Linda Farrow Interview

This is the initial interview that we used for the Global Sourcing project. Phillip is great at talking about the brand and i don't disagree with anything he says. After working in the company for the past 11 weeks, I feel LF are a lot more down to earth but is still extreme in design as they don't like to present barriers of cost if the design is brilliant.

Follow this link to listen

Sample Sale

Last Friday, I helped out on the Linda Farrow sample sale in the showroom of HQ. It was great fun and it meant I could get to know the customer a lot better. Working in the design department meant i knew how much things costed, why they are so expensive and i could easily source the right colour lens or find the right shape quickly. For example, some customers would come in and know they love blue lenses or they want a cat-eye frame but also want a fully circular lens.

We were selling the products from £20-£150, with the oldest and most unusual collections at £20 and precious lenses with snakeskin at £150. There were always a few customers that expected high quality or more of a reduction for heavily discounted items due to their imperfections. A quick reminder of the original retail price usually helped to settle the matter.

I loved sourcing the right product or finding a frame that they love and the difference in that person is huge, especially when they walk away really happy and they've put their trust into your judgement. I really enjoy working with customers.

Skin Library

Yesterday i was given three huge boxes full of hundreds of different skins, and told to categorize them alongside a swatch book.  The skins ranging from watersnake skin and python, to alligator and stingray, all in a huge range of brilliant colours, though some you really felt sorry that the animal had to die at all for such a ghastly print (as below)

There were also some skins that i couldn't believe were so beautiful (which were the majority, see below)

I have never been one for wearing any kind of print, whether that's leopard, snake or croc. It has never appealed to me on a bases that it looks terrible. As a farmers' daughter I've always understood that life is just a circle, and we've all got to get on with it before the inevitable happens, and for animals that inevitable may mean what they don't need anymore may go to help improve the lives of others.    

Some of the most beautiful were the iridescent or metallic colours, however on a product i could imagine they could look way too much and rather vulgar. I really don't think eyewear needs this extravagance. Is it right an animal to be killed just for a very easily broken accessory? Not sure the life the animal is giving up is improving the life of another at all.

However, here is some of the catalogue;

The Mcqueen Exhibition

On Friday i had the day off work as my godmother had some tickets for the Alexander Mcqueen exhibition in the V&A. I was very excited, every piece of artwork or design has had reference to his work as through the years i've thoroughly searched books and online. i was continuously inspired by his 3 dimensional shapes, the beautiful construction and his love for art and the bizarre.

After looking through the collection of work. It was noticeable how he was able to turn 'ugly' materials, like flesh coloured latex or human hair, and turn it into something beautiful through adding embellishment or draping and tailoring.

I found the exhibition both brilliant and strange. No expense has been spared for the presentation, but its quite strange how many recordings and quotes there are, especially the way he talks through them, with his hopes to become a legend. With the collections packed full of super human beings and gods and demons, it's slightly disturbing to think about the man and mind behind these incredible clothes. It feels personal, almost too personal to see these pieces of art and to understand what went through his mind when creating them.

Today and the last few weeks have been much easier, I feel as though i'm settling in much better and am able to do many tasks and help out better. I'm happy with the amount i have learnt so far, on illustrator, within the office and on reception.

I'm really happy with this placement so far. With just 3.5 weeks left, time is starting to go really quickly. Its just a shame that the majority of the work is confidential and i am not able to show most of my work.

Lunetier Vintage

Today i discovered this vintage eyewear store 'Lunetier Vintage' in Portobello. Their website is full of the most superb, brilliant and exciting eyewear ive ever seen! You must check it out!

Black eyewear

Black eyewear is based just above Oxford St, surrounded by cafes and restaurants. The company recently presented their collection within the Selfridge's exhibition of 'bright old things' featuring  Robert Roope, the founder of Black eyewear. The exhibition was exciting but the styles are classic.

Even though the staff seemed friendly enough, i was slightly disappointed to find their collection rather mild and unimpressive. I love the layout of the store with long mirror down the one side of this very narrow shop. It was also interesting to see how customer for eyewear shops, how they see another person wearing something and feel the need to try that one on too.

Sunglasses Hut

Knowing that the company is owned by Luxotticca, a company that owns 80% of the eyewear industry and makes a fortune on putting a large price on mediocre to very poor eyewear. I did not have big expectations on entering the Oxford Street store.

I was delightfully surprised to find the staff were incredibly knowledgable of the industry and it was great to discuss their thoughts of the Luxotticca brand and the origins of different styles of glasses. We discussed the products and the brands, they agreed that they hate the fact the eyewear is produced incredibly cheaply and that it can be sold at such a huge price. However they love the products and they feel each of the brands are able to hold a their price range due to how they are marketed.

