Summer Garden

Years ago, when I was working in a haberdashery, we received a beautiful wooden box full of antique trims. Each one was wrapped around a wooden board to keep it safe and from tangling. I felt mesmerised as I looked through what felt like a treasure chest. So much work had gone into embellishing the ribbons and it made me realise the importance of detail and how even a simple trim can tell a story. This was the first time I found myself wondering how would you best put such precious items to use. Is it a waste to leave them unused or is it better to create something new with them?

This was years ago now and those trims were long gone, sold (hopefully) to loving new owners. The memory of them however stayed with me and I set out to find more vintage trims in the hope that creativity would strike. I didn’t realise it then but this was where the latest collection, Summer Garden was born. The trims I used to make this small collection of five handcrafted headbands are all sourced from London including vintage paper flowers as well as embroidered and beaded trims. The exact date of the pieces are unknown but some of them were originally used for saris. By incorporating vintage materials, we are able to wear a rare piece of history while also giving the trim itself a new lease of life.

The Summer Garden collection is inspired by botanical drawings and dreamt up memories of flourishing flowers hidden in the shadows from the summer heat. Each of the five headbands in this collection has a floral detail whether it’s embroidered, beaded or a motif. There’s a romance to the season of summer that calls for femininity to be brought forward and this collection is designed in celebration of this. The colour palettes are soft and warm featuring pale blues, amber and dusty pink.

The names of the headbands are given to reflect their personalities. Amina is a powerful yet feminine piece and so is named after the Hausa warrior queen who is still remembered as, “Amina daughter of Nikatau, a woman as capable as a man that was able to lead men to war.” Fortuna is named after the Greek Goddess of luck and good fortune. Mila is a traditional Slavic name which means “gracious” or “dear one”. Mara has many meanings; in Arabic it means “joy” and in Ancient Egypt “the truth of God”, the mystery of its meaning reflects the captivating beauty of the piece. Beloved is named to represent the romance of the floral vintage piece and the inspiration behind the collection itself.

This collection is a real labour of love and requires the most hand sewing of all the previous War & Drobe designs. To give all of the headbands body (apart from Beloved) pieces of wadding too small to use from previous styles are broken down and sewn inside. The lining is made from organic bamboo viscose and the labels are made from recycled polyester.

With Love,

Nina x