DESIGN REPORT - HABITAT

Habitat
11-16 St Ann's Street
Manchester
M2 7LG
United Kingdom
08444991129
http://www.habitat.co.uk

Habitat has been open since the 1960’s and has relied heavily on its designer ranges, use to be commercially priced but has risen through reputable commissions.
The store felt fresh, modern, playful with innovative designs through out the store aimed at the higher end of the market.
The theme throughout the store is contemporary chic and sophisticated, all the staff very knowledgeable about the store and its products, I was really impressed by how willing to help and I left the store with loads of information and samples.

Margo Selby was one of the designers I looked at in the store, she's produced a few designs for Habitat and the 'Bloomsbury' collection was exclusive. she has a sophisticated use of colour and pattern, it feels quite young and playful.
Her ‘Bloomsbury’ design has a 3–dimensional structure and geometric pattern, the duvet is made up circles repeated vertically down, in lines, reducing in size and scale.
Colours are feminine but there is a tomboy edge to the duvet due to the geometric pattern. It's a popular design in the store, it's made of 100% cotton and woven jacquard, this bedline is retailed at £75 for a double duvet cover which is actually reasonable priced for something designer with 4 colours in it's palette.

DESIGN REPORT - URBAN OUTFITTERS

Venue Details – Add / Web etc
Urban Outfitters
42-43 Market Street
Manchester
M1 1WR
United Kingdom
0161-817-6640
http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk

Urban Outfitters began their outlets by selling inexpensive furnishings and second hand clothing to students, they’ve maintained a ram shackled, vintage feel classed with high markets style.
They have 7 designers within its Manchester store and one brand of their own Urban Renewal which recycles old garments in patchwork. The store has a contemporary theme with high end high street fashions aimed at people interested in high end fashion, cultural people or students.
Staff were friendly and willing to help, they had good knowledge about the productions and presented themselves for the store well.

Out of the 7 designer ranges in their store I looked at Paul & Joe Sister, they style ranges from a hard edge version of Princess Margaret, a cute Manga girl and a teased school girl perm.
Their range is inspired by ‘La Nouvelle Vague’ and distinctive actresses in films during the ‘French new wave’.
Productions are not mass produced, I was not impressed with the stores sizes as they are between 8 - 12 which I thought limiting and discriminating and there was only one colour way.


While in the store I looked at this heavily detailed in print and multi layered dress from Paul & Joe Sister (below).
Scale is bottom heavy with flower motifs, but spaces out towards the top, pattern at the bottom is a mirrored repeat pattern but towards the top develops into a mirrored half drop repeat pattern.
Made with 100% silk, this dress was retailed at £170, I think this is pricey considering it is a 2 colour palette and the motif is simple.

Research - Wallpaper/Stickers - Supernice

Another wallpaper from the Wallpaper from the 70's is this 'Animal Farm' wallpaper (above), designed for a kids playroom. It has a tile repeat pattern, I really like the fun elements of this wallpaper. Other wallpapers which remind me that wallpaper's don't always have to be so serious are these wallpapers from the lovely website Supernice, with hundreds of contemporary wallpapers, stickers and soft furnishings.

I love this one above, they are wall stickers, it reminds me of what i've already been doing in my sketchbook.

Research - Pattern

Just as I was getting bored of floral wallpaper and thinking how repeative it is, I came across Wallpaper from the 70's, a 70's inspired website with a contemporary twist. Not all there work is floral tho, they look at floral, baroque, glamourous, surreal, romantic and abstract.

Research - Pattern - Anne French

Anna French has been producing her own wallpaper for 30 years, her style is bold, with striking motifs, often in the floral range. Her 'Glamourous' range is probably my favourite as I like the composition and colour she uses, she doesn't over complicate these designs. Some of her Wild Flora collection such as Bouquet can be a bit fussy and dated.

Anna French - Bouquet

Research - Pattern - Sanderson

Sanderson are just amazing for wallpaper, have been manufacturing wallpapers for years, these wallpapers above are both very different compositionally, but have similar themes. These demonstate the difference in feelings you feel when values and placement are changed.

These wallpaper patterns have been inspired by 19th century block print. This wallpaper comes 9 colour ways! They're being retailled at just over £30 a roll.

Research - Pattern - Bradbury & Bradbury

Bradbury & Bradbury have created this historical inspired wallpapers influenced by artist William Morris, Walter Crane and Christopher Dresser for there Arts and Craft II collection.

Lilies of the Field

Idylwild

Bradbury & Bradbury also have a moderism wallpapers, with movements such as Art- Deco, Post-war era, Atomic Age and The Mod Generation. These Aeroplane wallpapers were inspired by the Art Deco movement and come in Cappuccino, Sky Blue and Old Gold colour ways.