Quirky Fashion Trends for Autumn Winter 2014

Autumn/Winter 2014 is well and truly here, in both weather and fashion terms, so we thought we’d share our Top Quirky Fashion Trends for 2014 and show you how to easily get involved.

1. FAIRYTALE FUN
The fairytale trend is all about letting your clothes tell a story… Colours and patterns have been inspired by childhood fables and stories; expect lots of appliquéd animals, illustrations, faux fur and deep, dark colour palettes. Exaggerate your accessories and jewellery with strong statement pieces and jewels.

Our top items for the Fairytale trend are these faux fur animal hoods and knitted statement jewellery pieces. The “Into the Night” appliquéd top is also perfect for layering up under a big, soft coat for a night out. If printed patterns are more your style, you really can’t go wrong with the illustrated “Shadow Bears” tee. Now, who’s afraid of the big bad wolf?!

“City Fox” – Faux Fur Animal Hoods at Kuji Shop	“Into the Night” Appliquéd Designer Top at Kuji Shop
Thebearsthebears illustrated “Shadow Bears” unisex t-shirt	Handmade, geometric knitted jewellery at Kuji Shop

2. SCI-FI CHIC
Sci-fi zapped it’s way onto the catwalk with a huge, interstellar flash this season, with all things metallic, glittery, shimmery and sparkly. This is a fun way to update your wardrobe, but doesn’t need to look cheap! Sci-Fi Chic can still be kept sophisticated with a simple accessory or metallic pair of shoes. Go for black, dark grey and streaks of neon (particularly cobalt blue and bright red).

To hit the Sci-Fi Chic trend we’ve gone for these stunning statement sunglasses from Gasoline Glamour, made with Swarovski stones for extra sparkle. We’ve also selected glittery melting tights, these are a unique way to add interest to your outfit – especially as we move toward the festive season!

“Black Caviar” Sunglasses with Swarovski stones at Kuji Shop
“Glitter” Melting Tights for AW14 at Kuji Shop

3. MILITARY RUST

Military detailing is prevalent at the moment, with metal d-ring loops, attached straps and fine leather panels. The main colours for this trend include rusty red, deep orange and burnt ombre tones.

The Military Rust trend is great for Autumn/Winter 2014 as we hit the colder weather, you can layer up and embrace it with heavy jackets and leather boots. Of course, you can still hit trends with your accessories too, so we’ve gone with this stunning, deep orange leather handmade handbag. The Brit-Stitch bag is available in the ‘Full Pint’ and ‘Half Pint’ style at Kuji Shop.

 

4. WILD WINTER

Winter is Coming! We like to think the Wild Winter trend has a lot to do with Game of Thrones (nothing wrong with that is there?) as it incorporates wild prints, heavy textures and floral patterns. Mix up animal print with monochrome to really hit the nail on the head. Adding print with accessories is another easy way to get this trend into your wardrobe with a little more subtlety.

You can’t go wrong with a good pocket tee, so these animal pocket tees are just the ticket. Favourites for AW14 for us are the Panda Pocket T-Shirt and Wolf Pocket T-Shirt.

Pocket Tee with Panda Pattern
Pocket Tee with Wolf Pattern

So there you have it! A roundup of some of Kuji Shop’s favourite quirky trends for AW14. Which is your favourite? Are you planning on incorporating any of these trends this season? Do you have any of your own trends we haven’t listed here? Let us know in the comments, we’d love to hear from you!

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10 Top Tips to Start A T-Shirt Label

Ever thought about starting your own t-shirt business? A quick scan on Instagram will reveal you’re certainly not alone… There’s so many new t-shirt labels and unique tee brands that it seems like everyone’s at it!

If you know Kuji Shop, you’ll know that we aim to support and nurture emerging talent, and that includes the best quality indie t-shirt labels. We’ve worked with enough to pick up some great tips on how to start a t-shirt brand, so thought we’d share some of the best advice from ourselves and the experts.

How to start a t-shirt line… Our top tips!

Mark, from Sheffield indie tee label The Level Collective, shares his insights on what to do before anything else:

1. “Brand Brand Brand!

Before you do anything – spend lots of time refining exactly what your brand is about: Your core values, the things you are, the things you aren’t – write them down. It will help you to form your core values and the things that you stand for, which will:

– Distinguish you from being yet ‘another t-shirt company’

– Give you a basis from which to make little and big business decisions. e.g. if your values are high quality / premium – don’t compromise of excellence throughout your whole product and brand experience.”

