Living and Giving News

A Grand Opening…Mary’s Living & Giving for Save The Children comes to Chiswick

Where: Mary’s Living and Giving Shop for Save the Children -152 Chiswick High Road, W4 (along from the Old Cinema)

When: 2nd February, 2013 – 11am onwards

Join us in Chiswick for the exciting launch of the newest addition to Mary’s Living & Giving Shops with Save The Children. The Living & Giving philosophy continues, a fantastic way to contribute to the community, help some of the world’s most vulnerable children and bag a designer bargain at the same time!

Bring along your donation and look out for the top ten things happening in store on the day:

1. Free goody bag if you bring a donation*
2. World’s first till counter made from a stack of artists’ canvas designed by our genius friends at AMD Architecture
3. The Jackson Pollcok tribute floor in our studio dressing room
4. Our thank you canvas
5. Mary’s picks: those items with extra M-appeal
6. Our first volunteer in Chiswick, Jane Whitworth (welcome!)
7. Limited edition Matthew Williamson Wellington boots (various sizes)
8. Alexander McQueen dress
9. A host of pre-loved and shiny new designer goods at discount prices
10. Chance to win a Bikram yoga pass and lunch at Sam’s Brasserie

Join our event on Facebook for updates and to see sneak preview of the shop build by clicking HERE.

Where: Mary’s Living and Giving Shop for Save the Children, 109 Regent’s Park Road, Primrose Hill, London, NW1 8UR

When: Thursday 18th August, 2011

Time: 2 exciting workshops are happening: Corsage making at 11.30am – 12.30pm and Canvas Bag Printing at 3pm – 4pm.

Please feel free to turn up on the day, or to ensure you secure your place for this sure to be sell out event please call the shop on: 0207 586 9966.

Cost: £10 (includes scrumptious tea and cake too!)

For the first time, the fabulous Homemade London, who are well-known for their array of crafting workshops and events, have teamed up with Mary’s Living & Giving to offer all you budding crafters out there an exciting treat! This Thursday the Homemade team of specialist designers will be on hand to inspire and guide you through the process of the art of corsage making and canvas bag printing; a particularly useful opportunity for all you eco friendly fashionistas to transform a dull canvas tote into a personalised masterpiece just in time for Fashion Week!

No prior knowledge or experience is required, so just let your imaginations run wild, as it’s sure to be a day to remember. Not only will you be guaranteed to have a lot of fun, you will also walk away with a stylish treat for yourself, or one that will make that perfect gift. Fabulous!

Whilst in store, please also take the time to browse and explore the delectable offerings that we have to tempt all tastes and styles. With new drops weekly there’s always a treasure to be found!

Date: Saturday 20th August

Time: There are two workshop slots: 12pm-2pm or 2pm-4pm (turn up on the day, or book in advance)

Where: Mary’s Living & Giving Shop for Save the Children, 177 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2SB

Cost: £20

To book in advance call the shop on: 020 7727 6166

Tatty Devine will be holding a jewellery-making workshop at the Westbourne Grove shop. Create something personal by bringing along any jewellery you no longer wear, and mix it with shop donations and Tatty Devine findings to create a unique new piece, guided by Tatty Devine designers Rosie Wolfenden and Harriet Vine.

Refreshments will be provided and every workshopper will receive a Tatty Devine goodie bag. Our usual eclectic mix of designer goodies will also be on display, ready for you to browse. You can turn up on the day, or to guarantee your place, book in advance.

Who are Tatty Devine? Listed by Dazed and Confused magazine as one of the top 50 coolest brands in the world, Tatty Devine are known for their cult classic British witty, offbeat designs and they will be one of the many brands showcasing their collection at London Fashion Week in September. In the past, Ashish, Peter Jensen and Basso & Brooke have all turned to Tatty Devine for statement catwalk pieces, and pieces have been created especially for Rob Ryan, Tate, Selfridges and Gilbert & George. Perspex silhouettes are Tatty Devine’s signature style, but you’ll also find pieces created in textiles, wood, leather, veneer and enamel. Visit their website: http://www.tattydevine.com/

Mary Portas and Save the Children are proud to announce the opening of their fourth Mary’s Living & Giving Shop supporting Save the Children.  The lifestyle boutique in Parsons Green is set to open its doors on Sat 30 July, at 12pm.  

The shop concept, designed by Mary’s agency Yellow Door, is one based on the arts and culture. In addition to bargain designer clothing, jewellery, footwear and beauty products donated by brands such as Ashley Isham, Goat, MiH Jeans, Clements Ribeiro, Emma Cook, Margaret Howell, Monica Vinader, Hudson, and Australia Luxe Collective, shoppers will also see stunning collections of original artworks and limited edition books for sale.  Signed copies of Rob Ryan’s “You Can Still do alot With a Small Brain’ and ‘This is for You’, as well as Amelia Gregory’s ‘Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion illustration’ will be on sale in the library room.

