Travelling - Tea towel research Evaluation 03/01/15

I looked at Tea Towels in shops and on websites. The places that had tea towels related to my travel theme were:
-John Lewis
- Tesco
- Not On The High Street
- BHS
- Debenhams
- Fancy That Of London
- House Of Fraser
- Habitat
- Sea Salt Cornwall

I found they were very London and Paris based, mainly London buses, Eiffel Tower and Bicycles. There is an Italian wine label one which was interesting as it was different. Typically the ones I have been finding are landmarks/tourist attractions and forms of travelling. e.g. Mini cars, bikes.  Priced between £5.00 - £10.00, a couple lower and a couple higher but most were in that price range, They are screen printed on cotton and repeat patterns. Black, Red and Blue are the most popular colours.

Travelling - Reviewing Tea Towels 03/01/15

1. John Lewis- Milly Green Land Of Hope and Glory Tea Towel £9.00

This tea towel consists of famous images of London such as buses and the Royal Guards. They are in vibrant red and blue colours associated with England and the UK. The white background however means it isn't too light and would fit most settings. Would appeal to a large audience due to it focus on London. Lovely flag border running across each row.

2. John Lewis - Martha Mitchell Print Tea Towel £10.00

Black and white iconic illustrations of London and England. Nice illustrative design, lots of important british symbols - Post box, Seagul, Fish and Chips sign , Oxford Street sign, Tea Pot, Bike, Umbrella etc. I like the design I think its a very good british coaster design. However I would personally have done it with some colour on it! There is no need to have them black and white, it just makes them look plain and boring. The illustrations should all be there destined colour  e.g. The post box should be red! Very expensive. Would be willing to pay the money if they had more colour. More colour wouldn't only make them brighten and look more attractive but it would also make the illustrations stand out invididually!

3. John Lewis- Alice Tait Map of London Tea Towel £6.00

Illustrated map of central london design by Alice Tait. Lovely array of colours, not too bright. The coloured landmarks look good on a white background. Perfect for anyone wanting to find there way around london. Quirky and fun! 

4. Sea salt cornwall - Tea Towel £10.00

Seaside illustrated print focusing on boats. Focused on cornish traditions. Perfect for a cornish cottage. Made from organic cotton which appeals to people who like organic products. Design and colour are lovely, make a gorgeous tray cloth as well as a teatowel when needed. A two pack with different designs would be good as it would make an ideal gift.

5. Habitat - Cycle multi-coloured set of 3 patterned tea towels £12.00

Set of three tea towels with a hand drawn cyclist design in various colours. Very comical. Different colours but very plain. The yellow ties in with the tour de france famous cycling event. Dislike the bicycle design, would look better if it wasn't as comical and the proportions were realistic. 

6. Debenhams - Designer white houses printed tea towels £7.00

White Houses Print design by Ben de Lisi. Lovely bright houses. I love the design, it's really unusual. Very retro and quirky! Handy hanging tab detail on the corner. 

7. Fancy That Of London - London Tea Towel £3.99

Tea towel featuring London landmarks. Appeals to tourists as it has a tourist look. Shows various famous landmarks of London as these are popular.

8. House Of Fraser - Dickins and Jones Bicycle Single Tea towel £8.00

Made from durable, 100% Cotton and finished with a charming bicycle print and embroidered flowers, this tea towel is a lovely essential for any kitchen. Colours all work well together, beautiful powder blue colour. 

9.  BHS - Multi cocktail 3 pack Tea Towels £5.99

Naturistic design which focuses on french countryside, the use of the Eiffel Tower symbolises France and Paris in an otherwise plain but stylish design. French script writing included. Minimal colours with a dash of coral red. Simple yet appealing. Very chic and vintage feel to it. Lovely print style. Beautiful Eiffel Tower, flowers and bike detail. 

10.  BHS - Set of three Italian Wine Labels Tea Towels £2.99

Tea towels featuring an array of Italian Wine labels. A niche audience. Nice repeated pattern design with a lovely palette of bright colours. Not too much going on. Unusual design compared to other tea towels showing typical famous landmarks. 

11. BHS - Je T'aime Paris Set of 3 Tea Towels £5.99

Set of three tea towels featuring Paris including the Eiffel Tower, Dogs, Stripey Jumpers, Love hearts, Parisian buildings and the famous 'Bonjour'. Very romantic feel to it linked with Paris. The city itself is the background whilst the naturalistic romanticism is in the foreground. The dogs at the front are in very bright colours compared to the buildings that are dark blue and white. Red, Blue and white are the three main colours representing the france flag. 

12. Tesco - I want to ride my bicycle Tea Towel, single £1.75

Vintage tea towel style of an old bicycle advert from America. Very plain colours which add to the vintage effect. Very plain and boring, unappealing. Cheap price for a cheap product. 

13. Not on the high street - Bank note tea towel by Ella James £9.50

Tea towel featuring a british bank note. Good novelty item. Personally dislike this product. Very unappealing design. Bank note design isn't very attractive compared to designs with the Eiffel Tower, or London on them. Seems overpriced for what it is. 

14. John Lewis - Cath Kidston London Bus Tea Towels, Set of 2 £12.00 

Two tea towels featuring London buses print and Newspaper print. Fun set of tea towels with lovely bright colours. Popular london buses design. Newspaper print is a nice different design which works well together with the london buses. 

Travelling - Coasters Research Evaluation 03/11/15

Overall the coasters I have found are different to the wallpaper and cushions as they are all based more on boats, streets, the seaside and sets of 4/6. The wallpaper and cushions are more based on New York and Paris. I found no coasters based on New york.

