Good Read

Madia & Matilda’s spotlight book- ‘The Curated Closet: Discover Your Personal Style and Build Your Dream Wardrobe’ by Anuscka Rees

Think spring cleaning should be left until actual spring? Think again! It’s always the right time to de-clutter, change your diet or pick up that new hobby that you’ve wanted to explore.

There’s a consciousness here at Madia & Matilda about reducing waste; finding innovative ways to use up even the tiniest swatch of fabric. This way of thinking does mean that we have to be clever about how we store and work with materials. For most, this mentality is prevalent in our personal lives too. As a consumer, this book brings focus to how we approach fashion and in particular, waste form day to day.

Read between the lines with this lovely book. As seen with our curated brands Alphabet necklace.

It’s interesting to read the similarities in both our ethos and that of the book. We aim to create timeless pieces that you can fall in love with and can wear for a long time;there’s an emphasis in the book on buying fewer clothes that you feel excited about wearing, rather than a lot of clothes because they’re on sale or in fashion. 

If reading is your bag, the Edinburgh International Book Festival is taking place on 12-28^th August. This Hettie ‘Ella’ bag is perfect for the odd book and your daily essentials if you’re going to take part.

In favour of a lighter touch of reading, we suggest browsing the twitter feed of Ethical Hour. Have a look if you want to get more involved with sustainable brands.

With a good book or some headphones in, either way you could cosy up with our new pillows, made with upcycled fabric. A worthwhile read on a quite afternoon. 

                         

                  Sincerely Madia & Matilda

Shop Unique - Brand Feature - Preux

Madia & Matilda curated selection of brands, SHop UNique features brands who share our passion and ethos. We interviewed Jil Saluck founder & designer of Preux

Madia & Matilda interviewed Jil Saluck on her luxury

  USA crafted bags. Find out more below.

Can you tell me a little more about the brand:
Preux handbags are designed by Jill Raymond Saluck using custom dyed and printed leathers, and are hand manufactured in NYC an Minnesota.  Without the need for excess embellishments or logos, the brand represents refined and personal style. The leather tones are up to the minute but go beyond the trends. The versatility of the collections offer a plethora of different pairing options, whether you are dressing for a night on the town or for a day at the office. Luxury leather combined with modern, minimalist structure makes Preux handbags a timeless addition to any 

wardrobe.


How you make your bags:

The leather is custom printed in Italy, then shipped to the U.S. where the bags are hand manufactured at a leather handbag factory from my samples.

What they are made from? components? why did you chose this material:

The bags are made from printed and foiled Italian leathers that I chose for their unique look and durability.  All hardware is hidden in the interior of each bag to give it a minimalist streamlined look.

What inspires you:

I'm inspired by interesting textures and subtle mixtures of color.  I like to start designing a handbag by exploring different patterns and textures, then choosing colors.

Where do you make the your bags:

My handbags are all made in one of two factories- one in Brooklyn, NY and one in Minneapolis, MN.  I work very closely with the artisans to ensure that each product meets my specifications, and if there is an issues we make changes until we get it right.

Where you would wear your bags too:

Preux handbags can be worn virtually anywhere.  There is a style for any outing imaginable; the Gala clutch for elegant or formal affairs, the Girls Nite shoulder pouch for casual evenings out, the Pavement Pounder crossbody for busy days of multitasking, and the Lunch Meeting tote for every day, or even as a beach or pool bag.

Favourite place to relax:

My favorite place to relax is the beach- I always bring my tote because it keeps my phone safe from sand and water!

In the future what styles do you plan to make next?

In the future I plan to add a backpack style to the mix.

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

e::  info@madiamatilda.co.uk       w::  www.madiamatilda.co.uk/

Shop Unique - Brand Feature - C.Nicol

Madia & Matilda curated selection of brands, SHop UNique features brands who share our passion and ethos. We interviewed Cathleen Nicol founder & designer of C.Nicol

                                 Madia & Matilda interviewed Cathleen Nicol on her luxury
                                            sustainable bags. Find out more below.



 Can you tell me a little more about the brand? 

C.Nicol is a contemporary, luxury British accessories brand led by Scotland-born founder and designer, Cathleen Nicol.

C.Nicol bags offer clean clean, functional shapes and use colour and textured materials to bring something unique to the finished look of each bag. Most of the components used are sourced from the UK and every bag is cut and sewn in London.

2015 is C.Nicol’s first year in business and we now have stockists in the UK and Middle East. In 2016 we will have a presence in the Far East too.

How do you make your bags?

It starts with a sketch, then a paper prototype and then we fine-tune the pattern pieces. A leather sample is produced and when we are happy with it, we go into full production at the factory in London.

 What are the bags made from? Components? Why did you choose this material?

The first collection of bags was made from British leather and Scottish salmon skin. I often wondered what happened to all the skins from the salmon used for the food industry in Scotland and after some time, I found a supplier that sourced their skins for dyeing from Scottish and Irish organic salmon farms.

 The second collection was made from British leather and some French goatskin and I source most of my metal fittings from a shop in London. The goatskin has a beautiful iridescent finish and texture. The British leather has a lovely grain and is firm but pliable which is what I was really looking for.

The leather tanneries where we source our skins all have pretty robust environmental practices and policies. A large amount of water is used in the tanning process and so using companies that we environmentally conscious in their day to day practice in terms of economical water usage and limitation to damage on the environment was important.

The lining for each collection is designed by a different British artist or illustrator and is printed in London on a silky monroe satin fabric.

What inspires you? 

I find inspiration in everything. Inspiration for the theme of my collections comes mostly from different aspects of nature. In terms of design and functionality of my bags, inspiration comes from watching how women hold and carry their bags – I love people watching!

Where do you make the product and what does sustainability or making a quality British product mean to you?

Every C.Nicol bags are made in a small factory in Hackney, London. For me, producing in the UK means quality, reliability and support for the economy of my home country. It also enables a level of communication throughout the production period that I may not be able to achieve if I partnered with a factory overseas.

Where you would you wear your bags to?

I wear my bags shopping at the weekend, to work meetings and also to go out with my girlfriends at night. I feel the collection has a variety of styles and colours that suit most occasions.

Favourite place to relax?

At home with my children at the weekend.

In the future what styles do you plan to make next?

We have a large tote bag and another style of clutch bag in the plans for summer 2016.

Sincerely Madia & Matilda

e::  info@madiamatilda.co.uk       w::  www.madiamatilda.co.uk/