After trying a few pairs of sunglasses, i was surprised to find the quality to be quite high and felt great on my face. For the eyewear not being top of the range and sold to the mass market, my opinion has completely changed. I would consider buying a Ray Ban or Oakley. Many of the products are very tacky and would look terrible on, but if chosen correctly the perfect everyday pair might well be within the store.

Cubitts

Following up on my previous post on the same brand, Cubitts is a small store between Soho and Oxford St. From the outside, the store looks fresh and thriving with customers. The window displays their most intriguing shapes within glass domes.

Walking into the store i saw very few ranges of sunglasses, but they all came in the same shapes and colours of acetate and gave the impression of a wide collection. The staff seemed slightly unfriendly and reserved, but otherwise i delighted in the idea that there is the impression of an eyewear company thriving that is not owned by Luxotticca. All the shapes were classic but had the simple acetates and a mix of the more unusual and contemporary.

Vintage Optical, Portobello

Today, i was informed about an eyewear collection hidden at the back of a vintage store, so i went along to Portobello and searched for the hidden gem! The store is called Vintage Optical.
And what a gem it is!! The collection of eyewear is VAST! I had an amazing time talking to the shop assistant, as he explained the store uses the vintage frames as a reference and then recreates the wanted design at the back of the store, using handmade acetate sourced from Italy. I think this concept is great.

After spending about 2 hours in the store, i looked over and tried on hundreds of wonderful and ludicrous frames. The shop assistant, Fergus, was great to talk with about the entire eyewear industry and the thoughts of where the industry is heading.
Despite 80% of the eyewear industry being taken over by Luxottica (a huge monopoly which includes Rayban and many easy and cheaply manufactured products) he feels there is still a large market for quality, and unique, striking frames.

Wolf & Badger

This is a really great concept store full of emerging designers who rent out a space to hold clothing, jewellery or sunglasses. the presentation of the store is very contemporary and holds some incredibly beautiful products.
 Within the store there is a great new eyewear brand 'Taylor Morris', set up in 2013. The glasses arent particulary very unusual but are claimed to hold high quality and are sold at a reasonable price.

Eyewear; A Visual History

Today i found a brilliant book on eyewear that i have not previously come across. Inside are some crazy conceptions and products that i had not previously come across. This book is always on hand in the design department of Linda Farrow and i can easily see many references to recent collections.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in either eyewear of vintage accessories.

I recently joined up to the british library to explore their shelves and their excellent business and entrepreneurship advice. However i am completely baffled at how to use the library.It seems to me that people type on a computer to search their required book, they are then approached by a librarian that shall hand them the book. I'm not sure i like this idea, it completely defeats the reason why i joined and it makes the place very unwelcoming.

Visiting Boutiques in my Lunch Break

After researching eyewear blogs within London, i found quite a few within walking distance to the LF HQ.  During my lunch break i decided to have a browse and became unexpectedly surprised at my first impressions of the store and the way the brand they present theirselves.

Darkroom

this is a boutique that sells a whole manner of very cool homeware items and also a few pairs of sunglasses too! I love the way the store looks, the colours and layout, and the way it really contributes to cool factor it seems to own. I would LOVE to purchase from this store, especially the minimalist mobile sculptures. The staff were super friendly and i will definetely visit again soon!

Schuller opticians

The next store i visited was the opticians, Schuller. They have a vast range of alternative eyewear (none owned by Luxottica) that are very fun and surprisingly flattering. The staff are very welcoming and knowledgable about every product. They also have a small line of great sunglasses mainly created by Mykita, a fashion forward brand with flattering shapes. These beautiful frames do not come without a rather large price rand of around £350-400. However, if you would like a perfect, alternative pair of frames with efficient service with a wonderful smile, do not miss this place.

Also the inside was rather glamorous and i did have to find a pair of balls to enter.

Oliver Spencer

This is a brand that i have heard of very recently as they have recently changed their production of their eyewear back to collaborate with Linda Farrow. The sales assistant was very knowledgable of the Linda Farrow brand and it was great to hear from the horses mouth what the next design direction would be. This brand is mainly a menswear brand that also has a range of unisex eyewear. 

Also today i found a tenner on the floor, went to Harrods after work, then went half way to oxford and back in my cousins new convertible BMW! 

overall a very good day 

Karen Walker

Karen Walker is a massively exciting company based in New Zealand which provides all fashion porducts but is highly famed by their sunglasses range. KW produces very fashion forward frames with energetic advertising. They sell their products globally within boutiques and high end fashion stores, at a mid-range price between $300-$400 (NZ).

Their range of products are very easy-wear and will flatter most face shapes. The frames are bold and striking, using brilliant shades of tortoishell and clean cut contrasting lines on black frames. The designs are very youthful and portrays the company image to be lighthearted and easy going.

I enjoyed seeing their products within Harvey Nicholls, they were one of the most quirky and interesting brands in the sunglasses department. I wish i could visit their HQ, see their product and learn more about their brand, however they are all out in Auckland.... maybe one day.