I’ve mentioned previously that I’m a big fan of Pom Pom Quarterly magazine and their podcast. The Autumn issue was my favourite from last year, but I also really enjoyed the winter issue. Each issue has a theme, and the theme of the winter issue was Biba.
I have a bit of a Biba obsession. I love the Biba aesthetic, both the clothing and Hulanicki’s illustrations. Hulanicki’s autobiography is a favourite of mine, I previously reviewed it here.
I haven’t included any pictures here from the Biba-inspired issue of Pom Pom Quarterly, since you can see all the patterns on Ravelry. Instead, pictures below are from three books about Biba I borrowed from the library at work (Welcome to Big Biba book by Thomas & Turner; The Biba Years by Barbara Hulanicki & Martin Pel; The Biba Experience).
From a start as a small mail-order clothing company, by the 70s Biba’s product range included not only clothing for women, men and children, but a whole range of other supplies including home furnishings and food.
There are also some Biba-related sewing patterns. Barbara Hulanicki drew the cover art for some Le-Roy sewing patterns (e.g. le-roy 3150, 3051, 3056), and McCall’s released a handful of patterns based on popular Biba designs (e.g. McCall’s 2725, 2747). I’d love to track them down at some point.
The photos of Big Biba show a totally unique shop. Sadly it closed in 1975, although I believe the roof garden (now private) is still there.
One of these days I’ll get around to sewing a Biba-inspired outfit, and to knitting some of the patterns from the winter issue of Pom Pom. I might start with Nield, which is knit in a nice chunky worsted and has a lovely cable pattern.
January 7, 2016 at 9:01 pm
Wow my family pet Great Dane (who unfortunately passed away last summer) looked just like that shop stand in the last photo – it could have been modelled on him! He had the same white patch on his chest. What a lovely photo!
January 24, 2016 at 10:49 pm
The stand was modeled on Hulanicki’s own pet, so he must have been a good match for your dog:)
January 8, 2016 at 4:04 am
I’ve just bought the latest Pom Pom (my first!), I love the Callas cardigan/shrug. I really like the Biba aesthetic too, and Art Deco, so this issue is definitely a winner as far as I’m concerned! I love those blue shoes you’ve shown, they’re so cute.
January 24, 2016 at 10:51 pm
Enjoy Pom Pom, I’m looking forward to seeing your makes:) I’m still working my way through the Autumn 2015 issue, but I will get around to making something from the Winter issue eventually! The Winter Amirisu had some great patterns too.
January 8, 2016 at 8:04 am
I remember the Biba shop in Corporation st, loved it. Still think about clothes I bought there, a small print short sleeved dress and a cheesecloth lightweight shirt. The shop was so exciting to visit.
January 24, 2016 at 11:00 pm
It always looks great fun in the photographs. I wish the London store was still there!
January 8, 2016 at 10:12 am
I loved the Biba shop and bought a couple of tops from there, the only things I could afford back then.
January 8, 2016 at 2:37 pm
We loved the big Biba shop in Kensington! It was amazing. I spent quite I lot of my early teens wearing dark green nail polish from there. I just wish I’d kept the posters from my bedroom wall and the one top I managed to buy!
January 24, 2016 at 10:55 pm
The photos looks amazing One of these days I might treat myself to a vintage Biba item! (or possibly just sew a recreation myself)
January 8, 2016 at 8:05 pm
You can still visit the roof-garden – though you have to ring in advance to check that it’s not booked for a private event. It’s free to visit, though. I’ll be going when the weather’s a bit better 🙂
January 24, 2016 at 10:56 pm
Thanks for letting me know! I’ll definitely have to visit in the summer.
January 10, 2016 at 7:26 pm
Lovely dresses and it definitely triggered an inspiration for me to make a vintage dress in the coming days! I love visiting vintage dress shops when I get some free time. Not really to buy but to serve as additional resources so I can get inspiration to work on my next project.
January 24, 2016 at 10:56 pm
I do the same in highstreet clothes shops:)
January 12, 2016 at 2:28 pm
Oh I love Biba. I think Hulanicki doesn’t really approve of the new House of Fraser take on the brand, but I really like some of their pieces.
January 24, 2016 at 10:59 pm
Me too. I think she did eventually work with them last year to design a capsule collection, not sure if she’s going to continue working with them though.
November 30, 2017 at 9:37 pm
Hey, hope you’re reading this late comment, fellow Biba fan here. I’ve been wanting to buy one of the books for a long time, but there aren’t many reviews online. Do you maybe remember which of the three you liked best? I’m undecided between Welcome to Big Biba and The Biba Experience.
Thanks!
January 21, 2018 at 10:03 pm
From memory, Welcome to Big Biba is focused largely on the Big Biba store & photos of it, The Biba Experience focuses on the clothing, and The Biba Years is the history of the brand.