All posts by Editor

Niche Lane – Fine Leather

niche lane holdall

There’s something about a leather bag that gives it character. When new, its skin is smooth and glows, its shape well -defined with crisp firm edges and shiny buckles. As it accompanies its owner on endless meetings and commutes, spends time in plane and gym lockers, gets stuffed too full and knocked over, it begins to show its age.

niche lane backpack

It may get a little saggy around the edges, with creases and blemishes from life’s work and workouts. The new young thing gradually becomes the old faithful. Choosing such a life-long friend requires time and advice to ensure it lasts your pace and keeps looking the part throughout the ever-changing fashion cycles.

niche lane ipad and tablet holder
niche lane ipad holder interior

If you’re looking for a classic leather satchel, briefcase, ipad holder, sports bag or back pack, then speak to those who know and understand leather. Niche Lane offers a full range of handcrafted, traditional and contemporary styles in the finest leather.

niche lane aviator holdall
niche lane aviator holdall

The full range can be viewed and purchased online together with guidance to help keep your new purchase in good shape. Monogram and giftwrapping services are also available for that personal touch.

niche lane fine leather bags

Niche Lane
More product photos can be found on Instagram and Facebook.

Niche Lane Limited
Caerphilly
CF83 3GG
Wales

The Brogue Trader

Brogue Trader Cardiff

If you like brogues then the Brogue Trader is the place to visit. An extensive range of well known brands with seemingly endless styles will test your resistance to the limit.

For those who may be overwhelmed by the choice, the knowledge of the staff will soon make you feel as comfortable as the shoes. They also have styles for ladies, see above example.

Now for a little tutorial from the owner on how brogues are made.

The Brogue Trader
27A Morgan Arcade
Cardiff

The Vintage HQ

The Vintage HQ Cowbridge

Every year The Vintage HQ brings some of its most recent acquisitions to Cowbridge. Furs of all descriptions, treasured designer labels, true vintage clothes, unique accessories and collectables are to be admired and ready to bring pleasure to their next appreciative owner.

Lose yourself in gorgeous fur, make a statement with a genuine bomber jacket, answer enquiring friends with ‘Yes, it is a Gucci handbag’. There are some things that never go out of fashion but finding them takes time.

The Vintage HQ Cowbridge

The owner, Mike Forman, is always pleased to relate the provenance of each item and also offers a professional valuation and purchase service to those ready to part with a favourite fashion item or heirloom.

The Vintage HQ Cowbridge

A bespoke furrier service helps look after those precious fur coats, jackets, gilets and stoles. There is also a hire and loan service, for occasions such as a wedding or themed event.

Vintage HQ Cowbridge

It would be impossible to showcase the entire collection and there are always new arrivals, so if you are looking for something particular then ask Mike and he will make enquiries on your behalf. In the meantime, view a wonderfully eclectic range of vintage fashion at The Vintage HQ instagram page.

The Vintage HQ

The Vintage HQ
website

The island of Procida

The island of Procida, NaplesView from a panoramic terrace

We asked one of our members, Paul Barber, to write an account of his journey to Procida. It is one of the Flegrean Islands off the coast of Naples created by the eruption of four volcanoes, now dormant and submerged. It is a location for films and an annual film festival.

Procida is the smallest and least touristy of the three volcanic islands in the Bay of Naples. Mercifully (for some) off the mass-tourist radar, Procida is like a Portofino prototype and is refreshingly honest and real. Procida is loved by Italians, who flock there in August but is less visited than its tourist-hotspot neighbours Capri and Ischia. Procida is very heavily populated, with 10,000 residents squeezed into less than two square miles and has an authentic lived-in feel. The island doesn’t have many particular sights of interest so travellers should visit to experience the island’s picturesque, slightly shabby charm, beautiful scenery and wonderful seafood.

