We’ve been enjoying working with some new shweshwe fabric we bought on a recent trip to Cape Town in South Africa. It’s such a treat for all the senses – sight and touch and even taste and smell! Shweshwe is a printed cotton fabric that’s distinctive to South Africa. The most well known is the Three Cats brand, produced by Da Gama Textiles, which is … Continue reading A swishy multicultural delight
Bledsoe Bags people are one-of-a-kind people. We think you’re so great, we made a little film about you. Happy New Year, and thanks for all your support this year! Continue reading One-of-a-kind people
‘Everything I did, I saw it through a tropical eye’, said textile designer Althea McNish. ‘I am a citizen of the world and I am multicultural.’ We love the sentiment and are inspired by her work, and we’ve produced a limited edition range using her vibrant patterns that revolutionised postwar design in Britain. McNish (1924-2020) came to the UK from Trinidad in 1950 and became … Continue reading ‘I am a citizen of the world…’
Read on to find out more about our upcoming in-person events….and to get a feel for the delights of upcycling….. Transformations It’s satisfying to turn a piece of clothing, no longer wanted, into a much-wanted Bledsoe Bag! We find you need to let the piece sit a while until it speaks to you, telling you what kind of bag it wants to be. Or bags! … Continue reading Spring events…and more upcycling action
Happy New Year to all our friends and supporters! January always brings a blend of remorse and anticipation, we find, and this year even more so given that we’re still, yes still, riding the coronacoaster. Who would have thought Covid-19 would become Covid-22? But there are reasons to be cheerful. Some folks are beginning to feel confident in making plans, hopeful that lockdowns are behind … Continue reading Welcome to 2022!
We’re so excited to be back together after two years….and to be back at the fantastic Chomp & Stomp festival! This Saturday, November 6, 11am to 6pm, in Cabbagetown, Atlanta. Last time we were there was 2019…. We’ve been doing this festival for 8 years, and we missed it when it was Covid cancelled last year. Come and see us and check out our new … Continue reading The Bag Ladies are back!
We’re making wearable art with our two new artist-maker collaborations! The Lobster Series and Tonal Dance Bledsoe Bags has teamed up with linoprint artist Jane Bristowe for a limited-edition collaboration – The Lobster Series. Jane is a Fulham-based artist whose work we’ve featured before in our Dog Walkabout bag and our Curious Cat/Ginger Cat storage basket. We’re making Bledsoe’s signature Walkabout phone bags as well as pencil/glasses cases, gadget … Continue reading Wearable art
We’ve been having fun repurposing some much-loved pieces of clothing we no longer wear – turning vintage skirts and tops into our signature Walkabout phone bags. It actually takes much longer to take something apart and upcycle it than to make something from a pristine piece of fabric, but it’s worth it! We’ve also used some fabulous vintage ties in storage baskets and gadget bags … Continue reading Wear and re-use, then repeat
We had a great time doing a Bledsoes road trip to the East Midlands recently. We visited the outlet shop of one of our favourite fabric suppliers (thanks, Lesley!)… …and then stopped by for a look at the village of Barton Seagrave in Northamptonshire. This is the village where George Bletsoe was born back in the 17th century….the same George who set sail for Virginia … Continue reading Where the Bledsoes come from
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