Whilst busying ourselves in what seems to be an incredible (and highly frenetic?!) run up to Christmas, we’ve been looking back at how our first year at how our first year is progressing and without wanting to blow our own trumpets, are pretty chuffed with how things have gone! We’ve been blown away on innumerable occasions by what not only the press have said but also the feedback we’ve received when customers have handled our pure alpaca products for the first time- none of them believed that alpaca could feel so soft and cosy!

Trying to decipher why so many people have become so engaged with our brand and products in such a short period of time may be a never-ending mission and we’re only speculating here but it could be because of the truly classic yet pioneering designs that we’ve created for our first range of alpaca clothing to meet modern tastes and demands. First and foremost, we want our products to be enjoyed not only season after season but also throughout the generations. After all, we’re using the best quality alpaca in everything that we create and because alpaca is stronger than mohair and almost indestructible, we feel there’s good reason to believe they will. They could also have been mesmerised by the incredible attributes that pure alpaca garments possess, from the hypoallergenic and breathable qualities to being better performing than merino and when required, warmer than goose down!

They may well also have fallen in love with the brand’s ethos and our mission to promote ethical and sustainable knitwear and clothing, after all, we don’t see any point in doing what we’re doing without educating others of the irreparable and damaging effects that fast-fashion is having not only on our Earth but in everything around us.

Another possible reason for the substantial following that we’ve amassed in a short period of time maybe because we’re manufacturing our entire range of alpaca knitwear and accessories here in Britain- a feat that industry experts have informed us has never before been achieved. We are truly passionate about this and will do our best to revive the British knitwear industry using alpaca yarn which is what we believe is the ‘future of knitwear’.

Admittedly, we haven’t not even gone into much detail in any of the points above but what we can be certain of is that people really do appreciate what we here at Plum HQ are doing and achieving and are falling in love with our entire range of alpaca clothing and accessories. We say, long may it continue!

Here are just a few of the many kind comments and words that our products have received in under a year…

”Launched in 2013 in Britain, the new brand Plum of London quickly became a reference in the kids industry.”
Papier Mache, January 2014

”Plum is a beautiful product.”
Jo Malone, August 2014

”Plum of London, the brand that combines an incredible range of alpaca clothing with a guilt free way to shop.”
The Good Web Guide

”Seriously, forget cashmere, Alpaca and Plum of London make a winning combination.”
The Little Book, Spring/ Summer 2014

Named in Eluxe Magazine’s Top 5 Alpaca brands.
December 2013

Plum of London promotes *Made In Britain* and continues to create its entire range in these shores.

A few of the almost infinite list of benefits Royal Alpaca possesses are as follows;
• Softer, stronger & warmer than cashmere
• Hypoallergenic (contains no lanolin)
• Possesses excellent thermal qualities
• Machine Washable
• Breathable
• Odour, stain & wrinkle resistant
• Stronger than mohair
• Lighter & smoother than silk
• Naturally antibacterial

The Plum team were treated to an incredible and spectacular afternoon of Christmas festivities yesterday on Marylebone High Street. The annual event was always one which Plum had wanted to become more involved in on a more personal level, not only because of the support the event gives to various chosen charities but also for the natural warmth and seasonal fervour the afternoon brings to the local community. This year, The Howard de Walden Estate unanimously chose Scope as their charity and invited non other than the award winning actress, and writer Jessica Hines, most famed for her roles in several exceptional British films and television series’.

Many established retailers on Marylebone High Street celebrated the event by offering special discounts in store and in der to fully embrace the public mood, offered mulled wine and mince pies! These worldwide recognised brands include the esteemed knitwear designer Eileen Fisher and the luxury Scottish cashmere label Brora to The Conran Shop and Emma Bridgewater, purveyor of the world’s finest and most colourful china!

Live acts and performances were also present to entertain the crowds whilst there were number of incredible activities for the kids from Santa’s Grotto and a Fun Fair to reindeer and competitions. Everyone was certainly well catered for!

The Plum team were there alongside several other cashmere brands as well as some alpaca brands from Peru and Herefordshire and have already put the date in the diary for 2015 and hope you do too- we’re confident you’ll be pleased you did!

Walpole British Luxury Awards, celebrating Britain’s finest luxury brands was held on Monday 3rd November. The V&A played host to the 13th annual awards in association with Coutts, which was attended by key figures from across the British luxury industry. Jodie Kidd presented 11 awards to a variety of British brands alongside Walpole CEO Michelle Emmerson. The main criteria for winning one of the awards seemed to be pushing the boundaries in luxury which is what we here at Plum of London are striving to do with alpaca knitwear. The winners were also recognised as excelling in quality, design, craftsmanship and service.

