Treat yourself to the visual feast of rich colours, intricate embellishment and incredible attention to detail in our carefully curated vintage Japanese kimono silks. Respectfully reconstituted into British designed handbags, accessories & jewellery with clean asymmetric lines, using only the finest nappa leather to compliment the silk. All our products are designed and cut on site, then expertly manufactured by a workshop in London.
Take a stroll though the beautiful Hanningtons Lane, where you’ll find truly independent shops, businesses, cafés & restaurants. Pop in to see us, and treat yourself or someone you know to a unique gift, while supporting our independent business. Shop local 💖
]]>Please check back to the contact page to find out opening times.
Safe wishes to all of you, we can’t wait to see you again x
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Dear lovely Customers,
It is with a heavy heart that I announce due to the Coronavirus crisis, my Arundel shop is
CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
The safety of all of us is paramount, so closing is the right thing to do. However, I can still serve you! You can still buy online here: www.abi-k.com. I will be adding new products every day, so please keep checking the website.
I can deliver locally directly to you and leave on your doorstep (unless otherwise directed by the government) or post to you wherever you are in the country, or world!
The products will be wrapped and packed under strict clean conditions.
During such difficult times, the creative industry and businesses such as mine, play a valuable role in helping us to stay happy and keep our minds positive. Instead of visiting venues, we can access the creative arts virtually, rather than having physical contact. So I will be active online through my website and social media channels. Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter all at the same address: @abikdesign
My new collection is arriving this week, so look out for my posts. Join my mailing list too (button on website homepage) and you’ll hear from me straight to your inbox about news, offers and enlightening reads to lift your spirits.
I don’t want my business to go anymore than you do, so please support it, and continue to buy my designs... send gifts to your loved ones to bring a little bit of happiness.
Stay safe and healthy at home.
I look forward to seeing you online!
Best wishes,
Abi-K
Every. One. Unique
]]>Abi-K attended the Society of Distinguished Songwriters ball in Knightsbridge, following receiving an order to produce 120 unique clutch purses for the ladies attending the event.
The event celebrates the creativity and talent of some of the most prestigious British songwriters, so Abi was thrilled that Lorna and Gary Osborne, hosting the event, had decided to choose an independent British designer to produce the ladies’ gifts.
Amongst a glittering guest list, Abi had the pleasure of meeting Kim Wilde who kindly offered to pose endorsing Abi-K’s Luxe clutch bag and matching cuff bracelet.
Thank you to Kim for supporting an independent British designer, and a special thank you goes to Lorna and Gary Osborne for choosing Abi-K designs. And for inviting Abi to a beautiful memorable event.
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We use the hexagon throughout our products, to give everyone a little bit of happiness and longevity, and it’s simple geometric shape fits well with the clean lines and construction of our products. Abi-K hexagon buttons punctuate our asymmetric clutch bags, shoulder bags, clutch purses and small purses. They are laser etched from either leather or pearlised acrylic. Each batch is made bespoke specifically for us by a local specialist in marquetry. Joe at Heritage Inlay Design Ltd http://www.heritageinlay.com/ has been laser etching our buttons since 2011. He’s Brighton based, and on the same road where Abi hand selects each of her leather skins for each collection. Abi can determine exactly what size each button is, and the laser engraves her logo and ‘limited edition’ or ‘made in England’ on each button.
The same process is used for our leather labels stitched into every handbag.
Take a look at our short videos on Instagram of the laser machine in action at Joe’s workshop:
https://instagram.com/p/BjcUuU8HW1t/
https://instagram.com/p/BjcpBc8njwI/
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I design products that make women feel special when they wear them. My handbags not only are made from recycling the most exquisite metallic woven brocades, but they carry with them their history and culture. If only the silks could speak, we would be enlightened with stories of traditional Japanese ceremony’s of past. My products are not fast fashion, they are little works of art carefully curated to bring a little luxury into your life.
I’m often asked if my silks are sustainable, is the supply indefinite? I’ve been buying vintage Japanese obis for ten years now and for each decade that passes, so another decade is defined as ‘from a past era’. So I hope to continue reconstituting these incredible belts of beauty into many more Abi-K products for you all to enjoy wearing and telling their story.
Be unique :)
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My cuffs, clutch bags and jewellery collections featured in this show recently... organised by Jane Busby, it celebrated independent retailers and all that's good for shopping in Brighton.
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Just in time for Christmas, abi-K kimono silk cushions will be available in the boutique imminently... these stunning, one-off opulent vintage Japanese kimono silks are hand crafted and will make the perfect Christmas present. Made from the obi, the formal sash worn around the waist of a kimono, the silks are woven with metallic threads depicting striking images in symbollic Japanese culture. Punctuated with abi-K's unique laser etched leather button, make a statement in your home, mix up the silks and brighten up your living spaces. These cushions are contemporary classics... guranteed to start conversations. They also look fabulous in a pair accessorising your bed... whether you choose crisp white bed linen, or rich dark sheets, abi-K cushions will make a statement.
I underpin the 'couture' philosophy in all my designs. It's very important to me that my unique pieces are individually made in England. Since childhood I've been drawn to the arts and was always found in the jewellery sections of shops... mesmerised by the most elaborate and enticing of body adornment. So a path of training in design was inevitable. To have the ability to design and make beautiful pieces seems such a waste to have them mass produced where a factory worker is paid little for their time, I don't agree with the ethics. I make nearly all my pieces myself, with the help of two very skilled craftswomen who create each clutch bag without compromise - it's why I hire them. Skilled crafts people should be celebrated, and with so much talent in the country where I reside, why go elsewhere?
There is a place for throw away fashion jewellery (but not in my studio). As consumers we have been fed super cheap high street prices on mass produced copies from the catwalk. I want to flood the world with wonderous uniqueness where every day you can pick a piece of abi-K, and spice up a day time look with a statement necklace or earrings from my Shard collection, or accessorise a simple black dress and heels in the evening with a matching cuff bracelet and clutch bag set from my Kimono-Kouture collection.
All I ask is to 'be unique'... tell the story and enjoy wearing them as much as I have designing/making them.
Have fun shopping in the boutique... let me know what you think? I'd love to hear from you. You can keep in touch here.
abi-K
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