For those turning up on the opening day, there will be the chance to enter our ‘luxury’ raffle. Prizes include Sunday Brunch for two at the effortlessly glamorous Hotel Verta (located opposite Chelsea Harbour Pier); tickets for two to any 2011/2012 production at the Lyric Hammersmith (including Kneehigh’s Wild Bride), a bespoke personalised pop-art poster, a complimentary facial by celebrity facialist Sarah Chapman, Pilates classes at local studio, Absolute Pilates Plus and a REN Skincare giftset.

Wednesday 6 July 2011,

6pm to 9pm,

177 Westbourne Grove,

London W11 2SB

For one night only, Mary’s Living & Giving Shop Supporting Save the Children will be hosting an evening with Just Glass, who will be showcasing the works of internationally acclaimed and emerging glass artists. The evening will be the only occasion in 2011, when this collection of beautiful jewellery, stylish vessels and unique sculptures will be exhibited and available for purchase.

Work on show will include cast glass pieces by internationally renowned artist Angela Thwaites and the intricate gilding of Frances Federer. On the evening you will also have the opportunity to meet the artists firsthand, discuss the inspiration behind their collection, knowing that monies raised from your purchases will go towards saving a child’s life.

This event is being held in conjunction with Notting Hill’s First Wednesdays, with a percentage of funds raised on the evening going towards Save the Children’s, ‘No Child Born To Die’ campaign. 

Eight million children die every year from easily preventable causes, such as pneumonia or diarrhoea.  Save the Children’s ‘No Child Born to Die campaign, calls for vaccinations to be made available for the world’s poorest children – a move which could save a quarter of these children from dying.  The campaign is being backed by a range of celebrities, including Alexandra Burke, Helena Bonham Carter and Natasha Kaplinsky.

Chris Coe, Retail Director for Save the Children says:

‘Save the Children are thrilled to play host to Just Glass at Mary’s Living & Giving Shop.  They have personally handpicked the crème de la crème when it comes to talent, so I know there will be some fabulous pieces for sale.  This act of generosity says a lot about Just Glass, and for this we are truly grateful.  It’s amazing to think that by shopping at Mary’s Living & Giving, you can make a real difference to a child’s life somewhere in the world.  This is the ultimate in guilt free shopping.’

 Su Herbert, Chair of Just Glass added:

‘We are excited to be able to show our artists’ work in this elegant and unusual setting and delighted to be raising money for such a worthwhile cause in the process’.

The full range of artists exhibiting will be Angela Thwaits, Charlie Murphy, Frances Federer, Ingrid Hunter, Joanna Waddy, Julia Hayward, Julie Light, Maha, Mandy Treptow, Phillipa Candy, Stuart Turnbull, Su Herbert and Wendy Newhofer.

 For more info, please visit: 

http://www.just-glass.co.uk            

http://www.savethechildren.org.uk               

http://www.livingandgiving.co.uk

The team from Edinburgh’s Hard Rock Cafe on George Street will be on hand to help visitors pick an outfit fit for a superstar. Live mannequins will be in the windows to model the clothing, an in-store DJ will be taking requests and there’ll be a fantastic Rock Rail full of denim and leather clothing worthy of a rock legend.

The shop is also holding an art exhibition featuring works from local artist Ivor Sexton between 1st June– 30th June. The pieces include acrylics on canvas which fit perfectly with the weekend’s rock theme.

Mary’s Living & Giving shop, the first of its kind in the UK, stocks top-end designer goods, which are sold at bargain prices, in aid of Save the Children. It has already been hailed as a massive success with the city’s fashion crowd.

Barbara Williams, Mary’s Living & Giving shop manager in Stockbridge said: “We love the idea of linking up our store with the Hard Rock team who will bring our shoppers a completely different shopping experience – designer bargains, rock tunes and some unusual art. The takeover will inject some fun into shopping and we hope to attract some potential rock chicks and rock gods out for that perfect outfit!”

Lesley Ross, Sales and Marketing Manager for Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh said: “Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh are delighted to be involved in such an exciting opportunity. Philanthropy is a cause close to our heart here at the Hard Rock and we are always keen to be able to help give something back to help local and deserving causes”

Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh Ambassadors will be doing shifts at the shop between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday 10th June.

You will all have seen in the press the devastating events that are unfolding in both Libya and Japan at the moment. At times like these, it is most often children who are left the most vulnerable. The violent clashes between security forces and anti-government protesters are putting more and more children in danger and it has been estimated that 700,000 children are trapped in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, with limited access to food, water and electricity.

