Sunday, March 29, 2009

Twiggy and the Mod Style

Twiggy during the "height of her modeling...Image via Wikipedia

Dressing For a "Brave New London" - Examining the Iconic Look of Twiggy and the Mod Style by Daniel Hsu

Even before I crossed the Atlantic Ocean, I knew there was something special about London and the United Kingdom. After all, how could a place that is smaller than the state of Oregon produce so many legendary musicians, such as The Beatles, Elton John, Radiohead and Underworld. How could it produce cult movies such as Clockwork Orange, Trainspotters and Shawn Of The Dead. It's my belief that only great cultural centers could produce such great art.

Fashion is another cultural phenomenon that has echoed across the world. In popular culture, the Mod subculture and style was born on the streets of London in the 50s, but it still lives on throughout today on the streets of San Francisco, New York, Hong Kong, Moscow, etc.

The origination of the Mod style can actually be traced back to Mary Quant, a British fashion designer. Through her boutique on Kings Road in London, she let loose a style that the masses would eventually make their own.

It's never easy to explain a fashion style. After all, fashion is meant to be a visual art. The best way to explain a fashion style is by looking at those iconic figures who the general audience associates with that style. In the case of Mod, The English model Twiggy may be the most iconic figure of this style.

In her most simple outfits, Twiggy could be seen wearing a simple solid color a-line shift dress. The shift dress is a corner stone of the Mod style. The shift dress is defined as a dress without waist shaping or seam. When laid out flat, the shift dress is very geometrically shaped in nature. In fact, the Mod style can be described as a very geometrical fashion style, especially compared to the Bohemian style with its flutter sleeves and floaty tops. It is a rare to see a photograph of Twiggy in the 50s and 60s where she is not wearing something geometric.

Another defining characteristic of the shift dresses worn by Twiggy is the length. Though there are those who would dispute this claim, Mary Quant has also been credited with creating the mini skirt and dress or at least making it popular among the young women of the United Kingdom. Quant believed the mini skirt to liberating and also practical, allowing women "to run after the bus". Quant's mini dresses and skirts were raised 6 or 7 inches above the knee, attracting women who were interested in something daring and outside of what adults found socially acceptable.

Additionally, when browsing through photo galleries of Twiggy, one would find her in horizontal striped tunics and dresses. Mod stripes should not be mistaken for nautical stripes. Nautical stripes are meant to be more sophisticated and classic American style. Meanwhile, Mod stripes are far from classic. Mod stripes are thicker, bolder, and more glitzy, further defining the Mod style apart from traditional more conservative English dress.

Finally, since the Mod style originated in London, a jacket or coat is necessary to walk the often gloomy and wet streets. In public photos of Twiggy, she rarely donned a jacket. Rather, she is mostly photographed wearing a statement coat with a check print. Just like the Mod mini dress, the coat should take on the a-line shape and slightly longer than the mini dress. In fact, the Mod coat, when buttoned up, should almost be mistaken as a dress itself.

Though Twiggy is seen as the iconic figure for the Mod style, women across London and the world have influenced the look with such pieces as the flat boot, boxy jacket, and double-breasted coat, etc. Nonetheless, if one is inspired to relive this era in London history, Twiggy can show one how to do so with sexiness and style, characteristics that women still strive for today.

Daniel Hsu

In-House Stylist

T.I.L. Darling - The Online Clothing Boutique

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Hsu
http://EzineArticles.com/?Dressing-For-a-Brave-New-London---Examining-the-Iconic-Look-of-Twiggy-and-the-Mod-Style&id=2126470


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1965: Claudine Auger

Hi all,

One of our regular readers, Justin Sheedy (http://www.crackernight.com) sent in a picture of the beautiful Claudine Auger. Here is what Justin had to say:

"Please consider adding this to your 60s fashion page. The pic, as you may be aware, is that of the exquisite French girl, Claudine Auger, who played Domino in 1965's "Thunderball". In my opinion, the most appealing Bond Girl ever. Just an opinion o'course...

