Seaside Beads & Kimono
Hand-stitched beadwork, re-loved preloved & vintage treasures.
I’m a long term lover of vintage fashion who took a class in goldwork embroidery at a local art gallery and fell completely in love with beading.
During the pandemic I joined a Facebook group called Frock up Friday and discovered just how much I love dressing up and creating outfits. The pandemic also led me into regularly swimming in the sea so it wasn’t long before I was upcycling my swimwear. Other swimmers asked to buy some of my beadwork so I adjusted the techniques to make my creations more sea friendly and better able to cope with salt water. Now I can’t stop beading. I have become very sparkly.
Whilst I love clothes I can’t bear the waste we generate by throw away fashion. Clothes should be loved and treasured not worn once or twice and abandoned. The items I sell are either vintage or have been lovingly created or upcycled by me. Hours have been invested in sourcing vintage beads, crystals and gemstones and then in hand stitching my designs. There may sometimes be small imperfections because every item is unique.
Please take care of your beads. Don’t put them in the washing machine. If you do hand wash or get them wet then ensure you dry them thoroughly to prevent moisture being trapped inside the beads. Don’t put them on or near direct heat. I often dry my own swim hat by placing it on top of a towel on the radiator. If you purchase a pre-loved garment please also follow the care instructions for that garment.
Sophia Withers
Each item I sell is unique. I sometimes make a series of items such as the beloved fish or starfish but cannot promise to recreate them. My kits are a great way of learning how to create your own wearable art.
I started out with the intention of occasionally selling some vintage/preloved items but in the last few months I’ve become completely hooked on vintage japanese clothing. The items listed here are a small selection of my stock. You can find a wider range and details of fairs that I’ll be exhibiting at on my Instagram @seasidebeadsandkimono.
10% of the sale price of all my beaded items, and the seahorse kits, is donated to The Seahorse Trust. You can find out more about them here.
