Artisans | IGGYFENECH

SLAM: Saving the Christmas Card

ANNA MARIE GALEA speaks to Silvio Micallef from SLAM and finds out why there’s nothing better than a SLAM card this Christmas. Despite the fact that the digital era has rendered many traditional methods of sending love and greetings somewhat useless, there are few things which give me a warmer, fuzzier feeling than receiving a beautiful, handwritten letter or Christmas card. Indeed, for me, it’s not quite Christmas without a pretty, personalised card full of festive cheer. Originating in the United Kingdom in 1843, the custom of sending Christmas cards was…read more

Be Your Own Jewellery Designer

Yana’s Jewellery in Msida allows you to choose your own stones, materials and beads to create a piece of jewellery that is truly your own. Here, ANNA MARIE GALEA talks to Yana Azzopardi on how it’s done, the reason behind this unorthodox approach to jewellery-making and what inspired her to start her own jewellery business. I was once told that life is too short to wear boring jewellery and this phrase couldn’t but naturally spring to mind when I received my first piece of Yana’s Jewellery as a graduation present…read more

Celebrating Three Years of Merill

Nature, culture, history and tradition: Merill showcase Malta’s enviable talent at crafting great produce. Agriculture has been such an integral part of our story that even our small island’s name comes from the word ‘honey’; yet as time’s gone by, we’ve become detached from the productive process that goes into making our foods, with many never setting foot in a field or a farm. Nevertheless, people, just like for millennia before them, are still working the land and making the most of our covetable weather to craft top-notch products that should…read more

The Maltese Gift-Guide – Saz Mifsud

Mesmerising & Conceptual: Saz Mifsud takes the art of printing on fabric to the next level. Scarves are one of the most underrated accessories. They give life to outfits, add colour and show off our personality and how we feel. Considering they are normally square-shaped, they are also surprisingly versatile, and this is due to their design, which is where Saz’s talent comes in. What Saz does is simple: she takes something completely ordinary and turns it into something extraordinary and beautiful. It really does not take a trained eye…read more

A Maltese Gift-Guide: Charles&Ron

Craftsmanship & Style: Malta’s biggest names in fashion showcase their latest designs just in time for Christmas. Charles&Ron is synonymous with Malta’s fashion scene. It was the nation’s first luxury fashion brand and one which has retained its understated edge and indisputable quality throughout the years. As we get closer to Christmas Day, finding a great present for the stylish friends and family has turned into a race against time, but Charles&Ron’s latest designs are seriously some of this season’s most covetable items. With an extended range of leather accessories,…read more

A Maltese Gift-Guide: Isabel Warrington

Pass on your season’s greetings, or indeed any greetings at all, with one-off Glamourpuss cards and gift tags by Isabel Warrington. Isabel Warrington is an actor, designer and artist who started her own brand of cards called ‘Glamourpuss’. Her one-off designs have garnered much acclaim and, being hand-painted, even make gorgeous pictures that can be framed. Here, she tells us how it all kicked off, when she finds time to paint and who is most likely to love her creations! “It all started off as a hobby really,” says Isabel…read more

A Maltese Gift-Guide: Sef Farrugia

Simple designs that make a statement: Sef Farrugia’s accessories are the ultimate in neo-Maltese chic! Sef Farrugia is one of Malta’s most influential up-and-coming designers, with fans dotted all around the world. In Malta, her uncomplicated-yet-bold designs have created a cult following that can be made out at any stylish event, with the US Ambassador for Malta Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley being one such avid supporter. I caught up with Sef and discussed her latest designs – some of which have just hit the shelves of Henri in Mdina – and what…read more

A Maltese Gift-Guide: Luisa Diacono

Stylish, bold and beautifully hand-painted: Designer Luisa Diacono’s shawls make a perfect gift this festive season! With just over a week to go to Christmas, there will be many who will buy foreign brands and mass-produced items as gifts, but why not invest in something more local? Luisa Diacono, an artist and interior designer by trade, has been hand-painting shawls for years, and here we talk to her about what goes into making them and who they would make a great present for! “Each season, I make it a point…read more

The Kingston University Chronicles, Vol. 1: House of Fenech

Design and craftsmanship: an introduction to House of Fenech Graduating is important, but like many other things in life, it’s the journey that matters, not the destination. Throughout my three years at university my peers and I engaged in many-a-project, and although this might sound somewhat dramatic, they often pushed us to the limits of our abilities and visions. One of the projects I had to do in second year was a website from scratch – we had to learn HTML, Flash, Photoshop and a thousand other things which I…read more

Unveiling: Pippa Toledo Cufflinks

Posted by Iggy Fenech in Artisans, Exclusive, Fashion, Jewellery, Men's

Interior and accessory designer Pippa Toledo finally ventures into the world of men’s accessories – and you’re hearing it here first! Finding a balance between something that is masculine and beautiful is never easy, and it’s what’s always made men’s accessories very tricky to get right – both in wearing and in creating them. Pippa Toledo, however, has once again risen to the challenge and has created three designs that are intricate yet practical. The ornamentation and techniques used to make the cufflinks are typical Pippa Toledo, and gold thread…read more