Ethically traded designer suede & leather footwear, bags & accessories
Fair/ethical traders Zinnia offer their own designer range of brightly coloured suede and leather shoes, hats, gloves, bags, boots and belts. Set up two years ago by husband-and-wife team Nagi and Victoria El-Bay, with the aim of supporting traditional leatherworkers in Nagi’s native Egypt, Zinnia works directly with suppliers to develop and refine their product range, in which locally available materials and the skills of Egyptian artisans are combined with easy-to-wear, practical designs – in a wide range of stunning colours – that work well in the UK market. This close working relationship and regular personal contact with suppliers helps Zinnia maintain high quality and allows them to offer an almost unique level of flexibility to trade customers: when ordering from Zinnia, retailers can choose their own colour combinations and design specifics, even for small orders. The company also manufacture own-brand ranges for retailers who are looking for relatively small runs at an affordable price. The range already offers around 12 colours each of suede and leather, and this autumn sees the launch of soft nubuck shoes in five pastel shades. Footwear is available from sizes 3 – 10, with a minimum order of only six pairs of any one design/colourway, with the option of matching bags, belts, gloves and hats. Crocodile and tartan laptop bags, shoulder bags, loafers and pumps are another addition to the range which will be launched this season. Zinnia’s bags combine clean lines and simple design concepts with attention to interior detail that means there really is ‘a place for everything’, including key fobs, pen slots, mobile phone pockets and, an essential component of almost every bag, a zipped inner pocket for valuables. One of the company’s best sellers is its remarkable soft leather reversible bag. An ingeniously simple system allows a sensible navy shoulder bag to become a snazzy red or pink one with just a flick of the wrist – perfect for that daytime-to-evening transformation or to save holiday packing space! Zinnia currently has around 30 stockistsin the UK, and is currently looking for more retail outlets in all regions. The Zinnia range – which also includes fabric bags, wraps, home accessories and jewellery –can be seen via their website, www.zinnia-gifts.co.uk, or by appointment: tel. 01684891891. Stunning to look at, sumptuous to wear, designed for every day: luxurious accessories that tick all the boxes.