The Secret Arcade - new site launch

As well as getting all the wonderful autumn collections ready for The Shop Floor Project we have been busy creating a new site, which we are excited to announce has launched today!

The Secret Arcade - so called as it is a treasure trove of wonderful designer shops under one magnificent roof that you will not find on any run of the mill high street.

Our motivation for the site (which we began designing in 2009) springs from the desire to recreate the atmosphere and excitement of wandering through one of those wonderful Victorian shopping arcades where you find a whole array of intriguing shops giving a whole new experience for online shoppers.

We have hunted high and low to find designers that we find inspiring and have brought together an amazing collection of people who have all created their own fantastic e-shops that will satisfy the most adventurous of customers. You will find a labyrinth of shops arranged in specialised 'passages' from unique objects for children and women to contemporary art and ironmongery to designer wallpaper!

We hope you enjoy our new site as much as The Shop Floor Project. Make sure you sign up to The Secret Arcade blog as it will be bring you news about individual designers and their products each week as well as a programme of 'events' that will be introduced throughout the year .... so keep reading!

They're Back for Autumn!

For all of you who were saddened by the speed at which Dolapo James' African fabric clutch bags sold out - dry your eyes because the new collection has just arrived!

After Dolapo's first collection proved to be one of our most popular and fastest selling ever, we commissioned her to make a second for autumn. And what a collection it is! Lovely smudgy olive greens and browns are mixed with vibrant yellows and navy blues in unusual patterns such as Fossil, African Paisley and Batik Hand.

These bags really speak to us of one of our favourite trends here at The Shop Floor Project - the Global Traveller. You know the one, were the model looks like she spends her life visiting far flung places and wears her 'finds' in interesting ways, perhaps wearing a piece of African Ankara fabric as a belt to cinch in her hand knitted Mongolian jumper! We're not saying you need to go that far - but adding one of these beautiful bags to your wardrobe will definitely add a touch of global magic.

£59 from the bag department

Featured in Stylefinder

The lovely Philippa Morgon, Style Editor of Glamour Magazine, recently interviewed us for her Stylefinder Blog. It's such good fun to be intervied because it makes us stop and look back over the past four years with excitement about what we've achieved.

You can read the article here.

Stones and Stardust - a new collection by Lee May Foster

Stones and Stardust is a brand new jewellery collection by Lee May Foster, inspired by images of natural history, geometry and folklore.

Semi-precious stones are mixed with gold plated globes, stars and feathers which adds up to a collection fit for Lily Cole in Dr Parnassus.

From £13 to £28 - available in Jewellery Room 1 (please use your scroll bar to go along to cabinet number 3).

Free Delivery This Weekend On Any Order!

This weekend we are offering free delivery on all orders for our subscribers. So if you're taking a break from the sun or sheltering from the rain (as we are up here in Cumbria) why not have a browse around the shop and see if anything takes your fancy - and then type in this code in the Discount Voucher box at the checkout in order to redeem your free first class recorded delivery:

SUMMER

There's lots of new collections to explore, from Dolapo James' African clutch bags to Barneby Gates nostalgic wallpaper and Daniel Heath's printed cushions. Also other favourites are back in stock like erica Weiner's Bird Call Necklace and Giant Feather pendant. Have fun!

Click here to visit the shop

The Launch of the New Cushion Room

We've just launched the new Cushion Room with two stunning collections by Daniel Heath and Ella Doran.

Circus Cushions by Daniel Heath

Daniel Heath is a designer and illustrator based in London. Since graduating from The Royal College of Art, Daniel has developed his signature Circus Wallpaper collection which has been gathering fans worldwide.

This new collection of cushions has been exclusively designed for The Shop Floor Project and features the classic prints, Fantastic Jumbo and High Wire, alongside an exciting new design.

Taxidermy Birds (see below) depicts an array of birds in the process of being stuffed. The central bird has it’s wings pinned into position and it’s eyes have been prepared for their glass replacements. A beautiful yet macabre design that asks to be looked at again and again.

Hand printed onto soft needle cord with contrast piping, the cushions have been skillfully made in the UK and are filled with duck feathers to create a heavy upholstered feel.

Digital Landscape Cushions by Ella Doran

Ella Doran has been experimenting with mixing old printing methods with new digital technology to create vibrant textiles that translate beautifully into functional objects. A graduate of the prestigious textile course at Edinburgh College of Art, Ella’s textiles have been widely exhibited across the country.

The new Digital Landscape collection follows a popular show of her silk scarves at The Shop Floor Project and is based on patterns, forms and colours found in African and Aboriginal art.

Each cushion is expertly hand made in the UK - lined, backed, self-piped and includes the cushion filler.

Visit the new Cushion Room here...