Category Archives: NEWS & EVENTS

WIN: £50 vouchers for you and a friend

WIN two £50 vouchers – one for you and one for a friend 🎉


All you have to do is:
Head to our Instagram
Like the competition image
Comment answering the question on the post!​

 

T&CS

Accessorize’s Competition Rules 

Win 2 £50 Accessorize gift card competition (the Competition”) 

The Competition is governed by these terms and conditions (the “Terms”) and by entering the Competition, entrants agree that they have read and understood these Terms and will be bound by them. Any changes to these Terms will be posted as updates and will be made available here.  

IMPORTANT INFORMATION 

  1. Opening Date: 

8am on Sunday 13th August 2020 (Opening Date”) 

  1. Closing Date:  

11.00am on Thursday 17th September 2020 (“Closing Date”) 

  1. Promoter: 

ACCESSORIZE BRANDS LTD of 1 Nicholas Road, London, W11 4AN. (Company Registration No. 12543459) (“Accessorize”) 

WHO CAN ENTER? 

To enter the Competition: 

  1. you must be aged 18 or over; 
  2. you must live in the UK or the Republic of Ireland; and 
  3. you and your family members must not be employees of Accessorize, and/or any other company associated with the Competition or their respective associated companies or agents. Your family members include your parents, partner and any of your children. 

HOW TO ENTER 

  1. To enter the Competition, you must do the following between the Opening Date and Closing Date:   
  2. go to the Instagram page located at www.instagram.com/accessorize
  3. ‘like’ the Competition post;  
  4. leave a comment in the comments section beneath Competition post (answering the question posted by Accessorize on the Competition post); and 
  5. include the designated hashtag #yesmonsoon in your answer to confirm you are aged 18 years or over], are a UK or the Republic of Ireland resident and have read and accepted these Terms and our privacy policy 

(together, an Entry“). 

By entering this Competition, you understand and agree that: 

  1.  all information provided by you in connection with this Competition is provided to Accessorize directly and not to Instagram; 
  2. this Competition is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram; and 
  3. Instagram shall have no responsibility or liability to you in respect of the Competition. 
  4. Only one (1) entry is permitted per entrant. Multiple entries will be void and the entrant disqualified. 

 

PRIZES AND WINNER SELECTION 

  1. There will be onwinner of the Competition (the “Winner”). 
  2. The Winner will receive two £50 Accessorize gift cards (the “Prize”). Gift card terms and conditions can be found here https://www.accessorize.com/uk/policies/policies-terms.html 
  3. For the avoidance of doubt, the Prize does not consist of anything other than expressly set out above and no additional costs are included.  
  4. The Winner of the Competition will be the first Entry selected randomly by Accessorize from all valid Entries received between the Opening Date and Closing Date.  
  5. The Winner will be selected on or before Friday 11th September 2020 and Accessorize will notify the Winner on or before Friday 11th September 2020 by Instagram direct message that they have been successful.  
  6. The Prize will be dispatched within 30 days of the Winner confirming their delivery details to Accessorize and Accessorize receiving any confirmation it deems fit in accordance with these Terms. 
  7. Prizes can only be sent to a UK or Eire address so if a Winner has moved somewhere outside the UK or Eire after entering the Competition, their Entry will not be valid. 

Accessorize reserves the right to choose an alternate Winner if: 

  1. a Winner does not comply with these Terms or Instagram’s rules or Accessorize has reasonable grounds for believing that a Winner has broken a rule contained in these Terms; or 
  2. a Winner does not (i) agree to these Terms or Instagram’s rules; (ii) want to receive the Prize; or (iii) give any consent as may be requested by Accessorize within 24 hours; or 
  3. Accessorize cannot contact a Winner or a Winner does not respond to any requests from Accessorize for information (e.g. confirmation of their address) within 48 hours of such request. 

Use of Entry: By entering this Competition, you agree that Accessorize may in connection with this Competition use your Entry, including any names or biographical information submitted by you or any statement made by you, in any and all media throughout the world as Accessorize in its sole opinion sees fit, without payment or further consent.  

