This year Millie Dollar, “England’s Most Graceful Tease…”  agreed to become the face of  Baby, Don’t Cry - SilkHankies.  Together with Liverpool photographer Matthew Ford the image now on the website homepage was created.  “This image is so important for describing what the hankies are for, there they are in the boudoir among the frilly things that women love.”  Says Georgia Bonham, founder of BDC.  And just like the hanks and hankies, Millie, otherwise known as Harriet, is home grown.  “I am proud that my hankies are designed, printed and finished here in the UK.”  The current collection features 12 hanks and hankies, all designed by Georgia Bonham with the exception of ‘Baby, B Mine’ the first hanky to be designed by a guest artist.  SilkHankies, which are colourful, cute and stylish can be seen and purchased online at www.silkhankies.com.

Burlesque is enjoying a revival and even those of us least interested in fashion or retro chic could hardly fail to notice the most famous performer of them all Dita Von Tees.  Performing all over the world and regularly pictured looking smoulderingly gorgeous in 1940s and 50s outfits she credited with triggering this new interest in the glamour of the vintage look.  “I personally love all things 40s and 50s and the attention to detail of that era.  In particular the contents of a ladie’s handbag; just because things are hidden away in bags doesn’t mean that they too shouldn’t be stylish as with powder compacts, lipsticks holders and of course proper hankies.”

The handkerchiefs are a throwback, and being a huge fan of all things vintage Georgia decided that a retro theme would describe perfectly the flavour of SilkHankies.  After researching the drawings and artwork behind such iconic figures as Betty Boop and Jessica Rabbit she came up with the sexy, sultry lady we can now see on the SilkHankies logo: otherwise known as ‘Mabel’.  With the help of her friend Lyndsay Maynard, textile designer at Elanbach, Wales, Mabel was transformed from a scribble without shoes to a vintage doll with a cutesy tag line: Baby, Don’t Cry.

However, the hunt for the perfect generic image continued, “ I wanted a model that emulated ‘Mabel’ from the logo, someone with a specific vintage look and unthreatening sexiness.”  It’s true that there probably aren’t that many women who would happily go to a lap or pole dancing show but burlesque is a different thing altogether.  It represents the pride that women should feel about their appearance and sexuality rather than the sell out associated with pole dancing and stripping.  “I was so lucky to find Millie Dollar, she represents bygone days when the flutter of a hanky was considered to be very seductive and romantic.  I’d like to think that with SilkHankies in our handbags we can recapture a little bit of that.”   ENDS

For further information please contact:

Georgia Bonham

Priory Leasow

Titley

Herefordshire

HR5  3RS

Tel: 0845 230 8553

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