Polka Dot Dreams: fuzzy and cute

When you were at school did you ever play with fuzzy-felt? You probably stuck it onto card or made a hand puppet with it at some point. At Polka Dot Dreams they’re making felt funky and modern!

This lovely label was started by Samantha Wood, a BA Fashion Design Innovation graduate. Samantha graduated in 2011 from the University for Creative Arts where she specialised in menswear. Like many graduates, she found it very difficult to find a job but decided to take things into her own hands: “For as long as I can remember I have had to keep my hands busy and cannot stand doing nothing.” This led to her opening Polka Dot Dreams just over a year ago.

Samantha loves animal based jewellery, but found it difficult to find anything that she really liked, so she decided to design some of her own. Most of her designs are created using felt which gives a kitsch feel to the range. When you browse through the collection of accessories you can’t help but feel warm and fuzzy inside. The pieces are really cute. For example, these fox shoe clips can literally transform any pair of shoes that you own.  

The detail on this Peter Pan collar is just amazing. The small felt flowers and pearl beads will instantly transform a boring top.

Throughout the collection there is a running theme of animals but is it just animals that inspire Samantha? “I am originally from the Buckinghamshire countryside; I’m always inspired by woodland animals. I also love flicking through vintage animal encyclopaedias, taking trips to the zoo and watching nature documentaries.” Not every designer would consider making a sloth-adorned necklace, unless they knew it would work – and it really does.

If you want to relive your childhood maybe Polka Dot Dreams can help you do just that.

                                   Jenny Rodgers

Head over to the website here to see some seriously cute accessories.