{ Think } blog

Here it is as promised a video of our recent Made in the UK tour including a sneak peek at our Spring Summer range which will be available to buy online very soon, enjoy! 

Love {Think} xx

Since the inception of Think Boutique, sourcing all the lovely labels that we stock in our online boutique has been an ongoing and ever evolving process. We have now reached a point where the majority of our labels are made here in the UK and I recently took the conscious decision that going forward I would only seek out and stock labels made in the UK. 

It has been well documented that the UK clothing manufacturing industry has declined over the past few decades as more and more brands source cheaper manufacturing from overseas. So it was with delight that I realised that with the ethics of Think Boutique shifting a little to focus on all things UK we could play our part in what is of recent becoming a move to begin a revival of clothing manufacturing in the UK!

An added bonus to this discovery was the fact that I could go and see the clothes being made without a long haul flight! So with that I headed off on a Think Boutique tour.  On the way we stopped in Manchester to check out the new collection from recycled fashion brand Love Me Again. Gorgeous brights and cute shirt dresses all made using recycled t-shirts, shirts and jumpers from UK textile recycling plants and all hand made by the lovely Tracey right here in Manchester. Tracey was in the process of moving studio so we met up to have a look at her new collection in a cute independent cafe in Didsbury which had this amazing Aladdin's Cave of a vintage book store in the back. 

Just out of shot here is the enthusiastic shop owner who was delighted that we were taking some snaps among his books! We could have whiled away a few more hours amongst the amazing selection of books, many with stunning leather bound covers that are beautiful to look at before you even get to reading! But we were off to our next destination, down to Leicester to visit Nancy Dee with a wee stop off in the cute Derbyshire village of Bakewell on the way. Yes we admit it was mainly for the baked goods that we chose this place to break up the journey, but it is lovely!

Bakewell looks cute even in the rain!

Bakewell puddings!

Nancy Dee moved production back to the UK recently and with their office right beside the factory where the clothes are produced they can really see the collection through from concept to completion!

Ladies hard at work in the Nancy Dee factory.

Skilled hands at work!

Dresses ready for dispatch to stockists. We got to take our pieces away directly from the factory! For sale on Think Boutique soon!

Next stop Leeds to visit Antiform/ Remade in Leeds. The studio has had a stunning makeover since our last visit, looking good!

A rainbow of yarn waiting to be transformed into some lovely Antiform pieces.

Out the back of the studio is a room packed floor to ceiling with gorgeous fabrics reclaimed from fabric mills, clothes swaps, knitting charities (yes really!) and people's personal collections to name but a few sources. Each one has a story to tell and is waiting to take the next step in its journey of fabulousness! I fell in love with this amazing fluro pink 60s swimming costume fabric, can't wait to see how that makes its way into an Antiform collection!

Antiform's pieces are produced by a small team of makers. Diverse in their backgrounds, they range from students to nanas, they find common ground working together on the collection and helping to preserve a skill set for which demand is rapidly fading in the UK.

Sheet music wallpaper in the Antiform studio, nothing goes to waste here!

Some of the Antiform pieces coming to {Think} Boutique for Spring/Summer 2012.

We filmed our adventures too so look out for the {Think} Boutique Made in the UK video coming very soon!

Love {Think} xx

Love {Think} xx

This season we decided to take our photoshoot on location. We worked with photographer Gillian Hayes of Dapple Photography to come up with locations that great backdrops to show off the clothes and were in keeping with the ethos of {Think} Boutique.

Our first location was 'Dear Green Place' the home of Glasgow Wood Recycling a social enterprise that produce home and garden reclaimed wood products. As well as the environmental credentials of their products Glasgow Wood Recycling also provide volunteer and training opportunities to local people, as a practical way of tackling poverty and social exclusion.  The yard is full of nooks and crannies, interesting objects and great back drops so it was the perfect location for our first shoot.





A touch up from our fab hair and makeup artist Colette from Richardson Murray in Kelvinbridge. Quite a challenge working outside with no electricity but a gorgeous result as usual!


Gillian climbs up to get the right angle!


Who said being a photographer on a fashion shoot is a glamorous job!

We loved the contrast of this acid green bird house, fuchsia skirt and canary yellow top against the plywood back drop it really pops!


There were loads of cute props for our model Eilidh to use this sweet bike with flowers growing in the basket was just too perfect for the Adela dress!


The ends of the wooden boards all piled up make such an interesting back drop for the floral wrap skirt, just add wellies!


Eildih strikes a pose between piles of planters!


It was a freezing cold day and EIlidh still managed a few laughs, mainly down to Garry's jokes! 

This is one of our favourite images of the day the paper bag shorts look great!

You can check out all the other images throughout the website too!

Love {Think} xx 

With a hint of sunshine and longer nights Spring is definitely in the air!

At {Think} Boutique Spring/Summer is shaping up to be a great season with some lovely new brands, and lots of gorgeous clothes to get you into the mood for holidays, beaches and bbqs! 

So to start you thinking about getting out of your woolies and into your shorts and dresses we've put together a sneak peek of the gorgeous stock arriving at {Think} Boutique over the next few weeks!

Enjoy!
 
Love {Think} xx

A chance to visit one of Europe's most stylish cities, a whole section of fashion week dedicated to international eco-fashion, a city break to break up the long dull month of January? Yes please! Berlin fashion week, I was there like a shot to seek out some great new brands for {Think} Boutique!

With a choice of destinations to seek out gorgeous ethical fashion from all over Europe we started with the Green Showroom. Set inside the stunning Aldon Hotel right on Berlin's main avenue Under den Linden it was fun seeing inside some of the hotels gorgeous executive rooms and viewing gorgeous ethical fashion laid out on beds, hanging in wardrobes and even on top of the bath!

The plush setting for the Green Showroom.

Accessories displayed on top of baths and beds!

Browsing ethical fashion from all over Europe at The Green Show room

Next stop on the ethical fashion trail was thekey.to. This well established ethical fashion event embraced ethical in every aspect of its being from the recycled Christmas trees that lined the entrance hall and restaurant to the recycling workshops and dedicated hybrid shuttle service to the city centre. Plus of course another great selection of ethical fashion.

Recycled Christmas trees in the entrance hall.

The huge selection of gorgeous ethical brands all under one roof.

Chairs made of melted down plastic signs in thekey.to restaurant.

Recycling workshops.

Beautiful recycled jewellery, even the display tables are recycled cardboard boxes!

These bags used to be car interiors!

thekey.to shuttle service.

We did take time after all the fashion to take in some of Berlin's cultural sights too and of course to enjoy the city's buzzing shops and nightlife.

The Stirling prize nominated Neues Museum.

The Holocaust Memorial.

TV Tower, the best way to find your bearings in Berlin - just look for the tower!

Before we knew it was was time to go and we left Berlin feeling inspired by such a stylish city and with some great new brands for {Think} Boutique!

Until next time.....

Love {Think} xx

Feeling organised for Christmas yet?

Don't worry here at Think Boutique we've got all the best gifts for ethical fashionistas everywhere! Whether you are writing a letter to Santa or picking out something gorgeous for a special someone any girl will be thrilled to unwrap one of these beauties on the big day!



{Think} Boutique gift vouchers are now available for the lucky recipient to spend as they please!

Sick of getting tangled up in the sticky tape and ribbon, let us take the hassle out of wrapping this Christmas! Pick one of our stunning ethical gift wraps, double sided and printed on recycled paper using soy ink. Choose from three stunning designs that are bound to impress, we'll not tell if you don't!

Happy Shopping!

Love {Think} xx