Understanding what your brand is about and who your target market are shapes everything about your visual communications – photos, fonts, website, tone/voice, etc

To do this you will need to…

2. “Research Research Research!

Look at other brands you like the vibe of and aspire to be; learn from them, get inspiration from them – that’s inspiration – NOT imitation!”

Patch Apparel director Tom, gives his advice on starting up a t-shirt business too:

3. “Think outside the box! The world of clothing is pretty saturated nowadays – and the companies that tend to stand out and accelerate are the ones with their own individuality.”

Patch Apparel pocket tees are all handmade, and each pocket design is unique to the brand. Focusing upon the latest print trends, each tee is truly unique… More than can be said for the majority of high street brands – so practice what you preach!

Underground label Minus61 works with emerging artists to produce limited edition tees. Stocked in a number of boutique and independent shops across the UK, brand manager Ed has this advice for those thinking of starting up a t-shirt company:

4. Quality of the garment: Does it wash well? Is it soft to touch? Is it a suitable fit? Colour options?

5. Photography: I can’t stress this enough – if you are not a photographer, get a semi pro/professional to do it. It doesn’t cost the earth and you will get a result that makes your brand stand out. Choose a model that is relevant, if your designs are based around surfing, then get a man or woman who fits the bill.

6. Advertising is expensive! Don’t get sucked up in the world of magazine adverts. Yes they do work for some (more established/bigger budgets) but when you are starting out and your budget is tiny, don’t go spending £250+ on something that doesn’t guarantee you sales.
The best way is to meet your customers face to face. T-shirts designs events, creative market stalls etc. You will be able to talk to these people and tell them what makes the brand tick, plus you don’t come across as a faceless brand.

Also use self promotion: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr… all good social media tools. Tell your customer what’s happening with your brand, from design stage to printing, photo shoot and bagging – keep the customer interested but only post things that are relevant.

7. Be loyal to your customers, these are the guy’s building your brand – get people to sign up to a monthly newsletter which offers special discounts to it’s members.

8. Consider your price point: ‘Yeah but so-and-so is selling their tees for £10 less then me’ So what! Remember what your brand is about and how you want to come across to your customers – too cheap and they might wonder about quality, too expensive and they might run a mile.

Here at Kuji Shop, we stock independent t-shirt brands from all over the world, so our next slice of advice comes directly from Australia. These tips are global! Manager of bright and bold street-wear brand Nemis Clothing is Simen, he says this:

9. “My best tip is to listen to others, but stay true to yourself.

Everyone will have an opinion on what you’re doing. Your designs, your fabric choices, your photography, your marketing… It’s great to take tips from others, but don’t turn 180 just because someone else have another view.”

Did you know we also produce our own range of limited edition t-shirts and sweaters with our own-brand label, TeeBag Designs? Each design comes from an emerging artist/illustrator/photographer/creative and they are paid for their work and earn commission from each sale. Since launching our label we’ve learnt a few things on how to start up and manage a t-shirt label, including these tips:

10. “Make a business strategy then analyse it, dissect it, and work at it. Once you are happy with it, stick to it! How are you getting the cash to print your t-shirts? Where are you sourcing your stock? How and to whom are you selling it? Think about every nitty-gritty detail and figure out a plausible way to overcome the obstacles before they happen.”

So there you have it, 10 Top Tips on Starting Your Own T-Shirt Company. Did you find this useful? Do you have some tips of your own? Let us know in the comments, we’d love to hear your stories or experiences starting up a business.  

http://www.kujishop.co.uk is an independent, online boutique. We take pride in sourcing the best quality, underground and emerging labels. From independent designers to the next-big-thing, we’re always on the lookout. If you have a t-shirt label and would like us to consider selling your products, get in touch.

Warning: Graphic (T-Shirt) Content!

You can’t go wrong with a decent graphic tee. Instantly add some edge to your outfit, dress them up or dress them down – endless possibilities!

Here at Kuji Shop we’re proud to know that all of our t-shirts are produced on organic or fair-trade cotton, and all from independent designers or labels.

We’ve selected some of our favourites below, or you can shop T-Shirts for Men and T-Shirts for Women. Don’t forget – most of our tees are unisex!

TeeBag – Blackbird Tee	Prints of Paradise – Snake Chain Tee	Rebel Unlit – Photofit Tee

Malmo London – Polka Tee	The Affair – Poison Tree Tee	Gordon Holden – Pizza Face Tee

Dirtyface – Sauce Tee	Grizzly Co – Roaring Tee	Grayscale – 3 Stakes Tee

Minus61 – Mr Wolf T-Shirt	Malmo London – Faces Tee – Black	TeeBag – Skull Tee

New Brand Alert! Malmo London has arrived…

What do you get if you mix up the simplicity of Scandinavian design and the attitude of the London skate scene…? If you guessed MALMO LONDON, you weren’t far wrong!