You might make the title simply "1965" (in a large font, I hope) and let it rest at that.

This girl's poise seems to sorta sell the whole year, if not the decade.

Thanks again for printing my article and hope you have a good week.

Justin Sheedy".

Thanks Justin. Always appreciated. If anyone else has any great pictures of 1960s and 1970s icons that can show off some sense of fashion, send it in with a bit of a blurb.

Cheers,

Robert.


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Saturday, March 28, 2009

The History of Nike Shoes and Sneakers

A Nike brand athletic shoeImage via Wikipedia

The History of Nike Shoes and Sneakers by Shira Johnson

Nike shoes come in a wide variety of styles and colors. They are worn by professional athletes as well as everyday folks who just want to make a fashion statement. You can find Nike sneakers at just about store that sells shoes. The famous Nike swoosh logo is probably one of the most recognized company logos of all time and is seen displayed around the world.

The original swoosh logo was originally designed in 1971 by a student studying graphic design at Portland State University. Carolyn Davidson was paid $35 for the famous design but some sources say that the co-founder of Nike, Phil Knight, later bought her a diamond ring engraved with the Nike logo and also an undisclosed amount of Nike stock after she left the company in 1983. It's interesting to note that Knight originally wasn't too impressed with Davidson's work. He said, "I don't love it, but it will grow on me."

Nike currently employs more than 30,000 people around the world and makes other sports apparel and equipment besides shoes. Recently the company has been under some scrutiny because of concerns associated with human rights and poor working conditions. It's estimated that in 2008 the company made a net income of around $1.9 billion dollars.

The name Nike comes from the Greek goddess of victory, and like many other successful companies, had a humble beginning. Philip Knight was a track athlete at the University of Oregon and joined up with his coach, Bill Bowerman, in 1964 to sell shoes out of their cars at track meets. At that time they called themselves Blue Ribbon Sports.

Originally, the duo sold shoes developed by a Japanese manufacturer but ended their relationship with the company in 1971. In 1971 they developed their own line of footwear made especially for football and decided to call it Nike. Soon they introduced more lines of shoes. In 1978, they dropped the Blue Ribbon Sports name and by 1980, 50% of shoes sold in the United States carried the Nike brand. The Nike company still has headquarters in Oregon and currently owns several subsidiaries including Umbro and Converse. At one time, Nike also owned Bauer Hockey and Starter.

Nike Shoes continue to be popular today among professional athletes, sports enthusiasts, and those just looking for a comfortable and attractive pair of sneakers. For more information on where to find cheap Nike shoes online, visit Cheap Shoes and Sneakers today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shira_Johnson
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-History-of-Nike-Shoes-and-Sneakers&id=2133475


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Thursday, March 26, 2009

The Humble T-Shirt: A History and What Happened in the 1960s?

A tie dyed shirt. Photo taken my MpegMan.Image via Wikipedia

The T-Shirt - An Indispensable, Immortal Wardrobe Staple by Steve Kirton

What it really boils down to is that they're functional; it seemed impractical not to wear them. This garment made its debut in the early 1900s. At that time, men either wore sleeveless shirts under their outer shirt, or none at all. The original design is credited to the Navy, although nobody seems to agree which country's Navy started it.

The 'tee' was a light, comfortable, and above all modest alternative to the wool uniforms being worn in the day. Popularity of the garment quickly spread into the civilian population however, and soon the shirt was showing up all over Hollywood and the silver screen. Everyone seems to agree that this is what caused the t-shirt to explode in popularity practically overnight.

In the 1950's, it was no longer considered strictly an undergarment. It became acceptable to wear one as the primary garment on the torso. Then, when James Dean showed up wearing one in "Rebel Without a Cause" it would seem the immortality of the "T" was sealed into the hearts and minds of American culture forever. Now it was the 'cool' thing to wear and by the 60's, people were taking the once quiet and well-behaved t-shirt, and giving it not only a voice, but personality as well.

