Orla Kiely - is it naff?

[WelshNerd]

Orla Kiely was always my go to "when I'm a grown up, I'll get that" thing that I aspired to. Mainly curtains and/or wallpaper.

Now I'm actually a grown up, I'm still tempted but worried I'm about 10-15 years late to the trend.

What do you think?

Who cares about the trend? Do YOU like it? That's what matters! X

I moved to my house 10 years ago and bought a lot of it. I spent about £400 on outdoor dining plates etc which I still love but I wouldn’t buy anymore of it. I had a duvet set, a lot of kitchen stuff and even towels at one point.
You could start with something small and see if you still love it when it’s in your house.

I have a make up bag, which I still love, and a biscuit tin but the biscuit tin now lives in the utility.

I don’t think I’d want wallpaper or anything permanent. The bedding would be a nice way to go if you love the patterns?

My bedding is from there, it's affordable, especial in a sale, and most importantly i really like the cotton they use. I think some of the prints for wall paper are wonderfully retro, and my house is over all very mid century, but i have loud furnishings so i didn't want to go full on busy and kept my walls plain. Having said that, i feel like they're a one trick pony. There's only so many version of the stem leaf print, you'd think anyway.

Totally agree that it's my choice. I suppose the wider question is could I get something that's similar in style but a little more current if I don't go for the brand name.

Yes, Orla Kiely is super naff these days, And very cheap now - because it's not really Orla Kiely anymore. Her fashion business ceased trading 5 years ago and all that's left is homeware under licence (so just churning out the same old prints to make money - which is why prices are lower as it's all about volume now).

I didn't know that @HundredMilesAnHour

I thought the business had stopped trading. I stopped looking for her range when I heard that. I used to like the look but never thought it would suit me long term. I might get some cushions to try it out if they are still around.

O have a few of the bedding really nice
i don’t like much the rest of the things

I put it in the same bracket as Kath Kidston. Not for me.

I do think it's naff nowadays, but if you like it, who cares?

You could Google mid century modern wallpaper/curtains to find patterns with a similar vibe, but which aren't those bloody stems

I am looking at my Orla curtains now.
They are about 5 plus years old and look like new! I have lots windows I. My lounge so they make an impact.. I love them. They go with the mid century. Furniture I adore!

Orla and Rowan still own the business and her website
There are loads of new prints that have been done including bedding.

She no longer makes clothes except under a licence but the leather bags have restarted recently. Interestingly the models have been wearing her clothes (her personal clothes on the website since it relaunched) but there are some that I dont recognise for the Spring bags and so hopefully clothes may be on the way back. The clothing was a work or art- totally beautiful and amazing quality.

There are lots of other wallpaper brands with a similar 60s vibe. Of course if the Orla Kiely one is the one you love you should just get that.

I remember their staff got shafted out of their last month's pay when the company went into administration. I thought that was shitty.

I don't think this is correct. Can you evidence this? Companies House confirms that they liquidated the business owing approx £3 million to their creditors (despite this, Orla and Rowan paid themselves £400k before they declared they were going into voluntary liquidation) and the brand just operates as licensing now. Unless that has changed very recently? Have they started up again?

I have a oral kiely regatta raincoat and I love it! I just love the pattern

By the way is it pronounced kylie or keeley?

kylie

This really pleased me to read! Thank you, I will take a look at the website again.

I just bought some of the curtains from dunelm. I don't care tbh, it works in the room for now.

I'm sorry but her website is such bs. No mention of liquidation, no mention of owing creditors (including HMRC and her own staff) £3 million. I think that's an appalling lack of integrity.

Just in case you think I'm mistaken:

www.irishcentral.com/news/orla-kiely-husband-paid-500k-workers-unpaid

They never stopped
The designs etc assets went to Olive and Orange before it collapsed
Same website- that never stopped.
Same mailing list

Just looking at my mail- by April 2019 they were back trading under their Olive and Orange Brand and I suspect that I had some before then,

From their website- The Orla Kiely site is provided, and Orla Kiely Products are sold and supplied through it, by Olive & Orange Ltd, whose address, for business conducted through the Orla Kiely site, is 64 New Cavendish Street, London, England, W1G 8TB.

If you like mid-century, have a look at Mini Moderns. They do some lovely wallpapers at a similar price point (around £55 a roll).

I have curtains and blinds (from Next)