2007 - The year of the non-plastic bag.

A major player in the fashion money making stakes has to be the revolt against the plastic bag...urggghh, plastic, environmentally unfriendly plus faaaarrr less interesting than the current hype. If I had to choose a favourite it would have to be the New Shopping Bag, by Susan Bijl available from Designboom. The main reason I love it is that I would actually use it as a shopping bag. I wouldn't be too frightened to place food inside and risk it getting stained or smelly; it's nylon i.e. wipe clean!! I also wouldn't feel compelled to put it put it on eBay and quintuple my money! See my favourite here on Designboom.

Monacca - Natural Japanese Design

Yanase cedar offers many design opportunities but who would have thought handbags would be one of those possibilities. At the 100% show, Monacca's stall was a wooden oasis in a dessert of new plastics. The stall was made up of raised wooden paneling, mirrored by their designs. See their design aesthetic here.

Block - Acrylic designs.

Here's another one from 100% Design...Block, designs in acrylic. My eye was drawn to their very quirky stall, see photos below (click to enlarge); their use of traditional frames, filled with modern, hazy images. Block's website showcases all their acrylic products, as well as stockists. Above is their full colour spectrum and my favourite products - their rings and bracelets. My visit to Block's stall was also my first experience of "trade snobism". At the 100% Design show, you had to wear a badge, stating whether or not you were a trade stockist or "civilian visitor". As a blogger, I was not trade and definitely treated accordingly. When asking for leaflets, stall holders would first, very blatantly check out my badge, before handing whatever was nearby. "Trade" badge holders received a very different level of care, to some extent understandably, as the economic future of the brand rests in their sales. I felt though that some stall-holders should definitely treat all visitors in the same way, as you never know what "power" the civilians may wield (I am not referring to myself here, just other well-respected bloggers in general). Small rant over ;) !

Mr. Jones Watches...time to live by.

Here's a little discovery from the Designer's Block - Mr. Jones Watches. These amazing timepieces not only offer hours and minutes but also a statement to live by, decision making help and an extra conscience. My favourite has to be the Mantra which alternates between, a very positive statement (e.g. you are amazing) with a very negative one (e.g. nobody likes you). Its aim is, "to make the arrogant person more humble and the humble more confident." A modern day self-esteem equaliser for your wrist! Above are my own pictures (click to enlarge) from the Designer's Block, where the watches were displayed incredibly effectively - in a darkened corridor, within huge light boxes. A note to the lovely Clarice - I think this is the very watch you are looking for.

Each piece is a unique, numbered limited edition, offering a true air of exclusivity. Below are some of my favourites from their previous LCD collection - "Remember you will die" would surely help you to Carpe Diem!

Antoni & Alison - Let your accessories speak for you.

The regular readers of my blog will know of my love for Antoni and Alison but their new additions to the collection have left me drooling (in a fashionable sense!). I'm not a huge fan of logos or bold statements but I do have a soft spot for fashion with a sense of humour and a big splash of sarcasm! These bags and purses literally speak for themselves, so enjoy!

Topshop Luxury - equally appealing.

Topshop also provides an element of luxury with these oversized slouch bags. I didn't really give them a second glance on the website but in store, a fab, fashion expert friend of mine made a beeline towards these holdall size beauties, extolling their virtues. She opened my eyes to their true beauty! The leather is incredibly soft to the touch and the oversized look would compliment any arm! I did that stupid thing, when you try the bag on and take a look at yourself in the mirror! Big mistake - when you see what the bag could look like if it was actually yours, the psychological "want" sets in! At £100 they are a little pricey (especially for me at the moment!) but well worth it when you see the sheer amount of bag you get for your money.

Oushka - Vintage Leather.

Oushka first came to my attention when one of their bags appeared on the arm of Miss. Sienna Miller. The Miller bag, below left, is a is not desperately original in it's look but has the soft vintage leather feel of a bag that will transend the seasons. The look of the site also intrigues me - Russian Dolls have been a facination of mine since childhood. My mum kept some original Russian Dolls on the window sill, that were not to be touched...ever since, their beauty has delighted me. See the website for a full range of their designs and let the Russian Dolls navigate your way.

Someone asked me about wallets...

...here's a great clutch with a clever wallet inside. All Saints have produced this metallic wonder that is every neat freak's dream. Will keep searching for you.

Natthakur - A true recycling solution!

I'm feeling very green this Easter and after the "I'm Not a Plastic Bag" hype, true recycling solutions have begun to worry me. I found these great 100% reusable bags from Natthakur. They are made from leather but look far more practical, strong and actually usable. Natalie Thakur - the designer behind the range - has made a great range of bags and other accessories, using truly interesting techniques such as the 3D molding below. The difference between these bags and some of the others marketed as reusable, is that I could actually see myself using these bags for the purpose they were intended. It worries me how many plastic carrier bags that I have stored up in the cupboards and despite the schemes the returns supermarkets have in place, I never actually get around to taking advantage of them. Check out Natthakur's website for her great practical range.

