Would you pay $100,000 for an orchid?
In 1818 an orchid was sent from Brazil to Britain. The specimen, later christened Cattleya labiata, had been collected by William Swainson, an English naturalist keen to make a name for himself in an age when natural history was newly fashionable. When eventually induced to bloom, revealing crimson, club-shaped petals, Cattleya labiata was agreed to be among the most splendid of its kind. It 'must strike with admiration every beholder who is not actually insensible of the charms of nature,' one keen fan wrote.
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The Courier
4 hours ago
- The Courier
Perthshire fashion designer's journey to dressing Taylor Swift and £2m turnover
At secondary school in Perth, Jade Robertson was known for customising her uniform. Fast forward two decades and her flair for design caught the eye of one of the world's top pop stars. Orders for Jade's Perthshire-based fashion brand 'skyrocketed' when Taylor Swift was spotted in one of her velvet dresses last year. However, the incredible success of Little Lies is down to far more than just the so-called 'Taylor effect'. Founded in 2015 by Jade and husband Stuart Robertson, the business – which specialises in bohemian, 70s inspired styles – turned over £2 million last year. It began as a small, online boutique operating out of the couple's bedroom. Clothes, while carefully curated, were bought in from wholesalers. However, since 2023, Little Lies, headquartered in Glencarse, has been selling solely its own creations. Jade, 35, will share more about her remarkable story at this month's Courier Business Conference. The event, on Tuesday June 24, is held in partnership with Henderson Loggie and brings together pioneers of gaming, music, fashion, design, media, and digital innovation in Dundee to explore the future Scotland's creative sector. Speaking to The Courier from her Little Lies HQ this week, Jade said: 'So much has changed since we started Little Lies 10 years ago but the ethos remains the same. 'For me, it has always been about helping women of all ages and sizes express their authentic selves and feel comfortable in clothes that are made for their bodies. 'Little Lies isn't a brand that chases trends. 'We are inspired by the music and free spirit of the 70s but want our pieces to feel timeless and be worn again and again. 'The antithesis of fast fashion, we care about quality and fit and use reputable factories.' Perth-born Jade credits her aunt Eve Graham, who sang lead vocals with the New Seekers, with inspiring her love of 70s music and fashion. Jade would dress up in songstress' vintage stage wear and listen intently to tales of parties with the Beatles and Led Zeppelin. She recalls: 'As a young girl my aunt's influence was huge and definitely got me hooked on the music and style of that era. 'I've always had my own unique style. I used to customise my own clothes, including my school uniform, and at one point wore bright pink shoes to school.' Attending Craigie Primary School and Perth High School, Jade excelled in art, music and English and took part in the school drama shows. But despite an impressive haul of Higher results, she decided to leave after fifth year to run a charity fashion show, Rock the Catwalk. Jade immersed herself in the planning and staging of popular event at Perth Concert Hall for four years – even roping her architect dad, Billy, in to be a model. At 21, she decided to apply to the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow to study technical theatre – but the degree wasn't quite what she expected. 'I loved working behind the scenes at the Concert Hall and decided I wanted to learn how to do all the technical jobs. 'I enjoyed much of my time at the Conservatoire but after two years I realised it wasn't for me and I was going to end up a qualified electrician rather than doing something creative.' Never one to be doing just one thing, Jade's 'side hustle' came to her rescue. She continued: 'I had been making tie dye t-shirts so I started to make more of them and sold them to independent shops to cover the remainder of my rent.' After a brief stint with Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance, she began working in a boutique in Dunfermline, which stocked her t-shirts. It was there, she met her now husband, Stuart, 38, who was friends with the owner. The pair immediately clicked and within a matter of months Stuart had persuaded Jade to set up her own business. Jade said: 'I remember the moment we decided to go for it. We were driving back from a gig and Stuart said he would support me all the way. 'I have always been quite spontaneous but I think I needed that push from him to realise I could make it work. 'Little Lies has been a joint project from day one and I'm so grateful for Stuart's support.' Starting small, Jade set up Little Lies as an online boutique in 2015, sourcing garments that both fit her aesthetic and she knew women would feel good in. She bought a small van and attended tattoo conventions and held local pop-up shops at Aviva and SSE's Perth offices. At the start of 2018 she opened a small standalone Little Lies store in Dundee. While Jade loved chatting to customers on the shop floor and helping them chose outfits, running costs and profitability were a struggle and she made the decision not to open again after the pandemic. However as one door closed, another opened and soon after she got the keys to the current Glencarse unit, Little Lies began selling its own designs. There were a number of reasons Jade was keen to start designing, notably to offer better size inclusivity. She explained: 'Our clothes now come in sizes 6 to 24 and in two different lengths. 'It's important to me to cater to everyone and while the average women's size in the UK is a 16, it can be hard to source over a 14. 