Spring is here at last! Here is our round up of Easter fashion to celebrate, with bunnies abound. Happy Easter everyone x #easterfashion #kidsclothes #organiccotton
I have been working on branding ideas for the Boy Wonder brand for well over a year now so I can get a trademark registered. A trademark according to the Oxford dictionary definition is; a symbol, word or words legally registered or established by use as representing a company or product. So this made me ask how do I represent everything the Boy Wonder brand will be through a symbol or words? What are the most important aspects about the brand that need to be represented in the trademark? I would say there are three key things to be expressed; that it's a boyswear label, that it's made in Britain and last but not least that it is a green/sustainable brand.
So I started looking at what other logos are out there and thinking about what works and at the moment there is a lot of nostalgia in graphics & branding. This harking back to 'better times' is maybe a bit of a comfort blanket but how long will this trend last? A logo and trademark needs to be classic and stand the test of time, so I feel that trends need to be avoided. Hand drawn elements also seem to proliferate and suggest an artisan feel which might work for my brand. However if not done carefully it could look childish and unprofessional. My instinct is that a combination of a modern sans serif (plain) and a handwritten or calligraphic typeface with the logo would work well. So what should the logo be? While trying to capture the essence of being a green brand I looked at the idea of a tree or leaf logo but didn't feel it expressed the idea of children enough. Animals can work well as they can capture the natural world in a playful way. Some animals however, seemed too young for my brand such as hedgehogs or squirrels. I did dabble with idea of a wild cat too, but felt that it needed to be a British wild animal to show the British aspect. With this in mind a fox seemed to work for me. It is a beautiful and clever animal that in some way epitomises the natural world's fight for survival against human abuse. This appropriately reflects my reasons for establishing an environmentally aware company. Another part of the trademark that needed some consideration was the strapline that accompanies the brand name and logo. The fact that it is boy's clothing is already suggested in the brand name, so the British-made part could be stated here. But how is this best done? I already know that I won't be able to source every fabric and component from the UK at this stage so it can't be said to be a 100% British product. I have involved several creative friends and family members in the trademark's design process. At one point a sketch of a boy hugging a fox was sketched which seemed to be the ideal concept to me. The boy embodies the brand, the fox embodies the natural world and the friendship evoked portrays our hope to be as eco-friendly as possible. So now I have decided on the design at long last I just have to get it registered and hope it will be approved. Fingers crossed! Let me know what you think Ismay x #brandidentity #fashionstartup #independantlabel
Since I have become a more ethical fashion consumer I have begun to realise that, the second-hand, pre-loved or vintage market has so much to offer. Not only are you saving clothes from landfill, you are more likely to get something original that no one else is wearing and if it’s from a charity shop you are helping the needy too – triple win! However, charity shops and the like can be quite overwhelming, so here is some handy advice and tips for how to get the best out of your experience.
Where There are many places to purchase second-hand fashion, but be aware that vintage and retro sites and stores will be pricier than auction, online sites or charity shops. Many of these have online shops too now like Oxfam, so check them out first to see what to expect. Local charity shops will have lower prices than larger national charities and look out for their sales too. You could get friendly with the staff and they may let you know when the next sale will start. Locations for charity shops can be an important factor too as a more affluent area will mean better quality and more expensive pieces. When Often people get rid of excess wardrobe pieces when the seasons change, so this can be a good time to shop, especially spring. However, try out charity shops regularly as you never know when good stock is going to be donated. You will soon be able to spot something you like the look of quickly. What Start with knowing your preferred decade, or if you follow trends what decade or pieces that are trending right now. (Vintage is classed as 1970s and earlier and retro is 80s & 90s). Most clothing pre-1960 will be tailored and made to a much higher standard than post 1960s. Lots of synthetics also came in in the 1960s & 1970s, which are not great against the skin, so always feel the texture. Good quality will show in the feel of the fabric too, so will often come from higher end pieces and bear in mind that natural materials tend to last longer. How · Take a list to find what you need rather than browsing. · Take your own bags, hand sanitizer or wipes. · Always try it on, as sizing has changed a lot over the years and will often be much smaller than you think or may even have shrunk. Or take a tape measure and know your measurements or hold it up to your hips or shoulders. Most charity shops will accept returns but check first. · Have a budget and ask for a discount if buying more than one item. · Wear something that’s easy to change in and out of or wear something that you want to find a matching item for. · Check for; bobbles, cracking, pulling, fading or stains that can’t be covered, dyed or washed out easily. If you find such faults that can’t easily be fixed you should leave it. · Check for missing buttons and that zips work, these can be replaced if necessary but may get you a discount if spotted. · Check for moth, beetle and other insect damage. You don’t want to infect your own wardrobe. · Check the labels: I have spotted a Dolce & Gabanna jacket for sale on my local high street which disappeared from the window display very quickly! Vintage stores will know what they are doing much more so you are less likely to spot a designer piece for next to nothing but they will still cost you much less than new. · Look out for timeless classics that are versatile and durable and keep your eyes peeled for that amazing buy. · Feel the quality, as they are older pieces you need to make sure they still have plenty of wear in them and aren’t going to fall apart as soon as you get them. · Get good quality as there is no point in buying something that wouldn’t have been much less new. · Be patient, it can take time to find something you like. · Keep an open mind, as it may be a lovely item that just needs a hem taking up and shoulder pads can be removed. · Use your imagination! It won’t look as good as it would styled on a trendy model with the latest accessories. · Embrace smelly, it can be washed! · Don’t buy things that are too small and hope to lose weight to get into them, be realistic that they probably won’t get worn. · Remember to look at other sections. There are often some great belts or oversized knitwear in the men’s section, vintage jewellery and also coats. · Give them a good wash when you get home or spray dry clean items with vodka to get rid of any nasties before wearing. Other places to look at are; Ebay, Vinted, Depop and Clothes Shack, Facebook selling groups, Instagram influencers pre-loved pages, dress agencies and car boot sales for kids clothes. There is a list of links below to get you started and my Pinterest board might help too. Good luck! x Nationwide: https://thevintagefair.com/events/ http://www.judysvintagefair.co.uk/events/ https://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/vintage https://marketplace.asos.com/boutiques/vintage https://www.freeindex.co.uk/categories/shopping/clothing_and_accessories/vintage_clothing/ http://www.thestellarboutique.com/ https://www.farfetch.com/uk/shopping/women/vintage-archive-1/items.aspx http://itsvintagedarling.com/ https://www.depop.com/ London: https://popupvintagefairs.co.uk/ http://www.clerkenwellvintagefashionfair.co.uk/ https://www.camdenmarket.com/ http://www.rokit.co.uk/store-locator https://www.beyondretro.com/pages/store-locator-uk https://portobellomarket.org/ https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/shop/marys-living-and-giving-shops https://www.capitalcarboot.com/ bang bang berwick street North: http://www.britaindoesvintage.co.uk/vintage-fair-dates/ #secondhandclothes #vintagefashion #preloved |
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