Back In The Fields Half Festival Season of 2021

Oct 8, 2021 | Festivals

Shaboutique crew End of the road festival

When the pandemic hit in 2020 and all the festivals got cancelled there was a small part of me that was quite pleased to have a summer off.

If you choose to have a season off your spot at the festival will be given to someone else and the following year you are less likely to get in. So a forced year off was kinda welcome.

But by spring 2021 we were all gagging to get back in the fields! Even though the season officially didn’t start until late July we still managed to squeeze in four festivals. One was just for fun! As a punter! Unheard of!

We started off with Latitude Festival. They were actually the official government approved trial festival. We had to do Covid tests before and durning the festival. 

The transmission rate at the end was very low which was a good outcome.  Considering there were barely any masks being worn and no real social distancing. Which was nice as it wouldn’t have felt like a festival otherwise. 

Strong crew this year with Nick, Glenny and the lovely actor John Dagleish on board. He is the winner of the Olivier Award for best actor in a musical for his performance in Sunny Afternoon as Ray Davies. Legend.  ·

 

After a weekend at home post Latitude we headed to our favourite festival field in Cornbury Park. Wilderness this year had some rain and cloud but it didn’t dampen the spirit of the British people who hadn’t been at a live music event for two years. They were keen to dress up and take part. The spirits were high and everyone seem to haver an amazing time. Including us! 

We were also in a much better spot this year. Location is everything at festivals. You can sell the coolest stuff ever but you won’t sell much if there is no footfall.

Before our last trading festival we went to We Out Here Festival as punters. Since its launch in 2019 its always has an amazing line up. So I wanted a work free weekend just to enjoy it all.  Always nice to see people wearing their “Leftover Threads” from previous seasons too. 

We got accepted to End of the Road again, which was lovely. I love how each festival has such a different crowd.  EOTR isn’t necessarily very “dressy uppy” compare to other festivals we usually do. Do they have a good eye for cool sustainable clothing so it still works for us.

Such a good feeling to be back in the fields with happy smiling people and good music!

 

UK Festival Season 2019

Oct 8, 2019 | Festivals

Even though it’s hard work, long hours, and lots of prep working up to it. It’s always exciting to be back in the fields.

We started off this years season with the lovely Alfresco Festival at Hop Farm, Sussex. Always good music and a cool crowd. The bonus is its only an hours drive from Brighton! Its always good to start with a smaller local festival close to home incase something is missing before hitting Glastonbury.

The big G was super sunny and dry this year which I have figured only happens about every seven years! Ha! Well, its quite unusual. We also had new signage that we were really excited about getting out.  Designed and made by the talented Matt from Guud Designs.

KT Tunstall at Glastonbury wearing Leftover Threads dungarees.

I love seeing customers of all ages and sizes walking away with a big smile and a totally unique one of a kind item.  Always a bonus when you get to dress a celebrity too! Here we have the gorgeous KT Tunstall rocking leopard print dungarees made from vintage bed sheets. 

Duncan from Duncan Disorderly and The Scallywags wearing one of our statement upcycled suit jackets.

I also played  a 7″ vinyl set at Shangri-La.

Im wearing a Pika Pika Feathers head wrap. Such a vast festival. I tend to keep to the Green Fields where our stall is and the Green Peace stage, south east corner with Shangri-La and the best crew bar in town, Maceo’s. That’s where you are most likely to find me. Luckily they are all fairly close to each other. My feet can’t keep up with all the walking around the site. I rather save my energy for dancing. 

Our next top was Latitude Festival. A family friendly affair suitable for all ages. The line up is never really my cup of tea, but there are always a good surprise or two. But this year Khruangbin was playing. I was very excited to say the least! 

The good weather seemed to continue. After a weekend at home in my own bed we were back on the road for Wilderness. As UK festivals goes this one has the best site in my opinion.  Acres of ancient oak forest and a swimmable lake? Yes please! The line up can sometimes be a little bit of a let down but there is plenty of fun to be had. The visual and audial effects of the valley rarely disappoints. 

This year our best seller was hands down our new range of dungarees. These are all made from vintage kids bed sheets, or curtains. With pockets of course! Or smiler t-shirts and jumpers always go very fast too. Especially bright ones like this psychedelic number.

Our dungarees are all limited edition or one of a kind. But feel free to get in touch to ask what we have in stock.

You could also get a pair made to order. Maybe from your own funky bedsheet or curtains.  Simply by giving us your measurements and popping the fabric in the post.  Made to order pieces usually takes 2-3 weeks to complete.

Same goes for the smiler jumpers and t-shirts. 

What else?  Mid August we did the little lovely and local Brunswick Festival. Held on Brunswick Square in Hove this is a sweet little event featuring local arts, crafts and bands. Following weekend, bank holiday we usually do Shambala with Crystal Vintage, but this year we tried something different; Towersey Festival. One of UK’s longest going festivals since 1965. We then finished the season with a surprise last minute invitation to trade at End Of The Road Festival. If you are into indie bands, this is the one for you. 

 

0