Dispatches from the UK

Contributor post by Will from Bright.Bazaar

My parent’s bed was a wedding present from there. I worked there to fund my social life/slight shopping addiction(!) at university. I spent many an hour browsing, shopping and being inspired in there. ‘There’ was Habitat, an iconic British furniture brand and once influential player in the design market. Founded by Sir Terrance Conran in 1964, Habitat was a glamorous and stylish – the place to be seen to be shopping. It was soon bringing homewares to the masses and for the 60s and 70s was a thriving success. However, after a number of sales and different ownerships, including the Ikano Group, which own IKEA, the brand went into administration at the end of last month.

I have many a happy memory associated with the store: enthusiastically folding out sofa beds, jumping on and inviting customers to try the beds in the middle of the store was always fun; working late until the early hours of the morning to help the visual team set up creative window displays; and the excitement of a new season stock delivery are just a few of these memories. Despite having always been a champion of the store, I do believe its closure was for the best.

In recent years the once immaculate store had become like a jumble sale, with products continually on sale, and a stack em’ high, sell em’ cheap approach that didn’t fit the original ethos of the company. Ironically, they weren’t selling cheaply enough and were soon a victim of their success, being priced out of the market by larger, more stable retailers with better buying power. As the company struggled, the original and creative elements that the brand offered - including their inspiring catalogue, which was soon dropped to save money and the brand began to loose its originality at an alarming rate.

Given the sad news of the closure, I wanted to share some of the brand’s styling from catalogues of bygone years, much of which inspired me to pursue a career as a Prop Stylist. So long, Habitat, you’ll be missed. If you’re interested you can read analysis of what the brand’s closure means for British design here and here.

Habitat

Disppatches from the UK

A contributor post by Will from Bright.Bazaar

I recently discovered Rise Art - a social community and online marketplace for unique artwork from emerging artists from around the world. All of the artwork shown on Rise Art is curated by the community and the Rise Art Board of Curators. You can vote on art that you like across the site, and in doing so directly take part in the selection process for what pieces get commissioned for limited edition runs. All of their prints are hand numbered and come with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by the artist. It's lovely to see a community supporting artists to give them a new and exciting platform for recognition. Here are a selection of artworks currently on the site (credits after the jump).

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Dispatches from the UK

Contributor post by Will @ Bright.Bazaar

On Monday morning I hopped off the Tube a few stops later than usual and headed to Liberty London to attend a preview of their new kitchen and dining department, which opened on 21st March. Seeing the store sans customers and tourists was an experience in itself (isn't it just the likes of Victoria Beckham that have stores to themselves?!). After an introduction to the forthcoming pop up shop from RE (I'll bring you some snaps of that as soon as it's open) we headed to the new retail space. Buying Manager for Home, Michelle Alger described the space as Downton Abbey meets country kitchen, taking inspiration from her friend's Manor House in rural Norfolk. I was most inspired by their ranges of enamel accessories, numbered pitchers and vintage glasswares. Plus, they are carrying two exclusive Emma Bridgewater ranges - 'Splatter' (below) is hand finished and looks striking as part of a full set. Anyway, dive on in and take a look at the space.

Will @ Bright.Bazaar

Dispatches from the UK

A contributor post by Will from Bright.Bazaar

Hello! It's Will from London here with my latest 'Dispatches from the UK' post. One of my favourite things about London are its markets, so I was delighted when I discovered on the Guardian that photographer Jeremy Freedman will be exploring one of my favourites in a new exhibition in the Capital. Freedman's photographs of the traders at Spitalfields Market will be shown at three venues (full dates and locations can be found here) and be sure to check out his contributions to the Spitafield's blog. In the meantime, here's a few of his photographs.

Jeremy Freedman | Spitalfields Life

Dispatches from the UK

Contributor post by Will of Bright.Bazaar

Darkroom is a concept store in the heart of London's West End. They stock an eclectic mix of high-end fashion, interior and lifestyle accessories, whilst there are art and sculpture exhibitions that rotate on a bi-monthly basis. It's certainly an interesting space - inspiring, too. The store explores the crossover between fashion and interiors, and with it the juxtaposition of materials, scale and form. Personally, given my penchant for bright colours, I'm lusting after their bright notebooks from last summer's collection. For all the details on how to visit Darkroom, check our their website.