The winners are:

Lifetime Achievement Award – Joan Burstein, founder of Browns, CBE
Emerging British Luxury Brand – Charlotte Tilbury
British Luxury Brand Advertising Campaign – Burberry
British Luxury Service – Claridge’s
British Luxury Brand Digital Innovation – Farfetch
British Luxury Brand Overseas – Bentley Motors
British Luxury Brand – Jaguar
Corporate Social Responsibility – Stella McCartney
International Brand – Bottega Veneta
British Luxury Craftsmanship – Dovecot Studios
British Luxury Design Talent – Barber & Osgerby
British Cultural Excellence – Royal Shakespeare Company

Although the temperature’s falling substantially outside, things are hotting up here at Plum HQ as we ready ourselves for what will be a busy few months…!

We’ve already exhibited at a few Christmas Fairs and have been so appreative of all the incredible feedback and response we’ve received. Everyone has been so complimentary of our pure Royal and baby alpaca knitwear and have often been quite surprised at how soft each piece handles, not to mention learning of all the incredible qualities alpaca fibre possesses. We appreciate that the manufacture of pure alpaca clothing hasn’t been achieved in Britain for nearly 200 years so some may regard Plum of London’s range of knitwear as a relatively new concept but we believe that we’re successfully informing others of the infinite list of benefits this ‘super yarn’ boasts and are well on our way to achieve our ultimate goal…!

In light of this and to give you the most amount of notice required to commit to certain events at this time of year, we’ve compiled a diary of Christmas Fairs where you’ll be able to find us…

Plum of London Christmas Fairs 2014

Boutique De Noel: 12th – 13th November
Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, London, W8 7NX
Wednesday, 12 November 6 – 10pm Premier Shopping Evening
Thursday, 13 November 10am – 5pm Shopping Day

The Alma Christmas Fair: 20th November
499 Old York Road, Wandsworth, SWI8 1TF
Thursday 20th November
2pm – 9pm

The Touring Emporium: 27th November – 2nd December
Duke of York Square (Pop Up Shop), Kings Road, London, SW3
27th November – 2nd December
Daily 10am – 7pm

Wick & Tallow: Saturday 6th December
The Old Gas Works, Fulham, London, SW6
11am – 5pm

The Hollywood Arms: Saturday 6th December
Hollywood Road, Chelsea, SW10
11am – 8pm

Hornsby House School Christmas Fair: 7th December
Hearnville Road, Balham, London, SW12 8RS
Sunday 7th December 11am – 3pm

The Durell Christmas Fair: Monday 8th December
704 Fulham Road, London, SW6 5SB
2pm – 9pm

Chelsea Christmas Gift Fair: 12th – 14th December
Chelsea Old Town Hall, King’s Road, London, SW3 5EE
Friday 12 December 12pm – 8pm
Saturday 13 December 10am – 6pm
Sunday 14 December 12pm – 5pm

For the next few Saturdays, we’ll also be at Portobello Market (Portobello Green) and on Sundays we’ll be at The Duck Pond Market (Richmond) for the next few weekends. We’re adding to this list all of the time so come back soon to see which other events you’ll find us at in the run up to Christmas…

Look forward to seeing you then!

Yours,
The Plum Team

The Good Web Guide is the online guide to the best sites available on the internet. Their mission is to offer all visitors a refined and carefully selected shortlist of the best sites across a broad range of lifestyle and consumer interests.

As well as this, they offer a vast array of opinions featuring guest editors and interviews including some of the most influential figures; Sir Richard Branson, the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rakhee Jogia of Rakuten and Diana Verde Nieto of Positive Luxury. So, if you’re not already aware of them, we think you should take a look at: www.thegoodwebguide.co.uk

Plum of London’s website, featuring an unique and ethical range of luxury alpaca British clothing, has been listed on The Good Web Guide (TGWG) for several months and in that time, has already received both national and international recognition for its sustainable and innovative collection of alpaca knitwear. There are some really fantastic cashmere knitwear brands which TGWG feature such as Brora and Chinti and Parker. There’s a plethora of high quality retailers from ASOS, Farfetch.com and The White Company to high end fashion brands including Amanda Wakeley, Browns and Aspinal of London. Selfridges’ very own website is also listed so we are in very good company!

This is therefore the first year that Plum of London’s alpaca clothing has been viewed and we are delighted that The Good Web Guide has ‘Commended’ the brand’s website and products. Pats on the back all-round then! We quote ”Plum of London, the brand that combines an incredible range of alpaca clothing with a guilt free way to shop.”