In Japan, 215,00 people have been evacuated, following one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded and thousands of children have lost their homes and possessions, leaving them afraid and traumatised.

For this reason all of the money raised this week by Mary’s Living and Giving shops will be going straight to the Save the Children teams on the ground in Libya and Japan, who are working hard to try and help this desperate situation by providing food, sanitation, shelter and emotional support for children who have suffered.

If you can, please try and spare the time to drop down to any one of Mary’s Living and Giving shops in either London or Edinburgh this week and show your support for this important cause.

We’ve been asking the amazing volunteers at Mary’s Living and Giving Shops to tell us the items that they’re most excited about in their shops at the moment and here are their answers. Keep checking back for weekly updates:

Primrose Hill, London:

We hear that elements of the 80s are BACK! (Did they ever leave?!) Which is great news for us as we’ve just received some limited edition live tour t-shirts from the 80s British ska bad ‘The Specials’. HUGE thanks goes to the wife of the specials drummer extraordinaire (Mrs John Bradbury) for donating these fantastic collectibles.

Price: £15

Westbourne Grove, London:

Congrats goes out to Sarah Burton, Creative Director at Alexander McQueen; rumour has it, she’s designing Kate Middleton’s dress for her fast-approaching nuptials (not too much pressure then!).  The team at McQueen are generous donors to the Westbourne Grove Shop and according to our logic (and the six degrees of separation rule) that surely almost makes us royalty by association! We still have a few stunning McQueen Dresses in store…

This pre-amble links nicely onto our pick of the week which is a signed copy of the ‘Isabella Blow’ book by Martina Rink (Issy was credited with discovering the late Alexander McQueen). A breathtakingly good read, this book is a ‘must’ for any fashion history lover and is currently completely sold out on e-bay.

Price: £30

EVENT DETAILS:
What?: Blombos Cave Event at Mary’s Living and Giving Shop, Edinburgh
When?: Thursday 10th March 6pm-8.30pm
Where?: 34a Raeburn Place,
                    Edinburgh 
                    EH4 1HN

Refreshments will be provided in the form of cupcakes and bubbly!

 When asked to name 5 famous caves in Europe, I managed to think of Aladdin’s Cave, the stunning Blue Grotto in Capri, Edinburgh finest ‘The Caves’ (this has got to count!) and then struggled before suggesting our very own ‘Mary’s Living and Giving Shop supporting Save the Children’ in Edinburgh.

Ok, I know what you’re thinking, this isn’t strictly a cave but we all know that there is treasure to be found in caves, just like in our shop. Tomorrow evening we will be playing host to Blombos Cave. This is going to be every fashionistas dream, given that Blombos Cave is home to stunning and original hand-made jewellery, created by some of the UK’s most talented designers including Tania Clarke Hall, Joanna Strachan, Hannah Louise Lamb and Helen Shere.

This is going to be no ordinary evening, in addition to the beautiful vintage bracelets, necklaces, earrings and brooches, the lovely Scottish designer Louise Pringle from Eclectic Shock will be on hand to breathe new life into your very own jewellery pieces. 

Louise, who has been featured in Vogue and Grazia magazines, is renowned for breathing new life into her customers own jewellery, so now there really is no need to part from that beloved broken necklace that you perhaps previously thought was past its best.

If you have a piece of jewellery that you love but needs some attention, Louise can revamp and restyle it for you.   Louise’s collection, Eclectic Shock, includes a range of gorgeous gems which will also be on sale, so if you purchase one of her pieces, she would be more than happy to customize it with your own treasures.

There will be lots of other designer items for you to browse through, so for more information, please feel free to contact me: 

Barbara Williams, Manager of Mary’s Living and Giving Shop supporting Save the Children
34a Raeburn Place,
Edinburgh
tel: 0131 315 2856
E-Mail: b.williams@savethechildren.org.uk

See you there!

Bx

Rigby & Peller has donated hundreds of designer lingerie and swimwear products for a special Rigby & Peller shopping evening at Mary’s Living & Giving shops in Primrose Hill and Westbourne Grove.  All proceeds will go towards Save the Children’s, ‘No Child Born to Die’ campaign.

Pop down to Primrose Hill and Westbourne Grove on Thursday February 10, 6-8.30pm for a glass of bubbly and a nose around the fabulous lingerie.

There will be Rigby & Peller lingerie, swimwear and accessories on sale that have been worn in photo shoots by celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Moss and Katy Perry.

Rigby & Peller trained fitters and stylists will also be on hand to advise customers throughout the evening. Anyone who attends will also be entered into a free prize draw to win a set of made-to-measure underwear by Rigby & Peller’s own in-house team of corsetieres.