FLAIR Annual 1953

These images are reposted from Designer Amy Henderson's blog and the article seems relevant and inspiring having just been to see a wonderful visual arts publisher in London's East End yesterday who are going to help us out by embossing the Marwood logo on to the vintage leather case (not as easy a task as it sounds). Their workshop/studio works with artists mainly and they publish beautifully crafted books and boxes in the majority, yet it sounds like they take on many other exciting and innovative projects in this realm. Their work was of the same ilk as the Marwood vintage suitcase in terms of the time, patience and attentive skill needed to create such things... and when you go in search of these objects or the people behind them, you realise how hard they are to find. Close to an impossible task if it wasn't for a serendipidous encounter with a talented man called Asif Khan - many thanks for the tip off!

Amy: "The creator of one of the most extravagant and innovative magazines ever published, Fleur Cowles, died in 2009 at the age of 101. FLAIR, her short-lived publication designed for the elite, had a lifespan of only 12 issues from February 1950 to January 1951. It was simply too costly to produce with its incorporation of diecuts, fold-outs, pop-ups, removable reproductions of artworks and variety of paper stocks even though it sold for 50 cents when Time and Life were selling for 20 cents."

Amy: "Above is a cropping of a full page illustration spread from this “London May 1, 1851 vs. London May 3, 1951″ feature. Illustrator Leonard Rosoman was at that time an art teacher at Edinburgh University. He added illustrations of characteristic city sights to his own, personally annotated map of London."

Thanks to another tip from a friend, Leonard Rosoman also has some paintings at the National Portrait Gallery - next on the list of places to go, especially after finding this illustration.

Visiting Sales[wo]man for Marwood

Marwood's debut collection of ties and bow ties is currently being carried around London in a leather briefcase, visiting our favourite stores in town. To make an appointment please contact: sales@marwoodlondon.co.uk.

As many friends have asked, we are also taking pre-orders, so you can reserve your favourite Marwood tie or bow tie to be delivered by June 2011.

Thanks to Emilie Bailey for these photographs and thanks to The Prince Arthur pub in E8 that let us use their dark wooden tables as an ambient backdrop whilst we stopped for a taste of their fine seasonal Ale.

Actually, this tie used to belong to Eric Morecambe...

Ray Davies being interviewed, by GQ on the red carpet for the 'Men of the Year Awards' (click here) about his outfit. When asked '...and who are you wearing tonight?' Davies skipped the suit, straight to the tie to explain it once belonged to Eric Morecambe and was sent to him by the Eric Morecambe Appreciation Society? He certainly seemed pretty chuffed about it and who can blame the man.

We have noticed a fair few friends who's favourite ties in their wardrobe are hand-me-downs or inherited from someone and they are often much more interesting looking and one of a kind.

Donald Sutherland

Cool then. Cool now.

Donald, you can have a Marwood tie.

Marwood's Lace Bow Ties

Due to the snow before Christmas, we missed out on a delivery of the rest of the lace bow ties and it was a nice package to pick up in the new year. These remaining samples are made out of various lace textures in white and alabaster and some have signature contrast black collars.

Our lace bow ties have been created out of traditional English spun lace and then hand crafted in outer London. Next week we will visit these bow tie makers to take a peak behind the scenes and Callum Toy will take some photos of the process.

In the meantime, the lace bow ties are being hand carried around London in a vintage leather suitcase to Marwood sales appointments. So far, so good.

Reviving the Non-Crease Weave

Marwood's Technical Ties

Concrete Pavement

Concrete Rust

Marwood's first collection has tried to cover a variety of needs and occasions by offering a range of fabrications including traditional Silk, Wool and English lace. Whilst trawling the archives of the silk mill in Suffolk, we came across the Non-Crease Weave (a silk/wool blend) and found it to be modern and relevant for today. Here is a bit of background info...

The non-crease weave was invented in the 1930s and was designed to produce a general use silk cloth that gave a nice textured surface (almost knitted), that would not visibly crease, therefore being a cloth that wore well.

It was picked up in the 1970's by neckwear designers and was at its height of popularity then as it fitted in with the look at the time.

Introducing Marwood's website

www.marwoodlondon.co.uk

Thanks for looking.

Deborah Turbeville

Bow Ties.

Manufacturing Lace in England

A few months ago, during the development stages of the Marwood collection, we made a visit to Nottingham to visit one of the oldest manufacturers of traditional Leavers laces that has been running since 1845. Visiting this English factory was fascinating and it resulted in some unique additional styles to the Marwood tie collection that we are really excited to present. This part of the collection represents so much of what we want to achieve with Marwood... utilising home grown artisan skills in an innovative way and for this season that means applying them to a recognisable product to create something unusual and we hope, desirable.

The vintage collar piece that was found whilst researching. This find resulted in the trip to the Lace factory in the first place and now represents a large part of the debut Marwood tie collection. Please watch this space as we look forward to showing you the collection with the launch of the Marwood website by the end of this week.