 

GENERAL 

  1. Accessorize reserves the right to cancel this Competition at any stage prior to the Opening Date or to shorten the time for entering the Competition on notice, if Accessorize thinks it is unavoidable, or if circumstances arise which are out of Accessorize control. If the time for entering the Competition is cut short, winners shall be selected in accordance with these Terms from all eligible Entries received prior to such termination date. 
  2. Entries received after the Closing Date will not be valid.  Accessorize is not responsible if your Entry gets lost, delayed, misdirected, undelivered, damaged or if you have technical problems trying to enter the Competition.  
  3. Please take care when entering the Competition to ensure that you provide your correct contact details. Any Entries which are incomplete and/or can’t be read clearly will not be valid and won’t be entered into the Competition. 
  4. Accessorize shall at its sole discretion determine whether an Entry is valid, based on the entry requirements set out in these Terms. Each valid entry will be entered into the Competition.  
  5. Only entries from individuals will be accepted. Any entries that Accessorize believes have (a) been made via participation in a syndicate or (b) via any form of machine assisted intervention enabling computer generated multiple entries, will be disqualified. 
  6. The Prize is as stated and is non-transferable. No cash alternatives will be offered. If due to circumstances beyond Accessorize’s control Accessorize is unable to provide any stated Prize or any part of it, Accessorize reserves the right to award a substitute prize of equal or greater value.  The Prize may be subject to the additional terms and conditions of the manufacturer or supplier. The Prize cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, prize, discount or promotion.  
  7. Accessorize will not be liable for any loss or damage however it was caused (including without limitation in contract, tort or statutory duty) in connection with the Competition and/or Prize, other than death or personal injury caused by Accessorize (and/or its employees’) negligence. 
  8. Any personal information collected by Accessorize for the Competition will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy set out at https://uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/contenet/security-and-privacy. Copies can be obtained by writing by email to dataprotectionofficer@monsoon.co.uk or by post to Accessorize address above, marked for the attention of The Data Protection Officer. 
  9. Where the winner consents, Accessorize may use personal information relating to the Competition for marketing or promotional purposes, including use of the Winner’s name and likeness. 
  10. If you would like to know who won this Competition, please send a stamped addressed envelope to Monsoon at the above address marked “Win two £50 Accessorize gift cards Competition” within 60 days of the Closing Date and we will send you a list of any Winner’s first name and home county. 
  11. For all queries relating the Competition please contact etaylor@monsoon.co.uk. 
  12. These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and if there are any disputes the courts of England shall have exclusive jurisdiction. 

5 ways you can spark positive change​

In times of great uncertainty, it’s even important to go the extra mile for yourself and others. To bring a little brightness to the day or make a difference. 

We asked our team some of the things they do – or have had done for them – that make them feel like they’re sparking a positive change.

message a friend 

“A few weeks ago I received a message out of the blue from a friend telling me how much she appreciated me. It was like a modern-day love letter and it made me feel so grateful for the people in my life.”

Let your girls and guys know how much they mean to you with a simple message. We’ve even started some for you!

I appreciate you because …
I’ll never forget that time we …
Thank you for always …

 

learn something new

“I recently taught myself how to do macrame – it’s so relaxing and you get some cool pieces afterwards. It made me appreciate all of the things my Gran knitted me so much more, the time those ‘ugly’ jumpers must have taken …”

Learning something new is not only fun (and educational, obviously), but it can also give you a new appreciation and outlook on life.

Grab your besties and pick up a new book, shop for some new crafts, listen to a new podcast or sign up for an online course!

 

recycle used accessories

“Like most of us, I have a lot of accessories…while most are used season after season to update my look, there’s been times I don’t want them (or can’t fit them in my collection) anymore. I’ve started to donate these pieces,  it made me feel good knowing I’d given the accessory a new life and made a conscious choice!”

You can pop into your local Accessorize to donate your used accessories and will send them to New Life

 

buy some plants

“I became a new plant mum during lockdown and bringing nature inside has made a massive difference to A) the look of my room and B) how I feel –  indoor plants have proven health benefits  – plus it’s satisfying keeping them alive!” 

Studies have shown plants can boost mood, productivity, concentration and creativity – all of which are so important now that our homes have become our offices. Best get shopping.

