News Release: Immediate Release

25^th July 2012

Woven Opulence

As Concrete Wardrobe’s September Maker of the Month, woven accessories designer/maker Lauren Crawford uses luxury silks and wools, sourced from traditional Scottish mills. Crawford is exhibiting a range of her beautiful and wearable scarves, brooches, wedding garters and corsages.

Crawford set up her business in 2007 after graduating with a 2:1 degree from Duncan of Jordanstone College in Dundee. After working in Fife for four years, Crawford moved to Stafford in 2011 after winning a PSYBT Jolomo Arts and Crafts Award, and she has just finished an artist’s residency for Birmingham City Council.

Crawford’s accessories are hand made using a combination of traditional and innovative weaving techniques. All fabrics are woven on a 16-shaft dobby handloom, before being machine felted and hand finished.  Available in rich colours and styles, her accessories feature innovative double-sided woven structures and textures, inspired by Venetian opulence and architecture. Her prices range from £5 - £150.

Of her exhibition at Concrete Wardrobe, Lauren Crawford declared, “Exhibiting at Concrete Wardrobe is a unique and exciting opportunity. It will provide authoritative exposure, endorsement and public recognition for my work and my business.” She is also looking forward to launching her new collection of unisex hand woven scarves, designed and crafted using luxury silks and super soft lambs wool yarns.

James Donald, Co owner of Concrete Wardrobe commented, “Crawford worked at my own textile company Pickone on a college placement in 2006, and it has been amazing to watch her work develop so beautifully since then. Customers will be hoping for cooler days so they can wear her lovely scarves.”

Lauren Crawford’s work will be on display at Concrete Wardrobe from 1^st to 31^st September 2012.

Concrete Wardrobe is open Monday to Saturday 10am – 6pm, Sundays 12 – 5pm.

ENDS

PR: Katherine Emtage. Co-owners: James Donald and Fiona McIntosh

Concrete Wardrobe has just taken stock of these lovely new laser cut jewellery pieces by Philippa Kunisch. They're big and bold, and oh so girly. Gorgeous!

Based in Edinbugh, designer Gillian Norval has been designing and hand making purses and handbags since 2005, after completing a BA (hons) degree in Printed Textiles for Fashion at the University of Brighton, she re-branded in 2011 under the name Dibujo Design.


Dibujo, pronounced di-bu-ch-o (the ch is like the Scottish pronunciation of loch) is the Spanish word for pattern and these highly patterned coasters come in sets of 4 and are available for you to mix and match as you see fit.


These exciting ceramic designs also come in the form of wall mounted clocks.