I was gutted not to go to Hyeres for the fashion and photography festival. Primarily because I didn't get to eat at the restaurant L'Endroit where staring at the sea is half the fun. Oh yeah, then there's that fashion thing that I missed. What is that all about again?
A past winner always gets to exhibit at Hyeres, giving them complete free range to do something amazing in the rooms in the Villa Noailles. This year, 2004 Grand Prize winner Swash (Sarah Swash and Toshio Yamanaka) got to go back and to a room takeover. From their collection of scarves which are now at Liberty as an exclusive sitting pretty in their vast scarf department, they took their sketches (which I saw in a showroom a while back...) and exhibited them on the walls as well as a spectacular watercolour wall mural framed by a giant and delicate paper flower wreath. Hung by an oversized chain, it's sort of like an extraordinary enlargement of what I would like to go round my neck given that it's paper (jewellery that doesn't give me hives is on my brain at the moment...). Or on my head. Or embellishing a dress. Or made into a floral/chain harness? Or as anklets on shoes? The brain is clearly running away but you get the idea. I wasn't there to see the sights but Swash were kind enough to take pretty pictures that are also neatly organised...
Oh and Londoners take note, Regent Studios will be going into sample sale mode again this weekend and along with Swash, Azumi and David and Valery Demure will also be holding sales...
