Categories / Design and Interiors, Food and Drink

Everyday design classic: Orangina glass bottle by Jean-Claude Beton

Orangina_bottle_2
Earlier, we mentioned that you usually have to pay a hefty price for a design classic, but that’s not always the case. Indeed, we’re going to kick off a new series of everyday design classics with one that should cost you under £1.

The Orangina glass bottle has been around since 1951, an iconic design by Jean-Claude Beton to visually represent an orange, complete with that pebbly texture, reminiscent of the orange’s peel. It became as famous as the drink, yet amazingly, the bottle was eventually phased out in the UK for more supermarket-friendly packaging.

But now it’s back in the original 250ml glass bulby bottle to the UK – and should now have filtered onto the supermarket shelves. It’s priced at 95p for a single bottle, with a four-pack selling for £2.19. Is there a cheaper design classic? Let us know.

Orangina website

Categories / Cars and Bikes

Cycle Chic offers retro-styled bike accessories

Cycleshop

We’ve featured plenty of retro bicycles, but now you can get some retro-styled accessories too, courtesy of Cycle Chic.

First up, the vintage-style box bags are produced by the same company that made them first time around in the 1970s. Take your pick from white, red or blue tartan, with fixing via four plastic buckles and a capacity that should be enough for your daily essentials. Yours for £25.

Also available is the Bern Muse hard helmet, which you can pick up in plain colours or with a design, all with protection, waterproofing and a foam lining top stop your head from getting too warm – prices start at £39.99. Finally, the traditional Ding Dong Bell clamps to your handlebars, letting people know you’re coming with a polite ring – you can pick it up for just £8.

Find out more at the Cycle Chic website

Categories / Design and Interiors

Salvaged 1950s industrial white domed shades

Domed

I’m pretty sure these aren’t going to work in a semi-detached or a bungalow, but for loft-style living, these salvaged industrial white domed shades would look very stylish.

Available from Trainspotters, the white enameled lights date from the 1950s and were salvaged from the Dunlop factory in Birmingham. But they have been adapted for the modern home, with new internal electrics, polished steel caps and a new hanging hook. Ceiling hooks and flex are also thrown in, should you require them.

Sized at 43 x 51cm, you can pick one up for £160.

Find out more at the Trainspotters website

Categories / Kids, Toys and Games, Women's Fashion

70s homemade fashion label Clothkits returns

Clothkits
Everyone seems to be getting into crafting these days, so it’s a good time for 70s stitch-at-home clothing label Clothkits to return.

Originally started by British textile designer Anne Kennedy in 1969, it offered everything you would need to make your own fashions – right down to the buttons and thread. The idea being to create your own individual fashion pieces, but at a fraction of the price. It continued until 1991, but has now been re-launched by Kay Mawer, offering cool designs with more than a slight retro twist.

The principle is the same, with children’s wear and women’s wear available to order as a complete package, with a child’s dress starting at £15 and a women’s skirt from £35. Or you could start simple and go for the Clothkitty doll (pictured), based on an original vintage pattern, with a choice of black or ginger hair and with her own clothing range available to order and make.

Read more

Categories / Gadgets and Tech

Brando USB Tube Clock – old-style timekeeping for your desk

Usb_tube

Looking for a new desk clock? The Brando USB Tube Clock could fit the bill – and you can power it from your PC.

Guaranteed to turn a head or two, the USB Tube Clock packs six digital tubes on top of that solid wooden block, showing the hours, minutes and seconds pass by. And power is sorted for as long as you leave your computer on – it works via the USB connection.

Not the biggest thing at 10.5 (H) x 28 (W) x 7.5 (D) cm, but not the biggest price either – $70 (around £35).

Find out more at the Brando website

Categories / Design and Interiors

Hans Wegner CH101 Easy Chair

Hansen_easy

If you think the Hans Wegner CH101 Easy Chair looks just a little bit 70s, you’ll be spot on.

Hans Wegner designed this particular series of furniture in the early 70s, but production was very limited (for Danish firm Johannes Hansen). But over 30 years on – to coincide with Carl Hansen & Son’s 100th anniversary – the designs are back in production, under the series name CH100.

This CH101 easy chair mixes flat steel with leather to produce a chair of its era, but at the same time, very contemporary. Choose from black, brown and white leather, all retailing for £3,270.

Find out more at the Lollipop Shoppe website