TrendPulse

The first Anthropologie store in Europe has finally opened at 158 Regent Street in London, next to Massimo Dutti and across from Burberry, solidly establishing this area as yet another shopping destination. Guess, Calvin Klein Jeans, Habitat, Acquasutum, Esprit & Reiss are all here, with Gant opening soon.

The new store is a must see, not least for its inspirational use of recycled and artisanal materials everywhere, starting with the huge, spectacular chandeliers in brightly coloured recycled plastic. Guide ropes to the pay desks are made out of strips of old printed cotton,braided for strength, and the  desks themselves are made of rough old wooden planks. Product descriptions are made from hand sewn scraps of fabrics or hand stamped paper.

Most amazing are the art installations made of used tea bags - some dipped in rose pink natural dye - which fill the Regent Street windows. 

The motto for the store is hand made (of course) and framed at the head of the stairs:"Use it up, wear it out, or do without"

 Amazing bright plastic chandelier in the central atrium

 Hand stitched label for bed linens

 New collection of Penguin Classics in traditional gold printed binding - label stamped by hand.

Old grandmother's advice: "Use it up, wear it out, or do without."

art installtion made from used tea bags

Home reared foods - pigs in blankets