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TETLEYSA167March 2004 Online: www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk9SITTING PRETTYSARAH FOSTER talks to BlancheBarrigan, the woman who doesn’tmind being known as Darlingtonnumber one ‘bag lady’window shoppingHANDCRAFTED at Hepple’sNorth-East workshop, thisHeaton chair combinestraditional materials and craftsmanshipwith fresh modernshapes and styling. The Heatonis constructed on a kiln-driedbeech frame and features awebbed base and hand-tiedsprings. The design combinessimple lines with touches ofwood, upholstered in a choice ofcontemporary natural-tonedfabrics, including suede, leather,wool and linen. The seatcushions are filled with 25 percent duck down and 75 per centleather. The chair costs £1,395plus nine metres of fabric, andthere is also a sofa, which canLIE BACK AND THINK...ODD is a new mailorder catalogue with anoriginal range of itemsfor the home. There arekitchen chairs, sofas,ottomans, lamps andbags, all upholstered ina range of fabrics whichevokes old worldEnglish charm. The OldRocker recreates thebest of the elegantgarden furniture of theEdwardian era and, likeobjects from that era, itis built to last. A choiceof canvas colours isavailable – canvaswhite, Cornish blue,garden green andsailor’s trousers red –and an overall cover,internal walls and springgaiters are optionalextras.The hand-paintedframe from which theupholstered sofa hangsbe produced in any size, whichcosts from £1,987 plus fabric.For more details call Hepple on(01434) 602260. Hepple’s rangecan be found at the ChelseaHarbour Design Centre and atthe company’s outlet in Hexham,Northumberland.is made of steel andcast iron and is simpleto assemble. Water androt resistant, it costsfrom £2,599. Odd(01993) 830674 oremailmail@oddlimited.com.Blanche in Trippas, with above, Tula leather bag, £105; Pure suede bag, £69.99, andbelow left, children’s fun backpack, £3.99Pictures: CHRIS BOOTHreally carrying handbags, they werecarrying clubbers’ purses. There are someabsolutely stunning designs now,” saysBlanche.Following the closure of Dressers in 2001,she linked up with some of its suppliers,many of whom would only deal with oneretail outlet per town. She has alsobenefited from co-operation with Binns,which sometimes sends customers her way.The advantages to coming to her shop, shesays, are its competitive prices andpersonal service.“We try to do things a little bit morecheaply than the big boys but also we canorder things for people. We try to cover awide range of prices – in handbags, we doeverything from £4.99 to £149, and we try tokeep a middle price range for luggage. Wecarry a nice quality you will have foryonks. We don’t do anything that Iwouldn’t buy but if it’s cheap and wellmade,I’ll have it,” Blanche says with aglint in her eye.As well as a plethora of handbags,rucksacks and cases, Trippas sells travelaccessories – the range includes padlocks,adaptors, waist wallets, travel trolleys andwonder towels. If travelling traditionally ismore your style, they can even get you atrunk.The shop is also great for children’sluggage. Among the new season’s stockthat Blanche is most enthusiastic about isTula’s colourful Roosac range, in whicheach item comes with a small kangaroo.Her enthusiasm as she flicks throughmagazines showing the latest must-havehandbags is evident, and she clearly lovesher job, never ceasing to be surprised bythe extent of people’s travels. “You wouldbe absolutely amazed that in this littletown of Darlington, you get people goingall over the world,” she says.But there’s one downfall to running thebusiness, the irony of which is not lost onher. “To be honest, since I opened this ourholidays have been limited to a week awayhere or there and we tend to go within easyflying distance from Teesside,” she says.“It’s very ironic, but I can’t complain.”● Trippas, Tubwell Row, Darlington (01325)243 988TOHEIGHINGTONWHINBANKROADP.W.S.INCINERATORKITCHENCREATIONDURHAM WAYSOUTH3MFACTORYHOLIWAYSGARAGEFILTRONICAYCLIFFEVILLAGEMc DONALDSSOUTH NORTHA1 A1JUNCTION59A167DARLINGTON