 

send a surprise gift to someone

“The doorbell went one day and the postie handed me a parcel I wasn’t expecting (I originally thought I’d ordered it in my last shopping spree and forgotten…) But it was a gift from my bestie. It brightened my mood for the rest of the day and was nice knowing she’d seen something and thought of me.”

Give your friends or family some excitement and send them a special gift. The more personal and thoughtful, the better – think a zodiac necklace or initial jewellery. Plus, science has actually proven we get great pleasure from giving, and we feel even happier when spending money on others. Win-win!

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Shop our Bright Spark edit

 

Our Website’s Had a Makeover

While you’ve all been begging for hairdressers and nail salons to reopen, we’ve been having a freshen up ourselves and we’re excited to share our fresh new site with you – explore the new-look site now.

An absolute beauty, the new site has everything you loved about the old one and a few bits that will make your shopping experience even better.


Shopping online got even more fun

TREAT YOURSELF

See how many Treats points you’ll earn from each purchase.

LOOKING GOOD

See the new item you’re going to buy from every angle!

EXACTLY RIGHT

Search for exactly what you want to complete your outfit, from polka dot bags to pearl hair clips.

Share what you buy with #Accessorizers and you could be featured in our weekly and monthly outfit-inspiration rounds ups!

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Explore the new-look site

Together We Can: International Women’s Day with Accessorize

Here at Accessorize, we honour strong women all day, every day. As a brand by women, for women, we’re proud to celebrate the move toward a more equal world – which just so happens to be the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day

[ All images in this post were found on Pinterest and are not owned by Accessorize! ]

So, as we champion change toward a more gender-equal world, what does International Women’s Day mean to our team?

Kathleen Mitchell
Accessorize Brand Director

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognise the trailblazers that came before us and identify the remaining inequalities that persist. Thankfully the role of women in work and in the world has evolved tremendously since I left university, but we still have work to do!

My entire career has been spent at companies that are for and by women and working with mostly female teams and customers has been my absolute privilege. 

Julia Beal-Preston
Accessorize Marketing Director

It’s about recognising inequality and restoring the balance of power in every aspect of women’s lives.

At work, it’s being heard and respected the same way as men. As a mum, it’s raising a daughter and a son who both feel they can achieve the same goals, both respect everyone the same way and both feel worthy.

Every day it’s empowering females and males around me to ensure equality this the norm rather than a ‘thing’.

International Women’s Day is also a day to re-brand feminism, moving away from the stereotypical idea of women’s rights. It’s all of our responsibility to teach society equality and kindness.

It’s about equal respect regardless of gender. 

Daniel Shocklidge
Learning & Development Manager

International Women’s Day is about recognition, celebration, and empowerment; it’s a chance to recognise all women, give a spotlight to those who might not always get it when they deserve one, and lending my own voice to theirs.

Harriet Poppleton
International Director

It’s a day to reflect on achievements and progress that’s been made in creating equal opportunities around the world.  We have a long way to go but the wave of change has most certainly started and there is an opportunity to ride it, so don’t waste it!  

It’s also a chance to give thanks for not only all the women around the world but more importantly those that make up your world!  

 

Shop our outfit-making accessories for women-on-the-go >>

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We’ve had a makeover, fancy a sneak peek?

Our Accessorize stores in Fulham and Southampton have had a makeover and (if we don’t say so ourselves) they’re looking pretty fancy!

What’s New?

Think of our new stores like a ‘modern bazaar’ – an inspiring place to explore, full of things we know you’ll love. 

It’s a new look and feel designed by our savvy-shopper team who have created a space to make your shopping experience with us even better.

It’s a more modern and fresh look and feel, think: brass, marble and stone. In other words #InteriorGoals. 

Sip & Style

To keep the excitement high now that our Grand Opening Weekends are over, we’ll be running Sip & Style evenings in both Fulham and Southampton, weekly from Thurs 20th Feb. Pop in store 4-7pm on your way home from work for prosecco (do you see a theme emerging here?) and product-focused styling sessions! 

Store locator: https://uk.accessorize.com/view/content/store-finder

Store Stylists

Not only are the new stores a dream to visit, but you can also get quality advice from our store staff who are qualified Stylists, trained by the London College of Style. 

