Newsround - Tuesday 24th August

Another week has passed and here we are again reporting on the hive of activity that is The Secret Arcade. After emailing our press contacts about the launch we have had a flurry of enquiries from home and abroad asking for details - so keep fingers and toes crossed that we will be featured in these very soon. We have also had a great response from our Shop Floor Project subscribers (one from Hong Kong perused The Secret Arcade passageways for over 2 hours - that's what we call dedicated shopping!) We were very excited to read that the lovely Katie Antoniou has posted a fantastic piece about The Secret Arcade on her influential style blog, London Plinth. Katie is a freelance writer and regularly contributes to a number of publications and online magazines and has subscribed to the blog to keep up with all of our news and events. You can read the full version of Katie's article here.

The Scottish Connection

We were also thrilled that we made the news in The Scotsman on Sunday last week, especially as we have two Scottish based designers in The Secret Arcade .

Mandarina Shoes with their amazing footwear using traditional Harris tweed, lustrous velvet , richly coloured suedes and beautiful silk brocades - all given a unique identity with the company's wild and wonderful signature linings in vivid colours and animal prints. Also BlueBellGray with Glasgow based Fiona Douglas's wonderful hand painted fabric designs that are transformed into the most covetable cushions you can imagine! You can view Mandarina Shoes in The Secret Arcade 'Accessories' passage and BlueBellGray in the 'Homeware & Fabric' passage.

Gorgeous New Fabrics and Classic Sewing Patterns

Now available from the wonderful Ray-Stitch ranging from vintage-tinged designs evoking the country landscape of depression era America to characteristically quirky designs using natural motifs and bold colours by Lauren and Jessie Jung. Also well worth taking a look at is their selection of 24 new sewing patterns hand picked from the American company 'Hot Patterns' extensive range where you will be spoiled for choice because they use great classic styles.

The Ray-Stitch shop is located in The Secret Arcade's 'Fashion & Accessories' passage.


A Whole New Meaning to Statement Jewellery - Leju at Premiere Classe 2010.

LeJu is back in Paris this autumn, this time at the exclusive Premiere Classe trade show. LeJu expands its collection, with exquisite colours, shapes and escalating sizes, giving statement

jewellery a whole new meaning. Exploring with new materials LeJu continues with their use of vegetable ivory – their trademark – mixed with silver and copper exploring the possibilities of
new exciting uses for vegetable ivory. The new collection brings together intense colours and bold structure, threaded together using leather, hemp, wax thread, stainless steel and copper wire. Leju's shop is located in the 'Jewellery' passage at The Secret Arcade. See LeJu’s S/S2011 collection at Premiere Classe:Porte De Versailles, Paris Hall 1stand: H37 between 4th-7th September 2010.

Molly-Meg 'Decorate a Chair' workshop

Molly-Meg once again offers a unique invitation to join her at an adult workshop at the V&A Museum of Childhood to customise a child's chair. Transform a plain brown plastic robin day chair into something fantastic. Decoupage inclusions such as old Beano comics, copies of illustrations from vintage lady bird books, maps and botanical illustrations will be supplied but if you have ideas of your own or there are any wrapping paper or fabric prints you love we recommend you bring them along as the finished masterpiece will be going home with you..... For more details visit Molly-Meg's shop in the 'Children' passage at The Secret Arcade. You will find times etc. on her 'In the News' page.