The most picturesque printing shop in the world?

Yeah, we got snow... Just in time for me to do a two-day session in the silkscreen printing shop. The radiator isn't so hot (pun intended). It has to be turned really high in the morning, and do it's thing for a while. Eventually it's ok to go out there to start working. But it does look extremely inviting, wouldn't you say?

There they are, hanging three rows deep, the t-shirts in honour of that gloriously grungy, gritty and grimy street Norra Grängesbergsgatan, where the studio is located.

Release party in the studio this friday at four. Do come! :-)

Malmö goes all Gaga

Lady Gaga plays Malmö this evening and this inspired the paper City (p. 32-33) to invite Robert&Blad and two others Malmö-based designers for a fun little experiment. We each got a bag of stuff to use to create a spectacular outfit, Gaga-style.


We're talking stuff that would not normally be used for clothes. I got paper napkins, coffee filters, muffin moulds, cake doilies and paper cups. And it should take no more than half a day to make. Once I got my basic ideas sorted I actually got it done in two hours. And I used everything in the bag. Especially proud of the coffee cup-rings on the skirt and that I managed not only hat and bag, but also pimped the shoes with muffin moulds.

Hat made from paper cup, doily and muffin moulds.

Keeping the novemberness at bay...

Todays tip for surviving the long, dark winter: Pimp your coffee-filters.

The hunt for eco-fabrics & the recycling of own designs

In October I went to Sweden's textile capital Borås for the fabric fair. I was particularly searching for a good woven eco-cotton or hemp, for trousers and skirts. I think I may have found the right fabric, and as you can see, if I would want to incorporate colours in the collection the possibilities are there... Being a quality and control freak I will want to make a few samples an wear and especially wash a few times before settling on the fabric. It will definitely be great to be able to add a bunch of bottoms to the collection, as it is a bit weak on that front at the moment.

An other thing I was on a quest for was a wool to do a remake of this Robert&Blad coat from 1992 or -93. I was amazed at how much I liked it upon being reunited with it. Dear old customer My let me borrow this on-off piece so I could refresh my memory. I'm flattered and proud that My has kept, used and loved it for all these years! Thanks My!

So here is the first sample remake. Accidentally got sewing machine oil on the lining so I'm afraid I'll be forced to keep it myself. Dommage! ;-)

I did find a very interesting Portuguese recycled wool for it. So it will be available in the collection from next fall. By then I will have tested this one and can tell you truthfully if it's possible to bicycle in it or not. I might have to lie...