Our unique training programme means our team know the coolest products and the trends you have to shop now; say hello to Spring/Summer micro bags and stacked jewellery! They can also make sure you pick the right colours for your skin tone, the perfect gift for your Mum (Mother’s Day is 22nd March, everyone!) or the ideal slides to stack in long locks.

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Discover the new season essentials you’ll also find in store.

 

Making a Difference With The Monsoon Accessorize Trust This World Education Day

Since 1994, the Monsoon Accessorize Trust has been supporting projects that impact the most disadvantaged and vulnerable women and children around the world.

This World Education Day we’re shining the spotlight on our charity projects that are improving the lives of children and their families in slums near Delhi, who have no choice but to live and work on rubbish dumps.

The ‘rag-picking’ children support themselves and their families by rummaging through rubbish on the dumps in order to salvage scraps of cloth, paper and glass that can then be sold.  Many of them have younger siblings to look after, even though they are only children themselves.

THE TRUST

In association with Christian Aid and Phia Foundation, the Trust works to support these children through education, health and hygiene programmes. Through the charities, parents are encouraged to allow their children to visit bridge schools, where they are taught basic life skills and hygiene. The aim is to prepare these children for a more traditional education. This bespoke education scheme allows children and their families a better, brighter future. 

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Last year, Phia Foundation and Monsoon Accessorize Trust organised an educational visit to Ambedkar National Memorial. This trip taught children about the Indian constitutional value and the importance for every citizen of India, giving them a sense of belonging and an understanding of in Indian history. 

MEGHA AND PREETI’S STORIES

These sisters were both out of school and living in tough conditions. Once their parents agreed to send them to Phia’s education centre, the girls regained their confidence and self-belief and received a basic level of education and life skills. 

Due to the continuous education programme, they are now both doing well in the formal educational system. 

SONAM’S STORY

The youngest of six, Sonam is known as an introverted, sincere child. Three of her siblings were married at a young age due to dowry customs, while herself and the rest of her siblings work within the rag-picking colony in Bhowapur. 

Sonam regularly attended remedial classes at Jungu Education centre, run by Phia Foundation. Here she not only received basic support on health and education but also guidance on the school syllabus and other curricular activities. Due to her persistence and passion for learning, she was then admitted into the formal school system where she scored 91% in her annual exams. 

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Read more about the Trust’s work.

Make a wish this Christmas with the Young Women’s Trust

The season of giving is upon us, whether that’s spending time with friends, gifting presents under the tree or sharing you grandma’s secret mulled wine recipe. Christmas is also time to gift a wish to those who need it, whether it’s a little extra love, a boost of courage or good fortune. 

To make this a possibility, we’ve partnered with The Young Women’s Trust, a charity dedicated to supporting young women, to create a beautiful collection of Christmas decorations, which have a wish for love, courage, fortune and more beautifully embroidered on them. As see in Stylist and The Independent.

These creations lift the spirits of your loved ones (and look fabulous on the tree) and also donate to the Young Women’s Trust to support young women into work.

Research by the trust shows that almost half a million young women are unemployed and more are stuck in low paid, insecure work. This is why The Young Women’s Trust is working with women aged 18-30 to find work that is right for them. 

“We’re the only charity that is set up expressly for young women, to shout about their brilliant promise and create a world free of discrimination for them…Our mission is to shine a light on that wonderful pool of talent and possibility, support those women to develop their skills and strong mental health, and raise their voices so that their contributions are valued.” – The Young Women’s Trust CEO, Sophie Walker.

Working closely with young women, the trust offers coaching workshops that build skills and encourage strong mental health as well as CV feedback and interview techniques. 

The Young Women’s Trust also works to achieve economic justice for young women through activist training and campaigning. They cover everything from ending job segmentation, stereotyping and sexual harassment to flexible working and pay discrimination.

How you can help The Young Women’s Trust

Giving the gift of a wish this Christmas not only shares a little special something with your loved ones, but it also opens more possibilities for the women supported by The Young Women’s Trust.

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Shop the Decorations

 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Meet CoppaFeel! founder, Kris Hallenga

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month (1st – 31st October) we’re proudly supporting breast cancer awareness charity, CoppaFeel! by donating £20,000 of the profits from our exclusive feel-good boutique collection of products. We caught up with the charity’s fearless and fabulous founder, Kris Hallenga…

A: Hi Kris, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Please introduce yourself!