This new generation of apparel could fly in the face of just about anyone, depending on who was wearing it and the message they were trying to promote. Tie-dye also became very popular during this period, along with putting slogans and images on the front of the designs. These shirts were inexpensive to make, and with so many messages and statements that could be made with them, they became extremely popular and were embraced by many different cultures all over the world.

Since the popularization of the t-shirt, there have been many variations, which have only furthered its prestigious place in our fashion history. While the original designs had round necks, now there are garments with v-necks, scoop, and square necks. The length of the shirt has changed as well, while changing the sleeve length generally disqualifies a shirt from being a "T," they have been made extra long to fall past the hips, and extra short to bear the midriff.

But the thing that makes us love the t-shirt is the fact that you can get almost any image or saying or any color. There are thousands and thousands of styles you can choose, as well as even designing your own as well. The t-shirt is forever going to be an integral part of our clothing consciousness. Everybody throughout the western world seems to have at least a couple for their days off, and most of us have built our wardrobe around them. Until someone designs a top that is as comfortable and versatile as the t-shirt, you can guarantee it's here to stay.

Steve Kirton has been in the apparel industry for over 7 years, with a focus on combining fine art and high grade materials for a truly unique kind of fashion. To find out more about the cutting edge in t-shirt design and to discover some truly artistic tees visit this site.

http://www.uniqueteesuk.com

home of high quality and artistic mens t shirts

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Kirton
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-T-Shirt---An-Indispensable,-Immortal-Wardrobe-Staple&id=2107329


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Sunday, March 22, 2009

VIDEO: A Tribute to the Female Icons of the 1960s and 1970s

Barbarella Paramount 1968Image by Sheepback.Cabin via Flickr

Hi all,

Here is a tribute to the beauty and fashion sense of women during the biggest party in human history - the Sexual Revolution, 1960-1975. Watch in "high quality" and turn up the volume.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja9WT12Oz60

If you liked Barbarella of the 60s or Marcia of the 70s, and Elvis in Viva Las Vegas before the vintage & neo James Bond & Hepburn doing hippy dancing. Or the swinging summer of love with Hefner in Playboy bunny clothes, using clothing, fashion, kitsch or music of morality and family values. Also, Sophia Loren and Gidget. Don't forget hip or booty or butt shaking, long legs & high heels or platform or open toed shoes, Fireball, From Russia with Love, Live and Let Die, Man with the Golden Gun, Diamonds are Forever, Goldfinger and Shirley Bassey. But then there's Easy Rider and To Sir with Love and the dances of the 60s, like the twist, the funky chicken, the swim, the watussi, and so on.

Watch, enjoy, and take a look at the fashions of the 60s and 70s!


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Saturday, March 21, 2009

Dreadlocks: How To?

Man with dreadlocks.Image via Wikipedia

How to Dreadlock Your Hair by Eddie Firestone

Dreadlocks Are Fun! Dreadlocks are a fun and easy way to style your hair and once they are formed, they are very low maintenance. Even though, technically, dreadlocks will form if you simply stop brushing your hair, it will take anywhere from one to three years to form, and they will tend to form as matted clumps of hair rather than the well shaped dreadlocks that can be achieved through other methods.

One of the best methods for dreading your hair is backcombing. Using this method, your hair will lock up very quickly and the initial effect will be closer to the mature dreadlock than other methods. To use this method, you should start with clean dry hair and section it into 1-2 inch sections. If you use smaller sections, you'll end up with smaller dreadlocks, with bigger sections, bigger dreadlocks. When you're sectioning the hair separate it into square sections for nice even round dreadlocks. It's best to section the whole head before you begin backcombing. You can secure the sections with rubber bands.

Once it's all separated, use a dread comb to comb the sections from the tip to the root. Make sure you start very close to the scalp, not more than an inch away. After you have worked you way down to the tip of each section of hair, you can secure the end temporarily with another rubber band as this will help the dreadlock to stay tight at the base and mature faster. You can leave the rubber bands close to the scalp as well to help the dreadlocks form, and remove them once the dreadlock has reached maturity.

