The 'Alum' and its namesake

We have been sharing with you some of the inspiration behind the S/S 2014 collection and thought we'd end with this lovely vintage postcard below, which depicts Alum Bay on the Isle of Wight. 

As one of the more dramatic coastal locations on the island, Alum Bay is one of the island's main tourist attractions. One of the most popular things to do there is fill tiny novelty glass jars with the various coloured sands which come from the cliffs, which (as far as we know) are unique to the area. Another is the terrifying cable car which takes you down the steep cliff to the beach below.

The luxurious 'Alum' mohair sweater takes its name from this stunning island location. Alum has been made using a blend of super-soft mohair and silk, which is perfectly suited to our lengthy Springs and Autumns and has already become a bit of a best-seller so far this season.

Summer knitwear, in miniature

We haven't shown at London Fashion Week this season in order to focus our energy on other projects (to be revealed...). Instead, a few lucky journalists across London will have received a miniature 'Springvale' mohair t-shirt in the mail over the last few days. Tatler's 'Front Row Fox' particularly liked his (you can see him appreciating it in the bottom image).

Here it is, with the human-sized version (worn with 'Luccombe' skirt):

Where it all began, part 3

When I was around 10 years old, my mum knitted herself a black mohair cardigan. She also made me a royal blue one but I hated wearing it because it was itchy (I was very fussy back then). But my mother's: I loved it then and I love it now. In fact I tried to steal it at the weekend but Mum decided all of a sudden that she might want to wear it again. Typical.

Anyway, there must have been something in the air during that visit, because when Mum went up to the loft to find something completely unrelated, she unearthed the pattern for it. I HAD to scan it and share it with you because it's so fabulously eighties, it is simply too good not to (see above, in all its glory). I also got a shot of me in the aforementioned cardigan that is sadly not in my possession (yet...). Needless to say, I will be making my own very soon.