I’m Kris, the founder of CoppaFeel!. When I’m not talking about boobs I’m probably banging on about my cat, Lady Marmalade. I’m 33 (turning 34 in November!), I have an identical twin sister called Maren and I live in beautiful Cornwall.

A: What is the best thing about being the founder of CoppaFeel!?

I think being the founder of anything is pretty damn cool. I never saw myself as someone driven or motivated enough to start something brand new before I was diagnosed so I actually really surprised myself. Obviously, the proudest thing is seeing the impact we’re having and the response we get from all our campaigning and hard work. It makes it all so ruddy worth it.

A: It shows incredible strength that your reaction to the diagnosis was to start a charity to help others, where did you find that strength, energy and passion?

I have no idea. But I actually think we all possess a little bit of that killer badass inside us, and we just don’t know it’s there until we really need it. I find the energy because I know what we do matters and I’m passionate because I see the impact. Nothing worth doing is easy and straight forward. Having said that, I have my moments of weakness and low-energy, but I think that’s allowed!

A: What is the most important message you communicate to your audience?

CHECK YOUR BOOBS. It’s as simple as that. Currently, we’re running a campaign called “Grab Life By The Boobs”. The premise is that we want everyone to have a future free from breast cancer. Every ounce of life is precious so it’s worth grabbing on to and celebrating, much like your body.

A: In what way do you spread your very important messages?

We visit schools, recruit ambassadors at universities, we take our boob mobile Belinda to festivals, we have a free text message reminder and hand out copious amounts of shower stickers, which are a useful prompt to check in the shower. Each year we also put on our annual event called Festifeel at the House of Vans in London. This is a big ol’ celebration of everything we do and helps us to get the word out even further (plus it raises money, which is of course also beneficial!)

A: It’s CoppaFeel!’s 10 year anniversary this year, what’s your proudest moment/fondest memory of the past decade?

Gosh, there are so many things I’m proud of! I love that we’ve created a charity that gives people the opportunity to be good humans. Our team are good humans and everyone who volunteers for us LOVE what they do and it’s so nice to see. Of course, the proudest thing of all is hearing from people we’ve reached telling us their cancer has been diagnosed early because they were checking themselves and they knew the symptoms to look for. We can’t say for sure that we’ve saved lives because cancer has a sneaky habit of sometimes returning in the future, but we know for certain that we’ve given people the best chance of surviving because, statistically speaking, if a cancer is found at the earliest stage the survival rate is vastly higher. We believe everyone deserves that chance.

A: You already do so many amazing things, what’s next for Coppafeel!

Wider reach, to more people, more communities, more “pockets” of people who are currently not being educated. We want to reach BME groups, people who don’t go to uni, young mums and basically everyone that needs to hear our message. Having said that, we also want to ensure what we already do is done even better, even bigger and more efficiently. There’s no need for big changes because we’re already doing big things, we just have to do them better.

A: What’s your favourite ‘everyday’ motivational mantra / affirmation?

“Breathe”. Reminding myself to take a good deep breath is the most grounding thing I can do each day and it really helps me focus!

A: Aside from boob-checking, what other self-care rituals do you have?

I bloody love having a bath. It’s the ultimate “me” moment when I take a long soak in epsom salts. I also like to stretch out my body and practice yoga and reformer pilates.

A: How important is it for CoppaFeel! to partner with brands? (… Like us!)

Hugely! We need as many different audiences to listen to our message and the vehicle for doing that is brand partnerships. It would take us way longer to reach such a huge group of people without you guys! Of course, we also very much need the funds to keep doing our work. For me, partnerships have to feel authentic and truly meaningful. When a brand puts their name to a charity we make sure the people signing the contract actually check their boobs – what’s the point in telling your audience to do something that you haven’t committed to yourself?

A: Which is your favourite piece from the Accessorize x CoppaFeel! collection?

I love the scarf. I’m really into fun forms of headgear and I think it’s so cute to tie it up on your head – or alternatively round your neck!

