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In a competitive market, the Chic show seems to have struck a chord with the big names in accessories and travel goods, and has gained itself a reputation as a must see buying event of this kind. We saw the event unfold, and chose some of our favourite brands for the Spring/Summer season...
Handbags
Shoes without a bag are as criminal as jelly without ice cream, a pestal without a mortar or mash minus the gravy. This season's Chic had it all. Enticing luxurious big names, up and coming brands and quirky alternatives. Bright and pastel colours were a plenty at the event , as were straw and beach bags with a holiday feel and soft leather day bags, with high quality detail.
Who could be more important in the handbag sector than our dear little Scottie dog friend. Radley & Co, an arm of Tula were fighting fit at the event, with a generous floor space and a number of mouthwatering styles ready to captivate worshipers across the world. At just seven years old, the brand has captivated the UK ans has exploded into 30-40% growth year on year.
"The small dog has certainly helped sales volumes" says David Worthington, National Sales director " It is the mainstay of the whole collection".
Favourites from the collection for Spring and Summer include the limited edition theme/pitch bag displaying a "By The Seaside theme" and a wonderful array of bold suede handbags with beautiful designs.
Joanna Hall has interestingly relaunched as the fashionably named Pomegranate. The brand has a fresher look and has taken a new fashion direction for it's launch. The most exciting part of the new brand was by far the "Boutique" area, bags with a higher price point and more luxurious quality.
Quintessential stood out for uniqueness with their exotic handbags (amongst other items) that are influenced from designer and director Paul Astbury's travel experiences. Supplying the many independent and department stores, Chic is a great platform for the brand. Footwear Today particularly like French Baroque fan and rectangular bags.
Kalivalson presented famous Italian designer Diego Dalla Palma, famous in Italy and France for anything from perfume, make up and the many books he writes. The luxury that exudes from the mention of his name is reflected in most of this collection which had sold very well by the end of the event.
The Emmy Weilemen collection also contained some beautiful pieces, as the designer who previously supplied handbags and luggage to the royal family we expect no less.
Spanish brand Lupo also had a fabulous array of well designed bags, in particular the signature Fan bag which expands to a sizable work bag or reduces to a small handbag.
Littleearth are Footwear Today's favourite from the show, and definitely a brand to watch for the future. Presenting a glittering array of bags, purses and belts made from reconstituted car parts including hub caps, tyres and number plates. The finished products are quirky, funky and come in several varietys from designer looks with incorporated Swarovski crystals to belts made from bottle tops that are likely to entice teenagers and young fashionistas worldwide With an already established celebrity following and Miss England presenting their latest classy range of leather bags this eco friendly brand looks set to to take the UK by storm.
Luggage
Although in the UK luggage has often spanned the bland, boring and basic, luggage is becoming less of a necessities and more of a luxury as the many brands at Chic had on show proved. One firm favourite was Wonderweave, ordinarily well known for their range of scarves. The new line of luggage has a real vintage feel but with all of the practicality of a modern option. We loved the five piece sets containing everything from a vanity case to a suitcase.
Jump are positively popular in luggage already, but this brand looks set to brighten the traveling British public further with the sets of luggage in pastel and bold colours on show at Chic, that gained a good response. We loved mustard and pink options for the ladies.
Carlton luggage are the biggest name in this field in the UK and the array of styles and new technologies presented on their stand certainly indicated that they have not loosened their hold of the market. Boasting the lightest trolley in the world, the Airtec, and cases made form a unique polycarbonate which cannot be damaged meant that orders came in fast from this season's Chic. The brand also presented a groundbreaking new patented wheel technology.
For smarter luggage pieces, we loved the array from Smith and Canova. The range aimed at better end department stores and independents represents the unique identity from their range of handbags.
Umbrellas
Keeping high and dry has never been so stylish at the Chic show, as many brand presented some of the most beautiful styles in the form of the trusty brolly.
Chantal Thomas umbrellas are hand made in France. A renowned Parisian designer of ultra feminine lingeries, the umbrella collection utilises many of the themes from the lingerie collection such as bows, lace and even Swaroski crystals. We loved the version with suspender style finishes, oo la la!
Pasotti are another brand to keep an eye out for. A name that represents luxury, the crystal design from Pasotti features 440 hand sewn Swarovski crystals, for an expensive, luxury product.
Frank Usher umbrellas, featured on ITV's This Morning, are made close to Verona, using
traditional techniques with double cover designs which mean the frame is completely covered for ultimate elegance. These styles are ideal for brides.
Jean Paul Gauteir had a beautiful range of brollys for all to see, including a wonderful black and red lace version with the signature torso shape on the handle.
Guy De Jean wowed onlookers with the "Can Can" umbrella, four layers of fabric to look distinctly like a ra ra skirt, you would indeed be frightened to let the rain touch this piece of art.
It is not just an award for the longest and most complicated name in the show that we give to Kukuxumusu who has a quirky range of fun animal and cartoon printed umbrellas.
Male accessories
One brand which really stood out in this field is HLA London, a men's accessories and gift company founded in March 2006. Ryan O Neil and Adrian Lisle, fresh from careers in politics were motivated by the belief that there was a distinct market niche for a male accessory company. We loved the wonderful array of luxury gift sets including three piece handkerchief, cuff links and tie sets; watch, tie and cuff link sets and the amazing "5 Day Working Week Set" containing five woven silk ties and cuff links in a presentation box.
Cufflinks are the new cool, according to HLA and they displayed a generous selection including beautiful options for women.
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