'Now sizes 14 to 18 are my biggest sellers.' Turnover was steadily increasing year-on-year until January 2024 when Taylor Swift was spotted wearing Little Lies' Sweet Jane olive crushed mini dress on a night out in Brooklyn. Orders and pre-orders flew in from across the globe and Little Lies met its monthly target within 24 hours. Jade said: 'We usually sell 200 to 300 per style but we sold 6,000 Sweet Jane mini dresses. It was incredible. 'Taylor is the perfect ambassador for the brand. She embodies female empowerment, is unapologetically herself and has strong value that she stands up for. 'She didn't just wear our dress, she wore an affordable £58 dress from a tiny, Scottish female owned brand that comes in inclusive sizes. 'The Taylor effect was a flash in the pan moment in terms of long-term sales but it increased brand visibility and has given me new opportunities to share my story, such as the Courier Business Conference.' Jade, who was recently asked to design St Johnstone FCs third kit, is excited about the future of Little Lies but is also enjoying the 'stability' that 10 years in business brings. Mum to two-year-old Naila, her work/life balance is more than important than ever and her weekends now involve more soft play trips than gigs. She added: 'I used to hate the 9-5 but am now glad to be able to have my evenings and weekends free to be with my family. 'Running your own brand can be stressful so I am happy to be in a stable place right now and work on slow growth and releasing collections I really love.' The Courier Business Conference will also hear from Dundee games boss Chris van der Kuyl who will demonstrate a new virtual design studio and his company, 4J Studios' new game. Held at The Big Real at Water's Edge in Dundee, the keynote speaker will be Geoff Ellis, chief executive of DF Concerts, who will reflect on his career putting on high profile music events including T in the Park and TRNSMT. Tickets are available from
Belfast Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Diarmuid Gavin: The 19th century Irish gardener who went on to influence the world
In the quiet countryside near Kilmeaden, Co Waterford, a boy was born in 1838 who would go on to transform the way the world thought about gardens. William Robinson was not born to privilege, and yet he became one of the most influential horticulturists in history — an Irishman who reshaped the English landscape, one perennial at a time.
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners can 'kill ivy for good' with natural solution using just three items
Gardeners are often left frustrated by the rapid growth of English ivy, but there is a simple and all-natural way to get rid of it using just three household items Home gardeners across the UK are all too familiar with the resilience of English ivy, even if they haven't intentionally planted it. This evergreen climber is common throughout the country, notorious for its ability to latch onto walls, fences, and trees, forming dense coverings of leaves. While it does provide some ecological advantages, such as offering shelter for birds and facilitating pollination, its propensity to overwhelm other plants, damage older walls, and block sunlight can be a nuisance for gardening enthusiasts. When dealing with rapid-growing weeds like ivy, one might assume that strong chemicals are the solution. However, specialists at Drip Works propose a homemade remedy using three common kitchen items to permanently eliminate "serious and invasive" ivy. The approach to managing unwanted ivy varies depending on its location within the garden. For ivy-covered walls, Drip Works experts suggest a vinegar-based spray, as reported by the Express. "If you want an ivy-free garden wall, this is an effective and natural way to achieve it," the experts at Drip Works recommend. They advocate for a mixture consisting of apple cider vinegar, salt, and washing-up liquid, which they claim has been "proven to be the best solution to kill ivy", reports Nottinghamshire Live. Preparing this ivy-killing spray is a breeze; simply mix three easy-to-find ingredients in a spray bottle. Blend one gallon of apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon of salt, and about two tablespoons (or one ounce) of washing-up liquid. You can use either apple cider vinegar or white vinegar to tackle ivy, with apple cider vinegar possibly packing a bigger punch for some due to its extra compounds beyond acetic acid. The effectiveness of either vinegar in killing ivy depends on the acetic acid concentration, which varies between different types of vinegar. If you don't have any apple cider vinegar at home, you can easily pick up a bottle from your local supermarket. Sainsbury's sells 500 ml of Apple Cider Vinegar for just £2.10. Before applying the mixture, make sure to secure the lid and give it a good shake. It's also crucial to wear gardening gloves, long sleeves, and boots to protect yourself during the process. How to kill ivy plants Irrigation experts recommend letting the vinegar solution coat the ivy plants for at least five days before evaluating its impact. This liquid mixture acts as a natural herbicide, dehydrating ivy leaves and helping break down their protective waxy layer. The team from Drip Works advised: "After five to six days, use garden shears and a pruning saw to remove dead ivy that is clinging firmly to the building." If any leaves resist the herbicide, you may need to repeat the process until the English ivy is completely eliminated. After the leaves have died off, it's vital to physically remove the roots, as ivy is tenacious and will regrow from even a tiny root fragment. Although ivy can offer nesting spaces for wildlife within its thick growth, unchecked spread can threaten trees by adding weight and competing for light and moisture.