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Shop the Feel-Good Boutique >

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Meet CoppaFeel! Ambassadors Charlie and Jess

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month (1st – 31st October) we’re proudly supporting breast cancer awareness charity, CoppaFeel! by donating £20,000 of the profits from our exclusive feel-good boutique collection of products. We caught up with the charities amazing ambassadors Charlie Launder and Jess Megan for a quick chat about life, self-love and the importance of getting hands on…

A: Hi ladies, please introduce yourselves!

C:  My name is Charlie, I’m 30 and I live in London. I have been married for almost exactly a year to my university sweetheart George. I am a personal trainer, specialising in pre and post-natal women. I started a business called Bumps & Burpees and I absolutely love helping women feel strong and amazing.

J: My name is Jessica and I’m a body image activist, curve model and very proud CoppaFeel! Ambassador. My job is focused on encouraging women to get to know their bodies on an intimate basis, as well as normalising them externally. Hey, hello, hi!

A: Why did you first get involved with CoppaFeel?

C: When I was 25 I found a lump in my breast, after watching Kris Hallenga’s documentary Dying to Live (she’s the charity’s founder) so I have a lot to thank CoppaFeel! for. I had that removed and luckily no further treatment was needed, but a year and a half later I found another lump in the same place and they discovered a few tumours that all needed urgent surgery. I have been supporting CoppaFeel! ever since and don’t stop talking about what they does to anyone who will listen.

J: Because my message is based around getting women to get to know themselves, both physically and mentally. When we recognise patterns and habits, we can identify bodily malfunctions. These can include mental health blips, missing periods and spotting the signs of cancer. CoppaFeel! was the perfect charity for me, so when I was asked to be an ambassador, I was totally thrilled.

A: Why is CoppaFeel!’s message of early diagnosis so important?

C: If we all learn what to look out for and to get into the habit of checking our boobs when we are young then we are all in a far better position to spot anything ‘odd’! By taking ownership of our bodies and knowing what feels right, we can confidently ask for the help we need if and when we need it.

J: If symptoms are detected early, it can increase the chance of successful treatment. Many frightened women have approached me in relation to their own breast cancer diagnoses or symptoms they are experiencing. They’re worried about the results, the future, and their families. I tell them that while it will be hard and sometimes scary, they can still stand even with shaking legs, and they CAN move forward. Fear is okay, its normal.

A: What advice would you give to someone who feels awkward talking about/checking their boobs?

C: Firstly, you don’t need to talk about checking your boobs if it makes you feel awkward… But you do need to do it! Do it in the comfort of your own house and don’t make it into a ‘big thing’. Have a quick check lying in bed, or standing in the shower – it takes no time at all but that could be saving you a lot of time and stress later on.

 J: We are all different. My breasts are saggy, with white stretch marks and large nipples, and they’ve been that way since I was sixteen. There, I said it! Breasts are a very normal and natural part of being human. We are all dangling, soft machines – there’s a lot of stuff happening in our big bodies all the time and occasionally malfunctions might happen. The only way you can know if something goes wrong is if you get to know your body intimately. Create a bond with your boobs!

A: What are your top tips to remind yourself to regularly check your boobs?

J: I have one tip and it’s the best tip ever (ever, ever, ever): Sign up to CoppaFeel!’s monthly text reminders HERE. They’re super fun, totally non-invasive messages that give you a little nudge every month.

A: What’s your favourite mantra or affirmation?

C: There can be no flowers without rain. When you have a bad day or receive some bad news it can feel all-consuming and like you’ll never get through it, but you will and when you do the good days will feel SO good.

A: Aside from boob-checking, what other self-care rituals do you have? 

J: I eat what I want. If I want a salad’s bowl worth of pasta, I eat a salad’s bowl worth of pasta. If I want to sleep, I sleep long and hard. Self-care isn’t so much about face masks and baths (although if that’s what you like, go for it!) it’s more about listening to your body and knowing what it wants. My biggest self-care treatment is spending time with my dog. He’s a chunky, short-haired rescue and it’s so soothing to be with him after a busy day walking around London.

A: How important is it for CoppaFeel! to partner with brands (… like us!)