Anya Hindmarch...don't forget the message behind the Fashion Hype.

I adore the "I'm NOT a Plastic Bag" cotton tote, by Anya Hindmarsh. The ideology behind it is extremely honourable, taking positive steps to help the environment through the campaign "We are what we do". Their objective is simple. Go to their website and look at their,

...list of simple, everyday actions you can do to help change the world (and have fun while you're doing it). It could be doing something for the community like shopping locally, something for the environment like avoiding plastic bags, or something for you, like learning to paint, sing or speak Spanish...

My only worry is that the ideology behind Anya's campaign is being completely lost in the cult status of the bag. I've seen them being sold on eBay for £100+ even £200 (for the limited Lavender Trust editions), when they retailed at £5. As many fashionista's choice, the bag has been championed in several magazines, I wonder if many people will actually use the bag for the purpose it was intended - instead of a plastic carrier bag. If you've paid £100+ for it, I'm sure the last thing you'll want to put in it is your weekly grocery shop - eggs, smelly onions - I don't think so! The idea, amazing - combining fashion and practicality to help the environment - in practice, will it actually work? I'm not saying I would be immune to this dilemma. If I managed to get my hands on one of Anya's totes, I'd like to think I'd use it for the purpose it was intended...but like all fashionable pieces, I would worry it was too pretty to stick my fruit and veg in. It also worries me how "friendly", not just environmentally, lots of the major designers actually are. With their overpriced bags, made from a wide array of animal skins...maybe we should look to Stella McCartney for some true, all round, "friendliness".

Miss. Sixty Bamboo Clutch - Where have you gone?

So, I saw this fab clutch by Miss. Sixty a few days ago and after a little deliberation thought, "Mmmm. I like you, you'll fit in great with any summer look." I then when to purchase the very original, handheld beauty in bamboo and it was nowhere to be seen! ASOS had sold out! Oh well, at least I found out Miss. Sixty now has an online store (U.S. and Canada only!) and I can peruse, longingly, the Miss. Sixty website!

The Chloé Oversized Satchel - A closer look.

Just a closer look at the beautiful Chloé satchel - I love how outrageously large it actually is, plus the lucsious green, distressed leather. Scholastic chic at its best!

Chloe - Gold Bow Clutch

Why, why, why is Chloe soooo expensive! I adore this clutch bag, available from Net-a-Porter , but at £449 I don't think I'll ever own one.....but I can still covet it from afar! I love how chunky this bag looks from the side and the leather looks blissfully soft. The bow detail in gold just adds a perfect, fashion finishing touch.

Lie Down I Think I Love You - Boutique Range

Emily Trotter, the designer of Lie Down I Think I Think I Love You bags, sent me a really kind email today. Here are some photos of her future boutique range of bags and I have to say they look fab! Once again Emily's originality shines through - I just love how the bags look so vintage yet so "now". Emily also sent me a little press release blurb about her company:

LIE DOWN I THINK I LOVE YOUMADE IN LONDON

Lie down I think I love you designed by Emily Trotter.

A backlash to the current ubiquitous mass produced product formed the desire to create accessories which value longevity and individuality over the disposable.

A love of all things vintage has a nostalgic influence on the brand. Each season a ‘make do and mend element’ is worked into the collection. This season is marked by the use of a different vintage self scarf incorporated into the body of the bag. A timeless quality created by croc prints, cream pony and waxed leathers in greens, browns and burnished metallics.

Sourcing leathers and fabrics from local companies, using local craftsmen, creates a ‘made in London’ ethos that is something to be proud of.

This season launches the lie down I think I love you boutique collection. A smaller more exclusive range, which updates colours though-out the season in limited edition runs.

This mission statement makes me want to buy her bags even more (if that's possible!),
Thanks Emily x

Paul & Joe - Humming Bird Pouch

Paul & Joe make some beautifully tailored clothes and until recently I was unaware of their beauty range . I spotted this fab make-up bag on HQhair . I just love this quirky, floral design - it reminds me of retro wallpaper. You can also download some very original, retro, desktop wallpapers from the Paul & Joe beauty site .

Lie Down I Think I Love You - Clutch

This is an amazing grey clutch bag by "Lie Down I Think I Love You" (Fab name!) their website - Lie Down I Think I Love You - is still under construction but this bag is currently available from - ASOS and retails at £98. I love the beautiful, vintage scarf - incorporating it as part of the bag itself is such an original idea. Below is a larger bag offered by the designer.