I got a new store today for my totes!
ARMOR LUX on Mulberry Street (!!)
Why is this very fitting? For those of you who don’t know about Armor Lux, here is the blurb from Time Out NY:
In keeping with the ongoing trend for timeless utilitarian style, the iconic Breton stripes of French heritage brand Armor Lux are available at its first U.S. shop. The streamlined modern interior is reminiscent of a pared-down ship’s hull and serves as the ideal backdrop for the brand’s classic marine look. The long-sleeved Mariner tee ($125) was designed in 1938 by a French fisherman from Brittany, so that his fellow seamen could more easily locate a man overboard, and it has remained the official uniform of the French Navy ever since. Its 21 stripes represent Napoleon’s military victories, and today, the French postal service sports the look made famous by 20th-century luminaries Coco Chanel, Pablo Picasso and Brigitte Bardot. The well-made staples have been manufactured on the original knitting machines in the same factories for the past 73 years, and in 2005, Armor Lux introduced a fair-trade cotton line produced in Africa. Must-have items include women’s long-sleeved striped tees ($125), striped wool slippers ($85), striped wool sweaters ($230) and solid wool watch caps ($40). In addition to these stalwarts, you’ll find a well-edited selection of vintage Swedish military goods, including long johns ($35), Lilla Norrland handmade woven leather bracelets ($85–$145) and Apolis Transit Issue luggage tags ($22).
Duh. I love boats. I lived on them for years. Also, I took up making these totes again while I was working my way across the northern coast of France by ship. Later, during my time in Corsica, I remember sitting at a cafe and pondering the classic French striped shirt and how sexy that imagery of Bridgette Bardot in those shirts, and a pair of espadrilles, was.
Now, I am in the store of the ORIGINAL creators of this classic, timeless iconic garment and although my bags are not French, I am thrilled at the idea of them being paired with the Armor Lux look.
I cannot WAIT to get my hands on a stripey sweater! Besides my coveted espadrilles (and all I could afford space-wise to take with me to remind me of my time in France), it’s all I really wanted that day as I sat at that cafe in Corsica.
Happy, happy girl.
This is only the 2nd time I have gone so crazy over a personal beauty care/haircare/home goods line (My first love in this particular world is Juniper Ridge) ! COLD SPRING APOTHECARY creates some of the most exquisite natural beauty products I have used in a very long time. The scents are to DIE for, and the way my skin, hair, senses feel right now are heavenly.
Some things to check out:
* Winter fragrance
* Seabuckthorn Berry & Sweet Fennel Face Lotion (WHAT?!)
* Fir & Fig Candle ( I’m dying…)
If you are reading this, do yourself a favor and check them out. And if you are ever up in Cold Spring, NY- visit their store. It’s beautiful, transporting, and I want one of everything they make. I am in <3.
As many of my friends know, in my downtime, I like to make totes in my home studio. I now have these totes in 2 stores (!!!). Very excited about this, but somehow it seems like I have accidentally started 2 lines (???).
Is this bad or good? I don’t think one is detracting my attention from the other. I have alot of free time and so I make stuff.
I am also working on a couple prototypes for mens wallets. Is this a 3rd line?
I like to think I am just making up for lots, and lots, and LOTS of wasted time. I spent many years not really feeling quite confident to “put myself out there”…so, I never really made anything for anyone (with the exception of a couple belts- one being for my friend Chris Otto, who’s belt I tooled “It’s Otto-matic”).
Maybe this is actually just a perfect metaphor for who I sort-of am: Kind-of goth, dark on the inside, NIN and Sisters of Mercy listening weirdo and also a major hippie who meditates and burns way too much pinon incense.
Either way, this time last year I was on a ship in Antarctica.
I am in a better place now.
