Wearing your Betty and where you wear it!

Our gorgeous customers are sporting their Betty products with all sorts of looks and taking them to all sorts of places!

Get the look: http://www.bettyandbetts.com

The Adventures of Sausage – Part 2

Back again for our final part of our interview with Rachel to find out more about her love for animals and what life was like taking Sausage from a chicken coup to the nordic lands of Finland!

Betty: What do you think about Sausage being the mascot for Betty & Betts?

Rachel: What a nice move! Since you are producing your merchandise in India, she is a perfect link between the two worlds.

Betty: You took Sausage to Finland. Where did she stay? What was her life like?

Rachel: In May 2010 finally we all arrived in Finland after our 14 hour flight. Sausage and Chickita were exhausted from the flight but now a new life begun for our 4-legged friends. No more dirty roads, freedom to roam around with no more leashes and restrictions. We all ended up living in a little red house in the countryside in a stable. We were also, after 3 years reunited with our horse.

Betty: What did she get up to?

The Adventures of Sausage – Part 1

‘Sausage’, is our gorgeous Betty mascot, who now lives in the UK after the Betties found her in a chicken coup in South India. Her journey back to the UK is quite an adventurous one but would not have possible without help of Rachel Schreibmann, a fervent animal lover and international animal activist!

Back in 2010 the Betties left for the UK and were very worried about putting Sausage (only a puppy at the time) into quarantine for 6 months. As word of Sausage’s story got out, Rachel approached the Betties and offered to take her back home to Finland to live out her quarantine. There she could live freely on a horse farm along with lots of other animals before she made her final leg to the UK without quarantine. The Betties said ‘Yes’ and Sausage was relieved! Her journey was just beginning.

So we caught up with our remarkable friend Rachel to ask her about why she is so passionate about street dogs in India and about the journey of bringing Sausage to Finland.

Story of Should and Must.

The Crossroads of Should and Must

This is a story about two roads — Should and Must.

I’ve got to be honest, I am not a huge blog reader. But sometimes you find some absolute gem’s and this time I did!

The Should or the Must.

Obsessed with colour and seaweed!

If you do anything this summer then visit Matisse Cut Outs at the Tate Modern. Its flippin amazing!!

You know what its like, there are some exhibitions you go to that make me think ‘mmm ahhh interesting’, others that make you sad, angry with some that make me stare and stare with my face screwed up wondering what I am looking at?!

Not this one! Walking round the Matisse cut out exhibition was Christmas

What emerges from the show is how vital Matisse was in his late years. He was “completely electric and alive and young,” said Sophie. “He knew he only had another five minutes and he was going to make the best of it. You look at the works and he is not old at all.”

The Dream

Last night I had the weirdest dreams filled with fluffy dogs,

weird conversations and odd locations.

We’ve all had them!

So I was happy to get out of bed this morning, have a cuppa tea and

remind myself of the dream the Betties are well and truly bonkers about.

Make Up, Camera, Action!

There are so many components to making a great shoot for Betty & Betts. One of them is finding a hair and make up artist that can do exactly what you are looking for. Someone who turns your ideas and mood boards into reality.

Well we found the girl and she’s ace! Jemma from Jemma Grace is wonder woman in hair, make up and nails. She has worked on our last two shoots in freezing conditions with very early mornings and at times in tight spaces!

The Betties wanted to get behind the brains or her talent so we caught up with Jemma to see where this delivery of gorgeousness comes from.

Chickens, Monks, Handbags and Gangster Rappers

An exclusive interview with Neil Raja – photographer to the Betties!

He makes us get up at 4am to be ready for the shoot, he starts work at sunrise and then the magic happens and we don’t really mind that we have only had 3 hours sleep!! Our AW14 photo shoot was shot by the one and only Neil Raja. We have worked together for last 3 seasons. He has been making the Betty products look bold and beautiful and just like you want one right now!!!

Neil sees no limits with photography which is why working with him is fantastic! The more obscure the better and thats a dream for the Betties. He has worked on many projects from music dj’s to chocolate brands, portraits to dancers. With such a diverse portfolio we wanted to get under skin of what are his biggest loves and what are his greatest challenges with lots in between. So cuppa tea at the ready as you are in for a treat!

The Fabric Of India

The Fabric Of India – A brilliant treat for those grey winter days!

I returned to the UK after 4 years living in sun soaked, colour crazy India. I remember I called my mum the first winter and exclaimed ‘Mum, I don’t know how I’ll get through the winter!’ She promptly sent me lots of thermals and that was the start to me settling back home! It was so cold and the grey clouds were continually looming overhead. However, the years have gone on and I’ve been determined not to let the weather get me down. I’ve brought India with me by brightening up blighty with Statement Colour Betty Bags, indulging the odd curry, cranking up the heating at home and then finding some brilliant Indian culture to indulge in.

So if you’re feeling like those grey clouds are getting the better of you and you fancy some Indian culture then visit the ‘The Fabric of India’ exhibition at the V&A. A ‘must see’! Its completely enthralling. You’ll find fabrics from the 3rd to the 21st century. There are stunning and detailed illustrations which are all embroidered with exquisite colour and delicate gold threads. Age old block print and weaving techniques with garments made for royalty. It is quite amazing and incredibly inspiring. For those of you who have been to India it will throw back tones of memories. And for those that haven’t, you’ll leave adding ‘Book a flight to India’ on your ‘to do’ list for next year!

Stay bright this winter!

Have a great week!

The Betties

Floorspread, painted and dyed cotton, late 17th-early18th century

Bed or wallhanging in cotton embroidered with silk, made in Gujarat for export to Europe

Travel For The Luxury Vagabond

If you’re planning a trip to India but you are wondering where to stay, where to eat and what to do without roughing it like you did when you were 20 years old then we have found the ultimate Luxury travel guide for you!

Written Fiona Caulfield, she believes that “Falling in love with a city is just as exciting as falling in love with a person. Your senses become more engaged and you simply feel more alive.”

Her Love Travel Guide series will make you do just that. Having left her corporate job to New York City she travelled to India, where she has been for 11 years and embarked on a journey of luxury exploration that would culminate in her Love India Series on the cities of Dehli, Jaipur, Goa, Bangalore and Mumbai.

I take her Love Jaipur guide every time I go and can’t live without it. She has directed me to fantastic home stays, delicious authentic restaurants, and informed me of the ‘must see’ sights on and off the beaten track.

The guide is beautifully illustrated onto hand-made paper and covered in hand-loom khadi cotton covers. The whole experience of reading it is a treat and will help you plan a truly authentic Indian experience.

A Guide for the luxury vagabond Love India series can be purchased V&A right now or here online http://www.lovetravelguides.com/ins/buy-now

Let India get under your skin and start your planning here!

Find a great gift idea below.

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS – Go blue with Betty bag for hand luggage and the Love Mumbai Guide book.

 

Betty Barrel

Love Mumbai