to be crowned Accessory Designer of the Year, of course I’m a wee bit disappointed but I’m chuffed to bits to have been nominated in the first place! The level of talent in Scotland is amazing and to be included in the five nominees is good enough for me.
A Day at the Races
Today is the start of Royal Ascot (http://www.ascot.co.uk/) where hats are just as important as the horse racing! I’m not really into the racing but oh how I love to see what is going on in the fashion stakes!
Press
What a big surprise to find a giant picture of myself in yesterday’s Paisley Daily Express (http://www.paisleydailyexpress.co.uk/), and it was an even bigger surprise to find that my name was in the same article as Hollywood heart throb Gerard Butler (http://www.gerardbutler.net/).
