After our visit to Glen Nevis in May last year, we’d been hankering after returning to the Highlands – be warned they are extremely addictive! This time we decided to head over the sea to Skye.
May is the perfect time to visit the Highlands – the climate is temperate, the flowers are in bloom, and the hordes of midges (and tourists) have not yet descended.
I have so much to say about this mystical isle, I’ve split it into several posts:
Ian on Sgurr na Sgri
“Abandoned by his friends, one young boy goes searching for fun — and finds a golem on the hunt for the same. But as the two go about living out their dreams of having the best summer ever, the boy realises that golems don’t know how to take it easy. To save his town, he’ll have to get his new friend under control!”
The lovely Suzie McCracken came to interview me for Cooler Magazine for her feature about women who run outdoor businesses. Read it here, “Love the outdoors? Meet the women making adventure into wildly successful businesses“.
She took these photos of me in the shop too. Thanks Suzie!
Photos by Suzie McCracken
We now have an in-store Fjällräven Waxing Station! We can wax Fjällräven G1000 jackets and bags while-you-wait on weekdays. We are not able to wax on weekends as it gets very busy, but you are welcome to drop off your item and collect it during the week.
Waxing is free-of-charge for items bought from us, simply show us your email receipt.
For items not bought at The Brokedown Palace there is a £30 charge for jackets and £20 for bags.
Waxing a whole jacket takes around 30minutes.
Please note waxing is not suitable for Kånken backpacks, except Kånken No. 2 (which is made from G1000 fabric).
We have moved into Boxpark’s flagship units formerly occupied by Nike! Come and see us at Units 37-41 right by Shoreditch High Street Station.
Brands stocked in-store include Fjällräven, the Swedish brand known for their iconic Kanken backpack – which takes up an entire wall of the store in every conceivable colour. The American north west is represented by Pendleton, Poler Stuff and Filson. Ethical Californian outdoors brand Patagonia is a recent addition, and fits the concept perfectly.
Also stocked are Australian surf/motorbike brand Deus Ex Machina, Bellroy wallets also from Australia, Makia Clothing hailing from Helsinki, and Stance the cult sock brand from LA.
The Khama Sewing and Knitting Centre where our chitenge shopping bags are made, was featured in the Guardian today: “Ethical fashion in Malawi – in pictures“.
“Khama Design is an ethical fashion company working with local women in Kasungu, a town in Malawi. Pictured here in traditional Malawian Chitenge skirts, these women attend Khama’s training workshops in tailoring and fashion production.” Photographs by Mark Cocksedge.
Our Boxpark neighbours, Moo have blogged about our transition to bricks ‘n’ mortar (or metal ‘n’ nails!) in our new container store.
Read all about it: ‘Shop talk with The Brokedown Palace‘
We have opened a store at the Boxpark pop-up mall in Shoreditch. Boxpark is a shopping mall made entirely of old shipping containers – perfect for our cabin vibe.
“The Brokedown Palace is the only place in east London to stock the cult Swedish outdoors brand, Fjällräven, including the brand’s iconic Kånken backpack and its sought-after Greenland Winter jackets. Other brands in store include Pendleton, Out of Print, Sitka, Makia and North Sea Clothing.”
Come see us in Unit 24!
We’ve been featured on Moo’s Inspiration Gallery with our great packaging and gift wrap designs, created for us by illustratorWilliam Exley.
The Brokedown Palace partnered with Fjällräven to do their stand at the Scandinavia Show 2013.
The Scandinavia Show is the only UK show dedicated exclusively to showcase the best of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. The show incorporates Scandinavian design, travel, lifestyle, fashion, culture and food.
This year’s venue was the stunning and historic Tobacco Dock, right on the River Thames; built in the early 19th Century as a secure bonded warehouse for the receipt and storage of tobacco from the New World.
We had a great time and met lots of lovely customers. Thank you Fjällräven for inviting us!
Ian and Dee Dee from The Brokedown Palace
Tobacco Dock entrance
Adam from The Brokedown Palace with the colourful wall of Kånkens.
Andi from Fjällräven at his Wax Station, demonstrating how to re-wax a Greenland Jacket with Fjällräven’s unique Greenland Wax.
This customer came in with his 23 year old Kånken – looks good as new! His wife had just washed it so it’s a little crumpled. She said she always just throws it in the washing machine. They were buying more Kånkens for their young relatives.
Also in our stand were Grower’s Cup Coffee from Denmark. Here Adam from The Brokedown Palace and Andy from Fjällräven are sampling a cup.
Dee Dee from The Brokedown Palace cuddling Moomintroll.
The Danes are invading Swedish Fjällräven!
Joe from Fjällräven looking super snazzy in a UN Blue Fjällräven Numbers Jacket No.68 and matching trousers.