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- Article author: Rose Rennison
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Beautiful things, thoughtfully chosen. A new collection of independent brands, traditional craftsmanship and little treasures to love.
There has always been something rather special about finding the perfect gift. Not necessarily the grandest or most extravagant but something beautifully considered. A piece that feels personal, that tells a story and that you know someone will genuinely treasure.
At Renné, we've spent years creating jewellery with exactly that in mind. Pieces to be worn every day, to become part of your story and hopefully, one day be passed on to the next generation.
This Christmas, we've been quietly working on something a little different. And we're so excited to finally share it with you.
It all began with a handwritten note…
Who doesn't love receiving a beautiful handwritten card?
We have always felt that a thoughtful piece of jewellery deserves an equally lovely note alongside it. So when we came across the beautiful watercolour greetings cards by Sophie Amelia, we knew they would feel right at home at Renné.
There is something so charming about her illustrations. They're nostalgic, full of character and the sort of cards you want to keep long after the occasion has passed.
And that got us thinking.
What if we could introduce a few more beautiful things into the shop? Pieces that complement our jewellery, that could be gathered together to create the loveliest gifts, or simply bought because you've fallen a little bit in love with them yourself.
The idea wasn't to change what Renné is but to build upon what we've always loved.
A thoughtful collection
We've always been drawn to things that are a little different. Beautiful fabrics, interesting colour combinations, traditional craftsmanship and those small details that give something its personality.
The perfectly imperfect, if you like.
When we began looking at other brands, we wanted to find people who shared that appreciation. Independent businesses that care about their designs, the materials they use and the hands involved in making them.
We weren't interested in filling our shelves for the sake of it. Everything had to feel as though it belonged.
The hope is that you can come into Renné looking for a special piece of jewellery and leave with a beautifully considered collection of gifts. Perhaps a necklace, a hand printed scarf, a little pouch to keep your treasures safe and a handwritten card to bring it all together.
Each piece chosen with thought, each one with a story of its own.
And so, we're delighted to introduce two new names to Renné.
Meet Bonheur du Jour
A little colour, a little character and a beautiful story of craftsmanship.
We have always loved a neckerchief. There is something wonderfully effortless about the way a little printed cotton can transform an outfit.
Bonheur du Jour is a French brand created by Catherine Dufossez, whose love of textiles and beautiful clothing runs through five generations of family involvement in fashion.
After spending 25 years working in the textile and clothing industry in northern France, Catherine brought her experience and eye for detail into her own collections. Her designs celebrate colour, delicate finishes and the pleasure of wearing beautiful things every day.
The brand's scarves bring together French design and traditional Indian textile craftsmanship. Their exclusive prints are made by hand in India using block-printing techniques, where patterns are carefully transferred onto fabric with carved printing blocks.
It's this marriage of colour, craftsmanship and individuality that first caught our eye.
We've chosen a collection of wonderfully soft cotton neckerchiefs and larger scarves in the most gorgeous prints and colour combinations.
Annie is particularly excited about the smaller neckerchiefs. A little pop of colour tucked into winter knitwear, layered with favourite Renné necklaces, is such a lovely way to brighten the colder months. And because the soft cotton styles can be worn by children too, Bonnie might just be getting one of her own.
When summer returns, we can already imagine the larger scarves tied as sarongs over swimwear, or draped across the shoulders on warm evenings.
They're the sort of accessories that move effortlessly through the seasons, bringing colour, texture and a little personality to whatever you're wearing.
Meet Yonder
Natural materials, beautiful prints and the charm of things made by hand.
Our search for beautiful little pouches has been going on for some time.
We've always loved the idea of somewhere lovely to keep your jewellery when travelling, but also those everyday treasures that seem to gather at the bottom of a handbag. Lipsticks, glasses, little keepsakes, all the things you want to have close at hand.
And then we found Yonder.
A brand with an appreciation for natural materials, thoughtful design and traditional craft, Yonder works with skilled makers in India and Morocco to create pieces for everyday living.
Their beautiful organic cotton accessories are hand block-printed in Jaipur, a city with a rich tradition of textile printing.
Each design begins with a carved wooden block, carefully pressed onto the fabric by hand. Colour is built up through repeated impressions, and the process leaves subtle variations in the finished print.
A tiny overlap, a shift in colour, a slightly irregular line.
To us, these aren't flaws. They're the lovely little signs that something has been made by a person rather than a machine.
It's a sentiment we understand particularly well in our own workshop.
We were immediately drawn to Yonder's beautiful colour combinations, playful patterns and use of organic cotton.
The quilted pouches are already firm favourites. Perfect for jewellery, make-up, weekend essentials or simply keeping all those little things organised inside a larger bag. Annie is a particular believer in bags within bags!
We've also chosen their wonderfully soft cashmere and merino wool socks, in gorgeous colours that make them just as lovely to give as they are to wear.
Practical pieces, certainly but ones that bring a little pleasure to everyday routines.
Chosen by us, for you
Of course, choosing the collection has been a rather enjoyable process in itself.
Annie tends to find the brands, research them within an inch of their lives and then add far too many things to the basket!
Helen is rather good at looking at the bigger picture, thinking about the different customers who visit Renné and choosing colours and pieces that will work beautifully together.
Somewhere between the two of us, the collection begins to take shape.
And while we might occasionally have different favourites, we always come back to the same question: does this feel like Renné?
Would we love to give it? Would we love to receive it? Is it something we would happily wear or use ourselves?
If the answer is yes, then we're usually on the right track.
A little more to discover
We're not quite sure where this new chapter will take us and that's part of the excitement.
For now, we're simply looking forward to sharing these beautiful finds with you and seeing how you enjoy them.
Our handmade jewellery will always be at the heart of Renné. But we love the idea of bringing together a few more special things, chosen with the same care and appreciation for individuality that have guided us from the beginning.
We hope that when you visit, you'll feel inspired to discover something different, build a collection of your own or find the perfect gift for someone you love.
And perhaps leave with a little something for yourself, too.
Come and see us this Christmas
We'll be introducing our new collections at our Christmas event on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th November, from 10am–4pm both days.
Bring along a loved one, enjoy a coffee and some delicious brownies from our friends at Blend and have a lovely browse of everything new alongside your Renné favourites.
We can't wait to welcome you.
With love,
Helen & Annie x
Renné Jewellery, 8 Grange Road, Darlington
today . tomorrow . forever
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