Katie's first trip to India was in October 2003 . It was love at first sight. Jaipur was noisy, irreverent, humourful and brimming with life. A life-long passion for this fabulous country was established, friendships that endure today forged and a business founded.
Katie plied her trade at Portobello Road Market from 2003 and would still maintain if you can sell from a rickety market stall table, you can sell anywhere. No better place than this, in the early 2000s, to hone your trade - dynamic and teeming with a constant flow of customers and traders (international and local) demanding your attention. Pasty faced & wrapped up in many layers, this is an action photo with the distinct red drapes of the Panton Gallery behind.
Market stalls, questionable gift fairs, creating collections for well know high street brands - you name it and Katie has done it. Meanwhile, travelling extensively to seek out the unusual & precious like this coral and turquoise Amazigh Necklace that featured in our first ever photoshoot.
Katie's sister Sara had already opened her much loved restaurant on Kensington Square, London, when she found out that her neighbouring shop was about to be vacated. The deal was promptly done and the sisters worked next door to each other for 10 glorious years.
With the shop established, we branched out and exhibited at our first trade show in 2009. We have since worked with high street chains, a shopping channel in Japan even and with many like-minded indie retailers and we hope with many more to come.
As anyone running their own business knows, there is no maternity leave option. Up next: a few bleary years.
Coming back from Jaipur in February 2020, it was clear something was awry: mask wearing at the airport and a palpable sense of unease. Covid hit and shop closures were enforced. Thanks to our loyal customers we weathered this storm and we will be ever grateful to customers who placed orders whilst we home-schooled & self-isolated. This period at home made clear our need to invest in our online presence and this has ensured our survival.
15 years after our first shop fit, it was definitely time for a change and we are thrilled with our new look. Sleek hand-made wooden cabinets with bespoke lighting and the design and form a nod to our links with India. We wanted to create smaller display windows to house our ever-more eclectic designs. Gone were the earlier days of an over-flowing emporium, this new shop was designed for a new direction of design and product creation.
As we renew our lease on our beautiful shop, we celebrate almost two decades in our home on Kensington Square. As Katie enters her 5th decade it is time to reflect further also. We consider ourselves something increasingly rare - a real shop, run by real experts, selling unique pieces made by real hands. The next decade is a time to build on all the hard work thus far, the gemstones hoarded and the antique collection squirrelled away. The best is yet to come, we promise.
Here's to the next decade! May it be gemstone-laden.
