Mercantile Blog

  The award winning apothecary collection Abahna was founded in 2005 by Claire and Ed Croft who took inspiration from the exotic bathing ceremonies and spas of India and the Far East. Priding themselves on product formulations and design aesthetics they carefully choose English suppliers who can meet their high standards. Abahna is dedicated to a philosophy of nature, which...

New to The Mercantile, Antwerp based knitwear brand Howlin’ has been producing quality knitwear in Scotland since 2009. The two brothers are part of a four strong design team and have come from a family knitwear dynasty that produced traditional knits including cable and Fair Isle in Scotland.   The approach to manufacturing remains staunchly traditional but Howlin' offers “more...

Introducing the Thermal collection from Danish raincoat brand Rains, these new unisex shapes are made from the brands same trademark lightweight, water-resistant, windproof and breathable fabric but are now also insulated with an innovative, thin polypropylene fiber which has a high level of insulation, up to -15 degree. If you love the look and waterproof ability of your Rains jacket, but...

Country style dominated on the Autumn Winter 17 catwalks with plaid, heritage tweed and cable knit cardigans appearing in numerous designers collections. So it's no surprise the street style blogs were saturated with one of the key pieces of the season, the heritage checked blazer.   The key to making it work is the silhouette, so go for an eighties...

"Androgyny - the combination of masculine and feminine characteristics".   This season sees British brand Native Youth introduce gender neutral pieces into their A/W collection. Key pieces include the Apex Parka, an oversized olive coloured parka coat and the Altair puffer jacket with a long line fit and padded to keep you warm. Offering something for the transitional months, the raw...

Born in Västerås Sweden, Maya Njie (pronounced 'Maia En-jai') moved to London in her late teens. Her background lies in surface design and photography, which she studied at the University of the Arts London. To further communicate her work, she began experimenting with the sense of smell as an added medium.     Inspired by an old family photo album...

Just Female AW 2017 collection. Oskara Tigers. "Patent leather, bulky knits, electric colours and sleeved statements. Inspired by the Japanese city Oskara, where youthful, energizing vibes run through the streets. Oskara Tigers is a story about the geometric buildings, the distinct colours and the girls strolling through the street". This season the Just Female collection is set in Oskara, Japan....

For Autumn / Winter 2017, RAINS pays tribute to the icons of our time. As a move on from the existing collection of iconic raincoat styles, a number of iconic newcomers have been introduced to the collection including new interpretations of the bomber, the parka, the mackintosh and the coach jacket.  In keeping with their continuing aesthetic, the A/W 2017...

 Not just for the Summer season, floral takes on a dark edge with a palette of anthracite and inky blue. Following on from the mini trend of Summer Gothic, floral print with a dark background continues to work hard to provide interest well into the Autumn months, especially when teamed with a loose, flowing silhouette and delicate details.   Rosa...

Custommade introduces the Pre collections with its trademark Scandinavian loose and easy to wear separates.  A pale green tiered silk skirt is styled with a textured knit, a pretty powder blue ruffle top elevates everyday denim and a stunning gold lurex and shimmering electric blue dress appears alongside touches of semi-sheer ruffles, pleats and intricate print. With the potential to...