Mother's Day. For them or for you?

When asked what I would want for Mother’s Day I say, ‘A good night’s sleep. An uninterrupted-worry-free-full-night-of-sleep on some lovely luxurious sheets’ but then I think maybe bugger the sleep and a pair of boots so soft they feel like slippers would be just the thing, or a beautiful handbag just for the sake of it, although I do like to have friends over and whilst I can’t impress with culinary skills, there are NO skills, I can lay up a pretty table so maybe a new tablecloth and napkins. But perhaps this is all a little self-indulgent and I suggest a framed photograph of the children, which we can all appreciate, except the children tell me what THEY would really like for Mother’s Day is a cooler to keep their drinks chilled…. 

My parents with Ashley, Edwina and me, and Bertie sitting on the grass

Mother’s Day is of course a day to appreciate Mum’s but it’s also a day to think about family, near or far, big or small. I was just thinking how lucky I am to work with so many brands that have a strong family story. 

Tusting is a family-run leather goods maker with a five-generation heritage stemming from 1875, Addison Ross is a family owned and run British frame maker, both of Penelope Chilvers’ daughters work in her shoe business and whilst the South African team at Fieldbar, creating those coolers, might not be related by blood they treat one another like family, “We are a diverse people. We have a history that still hurts. A history that we are still trying to mend. We make our products with the same set of values that we sell them with. Our brand values are our internal values. We put people before productivity.”

The companies I collaborate with can also share stories of sustainable craftsmanship. And I also love and appreciate this.

Those luxury sheets I dream of sleeping on are made by Heirlooms who have worked to measure and record their environmental impact and in 2020 joined Planet Mark as a vehicle through which they could record their carbon footprint and make positive improvements.

My bedding made by Heirlooms, who believe there is no substitute for the craftsman’s hands, eyes and instincts.

These boots, soft as slippers, are lovingly made by Spanish artisans in family run businesses who care passionately about their craft and whose knowledge has been passed down from generation to generation. They believe in preserving these rare footwear manufacturing techniques, “If something is to be made, it should be made well” Penny Chilvers always reminds me.

Riding boots, as soft as slippers, a collaboration with Penelope Chilvers and her Spanish artisans.

Every bag from Tusting is handcrafted from scratch in their atelier workshop in the heart of the English countryside, using hides sourced from Europe’s most premium tanneries. High-quality, naturally tanned, full-grain leather is one of the most sustainable materials available for bags. Gillian Tusting always educates me, “It is also expensive, meaning that many, many brands use plastics and PU-coated sub-standard leathers as alternatives to save costs. Unfortunately, they are not saving the planet by doing this; rather, they are costing it in the process.” 

Carrying my Savannah handbag, designed for Tusting, who very much believe these should be handed down to the next generation

Inspired by the art of Indian block printing and a love for the unmistakable beauty of things made by hand, Pomegranate make tablecloths and napkins through the ancient art of hand-block printing which has been practiced in India for over 800 years. Their family of highly skilled artisans have been carving wooden blocks for generations.

Pomegranate linens on my dining table laid up for a family supper. The hand block printed linens are made by hand and made to share.

Meanwhile Addison Ross frames have a lifetime value and all the packaging is beautifully recyclable.

Fieldbar use modern materials to make their coolers like they did generations ago, they want to revive the belief system that their grandparents and the generations before them had, which is to buy something of quality and longevity and then repair and care for that item.

Any part of a damaged Fieldbar cooler, that can't be repaired are either recycled or recirculated within their production line.

Perhaps if you are looking for something that might make your Mum feel appreciated this Mother’s Day, or any day really, have a little think about bedding, boots and bags, chilled drinks or framed memories…all made with care, consideration and a lot of creativity.

David and I with our own motley crew.