If you do not know, a dreadlock comb is small and metal with teeth that are made specifically to slip in and out of hair sections freely while grabbing as much hair as possible for backcombing. They are also called teasing combs and can be found at some beauty supply stores and at various dreadlock products websites.

After you have backcombed the whole head and secured both ends with rubber bands, you'll want to go over each section with a good dread wax. This will secure loose hairs and help the dreadlocks to mature faster and with a more even structure. There are many places to find dreadlock wax, but most of them contain petroleum, which is not the best for new dreadlocks or dreadlocks in caucasian hair. Dread wax with natural ingredients is also better for the environment and for your scalp and body.

This process of dreading your hair will take a bit of time. Depending on the hair length it could take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours. If you need some help with back sections of you head, you can go into a salon and ask a stylist to help. They are often interested and willing to help. They may ask for 20-30$ per hour, which may seem like a lot, but once your hair is dreaded you won't require a haircut for as long as you want to keep the dreadlocks in.

Once your hair is backcombed, it will take about 3-4 months for the dreadlocks to reach maturity. As they are developing and to maintain them, you'll want to wash your hair about every three days with a good soap, and apply a good dread wax to help them smooth out and tighten up. Now that your hair is dreaded, it should continue to dread itself as it grows out of your scalp, but in the event that it needs some help, you can wear a rubber band at the root to help it lock up. In terms of washing, make sure you work the soap through your hair thoroughly like a sponge and it will always smell clean and fresh.

Many people also use Dreadlock Wigs to avoid the process of actually dreading their hair. Make sure to find a quality Costume Wig Store if you are going to purchase a Dreadlock wig. You can find many good ones by doing a Google search.

It should also be noted that any wig store with a good selection of Afro Wigs ought to have dread wigs as well.

Good Luck!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eddy_Firestone
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Dreadlock-Your-Hair&id=2102191


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Rastafari and Dreadlocks

A man with dreadlocks.Image via Wikipedia

Rastafari and Dreadlocks by Eddie Firestone

While we all know that the Rastafari grow their hair into dreadlocks, what is the actual connection and reason?

Rastafari, or more simply Rasta is a monotheistic religion and spiritual/cultural movement that believes that Halie Selasie I, the Ethiopian emperor from 1934 to 1972 is the incarnation of God, also called Jah. They recognize him as the the returning messiah. They believe that Embodiment of God on earth has occured a number of times and will occur again. They generally follow the Christian doctrine with a few adjustments. The movement emerged in 20th century Jamaica predominantly, and became a much needed source of Afro-centrism and Black pride.

Since the Rastas base a lot of their teachings in Christianity, they live by a lot of the commandments from the Old Testament. Not only do they follow the dietary laws of not eating shellfish or pork, but many abstain from meat and dairy altogether. Rastas follow a strict vegan or vegetarian diet during a Dreadlock Preisthood, and many maintain this lifestyle because they believe that this cleanses the body to preserve the "Ark of the Covenant". Rastas also generally abstain from alchohol, believing that consuming items that are pickled or fermented is symbolic of turning the body temple into a cemetery.

As for dreadlocks, they have been associated with the Rasta movement since the beginning. Since so much of the commandments in the Old Testament are adhered to , it stands to reason that the rules of hair maintenance and personal hygiene look there for guidance. This passage in Levitcus 21:5 "They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in the flesh." is often interpreted as forbidding the cutting of hair.

Perhaps a bit clearer is this section of Numbers 6:5 "All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow". There is evidence that the Nazarites, and the Sufis as well as many others wore dreadlocks, or similar styles. James the Just was described as a man who never cut his hair.

While in previous eras, the length of a person's dreadlocks can signify wisdom, as they grow longer with time, in our current time, they more often attest to the time one has spent being a Rasta.

