You know I love me some awesome London souvenirs. So I've been in a veritable flap all year with Britain's designers putting their considerable talent behind all sorts of desirable and highly collectable stuff to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee and the 2012 London Olympic Games.
You won't find any "official" London Olympics merchandise here, because frankly, I couldn't find anything I fancied. And I'm sure you're going to be hit over the head with the stuff over the next few weeks. Furthermore, the official mascots are kind of hideous and I can't look at the official 2012 logo without seeing Lisa Simpson performing an adults-only act. Oh dear.
Instead, I've scoured the net for great design, a playful approach and stuff I'd actually like to wear - or have in my house. And you'll find that most of the pieces are designed or made in Britain, if not London itself. Take Thorsten van Elten's collaboration with East London creative agency CREATE, which offers a line-up of five "well considered" souvenirs by British designers that serve as an antidote to the "overly-commercial, tacky souvenirs on sale across London this summer".
Are you ready? Steady. GO!
Medal Necklace by Tatty Devine.
