Over the Hill

A Few of my Favourite Things

A blaze of colour and panache, Sylvie Franquet cuts through the Portobello on her bike. Much of what she is wearing is made by her out of the fantastic vibrant fabrics she has picked up from her extensive travels.

As a travel writer Franquet found herself in far flung places and her eye was drawn to the varied and beautiful fabrics she found. Making things has always been a passion and these fabrics took on a life of their own as Franquet couldn’t help but piece them together to make wonderful scarves, bags, cuffs and tops.

Amazing jewellery based on ancient designs is also part of her collection. Available at sales or directly from Franquet, and judging by the numbers of her scarves dotting round the area, you won’t be able to resist this exotic selection, all with a secret or a tale to tell.

Sylvie Franquet 07891805310

orangezarafa@sattin.co.uk

Five-story Shop Complex to turf out Fifty Market Stalls

The blandification of Portobello continues apace as planning officers once again went for the big buck option last week, rather than protecting the Notting Hill small trade community.

Plans for the single-storey Good Fairy Arcade in Portobello Road to be replaced with a five-storey shop and homes complex were approved by Kensington and Chelsea Councillors at a planning committee meeting full of residents and traders. Now around 50 busy stalls selling luggage, books and jewellery. Word on Portobello is that small shops just don’t have a strong enough voice against wealthy big chains.

Now, developer Concentric Solutions will replace the Good Fairy with two shops topped by loft-style apartments. Why does the council always seem to give in? Does anybody know?

Wolves and Badgers Roam Ledbury Road

A truly exciting project is taking place on Ledbury Road where top young jewellery, home wares, furniture and fashion designers have been hand-picked to showcase their work in a great location.

Only one year ago local gallery owner Samir Ceric and experienced high-end fashion retailer Zoe Knight had the idea to give space, help and support to brilliant designers they had spotted. They also host an annual award show and have had around 2,000 online applications.

Once invited to join the scheme, the 74 designers rent a module in the shop, Wolf&Badger and are then mentored in the art of selling, improving product.

“There have been past schemes to nurture talent, but this one is different”, says Ceric, “because the designers pay licence fees and they get 90 per cent, instead of the usual 40 per cent, of the retail price of anything they sell”.

From Wolf&Badger they have the opportunity to expand into larger spaces, with private equity backing, sometimes into large department stores like Selfridges and Liberty.

Often in the fashion and design arena people are secretive and precious about what they know, but Ceric believes: “There should be a sharing of collective knowledge. There have been so many business failures. Designers need a good infrastructure around them. It’s not enough to have talent and have a good product.”

From September there will be Saturday trunk shows, where a chosen designer will talk about their product and sell their wares.

www.wolfandbadger.com/

Friends to the

Bitter End

Portobello Road Market is the hub around which the eclectic community that is Notting Hill revolves. Its survival is of great concern to locals. Friends of Portobello was set up with the aim of preventing the market’s “diverse character and rich retail life from ever becoming another clone town street”. To keep up to speed with issues around the Portobello join the group. There are meetings and news updates and battle plans. Also worth noting is the Save the Portobello Facebook Group which now has 33,942 fans – awesome.

www.friendsofportobello.com/

www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the-Portobello-Road-Market/300902793992

Floating By

Carnival is all over the August bank holiday weekend. Stock up and stay and immerse yourself in crarnival culture or head for the hills. If you are in the zone it is difficult to get back in with a car until after 10ish on 30th Monday night. To be on the safe side return on Tuesday 31st August. The upside is it is great fun to be in the middle of the biggest carnival outide Rio. The Downside is the smell of piss lingers well into September if there is no rain.

www.thenottinghillcarnival.com/

Crime Alert: You’ve Been Mugged Again

On the 4th July a heavily pregnant woman was mugged on Latimer Road at 11am in the morning. In the struggle the woman was punched in the face. A police spokeswoman said: "The victim told police there were a number of people around but none of them stopped him or came to her help. "The suspect is approximately between 25 and 28 years of age, mixed race and a scar across one of his cheeks possibly his left cheek. He was wearing a lime green T-shirt or polo shirt. He is slim build, average height; with distinctive hair cut that appears to be shaved round the back with hair on top." Anyone with any information should contact DC Matt Noland at Notting Hill Police Station on 020 8246 0109 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses to an attempted kidnap which took place on Friday 18th June 2010.At approximately 11pm, police received a call from a member of the public who stated a male was being dragged into the boot of a car in Josephs Close, W10. The victim, a 28 year-old male from Earls Court, was approached by a group of about seven suspects - two of whom were brandishing guns - who then bundled him into the boot of his own car injuring his legs as they tried to slam it shut. Neighbours were also alerted to the incident after hearing the victim scream for about 10 minutes and then called police. Four men were arrested on Monday 21st June and questioned in relation to this incident. They are currently on police bail and enquiries are ongoing.

If you can help police with their enquires please contact DC Jason Cobb at Notting Hill Police Station on 8246 0145 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111