We've just launched our beautiful Sterling Silver accessories range that we created with jeweller Joy Everley's help so we took a trip down to Newburgh Street just off Carnaby Street to meet her properly.



How did you first get into making jewellery?
People always ask that! It’s been my life for over 30 years so I can really hardly say. I’ve just always done it. From a tiny child threading beads up to now making diamonds and precious pieces.



You’ve been on Newburgh Street for 14 years - how has the road changed?
It’s stayed the same in that it’s cool and interesting and attracts individuals looking for something different to buy, what has changed is that there are more corporate brands. There used to be more independents but the corporates have jumped on the bandwagon.



How do you differentiate yourself from those bigger corporate brands and make Joy Everley special?
No one else sells our jewellery so far. There aren’t many jewellers who design and make only their own brand and we don’t advertise on the side of buses!



Where do you take your inspiration for your collections from?
I find my ideas come from the customers. Even though I don’t like to work in the shop as much as I used to – I would hate to not do it all because you’re working with the customers. We sell things individually pendants, chains and bracelets our customers will put together their own combinations and they will come up with things you would never have thought of so from that you get an idea of trends.



Oliver Sweeney’s latest collaboration with you features little sterling silver cufflinks – how did that come about?
Sarah Cooper (Oliver Sweeney’s Tattooist-in-Chief!) and I have known each other for a long time. She’s a fan of Joy Everley and she had an idea that she’d like to have something in the accessories range to complement her tattooed leather pieces. So we got chatting in the pub and I immediately knew what she was talking about. I came up with some ideas and then it just grew from there. We realised the things you sell in Oliver Sweeney lend themselves to having precious accessories that also relate to what you’re already selling.

Were you familiar with our Anatomical Last and brogues?
Yes! I love brogues!

How did you recreate our intricate details on the miniature cufflinks?
Thanks to Emily Jacobs Oliver Sweeney’s Accessories buyer. She is very meticulous. It really was such a pleasure to work with another designer because we were just hitting off each other the whole time. I knew the practical limitations and could also think of ideas knowing what we could do and how small and detailed we could go. Emily knew what she wanted and by pointing out the details that are unique to your Oliver Sweeney shoes we were able to reproduce that but in tiny form!



Where was the collection made?
The silver collection is all made in Thailand. It’s a factory we’ve worked with for 20 years. Luckily I go out every year to visit them with my new collection. We’ve become friends. It’s a big operation. They mostly work for French designers and fashion designers because they also make costume jewellery.

In terms of the Joy Everley brand – are you planning any more collaborations?
I would love to. It stretches me and gives me the chance to go in a different direction. My collaboration with Oliver Sweeney has been really fun.

Taking the lead from Miller’s utilitarian approach to design, fast becoming a signature style for the designer, this season’s collaboration between Matthew Miller and the footwear specialist, Oliver Sweeney, strips back the classic styles the latter is famous for to create simple and functional pieces relevant for the Spring Summer season. Focusing entirely on just two styles, a whole cut shoe and a trainer, the OS x MM SS13 collection is defined by its unique and unexpected detailing.



Cut out sections in the upper of the whole cut shoe are placed with an acknowledgment of the demands of the season, and rectangular lace holes are positioned to perfectly suit the flat grosgrain, polished silver tipped laces that are specified.

 

The high shine leather chosen contrasts remarkably with the cotton grey heel tape, reminding us of the packaging theme Matthew has explored with his clothing. And in keeping with Miller’s willingness to incorporate performance materials throughout his collection, Oliver Sweeney has placed all of these considered choices atop a white fin project sole.



Many of these design features are carried through to the trainer; a continuation of the clean angles and geometrical shapes. Here instead, we see them sit upon a clear sole.



Once more Oliver Sweeney has applied its expertise upon the opportunities and technologies in this specialist sphere to compliment Matthew’s scrutiny of the minutiae of his environment. Once more we have combined forces to create a great collection.

To celebrate the Queens Jubilee and all things British we worked with graffiti artists to paint the entire shop front of our Oliver Sweeney Covent Garden store in Union Jack colours.
 
See the art in progress below.

For a true Gentleman, a well fitting, long lasting shoe goes without saying. It’s a mark of refinement and a statement of personal pride in one’s appearance that says ‘look at me’.

Wanting our Oliver Sweeney fans to look the part we teamed up with James Shoe Shine to offer free polishing at our Cheapside store. After all, there are few pleasures in life that match that of stepping out in nice, shiny Sweeneys.



Professional shoe-shiner Jock Kennedy from James Shoe Shine polished up scuffed shoes all day making the city a shinier happier place!

It's been a busy few weeks here at Sweeney. Nothing changes.

Whilst we've been busy finalising the AW12 collection, and planning the SS13, we've also been working closely with emerging British design talent Matthew Miller on our latest collaborated product.

Described by Vogue as one to watch, Matthew's careful research defines his clothing. His Autumn Winter 2012 collection resulted from a single expedition, starting from the centre of London, and moving out to Epping, in which he noted the unique surfaces surrounding us. Introducing his carefully selected images of destinations along his journey to Oliver Sweeney allowed us to marry our specialist expertise to produce a unique footwear range centring around intricately printed leathers.

The results were first presented at Paris Fashion Week this month, and have been widely applauded by the British Fashion Council, the press and of course the various stores that are now starting to whisper the word 'exclusive' in our ears. We hope you like them too.