Sunday 29 October 2017

#SpreadthePepperAlleyLove


Don't worry, we are aware that Halloween has not even passed yet, so this is not your usual end of October blog post centred around Christmas, gift buying and that sense of panic that the media loves to inflict upon us at this time of year where we inevitably feel tired, stressed and like we are not doing enough. It's completely normal - the clocks have been turned back, it's getting colder outside and those resolutions that seemed so achievable in January are nowhere near accomplished. Yet, although we may not feel like it, this is the time to pat ourselves on the back, treat ourselves before the crazy build up to Christmas and take time out to reflect on all the little things that have made the past year so memorable. This is why we are launching our initiative to add a little Pepper Alley twist to this season and accompany you right up to Christmas and 2018. Our aim is to #spreadthepepperalleylove and we would like you to do the same. How do you spread the Pepper Alley love? It's simple - by appreciating simplicity and quality, supporting your local businesses and finding the beauty in those everyday joys that make this time of year a little warmer and brighter. This season we vow to:

Use our wardrobe to combat the cold: When Vogue announces a #redalert , the fashion world listens and remembers to take notes. From pops of cherry and marsala, it's time to match your outfit to your Bordeaux. Our favourites include the romantic notes or fiery lady in red ensembles (images courtesy of Vogue). We will channel the colour of the year by warming it up with a dose of gold metal and letting a flash of ruby do the talking.






Eat out for a good cause: There is nothing that spreads the pepper alley love more than a winter evening, a table full of friends and a glass of wine in good company. However, when all of this is for a good cause and supports #cookforsyria amidst one of the largest humanitarian crises of our time, it is impossible to say no. We will be joining in on Thursday 9th November and we hope you will too.
(Visit Petersham Nurseries here for more information).



(Picture courtesy of Peterham Nurseries).


Support small businesses:  There is a quote, which appears very popular on Instagram, stating that when you buy from a small business, an actual person does a happy dance. We know exactly how this feels and following some overseas sales, we are thrilled to have our little space on the internet where we can connect with some many clients all over the world. As we know how amazing it feels to be supported, we vow to support fellow small businesses as this season is perfect to set 
 good habits to follow us right up until the Christmas period. We will begin by browsing for quirky products on Tictail, Not on the High Street and Easy which proudly sell our products and so many others which are handmade by creators and small business owners alike.



Embracing the Hygge: Nothing spreads warmth and good vibes like Hygge, the danish tradition of embracing the cosyness, warmth and little things in life. This word, and tradition, may have gone slightly under radar and certainly isn't as popular with bloggers and instagrammers these days yet it remains the best way to make the most of this season, spread the warmth and look after ourselves. This season, we will be lighting candles, enjoying a warm drinks and treating ourselves to our guiltiest pleasure - online shopping!





How will you be spreading the Pepper Alley love this season? Tweet us your suggestions @Pepper_Alley 

Love,

Pepper Alley HQ X 









Sunday 15 October 2017

The Beauty of the Handmade


There is something about the Autumn season which inspires us to search for a sense of warmth, comfort and simplicity. It might be the weather getting colder or the days getting shorter but we find ourselves searching for cosy quality pieces in our wardrobe, racing home to light the candles to revel in their essence or simply relishing in the comfort of returning home after a long day of work to find homemade comfort dishes.

It is this quest for the simplest of pleasures which inspired today's post and an overall desire to share  images and details of our production process with you. A desire to go back to basics and celebrate our origins, if you will, or to simply enjoy the friendship we enjoy with our clients on a daily basis through our constant media channels and let you in on a behind the scenes process which is so very dear to us.

The Origins: You may know that Pepper Alley began through the simplest of quests. A fruitless search for a golden leather tote inspired our founder, Gillian, to visit a friend with a small leather workshop armed with a sketch and a simple, yet crystal clear vision. Nowadays, the original Clemmie tote is in very good company with clutch bags and pencil cases Flora and Edie. However, the original cocktail of high quality material, simplicity in design and continuous stream of conversation with our clients and friends alike continues to prove successful.



The Present: Our leather is sourced from Italy, in small quantities of high quality product. This not only gives us freedom to experiment with our greatest passion, colour, but also allows us to deliver excellence through our products in our signature bespoke Pepper Alley format. Minor differences in colour or finish are not feared but celebrated as they are testament of our commitment to producing each bag by hand in that very same workshop where it all started.






The leather is cut by hand and the bags are assembled one by one while our founder, Gillian, adds the finishing touches. An initial here, a secret word there and our bags are ready to be sent off - From London With Love, of course!




The Future: The beauty of the future is its uncertainty yet there certain values which will remain dear to Pepper Alley in the years to come. These include the commitment to quality, the innovation which drives the brand and pushes Gillian to source all the interiors from Liberty on Regent Street or the tiny fabric shops which line the streets of Soho and, most importantly, the countless conversations with friends laughing, sharing views and trying on countless totes, clutches and accessories.

We are thrilled to see that some of our products have been featured in this months' Tictail edit and we are equally happy to be a part of the Etsy London Local Team - the future, and this Autumn, are looking rosy for Pepper Alley and we can't wait to share the Pepper Alley Love with you! Race you to Christmas?

Love,

Pepper Alley HQ X