Step Into Summer

Step into summer with our new collection of ladies socks. 

Founded by Beatrice de Crécy and Jean-Gabriel Boo in 2012 Bonne Maison  (Happy House) draw inspiration for their collections from a wealth of sources making each pair of socks a work of art.

Image  showing inspiration for colour ways used in the Iris sock design.

.This design 'Iris' features beautiful brightly coloured Iris flowers and foliage on a wilted yellow ikat background with a honey coloured toe.

This beautiful orange striped silk gown provided the inspiration for the Zest Stripe design.

  'Zest Stripe' features zesty orange stripes on a natural cotton coloured background with a old tender green coloured toe and honey and old tender green edging.

The 'Fruits' design details an array of fun tropical fruits including pineapples and watermelon slices, on a dark background with an old tender green coloured toe.

This 'Multicoloured Ikat' design features a great colour combination of mimosa yellow, honey,old tender green, dark charcoal, elephant grey, cobalt blue and wilted yellow in a stunning ikat pattern on a natural cotton coloured background with a honey coloured toe.

 'Heads' features dark and natural cotton coloured symmetrical side profile heads, with a blue striped underside and a chestnut toe.

This design 'Zest Orange Polka Dots' features a natural cotton coloured polka dot pattern on a zesty orange background with a honey coloured toe and honey and old tender green line edging.

'Natural Ostrich' features a beautifully feathered ostrich wearing a neckerchief with honey coloured flowers and foliage on a natural cotton coloured background with a honey coloured toe.This design is also available on a khaki back ground.

'Lines' features a natural cotton coloured coloured background with charcoal, mimosa and cedar green hand drawn lines and a charcoal toe.

These two designs 'Natural Polka Dots & Cedar Green Polka Dots' features a simple polka dot design with contrasting toes and line edging.

  'Mimosa Squares & Matisse Blue' consists of cedar green, and dark charcoal lines surrounding a beautiful mimosa and cobalt coloured squares. The squares and lines sit on a natural cotton colour, with a contrasting  coloured toes and edging to the top of the sock.

Each pair of socks measure in at a very handy mid-calf length and are made from double thread high quality pure Egyptian cotton with a small proportion of elastane. These socks really do contain the best of both worlds not only are their designs stunning but they are soft comfortable, and durable. As they are made from natural cotton they allow your feet to breath, perfect for summer time. Our range of socks come in a UK size 6-8 and are machine washable up-to 40 degrees.

This collection and more are now available through our bricks and mortar store and on-line shop, each pair retails at £13.50.

Wear A Pair, Share A Pair

W E A R   A  P A I R, S H A R E  A  P A I R

m.a.d.e. is pleased to announce that we now stock Jollie Goods;

 the sock creators 

with a story that should be told.

Ed Vickers

Ed Vickers set up Jollie Goods in his final year of university in 2012 after spending time volunteering at a local homeless shelter. After becoming frustrated at how best to help homeless people Ed set about developing his 'Wear a pair, share a pair' ethos and developing his brand.

Each time a pair of socks are purchased through m.a.d.e., a pair is given to a homeless person through a local charity. Our nominated local charity is  Emmaus Gloucestershire. 
So far we have helped donate 40 pairs of socks.

Our nominated charity

Soft, comfortable and made in Britain from 80% cotton and 20% nylon, Jollie socks are durable and hold up really well when worn. m.a.d.e. stocks two sizes, medium that will fit a shoe size of 6-8, and large fitting a size 9-12 shoe.

Yarn ready for knitting in to socks

The Punster design

The Jollie range currently consists of five different brightly coloured stripy sock designs with a contrasting coloured toe and heel. Each pair comes cleverly packaged in its own ring pull tin that can either be reused or recycled. 

The current range available at m.a.d.e.

Detail of Punster sock and tin

Stocking this product was a must have for us. These tinned socks would make a wonderful unique gift with the added important factor of helping someone else in need. 
How often does that opportunity come about? 

Each pair will give the wearer a wonderful story to tell. 

Combining fun upbeat colour and design with fantastic quality. 

Grab a pair for yourself, or as a gift for friends or family,

pop them on and have some fun.
Available now at m.a.d.e. 

Clifford Richards

Sitting and chatting to Clifford Richards over coffee in his Cirencester living room.

We discussed his work and his interests; an exciting career in graphic and paper product design and the success he's had along the way.

 Clifford studied illustration at the East Sussex School of Art and soon found his way into the world of advertising. The start of his career found him working for Ford Motor Company. Designing brochures was very hands on and, although it required no illustration work, Clifford directed the layouts and photography for each publication. Putting a new angle on things by using his own unique style, Clifford's methods quickly became something his peers admired greatly. When Clifford produced his James Bond style brochure for Ford things, really started to take off. Shortly after he was head hunted by top advertising agencies from far and wide.

 In the 1960's Clifford's career was consistently advancing.

One thing is for sure Clifford’s creations throughout his career have been varied, but if you know of Clifford's individual style you would recognise his superb anthology of work immediately.

Whist working in advertising Clifford started designing his own products and launched a collection of flat-packed self assembly cardboard gift boxes. Soon after followed ‘Slottizoo’ a range of eight animals that were also self-assembly flat-pack that required no glueing. 

These products were unique at the time. With their Pop-Art style, they captured the mood of the swinging 60's perfectly. After the their success he was commissioned to design and brand a range of similar products called ‘Polypops’; a key product for Paperchase's London store .

Gift boxes and Slottie animals

Clifford designed the illustrations manual  for the 'Lunatrack' toy in 1969. 

His bold graphic style can be seen from the offset within these images.

 Further collaboration between Clifford & Paperchase resulted in Clifford designing their logo, and then onto many other products for the store. One of these was the very successful Noah’s ark wrapping paper. Originally designed in 1970, a beautiful piece that we are very pleased to say we now stock in our shop and on line. 

Available now as a tin panel  the image above is a re-run of the best-selling design product for Paperchase in 1970.

Much of Clifford's work from the 60's and 70's is now held in the V&A's permanent collection. It was here that Gloria Daniel, of the Big Tomato Company, discovered Clifford's work. Clifford was quickly asked to reissue versions of his original paper gift boxes. The collaboration between Clifford and Gloria represents one of many that still thrive today.

Clifford’s work still uses the flat pack technique in some of his card designs. They allow people to transform a flat design into a three-dimension construction. 

One of the Pets Stand Up Cards range available in store.

Clifford's bold, colourful and humorous style can be clearly seen in his artwork. From his print collection to his collaboration with The Metal Box Company where he is chief designer. The collection of metal products that Clifford designs are made in Malmesbury, and clearly exhibit his bold and vibrant graphic illustrations. 

Metal cabinets and clock are made using powder-coated steel with a printed dye-sublimation process.

A collection of Clifford's cabinets and clocks are now available in store and on-line.

Taken inside Clifford's studio

Above are Clifford's newly designed solar power night lights. These were short-listed for the 'Gift of the Year 2014' and are now available in store and on our on-line shop.

What's on the horizon for Clifford now?
Whilst having a peek around his studio we caught sight of one of his new ventures.
Tea towels that can be cut out and made into dolls.
These are currently going through the production process, but are sure to stand out, proud and exciting like all his previous pieces.

Prototype tea towels in Clifford's studio

Many thanks Clifford!