KEY POINTS:
If you made interesting bags, purses, belts and jewellery for a living, how would you display them at Fashion Week? A runway show seems a little over the top but a showroom somewhere seems a little underwhelming.
Which is why next Tuesday local accessories company Deadly Ponies, which makes all its bags, belts and jewellery by hand, will be occupying the middle ground, putting a relatively static display of their products on a runway.
"We had a million and one ideas about how to do it," says Liam Bowden, who with Katie Smith designs the eclectic range.
It's come down to something that's "not too crazy", Bowden says.
"People will come in, there'll be a sort of experience to give a bit of flavour to the room," he explains, without wanting to give too much away before the event. "And then there'll be a chance to see the designs and to chill out with drinks and food.
"We just wanted people who might not know what the brand was to prick up their ears."
Bowden and Smith would eventually like to open a store and expand into a clothing range.
1. Cat Money Box
A money box Katie got as a child. It's just a big porcelain statue, it's all black and looks quite old. It's one of Katie's prize possessions.
2. Horse tail
This was originally obtained for a project we decided we needed horse tails for. It now hangs on the wall.
3. Wood Bangle by Deadly Ponies
This piece is from our new range, Sticks and Stones. It's carved from wood to look like wood! We tend to design on the bolder side, be it bright colours or strong forms. For us, creating things that are over the top in colour or size or whatever gives them a personality and makes them fun. For example, all of our pieces are called Mr Something. It makes them fun and much less serious. We think there are enough people making serious things.
4. Amy Ross illustrations
Using watercolours and graphite, she draws what she imagines if animals and humans were spliced together in an alternative world. She's a favourite because she creates an enchanted forest that's just as we would expect one to look like.
5. Maxim Velcovsky
A designer from the Czech Republic, known for his porcelain pieces among other things. His works have a dry and sometimes obstinate feeling to them. He takes ordinary, everyday objects or forms and gives them new functions or identities.
6. Horse Hide Cushion
This was a Christmas present Katie gave to Liam one year. It is the one and only horse hide we purchased with the intent to sample as a bag but we just couldn't do it. It's the best thing to lie on if you don't think about it too much. Everybody loves it and the colour is beautiful.
7. Maarten Baas' Smoke Chair
This Dutch designer is known for his burnt furniture. All of his pieces are made by hand and are unique. He has started to produce on a large scale so that his work can be accessible while still made by hand in Holland. We have huge respect for the fact that he ensures his works are still made by hand, using unique processes. It's something we really relate to.
8. Ting
British-based designer Inghua Ting produces items such as bags, belts, mats and home accessories out of salvaged materials. She has also created a luxury range made from recycled materials.
9. G5 Macintosh computer Given that we are graphic designers, we both work on one of these. We do all our own graphics and website so we love our pretty Macs.
1. Fabric
We are both suckers for fabric - anything with a graphic, bold print on it we find hard to resist. The last purchase still awaiting a final destination was Horses Stampede, a fabric by Florence Broadhurst. Other favourites include fabrics designed by Fujiwo Ishimoto, Maija Louekari and Aino-Maija Metsola.