Already gaining a huge cult following, new indie brand Malmo London is tough, on-trend street wear with a twist.

Each piece has been finished by hand, made from organic cotton materials and feature original Malmo signature artwork.

This isn’t the sort of ‘throw-away’ fashion you’d expect from a street wear brand, and that’s exactly why we think Malmo London is perfect for Kuji Shop

Image Credit: www.instagram.com/youngrecklesshearts

Malmo London is one of those labels which can easily be worn by men and women alike.

The bold, screen-printed tees are best worn oversize. Pair with some skinny jeans and away you go!

The SS14 collection is full of genuinely cool pieces which take inspiration from current events and trends. Have a look through the range – we can’t pick a favourite…

Malmo London Tie-Dye Sweater – Blue	Malmo London Graff Tee – White	Malmo London Coaches Jacket – Black	Malmo London Kubrick Tee

Malmo London Baseball Tee – Black	Malmo London MO Denim Jacket	Malmo London Polka Tee – Red	Malmo London Camo Sweater – Forest

See our full range of Malmo London clothing here.

Behind the Scenes with… A Freelance Fashion Stylist

Here at Kuji Shop we’re used to hanging out with fashion stylists, photographers, designers etc and usually all meet up at lavish pool parties to discuss our latest projects and freebies.

Ok, maybe not.

The reality is we do work with fashion stylists, but it not glamorous, and it is hard work! We thought we’d give you a look ‘Behind the Scenes’ at the day in the life of a freelance fashion stylist and give you a taste of what really goes on…

Leila Ali – Freelance Fashion Stylist

We caught up with Leila Ali (LA Loves on twitter) after a full day’s shoot:

On the day of the shoot everyone arrives in the studio around 9am. Hair and makeup is done on James, the model. Lighting is tweaked by the photographer and his assistant and I start unpacking and prepping the clothes.

This includes hanging them all up, steaming them and ordering them into outfits. I also lay all the accessories out onto a table.

Leila Ali – Freelance Fashion Stylist

When hair and makeup is done I dress James in his first outfit and we begin shooting…

For this shoot we wanted a slick, almost 80’s feel with gaudy colours, tailoring and dark glasses. Kind of like Miami Vice or Wolf of Wall street!

We gave a little nod to this with the Leo Heartthrob Tee by Gordon Holden, although the image of Leo is actually from Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet, which is a massive inspiration for my work.

Gordon Holden – Romeo Heartthrob T-Shirt

I tried to represent some of that chaotic beauty by mixing high end designers (such as the DKNY suits) in bold red and orange, with over the top prints from street-wear brands such as 10 deep and d9 reserve. The saccharine pink Leo T-Shirt was a hit with everyone, the model wanted to take it home!

Leila Ali – Freelance Fashion Stylist

The shoot went great and I’m really happy with the results. It’s always great to get a team with such a high level of communication, everyone worked together really well.

From the hair and make up or lighting being perfected to the model jumping for each shot with a broken foot(!) everyone gave 110 percent and the results are exactly what we hoped for.

So there you have it! A day in the life… We’re lucky enough to have worked with Leila on a number of projects, so do check out her site at http://la-styling.tumblr.com

Leila Ali – Assistant Stylist on DKNY SS14 campaign

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Kuji’s Chat-Up Lines

QUICK! Valentines Day is just over a week away and I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely still single. Chat up lines are my only hope at this time of the year, and I am more determined than ever to get that tall, dark and handsome fella. If my personal fave (“Do you have any raisins? How about a date then?”) doesn’t work, I may have to try a selection of these 10 clothes related chat up lines that may just work…

“I’ve lost my compact mirror – is it in your pants? Because I can practically see myself in them.”

Ooh, cheeky.

“Okay, so keep quiet – but I’m COMPLETELY naked under my clothes.”

Ooh, errr. That’s quite saucy… Oh no wait, we’re all naked under our clothes.

*Chuck your drink all over guy / girls top or lick your finger and run it down their top* “Right, let’s get you out of those wet clothes”

I’m sure he’ll love it when I chuck my drink all over him #WetT-shirt

“Did you get your jeans on sale? Because in my house they’re 100% off”

Yes, yes they are. We have a zero jeans, I mean, zero % off jeans policy in my house, I mean shop…

Ask your approachee to feel your jumper and then say: “what material is that?” They will venture a guess, then you say: “girl/boyfriend material”

Really? It feels like wool to me…

In the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger – Terminator: “Your clothes – give them to me.”

