Week days have been busy with online orders, buying and preparing for the new season ahead.
I opened Hetre in Feb 1998, which seems a very long time ago now! It has made me think about some of the suppliers who I have been working with consistently for many years. Those relationships that endure are really rather special. You recognise and love signature styles that don't need to be reinvented each season just a change of colour or fabric to move with the trends.
With the sale coming to an end; it is an exciting time of year that we planned about 6 months ago now: the arrival of some of our Spring collections. The first arrivals will be from Penelope Chilvers who I have worked with for many years and admire enormously.
This last year since the pandemic erupted on us has been challenging not just for stores but for the companies who supply us.Team Chilvers (it's a family affair) has made yet another fabulous collection and I wanted to share with you some photographs of them choosing leathers, a day at the factory and finally shooting the end results in the dusty foothills of the Andalusian mountains. I hope this will give you a taste of what will soon be on the shelves at Hetre - or at least online for the time being!
Penelope and her girls in Spain (do you recognise her signature fabric linings?).
A day in the factory:
Excited for the Amelia in khaki and terracotta suede to arrive (above)
There are so many more fabulous styles coming in, long and short boots, sneakers and espadrilles in a raft of colours and materials - suedes, leather, velvet and canvas.
This is the Oscar, a much loved favourite in sage green and silver, arriving shortly and available online to pre order.
What I'm watching: Netflix Alert ... I loved this so much I urge you to watch this if you haven't!
My Octopus Teacher is a documentary narrated and produced by Craig Foster, who was suffering burn out. He starts free diving every day for over a year in the cold underwater kelp forests near Cape Town, a soothing balm for his soul. He meets and forms an incredible bond with an octopus who shows him things he had never seen before. The filming is ravishing, be prepared to be mesmerised.
What I'm cooking:Tonight we are going to try a Pasta Evangelist supper, will let you know what we think! One silver lining of this third lockdown has been the chance to stop and think about cooking, which more often than not, can slip down the list of daily priorities.
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Embracing the start of 2021 and looking for the positives in Lockdown 3.
January for me is that in between time at Hetre - the sale is on and before the new Spring season has started to arrive. Buying appointments can be pushed back a few weeks. Normally its a time when you might have slipped out of the country to feel some sun on your face or some snow beneath your feet, but not this year!
]]>January for me is that in between time at Hetre - the sale is on and before the new Spring season has started to arrive. Buying appointments can be pushed back a few weeks. Normally its a time when you might have slipped out of the country to feel some sun on your face or some snow beneath your feet, but not this year!
Instead, with a great deal more time on my hands it has been wonderful to go on some long walks along the ox drove, criss crossing tracks and routes that I rarely have time to do, walking a little further because you have time has been wonderful. Embracing the colder days in my favourite English Weather Sloppy Jo sweaters and my Penelope Chilvers Nelson boots - such a great combination.
The jumpers are hand knitted in London of the softest most luxurious 3ply cashmere and the shape is slightly oversized, but does not swamp you and the neck is high but not too high or tight. Its really hard to wear anything else once you have one of these!
Have always rather liked Hugh Fearnley - Whittingstall and his new book Eat Better Forever looks interesting as does the Vellum Libraries for a lockdown library selection which I am hoping to receive shortly. Book recommendations are always gratefully received by the way!
Tomorrow I am going to try the Tea Porridge on page 231 with my favourite organic vanilla rooibos tea from Dragonfly Tea.
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