Zara…Las Ninas Textiles is coming to visit…
Hello everyone,
The words infectious enthusiasm…alongside spontaneous, madcap idea are those that spring to mind as I write to extend to you my very first invitation of the year! I hadn’t planned it, but those who have followed along here for a long time know...that I reckon the best things in life often come along on the spur-of-the-moment and we ought to grasp them while we can!
Before I knew it last week, in the midst of a simple little instagram chat, I found myself inviting the woman who exudes said infectious enthusiasm, ZARA ELWOOD of LAS NINAS TEXTILES to call in here en route, as she makes her way on her long summer road trip back up north, for a POP-UP SELLING EXHIBITION of her colourful, sustainably sourced, ethically produced, one of a kind, beautiful, artisan made garments.
You know those kinds of clothes you see and wish you knew from where they came? The style of many of Zara’s skilfully and traditionally embroidered textiles are exactly the kind I’ve been enchanted with for much of my life. “Oh for a top/dress/skirt like that!” You might hear me exclaim! But where to find one? I don’t know about you but I’m not keen on shopping online for clothes…I still love to see, hold, feel the weight, texture and quite frankly…to try on. To be honest, I buy very little…my own Mickey’s Essential Dress aside, I can’t really think of any clothes I’ve bought in the last five years! I realised the other day that I was gardening in a shirt I bought in London when I was 20 (and am kind of sorry it’s somehow ended up in the gardening apparel pile!). Like Zara…I believe in sustainable clothing, natural fibres and quite honestly…that pieces should last a good long time. Zara’s…are the kind of garments I’d put in the ‘favourites’ pile (I’m particularly attracted to her ‘folky’ pieces, but have a look at Zara’s website…we simply couldn’t choose one image to cover her extensive range!).
I do have one of her dresses. Although we’ve never met, she befriended Bonnie up north and somehow I came to be in posession of an indigo shirt dress with a front placket of beautiful embroidery (Bonnie felt it a bit too ‘old’ for her at the time…no doubt one day she’ll want it back!). Lucky me. It’s a few years ago now and from time to time I wear it to Sydney…when the temperature for my Essential Dress is just a tad cool, or I leave here late afternoon for something in the early evening and I feel my own dress is a bit work-a-day for the occasion. But much like my dress, I’ve yet to give Zara’s one an outing where at least one person doesn’t ask me where I found it, and by now I’ve pointed rather a lot of peeps in Zara’s direction!
As a rule, she only sells up north in real life, and only for a few months of the year, as she’s otherwise travelling and sourcing, meeting with and ensuring a continuous relationship with her skilled makers in Latin America.
I’m rather looking forward to meeting Zara in person…and to filling the Dairy with an explosion of wearable, colourful textiles for you to try on and girly-twirl to your heart’s delight in that big space with the cool concrete floor! What a fun way to kick off the year! This will strictly be BY APPOINTMENT ONLY over two days…THURSDAY 20 & FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY. I’ll have a pot of herbal tisane on the go and…might even go the next stretch so you don’t need to pack a picnic. I’m thinking a little Gazpacho & Pumpernickel Soda Bread with Pesto might be just the zing to accompany the bling! You might want to bring a friend (or two!), but we’ll need to know numbers in advance so we can properly stagger appointments.
To make an appointment, please be quick – you can email me by return here. Zara already has a list of Sydney clients who she’ll be alerting to come and visit…but I wanted to extend the opportunity to you too. In this instance, it really will be first in best dressed!
Excitement over, I’ll then be focussed on my SOIL + SUN + RAIN = FOOD equation! Which is pure excitement of another kind. The newsletter for my LATE SUMMER/EARLY AUTUMN KITCHEN GARDENING on SATURDAY 01 MARCH will be with you tomorrow, though you can find all the details and the booking form here.
Olé!
With warmest wishes
Mickey