The prices seem reasonable and around £5 - £9. There are a lot of Parisian sets as well as ones based on London landmarks and the british seaside. A lot of them are similar. The ones that are different such as the Camper van will only appeal to a smaller audience. Coasters that have a smaller audience, like the Camper van, have a higher price tag due to the limited number of buyers. The british themed designs .e.g. The seaside and London are designed by British companies such as John Lewis and Debenhams.

Travelling - Reviewing Coasters 03/01/15

1. John Lewis - Alice Tait Red Bus Coasters, Set of 4 £7.00

Lovely set of 4 Coasters of London.Nice illustrated comical design with a beautiful powder blue background colour. Simple colours, red very prominent, as red is associated with features of the city of London e.g. London Buses and Royal guards.

2. John Lewis - Street Scene Print Coasters, Multi - Was £10.00 Now £5.00

Simple illustrative design of Oxford Street. Very sketchy style. Be nice if it had more detail. Blocks of colour used to break up the blandness of the white buildings. John Lewis's shop on oxford street is the stand out building as it has its name on it. Comical design similar to the Alice Tait Red Bus coasters set, also by John Lewis.

3. The Range - Simple Parisian Cafe Placemat and Coaster Set of 4  £4.99

Nice print quality of a Parisian Cafe. Vibrant colours associated with romance and welcoming, traits associated with Paris. The use of a cafe is different from the Eiffel Tower and other Parisian landmarks and instead appeals to a wider audience as it has a homely feel. 

4. The Range - Impress Harbour Coasters - Set of 6  £1.99

Sweet design of the seaside harbour in lovely colours. Very good price considering the amount you get, however there is one design for all 6. Iconically british seaside appeals to a wide audience, the colours are also very neutral. Would look good in any setting as neutral colours are used.

5. The range - Simply Beach Huts Placemat and Coaster Set £4.99

Lovely simple design of Beach Huts which are similar to the Beach Huts cushion. Seaside is a very British landscape, appeals to a more light and colourful setting.

6. Denby -  Denby Tabletalk Coastal Retreat Placemats Set of 6 £9.00

Nice view of boats and houses, sketched pencil style. Look better with a brighter range of colours as it would stand out more. Unappealing, bland colours and not eye catching. Hard to appreciate the design and the detail. 

7. Jo Downs - Boat Coaster £9.00

Boat and Fish design coasters handmade from glass by designer Jo Downs. Very different design to usual printed ones. Skill involved and effort that should be appreciated. Lovely designs with a vibrant blue glass that works well representing the sea. Lovely textured glass with a ripple effect. Good quality, worth the money. Represents the sea well.

8. John Lewis- Jason Village Square Coasters - Set of 6 £9.00

A lovely set of six coasters, each one featuring an image of a village square from a byegone age. They are a very well made product. More idillic than city images .e.g Eiffel Tower, London Bridge. Beautiful printed village views with good detail. The colours all work well together and are not too bright. As a set they work very nicely together. Coasters worth the price. Appeals to anyone as it is not a specific landmark. 

9. John Lewis - Pimpernel St Ives Windreak Coasters, Set of 6 £9.00

Set of 6 coasters featuring St Ives in Cornwall. Good design but wouldn't work unless it is placed in a light setting. The colours are very vibrant and collaged. Not very detailed. Doesn't appeal to me and isn't very eye catching.

                                     

10. Tesco - Lifestyle 0128 Cavau Camper Van Coasters - Set of 6 £9.50

Set of 6 coasters featuring a camper van print design. Very simple design which really only appeals to somebody who likes camper vans or simplistic coasters. Only white, orange and red tonal colours used to create the design. Could look good with a different colour in the background, or the camper van with scenery behind it .e.g. on a road. Bright and colourful but not my desired choice. Seem a bit overpriced.

11. Dunelm Mill - Cafe Scene Collection Set of  6 coasters £1.99

Lovely coasters featuring a french design of a cafe. These look lovely if you want a 'bistro style' effect in your dining room. Great price!  Like the 'Parisian Cafe Coaster' design by The Range, the use of a cafe is different from the Eiffel Tower and other Parisian landmarks and instead appeals to a wider audience as it has a homely feel. Very neutral, pastel colours. Pretty and simple design!

12. Dunelm Mill - Coastal Selection Coasters - Set of 6 £1.99

Set of 6 coasters featuring a coastal print design. Great product that is really cheap! Ideal for beach themed summerhouses. Beautiful colours and a lovely watercolour design. Matching placemats available which look great together! Perfect for summer or to remind you of summer. Bright and funky with a very attractive design. Would look good in a hotel or beach hut at the seaside.

13. Debenhams - Set of 6 Blue Floral 'Union Jack' Coasters £7.20

Set of 6 coasters by Debenhams featuring a Union Jack motif in a floral textiles style. Different and unique design. Simple but lovely. Would appeal to females, particularly ones who like floral. Would suit any home. Very chic and british. Pastel colours, not too bright. 

14.  John Lewis - Martha Mitchell British Coasters, Set of 4 £18.00

Black and white iconic illustrations of London and England. Made from hardboard and laminated plastic. Nice illustrative design, lots of important british symbols - Post box, Seagul, Fish and Chips sign , Oxford Street sign, Tea Pot, Bike, Umbrella etc. I like the design I think its a very good british coaster design. However I would personally have done it with some colour on it! There is no need to have them black and white, it just makes them look plain and boring. The illustrations should all be there destined colour  e.g. The post box should be red! Very expensive. Would be willing to pay the money if they had more colour. More colour wouldn't only make them brighten and look more attractive but it would also make the illustrations stand out invididually!

15. John Lewis - Pimpernel Union Jack Coasters, Set of 6 £9.00

Set of 6 coasters featuring a Union Jack design. Very british. Not too vibrant, has a faded effect. More appealing to people that like british homeware or males as females may be more keen on the 'Floral Union Jack Coasters' by Debenhams as it is floral.