This two year old brand had its first showing at the Local Fashion Show last Wednesday. TABS (an acronym for 'The Authentic Bermuda Shorts') is committed to designing and even improving on the Bermuda short pant.  Designer Rebecca Hanson has a background in marketing but saw a niche in the market and sought to introduce a more modern take on this traditionally Bermudian article of clothing.  The collection showed the lines for both men and women as well as the new collaboration with artist Graham Foster and the multi-functional swimwear line which has been designed to go from shore to surf and back again.  Hanson has also added a line of men's socks and belts to the brand and is focused on its continued expansion and innovation.

TABS is available online and from several retailers on island.

We wrote about Brittany Wolffe several years ago. At that time through her line A Touch of Kima, she offered bespoke pieces and enjoyed a brisk trade repurposing vintage and secondhand articles of clothing.  She has progressed in leaps and bounds since then and has also matured since she took part in last year's Local Designer Show.

This time around, her sophomore offering was created under the guidance and mentorship of Tiffany Reid, American Fashion Market Editor at Allure magazine.  There was a nautical 1970s theme and the clothes featured literal prints, stripes, dots and florals all with a vaguely retro silhouette.  At the end of the night, Wolffe was awarded a special prize: a three-month internship with Interview magazine in New York which should be an invaluable experience for her.

A youthful offering from Courtney Clay, the youngest designer to show on the night.  Clay, who is currently enrolled in a foundation course at Central St Martin's, was mentored by Hannah Bibb, Associate Fashion Editor with Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazines.  Her collection was strongly influenced by the local Gombey tradition which was evidenced by the imagery and the use of fringe, as well as pop art. 

Nascent swimwear line Novah has been enjoying an incredibly strong social media and online presence since its formation in March of this year. Yes, you read that correctly: this highly polished swimwear line has been in existence for less than six months, but the combination of simple, yet interesting designs coupled with a tactical marketing push has meant that not only did the line secure a spot this year's Local Designer Showcase, but it was one of the more popular collections at the trunk show that was held on the following day.

Designer Madeleine White studied interior architecture but fashion has always been a passion of hers.   Mentored by Julia Gall, Senior Fashion Editor of Interview Magazine, the swimsuits look  deceptively simple from the front but intricate straps provide interest from behind in most cases.  The colours are all meant to compliment one another as tops and bottoms are interchangeable although a few pieces feature simple graphic or abstract patterns.  At present, Novah Swimwear is sold primarily online but there are plans for the collection be available through retailers in time for next summer.

The Local Designer Show of the week-long Bermuda Fashion Festival was held last Wednesday and featured six designers with local roots.  Last year's winner Alshante Foggo ensured that the evening got off to a great start with this visually arresting collection which featured her trademark colourful artwork and photo imagery on a bright white background.  

Unlike last year's offering, the clothes had more of an urban feel to them.  Foggo, who was mentored by James DeMolet, Senior Fashion Editor with Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazines, showed a wide range of pieces including simple t-shirt dresses, swimwear and menswear with colour-blocked and photorealistic portraits featuring prominently.  Standout designs included cropped tops paired with softly flared skirts that had been overlaid with tulle and the models were accessorised with items that had been customised by Foggo.    

Gaël Manes, creator and founder of Minimalist éditions was inspired by nature and the majesty of the Kerloas menhir when he created this sofa of the same name.

The Standard table or TS for short designed by Gamfratesi and manufactured by Gubi is inspired by the architecture of the building in Denmark that houses the Veranda restaurant. The tables have a metal base and a marble top which directly referenced the materials found in the original building.

With summer finally here (in fact we seem to be suffering through a heat wave at the moment) there is no better time to stock up on beach toys which will be put to use incessantly over the next few weeks. There is also no reason to skimp on design as these beautifully rendered toys from Quut show.  Quut was developed as a project by Pars Pro Toto, a well-regarded Belgian design agency with more than 20 years' experience in designing and engineering innovative products.  They decided to make our own children's toys using durable, clever designs that offer fun and beauty for kids and parents to enjoy. 

Many of the toys are multifunctional with rakes doubling as sieves and funnels and shovels as mitts for catching games. The Cuppi is a shovel, sieve and ball, all in one. The ergonomic shape is designed for small hands, bringing together three separate parts for a variety of activities. Use the shovel to scoop out sand castles and make tracks for the rolling ball.  The two cups snap together for easy storage and transport.  The Alto is a three-part toy that lets you build tiered sand castles like a pro - in fact it was inspired by the tools used by professional sand-builders.  It has stackable, components which enable children to become expert at creating simple, solid structures without the need for multiple buckets.  Perhaps the most remarkable toy is the Ballo bucket. Its spherical shape is surprisingly stable, resulting in minimal spills when carried by young hands.  Carrying water from the sea to shore has never been this much fun!

Quut toys are available on island at Robertson's.

Image  |  De Steyl

More beautiful, innovative South African design, this time from furniture design company De Steyl.  Owned by former architect Deánne Viljoen, this modular range from the company's Play Pattern collection was shown at this year's Design Indaba Expo in Cape Town.  The range lets you mix-and-match a number of drawers that can be affixed together.  The drawers are covered in sleek and modern graphic designs by Renée Rossouw of pattern lab RR Studio and are an updated take on traditional South African patterns.

Sbuffo, designed for Formabilio by design Studio Freemind, is a pendant and floor lamp moved by the evening breeze.  It owes its name to its soft, rounded shape which is reminiscent of a sail. The large and elegant lampshade is made of metal sheet bent by skilled craftsmen and upholstered with a thin padding.