Keeping our stock local to our studio in Hastings will mean we will be able to do more to recycle and reduce our packaging and add the personal AURA QUE touch to our orders. Once we get settled, watch this space!
We believe that collaboration will bring about change, and after such a challenging year, it feels more important than ever to shout out about the people that make our products.
I wanted to update you on how we are navigating the COVID-19 lockdown here at AURA QUE. Our online shop is open as usual, with myself and Eleanor working remotely.
Made from tiny glass beads, the strand and ‘roll-on’ jewellery is worn by Nepalese women locally, so we developed our own small range for our AURA QUE customers.
Our felt bobble mats ASIK and MILDO are made from hand-felted wool bobbles that are the dried and hand stitched together in a dynamic and rigorous felting process.
Tribute to Eileen Lodge, who founded the Nepal Leprosy Trust (NLT), where our main bag workshop is based.Eileen passed away last month, aged 94 at her home in Kathmandu.
Our crochet bag range has proved popular this last year – we love combining different texture combinations between the wool stitch texture and the leather for a really unique look!
Since early last year, AURA QUE was solely run by Laura Queening, madly doing a little bit of everything! Luckily we have recently been able to expand and work with some fantastic new team members here in the UK, so here is our introduction..
This year, I developed a range of brass jewellery which stemmed from my need for a bell necklace! This was inspired by my trek to the Everest region last year, after hearing the bells worn by the yaks passing me up and down the mountains, as well as in the temples.
This year, I developed a small range of cotton bags with a palm leaf embroidery design with our producer Navaraj and his team. The crewel technique is free embroidery that can be done on a sewing machine with a chain stitch, following a chalk dusted design on the cloth.
Last year, I went to Marrakech - it was a much-needed inspirational holiday full of gloriously colourful sights, and a wealth of craft, texture and pattern. I sourced these amazing vintage blankets, finely woven by Berber women in their homes in Atlas Mountain region of Morocco.
