Finchittida Finch: Kindred Carvings

The mercury levels have dropped and the overly merry ads are out in force; for, ‘tis the season. The seasons’ respective colour palettes couldn’t be more different; the meteorological divergences can cause all kinds of dilemmas such as, when should you stop wearing the old 40 deniers? Is it on first sight of a daffodil (March)? Or, is it when you’re actually able to do so without contracting hypothermia (May, if you’re lucky)?

And as we segue to the latter-end of the year in a haze of frostbitten fingers and red, runny noses, there is a slight feeling of déjà vu. The revisiting of certain trends – heritage, minimalism and grunge, to name but three – on the A/W catwalks from year to year, can result in the wearing of the same fluffy-jumper-camel-trench-biker-boot combo from year to year, stripping winter-wear of the spontaneity and charm that pervades spring and summer attire.

But there is a way of retaining some of summer’s spark, the whole year round: step forward, Finchittida Finch.

Finchittida Finch is an ethical fashion accessories brand, and the brainchild of “twin design ninjas”, Tida and Lisa Finch. The Finches aren’t mere materialistic magpies – collecting and collating pretty little fragments and flogging them for exorbitant figures: the sisters are bright, politically and culturally-aware graduates of the University of the Arts London; the pieces have a distinctive eclecticism – striking structures forged from Perspex, imbued with a sense of feminine sophistication and heavily inspired by their Lao and British heritage. The brand is one with a conscience – as part of their latest collection, Kindred Carvings, Finchittida Finch have released a limited edition charity necklace, called the Lan Xang (land of a million elephants).

The proceeds from the Lan Xang will go to an elephant sanctuary, Elephant Village, in Laos that also provides employment to locals.

The rest of the Kindred Carvings collection is just as thoughtful in its design as the Lan Xang is in its intent: jet-black spectacles suffused with the architectural motifs oft found on Buddhist temples; dainty earrings in gold plate and transparent Perspex, designed in memory of their grandfather; bright-white hair combs, a homage to the traditional dress of the Hmong tribe of Northern Laos; all sublimely crafted at their London studio, all innately summery, all wearable – all year round. So, to rework that well-worn seasonal saw: a Finchittida Finch isn’t just for Christmas – it’s forever.

Tara Okeke

Click here to take a look at the beautiful Lan Xang necklace.