Try Handmade

Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.

Me&Yu

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This week I’m profiling Me&Yu, a small fashion label specialising in hand-made and hand-printed clothing for men and women.

I first encountered the label in offbeat shopping mecca Affleck’s Palace in Manchester, UK. There I had the fortune of meeting Angie, one of the label’s co-founders. Angie has wanted to be a fashion designer since she was a child and luckily she has turned that dream into a reality – albeit with a lot of hard graft along the way!

“We had the idea for creating clothes together back in 2003 whilst we were living in Sydney,” Angie explained. “We just wanted to create clothes that were a bit different, that had a bit more personality than what was available on the high street.”

Me&Yu’s designs are cool and unique, appealing to a wide audience. I particularly adore their quirky, hand-drawn prints and stylish handmade dresses! Unlike many smaller labels, Me&Yu offers both girl and guy garments and many of the designs are unisex, allowing the wearer to put their own slant on things.

Me&Yu started in 2003, with stalls at weekend markets and events in Sydney, Australia then in Manchester and Liverpool, UK during 2004-2006. The designers had to balance developing the label with working full-time – what a challenge! Finally in 2006, Me&Yu moved permanently to a shop in Affleck’s Palace, complemented by its online store and presence in a handful of boutiques in the UK.

“Affleck’s Palace is a great place to be as it houses lots of small independent businesses together – you have the support of other people around you, and that’s the best thing. When we first started we got loads of helpful advice from other small businesses, obviously every business is different but you can get some great tips!”

Designs are made up at the label’s studio in an old cotton mill in Manchester, and it is important to the company to keep the city’s heritage alive. The mill houses a number of other artists and fosters a creative and collaborative atmosphere.

Me&Yu is a great example of excellent self-promotion – the label blogs at www.wearemeandyu.blogspot.com, uses Facebook and Twitter, distributes flyers and has even secured features in magazines. In addition, Me&Yu gets involved in charity fashion shows and fundraisers – contributing to important causes as well as raising awareness of the brand.

“There is something special about selling something that you made yourself, its very personal,” finishes Angie. “However, it’s hard work. Handmade = labour intensive and not everybody understands quite how much work goes into each item.”

What’s your favourite Me&Yu design? Post your link below!

Jane Bonbon

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I’m a full-time vancouver plus size fashion designer, though I do seem to be making more and more things for smaller girls too lately ! Currently, my clothes (sizes 4-22) sell at Planet Claire in vancouver (212 Abbott st. in gastown) Each piece is handmade by me! <3 Jane Bonbon

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Vancouver, British Columbia

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Two cultural happenings strangely began during the same week this year: the Olympics, and New York Fashion Week. In honor of both events, I’ve found a few fashion and accessories designers located in the Olympics host city, Vancouver, BC. One of my favorite cities in the world, I was thrilled to have a chance to virtually explore Vancouver for local designers and their beautiful creations.

The first designer, Mehran, has so many great things I had a hard time choosing just one to feature. I settled on this pleated bag because I love her story behind it–after she made a custom bag for someone, she was so happy with how it turned out she decided to make more. I can see why she was happy– this bag is a perfect way to accessorize any fashion you choose to sport.

See this top? Well it may not be available for long because I just might have to pick it up myself it’s so perfect for me and by post-two-babies-body. This design, by Christintina, is a perfect example of how jersey can be really flattering, when it’s gathered. The fabric this designer uses also happens to be organic bamboo, which is incredibly soft and comfortable.

This red jacket by Littlehouses [previously featured] is the perfect thing for this post about Vancouver and New York. This Vancouver designer has a New York eye–the model could definitely work it on the runway. Red lips, pixie hair, and totally fab red jacket–red is definitely not my color, but this is very tempting. The fabric of the jacket is a thick, soft cotton, my favorite because it’s seasonless, so you can wear it anytime–whether you’re in Vancouver, New York, or (hopefully) somewhere much warmer.

Boyfriend Chic

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Wearing your boyfriend’s clothes is one of those fashion trends that keeps coming back year after year in one form or another. Sure, it sounds easy enough – just throw on your man’s collared shirt – but for those of us who aren’t fashion models, this trend can be difficult to pull off. Those over-sized collared shirts can easily create a messy, even frumpy look. For women in need of something more tailored, there are plenty of handmade artists creating pieces that will keep you on trend, but still looking chic and pulled together.

I just love the look of this tunic by Ma chemise d’homme. Made from a man’s collared shirt, you still get the comfort and relaxed look that is typical of the boyfriend trend, but the round neckline, puffed sleeves and contrasting bias tape add subtle touches of femininity. Ma chemise d’homme’s entire shop features women’s clothing made from upcycled menswear and some of her designs are truly surprising – a must see.

If you love the relaxed look of boyfriend jeans, but are looking for something a little more tailored, the Charlie Pants by Three Little Ducks may be just what you had in mind. With a relaxed fit and flattering pleating across the front, these pants combine masculine tailored details with a feminine cut and fit, and could be easily dressed up for a night out or worn out while running errands.

This acorn yellow satchel by breagha is another great combination of masculine and feminine details. The leather shoulder strap and detailing along with the boxy shape mimic more masculine messenger bags while the bright yellow color and compact size make it perfect for female body types and taste. Made from tweed woven in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, this bag is both unique and utilitarian.

The sweet print featured at the top of this post was created by Sparklehen.

Cocktail Party

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I’ve been daydreaming lately about throwing a lovely cocktail party, full of fancy dresses, music, laughter and great conversation. Unfortunately, my apartment is barely big enough for my craft supplies, let alone guests. I am undeterred, however; a cocktail party will come my way sooner or later, and when it does, I’ll be ready with the perfect handmade outfit.

Fashion in Hawaii is pretty casual, which means I’ll be extra excited to slip into this gorgeous 1950’s style silk dress by Fiori di Arancio. The high neckline, full skirt, and short sleeves are chic and elegant, while the organza bow adds the perfect touch of sweet. The dress can be made in any color silk, but I love the patterned fabric shown on the model–it’s classic, subtle and sure to turn heads among the little black dresses.

What’s a cocktail dress without the perfect statement-making ring? This bezel set option by Blue Wave Jewelry will add just a little bit of sparkle and modern flair to my vintage-style dress–a fashion juxtaposition, if you will. The different dimensions of this druzy quartz stone will catch the light perfectly, and set it apart from your typical cocktail ring. The oval shape and wide sterling silver bezel setting are classic.

A great clutch is always a must when you’re dressing up for a night out. This simple black option by Designs By Ambiana is made of vegan leather, lined, and includes a small pocket. It’s large enough to hold all of your things, but small enough that it won’t compete with the cocktail dress. The silver purse frame and chain will coordinate perfectly with the silver jewelry, and the pattern on the vegan leather is just the perfect amount of texture.

Now that I have my perfect cocktail party outfit, all I need is an invitation, and a drink!

**The image featured at the top of this article is a photograph by The Bunny Cage.