Today, many people who are not Rasta wear dreadlocks as an expression of Afro-centric pride, or even simply as a hairstyle. The Rastas that abide very strictly to what is stated in the Bible about hair maintenance, wash their hair only with water and allow the dreads to lock up on their own. Making the growing and development of dreadlocks an exercise in patience. Those who do not adhere so strictly to the laws of the Old Testament for hair care often will use dread wax and specific combs to help the hair dread faster and more smoothly.

Whether you want to learn more about Rastafari or just grow dreadlocks for the style, there is much information to be found about how to encourage them in your own hair. If, however, you'd just like to try them on for a bit, or dress as a Rasta for Halloween, there are many online sources for dreadlock wigs.

If you do want a Rastafari Wig, you'll need to find a costume wig store. The best way to find quality Costume Wigs store is to do a Google Search. You can also find fantastic Dreadlock Wigs the same way.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eddy_Firestone
http://EzineArticles.com/?Rastafari-and-Dreadlocks&id=2102235


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Friday, March 20, 2009

Late-1960s London Fashion

1960s FashionsImage by gbaku via Flickr

Hi all,

Here is a fascinating video about groovy late-1960s fashion, clothing boutiques, and dance clubs in London.

There are some great street scenes around Carnaby Street as well as the everyday fashions worn on London streets of the era.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QHAWRGTgdM

Enjoy!


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Thursday, March 19, 2009

A Brief History of Doc Martens

Cherry Red and Black 14-hole Dr.Image via Wikipedia

A Brief History of Dr Martens Shoes by John Z Birch

Dr Martens shoes have remained popular for a number of decades and have become a relevant and vital piece of footwear for a number of different cultures and movements. These different sub-cultures saw Dr Martens as a way to identify who they were and to recognise those that were similar to them but how did this come to be?

A young German army doctor called Klaus Maertens created the initial design after he injured his ankle skiing. Dr Klaus Maertens had been skiing whilst on leave from fighting in World War II. He found that the boots and shoes he had made his feet hurt even more so he decided to fix this problem by creating his own shoe. He created a boot that had an air cushioned sole that provided comfort as well as absorbing some of the impact from walking and running. The boot also provided support for the ankle, which reduced the amount of body weight applied to the ankle.

Dr Maertens had trouble selling his footwear in Germany until an old University friend called Dr. Herbert Funck took an interest. Together they marketed and sold the shoes in Germany and became very successful with the shoes becoming a big hit among the female population. It wasn't long until they started marketing the shoes internationally and British shoe manufacturers the Griggs Group bought the rights to the patent and the first British Dr Martens shoes went on sale in 1960.

The British Dr Martens shoes were obviously named after their creator and as they entered the UK market they were marketed as having bouncing soles, filled with air and were given the AirWair tag they are now famous for. Dr Martens boots instantly became a hit with Skinheads and the UK Ska music scene and this later spread to Punk, New Wave and Grunge music, which helped to grow the footwear brand at home and abroad.

Dr Martens remained popular almost until the turn of the century when declining sales forced the company to move production to Thailand in order to reduce costs although the vintage range is still produced in the UK. You can now find them everywhere with Dr Martens shoes in Bath to a full range of boots, shoes and sandals in New York. The brand is now a well known name in homes across the globe.

If you are interested in buying Dr Martens Shoes then why not visit Mastershoe Sportshoe who have a wide range of Doc Martens footwear, both in their stores and online. They also sell a wide range of different footwear brands and skate shoes including Etnies Skate Shoes, DC Skate Shoes, Hush Puppies and El Naturalista.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Z_Birch
http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Brief-History-of-Dr-Martens-Shoes&id=2088790


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Monday, March 9, 2009

Soul Flower: Your Hippie Clothing Shop

Soul Flower album coverImage via Wikipedia

March Newsletter from Soul Flower‏: Think Spring, Think Green

Hi Buds,

It has been a long winter but it can't last forever. Spring is on it's way and with it will come green grass, flowers, critters, and the new Soulflower catalog! We've been busy creating a new catalog chock full of unique imported and indie-designer goods including eco-friendly, fair-trade, and homespun goodies. Cheers to a great month, a happy St Paddys, and a fresh new season.

