Google celebrates Saul Bass

Awesome celebration of legendary graphic designer Saul Bass.

Mothers Day Giveaway!

We’re included in a giant swag bag of Mothers Day giveaway goodness with the Ikat Apron.  Visit Coos & Ahhs to see how to win some serious brownie points with your mum this Mothers Day.

 

Magic Soap

I was out of movies on my Netflix list and found this last night on Hulu – Dr. Bronner was a total radical, in the very definition of the word – preaching one world, one humanity, one love.  Magic Soap is narrated mainly by his son Ralph who is a less intense version of his father, and who continues to  to spread his philosophies.  Dr. Bronner wasn’t without some pretty interesting flaws and quirks but a game changer with vision and a unique spirit doing what he could to make the world better.

Where it Begins

Like most of my designs, they come from some sort of accessory void in my life or in this case my mothers.  One of the newer styles I incorporated in SS2014 was for my mum, below is the first draft so to speak which I made for her in 2009. Super boho style, very few details (and also pre industrial sewing machine, amazing what you can achieve with sheer determination…) as each bag was an experiment in technique.

And this is how it looks today! Like it has been through some sort of handbag war…

Mum has really gotten a lot of use out of her bag, she literally uses it every day which is totally how I hope they are used, but after I was home last (in November 12) it was looking like it was time for an upgrade.  It was missing a few things that she needed – she begged me for more internal pockets, a zipper top closer and a change to the outer pockets that meant everything didn’t get lost in the bottom.  Here is the email exchange we had about it – including very helpful specific measurements.

The part about not using more than one bag at a time is crazy to me – as I look at my wall of bags…I was really happy with the outcome and mum loves it too – below is the new and improved Barbara which will be available late August.

 

 

Shiny Babies

I kind of went to the dark (read bright) side with these latest offerings…When I was picking up collection leathers a few months back, I literally felt like a magpie when a shiny rose gold metallic lambskin caught my eye.  I got that one and then when I went downtown to pick up linings my guy had some silver and gold and I scooped those up too.

Theeeennn, at my local fabric store they have had a few African prints that have been given the Chint treatment and I had been wondering how I can incorporate those into my daily sewing life.  So I made a bunch of wallets up with all kinds of bright linings – orange/hot pink/patterned blue/patterned green.  Totally limited supply, Go Bright or Go Home…

Get em HERE

 

Rackk and Ruin

Molly Conant of Rackk and Ruin is one of my favourite jewelers/bloggers and was recently profiled by VT Makers – hooray! since I’ve long wondered about about her workshop and style.

Sweet Tees

I picked up a sprinkle of additions for the vintage annex of reid.damnit and learnt a ton of stuff along the way.  I like to research a little about where a particular item came from or find fun facts about the label.  Well, let me tell you – I learned all about the design inspiration behind “pussy bow blouses” or “secretary blouses”, the founder of The Girl Scouts and the good people behind Wrangler.

Instore HERE

 

PRESS!

Wowzer, you never know if things are really going to happen until they do and although I told pretty much everyone I know despite my feelings of not announcing events until they are concrete.  It really happened – my very first feature in a New Zealand magazine! I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of a three person feature in NEXT magazines fashion focused April edition, with ex-pats who are unknown designers to NZ’s shopping shores.

Things Organized Neatly

It seems even from an early age I was destined to be on this website…I used to keep a very tidy bedroom (I used to merchandise it like a magazine shoot) and I find satisfaction in having things grouped and ordered. Cue the tumblr by Austin Radcliffe Things Organized Neatly that I wrote about a little while back – which featured my submission a couple of days ago – super honoured.

Capsule!

It’s that time of year, Capsule NYC is happening in just under a month.  I feel like it was only a couple of weeks back when I was up all day and night working on the last collection – oh how time flies! I was at Global Leather last week and I can tell you I got some fun colours to work with!  I’ll be instagramming for sure so keep an eye out there. @reiddamnit