Erm, okay? I’m scared…

I wanna live in your socks so I can be with you every step of the way.

Just as long as you wear fresh socks daily and actually scrub your feet in the shower. Otherwise, you’re okay mate, I’ll find someone else’s feet to reside with.

Let’s make like a fabric softener and snuggle

Everybody loves a snuggle

Didn’t I see you on the cover of Vogue?

Yep! You so totally did (I’m lying)

That socks and heels combo is pretty and practical, amIright? Great, now let me buy you a drink and try to convince you that I’m not gay.

#NewBestFriend

Clearance Sale Best Picks – THREE DAYS TO GO!

So the end of January is fast approaching only meaning one thing: January Sales will be wilting away and ending very soon. Not to worry though, Kuji Shop’s January Clearance Sale is still going for a few more days. Sale ends on FRIDAY!

Take a look at our personal favourites and see what we have to say about them.

I Stopped Listening – TeeBag Designs Was £18.99 NOW £5.99! So now you don’t have to talk to anyone unnecessarily. Part of our array of T-Shirts courtesy of TeeBag Designs, this is definitely one of our faves!

 Heart Throb ‘Romeo’ T-Shirt

Was £45 NOW  £24.99!

Romeo, Romeo, Wherefore art thou Romeo? Wear the icon that is Baz Luhrman’s  Romeo, and wear Leonardo Di Caprio’s beautiful young face on your torso and fall in love with him yet again

Brit-Stitch Milkman Bag – Rust Was £90 NOW £76.50! Satchel style bags will never, ever be out of style. Their crisp, classic and smart look is attractive to bohemian types, studious minds and fashionistas who know a good bag when they see one. Brit-Stitch supply a beautiful collection of styles and colours, including this one, and we think that  they are always a good investment. Why not get one today whilst they’re still discounted?

Brit-Stitch Half Pint Bag – Purple Heart

Was £70 NOW £59.50!

Yet another classic style courtesy of Brit-Stitch, this Half Pint Bag comes in a chipper and vibrant purple colour. Perfect for a girly day out, it is no wonder this is so popular, and staple to the wardrobes of so many. Meticulous craftsmanship and  great design  ensure this bag will not disappoint.

 Asp Knitted Necklace – Amy Lawrence Was £70 NOW £52.50! We’re great fans of Amy Lawrence’s Knitted Designs here at Kuji Shop. Manufactured by hand, this woven beauty is made with only the best quality and most luxurious of yarns in a way to unique to Amy Lawrence’s style. A welcome £7.50 can be saved if you order yours from Kuji Shop today!

Cube Ring – Brutal Jewellery

Was £45 NOW £35!

So how many people do you know with a ring shaped like a cube? Like, no-one? All the more reason to grab this unique and experimental piece all for yourself. Be the cool kid in town, and show your buddies what interesting, futuristic and downright trendy  pieces adorn your fingers.

Book Rest Lamp – Suck UK Was £39.95 NOW £35! Now here’s one for the home-makers, the readers, and those who like a little time to themselves every now and then. You’ll be killing birds with stones with this Book Rest Lamp, allowing you to light your room, read your book, and save your page once you’re ready for nightly slumbers.

This is but a mere selection of the items in our January Clearance Sale at Kuji Shop… Take a look here and see what you can find for a great discounted price!

Victoria Scandale: Our Very Latest Designer

 “Quality” “Elegant” “Strong” “Fearless” “Original” “Collectable”

These are but some of the buzz-phrases circulating about the newest designer to join Kuji Shop‘s Pop-Up Shop: Victoria Scandale.

The Shop is soon to see a selection of Scandale’s AW13/14 dresses; a myriad of chic and classic yet striking and high-end pieces. Scandale is a young, up-and-coming, USA dwelling fashion designer whose collection is influenced by Eastern Europe and France, and led by a philosophy of female independence, quality and individualism.

Aiming for a clientele of chic dressers, and those collecting original and unique styles, Victoria Scandale’s collection is full of eye-catching shapes, sultry cut-outs, translucent draping materials and rouches. It is an ensemble of high quality, refined materials, decisive cuts, geometric lines, linear forms and intersecting shapes that are sure to add that element of iconography to your image.

Keep your eyes peeled for Victoria Scandale’s pieces at Kuji Shop!

