Accessory inspiration..

 We love a good, hand made quality accessory, especially one with a beautiful story behin it...20 years ago Ale Sly left her home town, London in search of Adventure in South America. With her Argentine husband and 2 small children they started a new life on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.
After traveling and exploring the country extensively with in no time Ale Sly became fascinated by all the indigenous cultures rich in tradition and colour. Discovering beautiful textiles and leathers along the way in markets stalls high up in the Andes and Rodeos where proud Gauchos would parade their horses dressed in Rawhide and Silvery finery, it was enough to set the ball rolling and with in no time the ALE SLY range was born. For the last 15 years she has designed and sold her accessories in many countries around the world mainly concentrating in England. It is of huge importance that each product is made by hand using noble materials that Argentina represents i.e. Leather, Alpaca wool and Horn. Beautiful patterned cowhides, leathers and textiles are used with traditional gaucho rawhide braiding to stitch together Bags, belts cushions and old fashioned looms are used for the weaving of rugs and carpets.
The strong Vibrant colours and the carefree spirit of each article is a reflection of the influence that living in South America has had on her over these last 20 years.
Each product is unique, special and tell its own story.

Where to get it.. http://alesly.com/

This is  an Ale Sly exclusive bag for Opening Ceremony...take a look here for more styles and an interview with Ale Sly herself.

Globe Shopping..20th Century design

We came across this beautiful shop in a back copy The World of Interiors magazine in a great article by Isabel de Estrada about its owner Pancho Salomons whose passion for discovering treasures in abandoned buildings inspired him to open a  shop dedicated to the best of retro chic. Set up in a converted railway warehouse in Buenos Aires and specialising in early mid 20th century pieces La Pasionaria is a treasured local secret in the Palermo district of Buenos Aires. Pancho Salomons is himself a sculptor, clothes designer and fabric maker who is inspired by Mis Van der Rohe, Jaques-Emile Ruhlman,Josef Hoffman among others.The History of the district goes that when a yellow fever epidemic broke out in 1871 the Argentines left Avenida de Mayo for the north of the city, leaving huge empty Rationalist and Art Nouveau buildings empty which became family dwellings for a large immigrant population, mainly Spanish and Italian, bars and theaters popped up and it became the bohemian area and inspiration for writers and artist. Along with the immigrants came European brands filling the city with Galle and Muro glassware, Liberty fabrics, Bohemian glassware, Limoges porcelain and Biedermeier chairs.However by the 1980s little of the Bohemian area remained bar a lot of old unwanted treasures in the attics of these old buildings. The bars and cafes began to close and sell off their old fixtures and fittings..(sounds like a dream)This is when Salomons began collecting his objects, firstly for himself and for inspiration until they became so many that when he found the old railway warehouse, he swiftly moved in and opened his shop, La Pasionaria..

Ref: World of Interiors October 2007, Isabel de Estrada

Some pictures from *DIED* travelBlog