Procida’s charm has led to it featuring in a number of films including the classic ‘Il Postino’ and ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’. Procida has frequent ferry services from Naples, Pozzuoli and Ischia and is ideal to visit on a day-trip. My ferry left Naples at 9.25am, arriving on Procida an hour later, with my chosen return ferry departing at 4pm, arriving in Naples at 5pm. That allowed me to be back in Sorrento for my evening meal.

Visitors disembarking from ferries arrive at the Porto. A road runs along the harbour-side passing the island’s principal church ‘Santa Maria della Pieta’. On the landward side of the street are shops, restaurants and bars, with the rest of the town built on the slopes behind. From the church a picturesque narrow lane climbs upwards to a junction where you turn left to the Terra Murata (“walled land”). Here is the highest and most defensive crag on the island; the site of the oldest settlement, a fortress, a monastery and – until recently – a prison. Ascending through two stone gateways you reach the Terra Murata. There are superb views from the road leading up to the walls, and from a panoramic terrace (belvedere) looking towards the Bay of Naples. Here you also clearly see the now defunct prison, falling into disrepair.

ProcidaPorto and Marina Corricella

Walking back down to the junction there is a flight of steps on the left which leads down to the very beautiful Marina Corricella. This is a thin sliver of waterfront backed by a “cliff” of colourful fishermen’s houses. There are several bars and restaurants in Corricella, with tables attractively scattered along the waterfront, interspersed with painted fishing boats and nets. This is a wonderful spot to have a lazy lunch of seafood with the water lapping nearby, and is where much of ‘Il Postino’ was filmed. It is a bit of a walk from the Porto and you have to climb up the steps to leave the settlement, but it is well worth the effort.

Lunch in ProcidaProcida lunch

This short visit filled my time on the island and I saw most of the island’s places of interest. It is a vibrant, interesting place, and for the intrepid traveller who wants to see this authentic no-frills gem of an island well-worth the effort to visit.

I found the ferry journey to Procida very good, even though I took the slow ferry rather than the jetfoil. There are plenty of sailings daily from both Naples and Pozzuoli (worth knowing that, because the ferry journey from Pozzuoli to Procida is very short indeed!). Visiting Procida requires people with a reasonable level of fitness, because it is hilly, and to get from the ferry landing to any of the sights can be quite tiring.

Paul Barber. June 2017

Editor’s notes
After the glitz and glamour of Capri and the spas and gardens of Ischia, Procida offers visitors a unique charm and relaxed environment just a ferry ride from the tourist hot spots. There are ferries from Naples, Pozzuoli and Ischia (for island hoppers) or you can book a boat tour from Sorrento with visits to Ischia and Procida. View itinerary

You can find more information about Procida on these websites:
Wikipedia
Procida Film Festival

The copy and photographs of this page are subject to copyright.

Procida and Ischia Boat Tours

Cool linen – Southern Italy


We first discovered Autori Capresi in June 2012 during a passiagata through the narrow streets of historic Sorrento. The shop entrance exuded coolness and drew you in from the sultry street air to appreciate a wonderful selection of exquisite and unique hand crafted clothing using the purest and lightest linen. The owner, Antonio Truppa, and his family are passionate about their linen and the production of high quality customised clothes and accessories.

Carefully selected hats, belts, scarves and sandals complement the linen colours and styles to keep you looking and feeling cool. There are outfits for all ages suitable for ‘lay back casual’ to ‘smart casual’ occasions. Perfect for your Neapolitan Riviera vacation and irresistible presents for the grand children!

Autori Capresi Accessories

Not surprisingly such originality and quality have attracted a worldwide following with visitors becoming members of an exclusive client base. Demand from the Sorrento and Capri outlets together with customised orders from existing clientele means there is no online store. All the more reason to add Autori Caprese to your ‘must see’ list during a visit Sorrento or Capri.

A full range of the Autori Capresi collections can be seen on their website with links to instagram and facebook.

autori-capresi-linen-sorrento

Outlets

Sorrento: Via P. R. Giuliani 21
Capri: Via Fuorlovado 5