Make it fashion: Montagu Matysik
A stylish twist on "hair of the dog".
Georgina Montagu and Marko Matysik are the creative partnership behind a range of unique accessories that give new meaning to the phrase "hair of the dog".
Montagu Matysik use fabric created from the hair of standard poodles to adorn everything from handbags, to frames and phone cases, belts, dog collars and leads.
The good news is that no poodles are harmed in the process - the hair is collected during the grooming process.
It was Georgina Montagu's great grandmother, Nellie Ionides, who provided the initial inspiration, but these are artisanal techniques that were traditional used to equip English aristocratic hunters.
In the 1930s, Nellie had over 100 standard poodles at her estate in Sussex. She had poodle hair woven into fine tweed which was then tailored into suits and overcoats for her grandsons.
The hair of poodles is described as wool. It feels quite different to the hair of other dog breeds - it's soft, fine, and curly, designed to insulate the dog while swimming. Poodles originated in medieval Germany where they were bred for hunting - swimming through cold water to retrieve shot birds. The texture of poodle-wood, which is hypoallergenic - makes it ideal for weaving, knitting, and felting.
When poodle-loving Georgina discovered a bolt of this poodle tweed in a neglected cupboard, she decided to team up with designer Marko Matysik and revive the traditions of her great grandmother.
Left - Nellie Ionides and Clicquot. Right - Georgina Montagu and Albert.
Montagu Matysik have brought the art of weaving with poodle-wool into the 21st century, creating a line of contemporary and sustainable poodle-based felts and wools that is the feature of the brand's accessories.
A selection of the range is currently on display at the Light House pop-up in Soho.
