Visiting MiH Jeans HQ




Yesterday evening I popped into the MiH (previously Made in Heaven) jeans headquarters for a sneak peek of the autumn/winter 2009 collection.  My first visit to their showroom, the 40 minute hike to the bottom of the King’s Road and into the depths of a South West London industrial estate was well worth it…  I want to move in!  More like a converted barn than a ‘unit’, framed photographs archiving MiH’s history line the walls (see pic above), piles of colourful t-shirts brighten up nooks and crannies and massive country kitchen wooden tables provide centre pieces topped with welcoming biscuits to nibble on.  Oh so inviting!

Cup of Earl Grey in hand, Susan, head of press and public relations, talks me through the new styles.  I instantly fall for the Oslo.  Black velvet skinnies that look like the could have been pinched straight from Kate Moss – really rock ‘n’ roll and possibly the next big thing for the skinny trouser?  There’s a mean little checked dress called the Winter dress with a swinging skirt that would look great paired with thick woolly tights and a beret come autumn.
But the reason why I really love MiH is because of its retro roots.  Originally established in the 60’s as Made in Heaven, Jane Birkin and Farrah Fawcett wore these jeans.  Set up by rag-trade mogul Tony Lonsdale and his wife, top model Chekkie Maskell, their daughter Chloe Lonsdale has revived old styles so that we can wear them now.  These are real live-in jeans.  I wear my trusted ankle grazers – the Paris in the Pacific wash – ALL of the time and not only do people comment of the fit and the length, but the colour…  That colour gets praise every time!  They’re in the current spring/summer ’09 collection and well worth a try-on if you are ever near a MiH stockist.
Key autumn/winter ’09 styles to bag: the Roadtrip, the Berlin and the London Boy jeans and the Cowgirl shirt that’s made of waffle fabric – super soft.  You’ll have to wait a few months mind!