WeFew is a new design marketplace and online community. What sets them a part is their belief in quality over quantity. As part of its WeCurate programme each designer must go through a vetting process and have their applications reviewed by a jury of high profile designers. Members are then invited to join the programme and they in turn can influence who becomes part of their exclusive community.

Products include homewares, furniture, fashion and jewellery. As you might expect, the quality is of a very high standard throughout, with an eclectic mix of style and media.

Go to www.wefew.net.

Clcokwise from left: Starfire Chandelier by by James Lethbridge Glass, Anne Boleyn Brooch by Clare Sheridan-Wallis Contemporary Jewellery, Imelda Light by Jo Davies, kowloon 1 by the purple ink, Serpentine Chandelier by James Lethbridge Glass and Hummingbird cube by DH product design.

For the past few months the news has been full of the ‘Credit Crunch’ and ‘Economic Downturn’. We’re told that people are tightening their purse strings and that the previous frivolous era of spend, spend spend is no more. Not good news for retailers.

However, the designers at DePLOY workSHOP have taken a revolutionary approach to their clothing and to making their collections more sustainable. Each garment is constructed with a hidden popper system, so that wearers can easily update their wardrobes by changing the sleeves on a top, turning a dress into a skirt, a coat into a dress, or trousers into culottes. Garments from DePLOY can be regarded as investment pieces as their adaptable design allows the wearer to update their outfits to suit their individual styles and tastes season after season.

Find out more and shop online at www.deployworkshop.com.

Okay, I know I only blogged about Locher’s a few weeks ago but their new accessories collection is out and I couldn’t resist. Their unique mixture of sugar and spice and caustic acid can be found in abundance.

www.lochers.com

Something a little bit different today - all the way from Finland.

Tukaani is Finnish for toucan. And it was the toucan’s bill that provided inspiration for this cutlery project by Kayiwa. The sterling silver Tukaani is a handmade eating device for Asian food consumers in the West. It is held like traditional chopsticks but is much easier to use. The matte surface and taut movement provide a steady grip, while the curl at the end allows easier food picking and delivery to the mouth. And the loop - well that provides easier hanging, storage and display.

For more information on the Tukkani and other innovative designs go to www.kayiwa.fi.

This year’s New Islington Festival promises to be a grand affair. A fusion of music, art, theatre, film, food, drink, dance and hopefully sun!

Here are a few of the items on the agenda:

Sketch City Get Arty
Manchester’s Sketch City is gathering together the finest of its artists for a canal-side project - Pimp My Barge.

Yarn Bombing & Graffiti Knitting
The infamous ladies of the Kings Arms Knitting Club will be Yarn Bombing the place right up… plus there’ll be workshops for you to get involved in.

All this plus canal craft, sun-drenched sounds and food and drink aplenty!

When: Saturday, September 6th, 2008
Where: Old Mill Street, New Islington, Manchester
More Info: NIF Facebook Group and www.newislington.co.uk

I was really excited to hear from Nadine Harding of Curl Harmony. Over the years I’ve come to terms with my naturally curly hair. As a child I hated it and tried to brush it straight. As a teenager I wrangled with it on a daily basis, trying infra red hair dryers, diffusers and wet look hair gel. It was the eighties! Nowadays I’ve stopped trying to tame it, accepted that I will never have ‘Cinderella’ hair and actually quite like it.

That said, I still find it very difficult to find suitable shampoos and styling products. And this constant humidity makes it frizzy and unmanageable. Remember Monica at Ross’ Dinosaur Convention? (See below)

Enter Curl Harmony. Nadine Harding is a qualified Chemist and has created an exclusive range of natural hair care products, specifically formulated for curly hair. Whether you have loose waves, thick corkscrew spirals, mixed race curls or tight Afro coils, Curl Harmony will coax your frizz into smoother, softer, healthier hair.

Products include hair cleansers, conditioners, styling butters and milks, all of which can be purchased in small samples, allowing you to try them before you invest in larger bottles and pots. Further, everything has been created using completely natural or naturally derived ingredients, without the use of harsh chemicals which strip your hair of natural moisture.

Go to www.curlharmony.co.uk to buy online.

Oh, and here’s that clip of Monica.

‘Local, Colourful, Sustainable’. Tara Swiger dyes and spins local fibers into colorful, squishysoft yarn for conscientious fiber artists. She finds most of her materials locally or purchases through fair trade or women-owned co-ops. It’s organic, chemical-free and sustainable.

Look out for her most recent project where she takes a photograph at a farmers’ market every week and translates the colours into soft, colourful yarn.

Shop at www.blondechicken.etsy.com.
Read at www.blondechicken.blogspot.com.

Okay, not really indie related but I thought you might like it. It’s . . . well, just watch it. You’ll see what I mean.

And thank you to DJ Spiderman for sending this.