Scene of the crime - looks like blood isn't the only thing zombie's have a taste for...
Barbara Hulanicki - Beyond Biba
Before the screening of 'Beyond Biba' I met Barbara Hulanicki for a picture. There was no entourage - actually - that threw me a bit, just me and 'Lady Biba' in a makeshift dressing room. Needn't have worried, Barbara's no fashion ice maiden, relaxing with a glass of beer she's not in the least bit haughty. We have a laugh and she's intrigued by my magnetic 'Style Scanner' cards. Bet she'd be great fun to work with.
Barbara's last collection for Top Shop sold out in days, so I enquire if she has any plans to do a follow-on collection, she tells me there is indeed another planned. I ask when we can expect it in store and she coyly whispers... "February".
Watching the film, I discover that this couple, who I'd snapped earlier, are Delisia Howard, former Biba model and buyer, pictured with her husband, the illustrator Chris Price. They're also the authors of two beautiful books, 'In Biba: A Graphic Romance', and 'SinBiba'.
A Chris Price illustration.
To the left of Barbara, is Louis Price who directed 'Beyond Biba'. The GFT Cinema's Art Deco surroundings were quite redolent of the Biba era, lending a rather evocative air to proceedings. Peppered with personal anecdotes from the people at the epicentre of the Biba fashion phenomenon, the film documents Barbara's colourful life. Including the awful split from Biba's investors, which saw her lose control of the name. Together with her late husband Fitz, Barbara relocated to Miami where she began her new career as an interior designer. She's credited with being a major contributor in the renaissance of Miami's South Beach area.
Barbara has also rediscovered her love of illustration.
This attendee wins Most Stylish from Style Scanner for her Biba inspired look.
The CD 'Champagne and Novacaine' is, in effect, the Biba soundtrack. Including Roxy Music & Sparks, it could be a laid back addition to my rather more 'industrious' leaning sewing room collection.
A Great Coat @ The Fall Fair
This great coat came from Mr Ben and I think he'd just bought the attache case at the Jordanhill Fall Fair.
Very Indiana Jones...
Biba Founder To Visit Glasgow
Barbara Hulanicki will be answering a Q&A session, in person, after the screening of this film on Tuesday (27th) at the GFT Cinema.
Inspired by Art Nouveau and Art Deco, she brought the 30's to the '70's in the form of the Biba label and store. 
This year Barbara designed a collection for Top Shop which sold out in days.
Rose St
Glasgow
Tel 0141 332 8128
Harris Tweed Hebrides
In the whirl of amazing things to look at on October's Harris Tweed launch night at Che Camille, I walked straight past the new Harris Tweed bags at first. Fortunately, I quickly met Mark Hogarth, Creative Director for Harris Tweed Hebrides, who invited me over for a closer look.
Harris Tweed Hebrides commissioned designer Juliana Lawson to come up with a classic unisex design. Italian leather and Harris Tweed, hand loomed on the Isle of Lewis, with the famous Harris Tweed orb label appearing on the outside of the bag.
Getting permission from the Harris Tweed Authority to allow this sort of subversiveness is nothing short of a miracle. It's a witty design element, which lifts it from being just another 'heritage' bag.
My Grandfather was a Harris Tweed weaver on the Isle of Lewis and I know exactly how he'd have vocalised his thoughts on this bag ...."First class". Although he might have added something else in Gaelic on discovering it's retailing at around £300.
Here's Holly from Britain's Next Top Model in a design by Joyce Paton using Harris Tweed. Joyce won 'Accessories Designer Of The Year' at the Scottish Fashion Awards 2009.
Below is designer Judy Clark, holding her Gaelic Frock Coat which was embroidered by Alison Macleod and has now been shown in New York and Japan.
A little later Mark sidles up conspiratorially and with a proposition, would I like to be the first to see the latest collaboration between Harris Tweed Hebrides and Kaye Springham of Hibernate Design? I'd love to.
He obligingly slips off his suit jacket and replaces it with Kaye's newly unveiled design, after furtively taking a few snaps I discover he's also a professional model and sure enough, he takes direction brilliantly, thanks Mark. Love this blouson style jacket.
And here's it's designer, Kaye from Hibernate, wearing one of her own Harris Tweed designs, she has more to show me...
A dizzying array of impressive creations materialize from a huge holdall, all sorts of felty creatures including a felt bowl which sat on a pair of felty legs. Dont know why, but it all really, really, did work, like this ingenious alternative to a real fur stole...
Just as I'm starting to think she's as mad as a bag of snakes felted foxes, she plucks an empty jam jar from the holdall and exclaims "Oh, I totally forgot, I brought this to give to someone, do you mind?". Seconds later she's back, still holding the clear jar, I can only see what looks like a date stone inside. A friendly chap called Ryan joins us and immediately asks what's in the jar, "Oh it's a dead hornet - for my pal who's really into insects". Ryan and I look at each other as Kaye starts twisting the lid off. We all peer in, and are simultaneously engulfed in a miasma of decay with a slight hint of porcini. - "Savoury?" I offer tentatively...instant agreement and we promptly bid our goodbyes.
All at Che Camille
Jen Groundwater "Laid Belle"
Jen Groundwater has just completed her Masters Degree at Glasgow School of Art, she is the second person ever, in the history of the course to choose to do solely accessories.
When I first met her, she confessed that although she knew it was a risky strategy, the only time she felt nervous about her decision was when her fellow students started to accessorise their collections, just before show time! These are some pictures from the show.
Jen won the won the Gillian Purvis travel award in 3rd year and used the £500 prise money towards a research trip to Europe. As she can't yet drive, her boyfriend drove them both around Europe in a campervan.
"We visited Alsace in France, Switzerland, Austria, Bavaria, Italy, Lichtenstein and Belgium. It was amazing to visit the countries that the embroidery I love so much came from. It was an experience of a lifetime and I would never have had a fourth year degree show without it."
"All my scarves depicted scenes from my trip, very much like the embroidery I saw. Traditional embroidery usually consists of motifs of their everyday life and objects around them".
Emeli Sande who sings "Diamond Rings" with Chipmunk wearing one of Jen's scarves at the MOBO Awards this year. 
Some of Jen's collection at Che Camille
'Strangely beautiful' indeed. This piece above is lots of necklaces joined together and reminds me of when I worked with the stylist Bill Mullen who always had elaborate chains of punky black safety pins trailing from his belt loops - actually I'd love to see Jen's neckpieces on a man, long black tunic T shirt, black jeans, Doc Martins.......... just me?
Xtina from LVB Modelling Agency wearing one of Jen's jackets, photo by Life in Frame
A few weeks ago, hair architect, yes "architect" Charlie Le Mindu showed this Eiffel Tower on the catwalk. L'air du temps?
Jen herself is very chatty, so chatty in fact that she told me all about her plans for the follow-on collection, but has asked that I keep it under wraps for now. I'm sure I'm allowed to tell you that the pieces will be more 'wearable'. They actually sound right up my abbey, maybe she'll give me an exclusive...Jen's work recently appeared on the front cover of Scotland on Sunday's 'Spectrum' magazine and she's just been invited to showcase her collection at the Scottish Style Awards in the New Talent Show.
She'll also have a site up soon!
jengroundwater@hotmail.co.uk
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