A WAPPING Idea

Living and working in London this year I have stumbled upon hundreds of unique, quirky, impressive, trendy, bars, restaurants, shops and Aladdin's caves of amazingness! I spent the week bring the boat down from henley to London and you see London from a completely different view when you are on the river, like kooky roof terraces, intriguing balconies and little hideouts that you just don’t see from the streets of London. Traveling down past St Kats dock we ventured into Wapping where we found a hidden treasure.

The Wapping Project. The Wapping Project is an ex hydraulic power station, transformed in to a restaurant come art space. It really is a venue like no other. The boiler and filter houses are stripped back to their 1890 form and provide a dramatic exhibition and performance space, as well as serving up some scrumptious and seriously impressive dishes.

‘Incendenti' Kicks off LFW

I’ve headed back to Trace for 2 weeks, where I did my final placement this year, to help out for London Fashion Week. My friend Rachel, who was with me, described feeling like she was in ‘The Devils Wear Prada’ as I sat in bed at 2am the night before the show revising and scheduling new guest-lists, show times and interviews manically trying to get it all one in time. We Kicked off the first day of LFW with Jean-Pierre Braganza’s Summer 2011 collection ‘Incendenti’. It was a hectic day of running about in very high heels, but it was very exciting to be part of the hype and experience organising another fashion show. Braganza arrived at Victoria House on his limited edition pink ‘Braganza Bike’ (see below!) and posed for the photographers with top model Jade Parfitt before she hit the runway.

With MIA, Sleighbells. and How To Destroy Angels pumping through the basement the models took to the catwalk debuting Braganza’s soft yet sophisticated SS/11 collection. Comprising of a soft pastel palette with occasional hints of deep turquoise and pink, Braganza added an elegant flowing take on to his contrasting trademark structured look.

After the show we spent the afternoon sending our press releases and photographs to all the magazines and .com’s before hitting the after party at Alto club off Carnaby Street, where we danced till the early hours to Adam Ant and Jodie Harsh.....

All together frenetic, feverish and frenzied, but fantastically fabulous!

Forget Chauffeurs.....Braganza Bikes Are The Way To Travel This LFW

What better way to get noticed at London Fashion Week than to arrive on the limited edition “Barclays Braganza Bike”.....which is exactly what Jean Pierre Braganza did! To get things kicked off for LFW, Trace Publicity fused with Barclays Bank and the Transport For London team to create 4 limited bikes which had been given the Braganza treatment. The Canadian designer gave London “a little teaser” of his Spring Summer 11 collection ‘Incendenti’, by designing a fabulous print featuring flashes of flesh-coloured, rust-infused digital print, featuring darkly romantic roses, sinister-looking crows and hungry flames, all to be skinned on to the 4 special bikes.

The office was ridiculously over excited when the bikes arrived and the PR that we have received over them is amazing and Jean Pierre was thrilled at the opportunity to become involved in such a good cause. I spoke to Kulveer Ranger at Jean Pierre's Show on Friday and he seemed keen to expand on this idea and maybe take on a few other different designers, but assured me that London would never be a sea of multi coloured bikes and that the Braganza Bike would always stay unique and special, go Trace!

Above: Jean Pierre Braganza meeting Kulveer Ranger

I CAN, you can, we can!

I CAN is a children's communications charity that helps ensure that no child is left behind because of a difficulty in speaking or understanding. Thousands of children are just about to embark on the first year of schooling and education, however 1 in 10 of these children wont be able to find the words they need in order to join in, interact, learn and go forward. Communication difficulties are life limiting, and nobody wants a child’s potential to be wasted! They need help! I CAN’s mission is to make sure that “everyone in contact with children knows how important communication is, what a communication difficultly looks like and what they can do

to help.” They do this through increasing public awareness, helping give parents, teachers and families advice on what to look out for and what to do. Teaching them skills to help children who are struggling and providing assessments for children, so that their families know what support will meet their needs.

I CAN has launched a fundraising initiative called ‘Adopt a Word’. Throughout my 3 years of studying and learning about design, branding and advertising I have learnt how important, powerful and meaningful words are. By adopting a word, for just £20, all proceeds go to I CAN, and you will be helping these children who struggle to. You will receive a little pack of certificates, book marks and other little treats all flaunting your word! You can even buy mugs, T-shirts, key rings all emblazoned with your word.

Even celebrities like Sir Paul McCartney and HRH The Dutchess of Cornwall are loving flaunting their words; Stephen Fry adopted “Wordy” because: “Wordy is so ... well, wordy, isn't it?”

My word is smiley.....because it makes me smiley! Do it, it’s fun, creative and gives a tiny bit back to our over privileged society!