Peacefully,

Your Buds

p.s. FREE SHIPPING! See details at the bottom of this newsletter.



NEW DRESSES
Jungle Love Halter Dress

NEW FAIR TRADE
Carly Organic Wrap Skirt

NEW ECO
Shining Star Eco Hoody

NEW TEES
Paisley Butterfly Tee

NEW TANKS
Here Comes Sunshine Tank

NEW MEN'S
Veggie Dyed Batik Shirt

Check us out online:
http://www.soul-flower.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=SOS&AFFIL=Robert_Muller

FREE SHIPPING

When you check out, just enter the coupon code THINKGREEN to receive free priority mail shipping ($7.95 off your order) when you spend $20 or more at Soul-Flower.com. Good from now until St Paddy's Day, March 17th.

Offer Expires: March 17th.

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Thursday, March 5, 2009

Mulberry Bags - Fashionable Bags From the 1970s

my drawing of mulberry roxanne bagImage by my name is katy via Flickr

Mulberry Bags - The History Behind the Bayswater and Roxanne Bag by Marek Kamella

Since the 1970s, two Mulberry bags have climbed their way to the top of the all time popularity charts, the Mulberry Bayswater bag and the Mulberry Roxanne bag. The Mulberry Bayswater bag has reached iconic status due to it's understated style and practicality. Made from natural leather and with a suede lining the bag really screams "luxury" at you! The Bayswater bag has a postman's lock and small padlock on the front and small feet at the bottom to protect the bag from scuffs and scratches.

The Mulberry Roxanne bag is the other bag from the Mulberry stable that is regarded as a classic. The Roxanne bag is all belts and buckles and was one of the first "statement" bags to come onto the market. Made from soft Italian leather that has been treated to enhance the grain the Roxanne bag is a robust bag that also happens to be very stylish.

The Mulberry brand was conceived in the early 1970's in the English countryside county of Somerset. With it's fusion of city chic and old English country style, the Mulberry bag quickly became the first "lifestyle brand" in the UK.

In 1971, an ex- Christian Dior model by the name of Roger Saul decided to spend his 21st birthday money on a business venture but couldn't quite decide which avenue to take. Although his father wanted him to sell Christmas trees, Roger eventually hit upon the idea of producing leather goods with his mother.

Saul's enthusiasm and vision for his business was the driving force behind his spectacular success. He wanted to produce bags that were quintessentially English and everything that comes with that label such as quality, and even a touch of eccentricity, but Saul never wanted to take his vision too seriously and always believed that Mulberry bags should have a hint of fun about them too.

The first Mulberry factory was built in Saul's home town and soon other factories sprang up in nearby towns. By 1990, Mulberry was already a household name and a few years later Mulberry bags were being sold at their new stores at Heathrow Airport as well as a Mulberry store in Tokyo.

The Asian Crisis of 1997 affected sales of Mulberry bags and the company had to make the difficult decision of closing it's bag factory in Saul's home town. A combination of a strengthening of the management team and outsourcing production to Europe helped to stabilise the company. By focusing on emerging markets such as the Middle East and signing distribution deals in the U.S., Mulberry soon climbed back into the black and has continued to be a major force in world fashion ever since.

Today Mulberry bags are known the world over as a handbag designer par excellence and continue to produce handbags coveted by the fashionistas.

I'm the webmaster of http://www.bagsofluxury.co.uk a website that specialises in Mulberry bags. If you're already a Mulberry owner and want to find next season's must have Mulberry then please come and visit. If you're a "Mulberry virgin" and worried about which Mulberry bag is for you, or if you even want to buy a Mulberry bag, then you're welcome to browse through the website where you will see handy tips and guides for every type of Mulberry bag on the market.


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