Gifts for People Who Have EVERYTHING!

We have some gift ideas for those who are notoriously difficult to buy for.

It’s Christmas time, and that means one thing: Christmas Shopping. Most of the time this can be an enjoyable activity where you can run riot around the shops, nabbing bits and pieces for your friends and family. BUT! We all know someone who makes the feat utterly stressful… The person that already has everything. Do not fear! We want to make the task of sourcing brilliant, original and rare gifts that bit easier, and have selected a few pieces from Kuji Shop to help inspire you.

We have a super range of artwork that we think your friends would be proud to hang on their wall.

Luiza Holub’s Secret Garden Print is a lovely piece encapsulating the youthful inquisitiveness of the imagination.

We particularly love the Luiza Holub Secret Garden Print, a quaint and imaginative piece that would instil some youthful curiosity into your home. For only £10, we think this is a bargain!

Next on our list of goodies is the Suck UK Sharpener Desk Tidy. The perfect gift for a studious or artistic friend, and is only £12.99!

The Suck UK Sharpener Desk Tidy is but one of the original gift ideas for the home that we have in store@

For those fashionable types that have every brand and fashion trend in their wardrobe, we have a great selection of graphic T-Shirts that are truly original at Kuji Shop. Check out the BURGER T-Shirt which has been discounted (from £22) to £16.50!

     We’ve got a large selection of Graphic T-Shirts that are hard to find anywhere else.

[Interview] Womenswear Designer Maria Soromenho

Getting to Know Maria Soromenho

Maria Soromenho, one of the latest designers to join the Kuji Shop, is truly one to watch. Producing experimental handmade garments influenced by music and art, each with their own story to tell, and a collection to dream of, Maria’s elegent yet edgy designs would make a truly unique and eye-catching addition to your wardrobe. Not only are her designs incredible, this up-and-coming artiste is fluent in four languages, has worked assisting with the styling of Alicia Keys  during Paris Fashion Week (wow… I know, right), and has travelled around the world studying with many impressive designers… it’s no wonder we had an awful lot that we were bursting to ask her! 

 

Before you start, why not listen to ‘I’ll be your Mirror’ – The Velvet Underground, Maria’s Soundtrack of choice.

How would you describe yourself as a designer?

I’m really not able to describe myself as a designer at all and I hope I never will as I believe that by labelling myself I’m possibly closing doors to creativity and new experiences, I guess.

Could you describe your capsule collection at the Kuji Shop in 3 words?

Experimental – Hopefully – Wearable

  

What is the usual process for creating one of your pieces?

I always research a lot. Even though ideas always come quite naturally I always allow myself time to research new themes in order to learn and possibly discover and come up with new ideas… then I always do loads of textile experimentations. Only after that do I think of silhouettes..But I am still quite rubbish with shape, something I truly need to develop !

Could you describe two of your pieces for us?

‘The Fairest of the Seasons’ Dress – I just love how it fits! 

‘Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams’ Top – It pretty much is the beginning of all the experiments I want to do using fashion as my medium. It has a lot of unexpected materials including cinnamon. An aim to explore the 5 human senses through clothing. 

Who would you describe as your style icons? 

I’m crazy about music so normally all my style icons are somehow music related. I’ve been ridiculously inspired by Anita Pallenberg and my favourite singer Nico. Also, Kate Moss. 

You initially studied stage design… how does fashion compare to it? 

I always wanted to do something in fashion but when the time came to decide what to do in Uni I was going through this very “aiming to be intellectual” teenage phase and wanted to try and do something else. I love the theatre and it made sense. Was a great time and I hope I’ll work as a scenographer one day. I am not too sure how it affects my designs… Maybe my [experience in stage design influences my] process as I always feel the need to create and tell a story or have a strong concept.

 How would you describe your experience of studying and interning in so many places around the world?

I wish I knew what to say exactly.. I hope all the travels, living in different countries and speaking different languages influence my designs in a good way. I believe that subconsciously they influence me. My favourite internship was in Paris at Les Arts Décoratifs: musée de la mode et du textil… I learned a lot everyday and met Hussein Chalayan. Not sure it shows in my designs but it definitely had a strong impact in my life

If you had the chance to meet anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would they be and why?

Brian Jones. Everything about him intrigues me. I just wish I could still meet him.

I think we can all agree that Maria Soromenho is a breath of fresh air. Not only in terms of her designs, but in her attitude and outlook on life. Maria, we applaud you, and are utterly thrilled to have you on board at the Kuji Shop!