Hope & Benson's creations are cheerfully optimistic, writes Deirdre McQuillan.
Hope & Benson's colourful bags and clothes have a cheerful, irresistible optimism. At this time of year their technicolor joie de vivre is a reminder that spring is here, flowers are blooming and it might be time to put black in the shade. This collection, photographed in a historic house in Bristol, is based on the film Hope and Glory and the make-do-and-mend culture of wartime. "It's about putting bits and pieces together that you might have had lying around and making them into pretty, unexpected combinations," says Angela Hope. "That's our handwriting, anyway."
The pair, both award-winning fashion and textiles graduates who have been working together - in separate locations - for more than two years, combine their skills for each collection. Hope lives in Co Leitrim, where she makes her bags by hand, using English and Irish wool tweeds and blanket fabrics from traditional mills. Daniela Benson is based in Bristol, where she hand-embroiders the bags and creates the clothing range. "Two heads are better than one," says Hope.
The range is an exuberant mixture of colour and texture, the clothes complementing the embroidered, crocheted and leather-flowered bags. The Hope & Benson range is on sale through 125 outlets in Ireland (including the Kilkenny stores in Dublin, Galway and Killarney), the UK, the rest of Europe and the US. See www.hopeandbenson.com.
Note: last week we mentioned the dresses of Adelle Hickey. Order them online at www.fromnowon.ie