Nouveau look
Ten-a-penny Mackintosh knock-offs and modelling animals have no place in the sleek and design-focussed new GSA shop, as Claire Sawers discovers
‘ ou know the son of thing. We call it Mackintrash. or Mockintosh.‘ (‘athy Randall is laughing as she tries to diplomatically describe the kind of thing she definitely doesn't want in the newly opened Glasgow School of Art shop. Shoppers will just have to go elsewhere if they want to find tacky tea towels and naff brooches. ‘lt all starts looking a bit samey.’ she explains. ‘Plus you can pick stuff like that up pretty much anywhere. so we wanted to steer well clear of it.‘ Instead. the shop is stocking its newly fitted shelves and glass cabinets with innovative designs from students. alumni and staff. ‘We
Aidan Mclvor 21, singer for Dirty Modern H
The jacket I’m wearing was actually a present from an ex-girlfriend. Safe to say the jacket lasted longer than the relationship! It maybe would have been traditional to have retired the jacket out of respect e but it’s way too shiny for ‘ ~ ' that. I’m quite easily pleased really, I only bought the shoes because of the racing stripes - they make you feel like you're wearing a boy racer car on your feet.
is a bit quirky, funky and occasionally a little over the top. But that’s only when I can be bothered. The rest of the time I’m really quite boring.
I like to shop where the sales are. I tend to only ever buy things on impulse so it literally could be anywhere.
EFO
THERE'S A STRICTLY TAT-FREE APPROACH TO THE NEW SCHOOL OF ART SOUVENIRS
134%:
My hair is the work of Mike Quigley at Kim MacGregor in Stockbridge, the man is a legend. We always get good chats about music going. (I am just out the studio now though so let’s not be too critical.)
The t-ahlrt is for Shelter’s Hometime Scotland campaign which I first saw at T in the Park this year. It’s a campaign that our band are supporting, as are many others including The Wombats and KT Tunstall. We all went to the pub the other night wearing them - it looked like we were on some sort of charity sponsored pub crawl. Some odd looks were received.
I used to shop at Joey
D’s on Broughton Street a lot but I’ve not been for a while. H&M is so much kinder to the budget. And until I get all big and famous that’s gonna be the major factor. One day, I tell you, one day. . .
ForrHor students and lecturers were asked to submit their designs for
GSA’s new gift‘shop
know the school is known world-wide for its association with (‘harles Rennie Mackintosh. but also for its cutting edge design.’ says Randall. general manager at GSA's shop. which opened its doors last month. ‘We wanted to sell a gift range that showcased both elements.’
Tourists will still be able to take home a momento of the school‘s famous former student. but there‘s a strictly tat-free approach to the new
souvenirs. Before designing the range of
coasters. mugs and sketch books. tour guides at the school were asked to pick out their favourite nooks and crannies in the building. The hidden details were then photographed by British designer lilla l)oran. who also creates candy coloured. retro-flavoured gifts and homewares for the Tate galleries.
Beyond the celebration of all things (‘RM. the shop sells hand-made and bespoke treasures from graduates. l—lideko lnoue. a former line art student. provides chunky clutch bags stitched from vintage Japanese fabrics (see p16). while Betty Fraser Myerscough. who finished her degree back in 1954. supplies knitted dolls in psychedelic acid brights and homespun jumpers made from socks. liva (iustavsson. a tutor at the USA. has designed hand—bound notebooks and sketchbooks. and one-time student Katy West showcases her cool and contemporary china and glassware collection.
The new shop — a bright and airy space. filled with exposed red brick and chunky oak beams — was part of the £8.6m revamp taking place throughout the building. Long before it was gutted to make room for the shop. the room used to be a studio for live animal drawings by students. The posing beasts are a distant memory now though. and Randall hopes visitors will like the changes that have been made.
‘We‘re really pleased with the range of designs that have come in. We put out an email to students inviting them to submit samples. and it‘s great to be able to give support to local artists. up and coming designers. and people who started their career right here.‘
The GSA Shop is open 10am-5pm, Mon- Sun. Mackintosh Building, 167 Renfrew Street, 0141 353 4526, www.9sa.ac.uk
16-30 Oct 2008 THE LIST 15