New Year in Riga

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anyasushko, baltic, christmas, domesquare, events, exciting, fair, fur, handcrafted, handmade, latvian, market, miniature, New Year in Riga, newyear, oldtown, Riga, russian, stalls, style, trip, winter

Dear Readers, we have been quiet for a while but we’re pleased to announce that 2016 is the year when our blog is very much back online!  And where better to see in 2016 than the romantic city of Riga, the birthplace of Anya, our Creative Director?

Old Town Riga

Riga is one of those places that seduces you with its blend of Baltic sophistication and traditional rustic simplicity.  Our favourite place is the Christmas Market in Downtown, which has the 13th century Cathedral of St Mary as its romantic backdrop.

Winter fair’s stalls with amber and wool.

Here you can potter from stall to stall, at one moment choosing from an array of traditional Amber stone jewellery, at another delving between cosy homemade woollen jumpers, plush deerstalker hats and comforting sheepskins, and at another picking from an assortment of blackened joints of meat, smoked traditional-style.

Winter fair stalls with fur and handmade wooden items.

Stalls with food.

And all the while you are embraced by the wintry smell of roasting meats, chestnuts and caramel-coated peanuts. Sipping a mulled wine by the open fire at the centre of the market, and watching the snow settle on the ground, you feel a million miles away from the hurly-burly of London life.  A great way to recharge the batteries.  Hello 2016!

Winter Fair in Old Town Riga

Anya and Matthew at Winter Fair at Dome Square in Riga

Behind the Scenes of a Very Special Event – Anya Sushko for the Royal Automobile Club, Part 2

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Anya Sushko, Anya Sushko Handbags London, brand, clutches, designer bags, exclusive event, fashion collaboration, fashion event, handbag showcasing, handbags, handmade bags, London, luxury handbags, members club, purses, RAC, Royal Automobile Club, travelling

Two weeks ago, we shared the beginning of a very special collaboration – our upcoming event with the Royal Automobile Club, which will take place in February next year. As promised, we wanted to take you on our journey from idea conception to the final result which is to be revealed early next year.

And this is how it all began…

If you have missed the introductory post to our RAC collaboration, make sure to revisit it and find out more about our partner – the formidable, traditional and quintessentially British Royal Automobile Club. We feel privileged and excited to be working with this “private members’ club that combines over 100 years of tradition” as we share similar values, including dedication to superb quality, tradition and the best possible service.

The logo of the famous Royal Automobile Club

All relationships begin with a conversation and then a meeting. We arranged to meet at the club’s out of London facilities – in the leafy Epsom, in Surrey, to discuss how to bring the Anya Sushko experience to life for the Royal Automobile Club members. We had the pleasure of spending the day with the Events Manager Emily and her assistant, who kindly showed us around before getting down to business in a cosy corner in one of the club’s restaurants where we had a chance to discuss our ideas and how to make them happen in person. No detail went unmentioned – everything from the exact venue and the refreshments that would be served on the night, to the selection of handbags for the showcase, the exclusive discounts and offers for RAC members  – was carefully discussed to ensure not only the best experience for the guests but also complete consistency between both our and RAC values and beliefs. The room we picked for the event has a very traditional, old British atmosphere, with mahogany chairs and sophisticated furniture.

The event room will look something like this!

We had a chance to have a look around the rest of Woodcote Park – the RAC residence outside London. We discovered a world of tucked away green spaces, tranquil terraces and fountains, where members leisurely enjoy drinks and conversation and displays of vintage cars we thought only existed in movies.

Showcasing of vintage cars!

Beautiful terraces and fountains!

The RAC prides itself as being one of UK’s most exclusive members clubs and for a reason – the privacy is unrivalled and the members have every comfort catered for. We couldn’t help but notice that some members arrived by helicopter to enjoy the gorgeous, leafy Woodcote Park. This is what we call making an entrance!

Follow our journey towards the Anya Sushko for the Royal Automobile Club event in 2015 in our blog series here.

Explore quality luxury handbags on the Anya Sushko online shop.