 J: Breast cancer is an issue that affects so many and it’s such a worthy cause that needs as much awareness as possible. Influential brands such as Accessorize are vital not only for raising funds, but also to break down barriers of fear between ‘real life’ and the clinical aspects of cancer. Many women I speak to are frightened of hospitals, medical terminology and doctors. Familiarity brings comfort and big brands and corporations can provide this by bringing attention to important issues.

A: Finally, which are your favourite pieces from the Accessorize x CoppaFeel! collection?

C: With my job, I go to and fro from the gym a lot, and I love the printed drawstring pouch for keeping my gym trainers in. It works within my larger carry-all and I can’t get over the print – so cute!

J: The boob necklace! I have a million boob-shaped, boob-printed, boob-centric pieces in my house. I’m missing a boob shaped necklace in my life. A tiny set of golden boobs to perch on top of my boobs. Bliss.

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Shop the Feel-Good Boutique >

Design Stories: The Accessorize x CoppaFeel! Feel-Good Boutique

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month (1st – 31st October) we’re proudly supporting breast cancer awareness charity, CoppaFeel! by donating £20,000 of the profits from our exclusive feel-good boutique collection of products. Venture into the Accessorize design studio to discover more about the vision behind the range and the techniques used to create that eye-catching print…

The inspiration

“As a business that is predominately made up of women, providing accessories for women, it was a no-brainer to support such an amazing charity,” says Mary-Jane Ralston, Buying Manager at Accessorize.

“CoppaFeel! are so imaginative and light-hearted in the way that they aim to break the taboo surrounding talking about and checking your boobs (and pecs!) so an element of fun was very important to capture within our exclusive product range.”

“As a brand we design for girls and women of all ages, so it feels really important to support a charity that focuses on increasing awareness on something that touches almost all of our lives either personally, or through a friend or loved one. I now have a much greater understanding and how to check myself, and I think that our print symbolises that empowerment with a tongue-in-cheek edge.” – Georgie Chappel, Designer at Accessorize.

The design process

The print was developed in-house using a loose, illustrative style. “Abstract prints are big for AW19 anyway, and so this felt like a natural mix of artistic style, trend-influence and meaningful motifs,” explains Georgie.

Pink represents friendship, affection, harmony, emotional strength and inner peace, but it is the softer side of dominant, powerful red, so in the right shade it can still pack a punch. As well as being one of CoppaFeel!’s official colours (and pretty close to our very own brand coral!) the words ‘strength’ and ‘peace’ feel really relevant to this collection and the cause.

The collection

Once our in-house design team were happy with the scribbly ‘boob’ print, we printed it onto some of our best-selling pieces. The boutique collection includes three must-have bag shapes (a tote, wash bag and drawstring pouch), two delicate gold necklaces, a silk scarf, printed tee and cute motif keyring.

“I’m obsessed with the ‘pearly pair’ boobs necklace! Coincidentally there is a big trend in jewellery right now to feature faces and body parts, so this is the perfect piece to buy now and tick off a key trend whilst also supporting this fabulous charity.” – Mary-Jane Ralston, Buying Manager.

“2019 has been the year of the hair accessory, so our silk scarf looks likely to be a bestseller. The best thing is the versatility within this one single product – wrap it around your pony tail or weave into a messy bun. I also love the cute tee – it’s perfect with jeans for everyday.” – Georgina Chappell, Designer.

Education & empowerment

CoppaFeel! are the first breast cancer charity in the UK to solely create awareness amongst young people, with the aim of instilling the knowledge and tools they need to get to know their bodies. We admire the way they discuss and deliver a serious message in a light-hearted way, empowering us all to start healthy habits for life.

CoppaFeel!’s dream is that one day we can live in a world where ALL breast cancers are diagnosed at the earliest stage possible, at which treatments are more effective and survival rates are higher.

“Since working with CoppaFeel! I certainly feel more knowledgeable about checking my boobs and keep telling my friends to start doing so regularly. It’s really simple; cancer has no prejudices, it’s not embarrassed or self-conscious so why should you be?” – Mary-Jane Ralston, Buying Manager.

Getting to know your boobs could save your life – so sign up for a boob check reminder here and get hands on now!

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SHOP THE COLLECTION >

Accessorize x CoppaFeel! – The Feel-Good Boutique

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month (1st – 31st October) we’re proudly supporting breast cancer awareness charity, CoppaFeel! by donating £20,000 of the profits from our exclusive feel-good boutique collection of products.

Keep scrolling to discover more about CoppaFeel! and their incredible work in breast cancer education and discover our exclusive collection including three bags, two necklaces, a silk scarf and keyring

The Charity


CoppaFeel! are the first breast cancer charity in the UK to solely create awareness amongst young people, with the aim of instilling the knowledge and tools they need to get to know their bodies. We admire the way they discuss and deliver a serious message in a light-hearted way, empowering everyone to start healthier habits for life. Speaking of which, learn how to check yourself here.

CoppaFeel!’s mission is to ensure all breast cancers are diagnosed early by empowering women and men to check their boobs/pecs regularly (and from a young age). They also educate on the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and empower people to seek advice from a doctor if symptoms persist, get worse, or cause worry.

Getting to know your boobs could save your life – so sign up for a boob check reminder here and get hands on!

The Boutique Collection

 

Taking our inspiration from CoppaFeel!’s mission and vision, approaching this collaborative collection with a light-hearted energy was key, so if you’re thinking that scribbly print looks a bit cheeky… You’re right! Our incredibly talented in-house design team illustrated lots and lots of boobs to make up this eye-catching pattern, with heart motifs running throughout. We printed it onto our zip-top wash bag, canvas tote, drawstring pouch and silk scarf.

STYLE TIP: Why not mix it up? You can wear our silk scarf in your hair, fasten it around your favourite handbag, wind in through your belt loops or tie it around your neck.

For those who favour more delicate details, we created two gold necklaces – the playful ‘pearly pair’ pendant and a pink-coloured heart. Mix these in with your other favourite necklaces for a trend-led layered look. Alternatively, fix our heart-motif key ring to your purse, keys or handbag.

 

Do good and feel good! Remember, £20,000 of the profits from this collection will go to CoppaFeel! to support their continued mission: That we can one day live in a world where ALL breast cancers are diagnosed at the earliest stage possible, at which treatments are more effective and survival rates are higher.

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SHOP THE COPPAFEEL! FEEL-GOOD BOUTIQUE >

The Monsoon Accessorize Trust: Magic Bus

Magic Bus works with children and young people living in poverty across 22 states of India to ensure they complete secondary education, and develop the skills required to transition successfully into the world of work. They’re one of the key charities that the Monsoon Accessorize Trust have partnered with as we strive for a bigger, better future for some of the most deprived children in Asia.

The Project

For the last 20 years, the Magic Bus has been helping thousands of children and young people in India’s poorest communities break out of poverty with an award-winning activity-based curriculum, otherwise known as their ‘Childhood to Livelihood’ programme.

In July 2017, the Monsoon Accessorize Trust began a three-year partnership with the Magic Bus. Our funding aims to reach 2,000 children in the Khoda, Trilokpuri and Ashok Nagar communities in East Delhi, providing them with the space, opportunity and equipment to play, learn and be actively supported to attend school. The children are exposed to a curriculum specifically designed to develop personal and social skills (such as team work, leadership and confidence) and prepare young people from marginalised communities for employment.

 

Khushi’s Story

Twelve-year-old Khushi and her younger sister Palak have been living with their grandparents in Trilokpuri, Delhi, following the death of their mother. Their grandmother, who works as a housemaid, was unable to pay the tuition fees required to send them to school, meaning neither child had any access to education. When the Magic Bus arrived in the local community, the girls’ grandmother decided to send them there for remedial classes. “We are very happy to send our girls to the Magic Bus,” she told us. “Khushi never spoke at home but she does now and regularly studies too. School fees in our area are very high and we cannot afford it with the kind of jobs that we have. The free classes at the Magic Bus help so many children and give them better futures. I will always be thankful to them.”

Khushi’s education started from scratch at the Magic Bus where she was taught basic literacy and numeracy. At first, she was shy and didn’t ask any questions but slowly started to gain more confidence. Six months later, she’s ready to enrol in mainstream schooling.

 

 

Read More

The Monsoon Accessorize Trust: Phia Foundation

The Monsoon Accessorize Trust: Christian Aid

The Monsoon Accessorize Trust: Smile Foundation