Fashion

“I love the fact that We Are Not A Shop offers such a wide range of pieces that you don’t find anywhere else. And it’s all for a good cause, too.”

You may recognize Jacqui Losco from her modelling work, TV appearances, or her Instagram, @jacquilosco. But you may have also spotted her on a plane, serving among the Air Malta cabin crew! Today, however, she’s sitting down with us to talk all things We Are Not A Shop. Find out what she selected from our online store, below.

Jacqui, thanks so much for joining us! Can you tell us a bit about the items you selected today and what drew you to them?

Sure. I was mainly drawn to pieces that reminded me of my childhood, and there are quite a few!

Firstly, I picked the apothecary’s box because it’s just so unique. I also happen to love things with small compartments – they’re so cute, and tiny!

This piece also instantly caught my eye. It’s essentially a fun ice-cream cone-shaped container to keep your baby’s first tooth in. I admit it’s sort of creepy, but also so sweet. I have lots of nephews and nieces, so I’m always on the lookout for baby-related things.

Then, I selected this cigarette holder because it’s so chic. It felt very 007 – which I loved growing up. I wasn’t allowed to watch them all of course, but I would try to look over my sister’s shoulder while she was watching them in the living room. Her thesis was on the 007 films and gender issues, so she watched them all for research. I just watched them for fun…

As you can tell from my voice, I’m a smoker, unfortunately. So that’s why I’ve gone for another smoking-related item. I just think old cigarette boxes like this one are so cool.

Then, I would really like to have a table lamp like this in my new place. The white coral feels so peaceful. And it’s not your everyday table lamp, either – it’s got a twist.

As for this backgammon set, my family owned a very similar one, which I would play with endlessly. I didn’t actually know how to play (and still don’t), but I would keep myself busy moving the pieces around. It belonged to my Nannu, so it’s sentimental I suppose.

This bunny fairy light was another blast from the past. As a child, I was obsessed with Peter Rabbit. My bedroom was full of bunnies and flowers! It brought back many memories.

Finally, I obviously had to pick this framed collection of cat cartoons – I’m a proud cat lady.

What will you be doing with your items?

I’ll probably put the backgammon set and apothecary’s box on display in my new living room.

What was your most surprising selection?

Probably the baby’s first tooth container. I don’t have any babies myself, but it seems like a sweet thing to have. You can pop it in your glass vetrina with the rest of the silverware.

Do you have a favourite section of the website?

Yes, the jewellery section.

What do you like about the We Are Not A Shop concept?

I love the fact that We Are Not A Shop offers such a wide range of pieces that you don’t find anywhere else. And it’s all for a good cause, too. Anyone visiting the website has the opportunity to purchase some truly beautiful items and donate to charity at the same time. That’s an amazing thing!

How would you describe We Are Not A Shop to someone who doesn’t know about it?

As a pleasantly surprising online shopping experience. When you visit the website, you’re bound to find something interesting. I could have picked many more items, but I had already exceeded my quota!

Would you recommend We Are Not A Shop to a friend?

I’ll recommend it to my friends, for sure. We’ll do a lot of damage…

Local designer Yana Azzopardi is the creative powerhouse behind Yana’s Jewellery. Since opening its doors back in 2012, the brand has launched three separate outlets and has grown to become one of Malta’s favourites for custom-made jewellery. Today, Yana’s taken the time out of her busy schedule to chat to us about her favourite We Are Not A Shop picks. Spoiler – she really does love jewellery.

Yana, we’re so pleased you could join us. Can you talk us through some of your favourite We Are Not A Shop pieces?

Of course. But before we get started, I have to say it’s probably no surprise that I’m obsessed with accessories, but it’s about to become even more obvious…

The first thing that caught my eye was this clutch bag. It’s a neutral colour so you can style it with anything, and I have the perfect earrings to pair it with.

Then, I thought these bangles were gorgeous. They remind me of Morocco (one of my favourite places), and I just love everything about them; the noises they make, the feel of them, and the mother of pearl detail, too!

I also thought this scarf was super cool. It’s another versatile piece that I can see myself wearing with a bunch of different outfits. It would also make a great Christmas gift because it’s appropriate for all ages.

I feel like this small wrist bag was made for me because I’m constantly losing things and could use a handy piece like this to keep everything in one place. I think my mum would also appreciate it as a gift, so maybe I’ll have to surprise her with it.

Then, I spotted this fun bag – another classic staple. You can take it on holiday, to the beach, or use it to jazz up any outfit.

Everyone needs a good clutch bag in their wardrobe, and I happen to have a few weddings coming up so this will certainly come in handy.

Finally, I always like to have a tote bag with me just in case I need to do a spot of shopping. They’re so convenient. They’re also great for carrying drinks to dinner parties or for getting gifts safely to a Christmas lunch!

Did you pick any items with someone specific in mind?

Not really. I added whatever caught my eye to my cart! That’s generally how I shop; I pick stuff I know I would love to receive myself, and then distribute accordingly. It does mean that I tend to want to keep everything though…

We know this is a tough question, but do you have a favourite item?

I think the bangles are my favourite. I wear a lot of jewellery, so…

How would you describe We Are Not A Shop to someone who doesn’t know about it?

It’s a charity-based online store with approachable online content, stylish products, and a varied selection of items. Plus, it’s all for a good cause!

Now, what do you like about the We Are Not A Shop concept?

I think it’s super interesting and unique – I don’t know of anything similar on the island!

I only found out about it recently, but I’ll definitely be back soon.

Would you recommend We Are Not A Shop to a friend?

Of course. Especially with Christmas around the corner; I’ll spread the word!

You may well recognise Tina Mifsud as the young artist behind the exhibitions ‘Plajja’ and ‘Point of You’. However, besides being one of the islands’ most in-demand artists of the moment, she’s also found her way into the world of accessories: creating customisable jewellery for her brand, Tina’s Treasures, and functional belt pouches for Fold.

With a clear artistic vision and a strong eye for detail, we figured that Tina would be the perfect person to chat to about all things We Are Not A Shop. Read on to discover what she selected from our online store!

Tina, we’re so happy you could join us! So, let’s get started. What drew you to the items you selected today?

Firstly, I was instantly attracted to the Collectors’ Corner because of its wide range of antique and vintage pieces. All the items are so gorgeous and intricate – you just don’t find things like that nowadays.

I’m also really into my jewellery and am a sucker for a pop of colour, which is why I picked this chunky vintage yellow necklace. It’s a great statement piece that you can dress up or down to complete any outfit. I’d probably style it with some white and blue clothes/accessories – one of my favourite colour combos, especially as we round off the summer.

Then, I picked this poster because I’m doing up a property and have been on the hunt for the sort of quirky pieces that really make a home a home. I’m a fan of pop culture, the 60s, and frankly, anything retro, so this funky poster instantly caught my eye. And it has ‘Espagna’ written on it, so it felt like a sign. For context: I lived in Barcelona for a while, and it will forever hold a special place in my heart. Hence the sign…

Also, you can always find me sporting some gold jewellery, so these earrings were right up my street. The coloured crystal detail makes them extra special, too – the perfect accessory for a fancy occasion.

As an artist, I’ve always been fascinated by the Maltese landscape. Our rock formations, layered limestone, and salt pans are all so unique. In fact, limestone is going to feature quite heavily in my next exhibition, which is why I chose this book. Malta’s textures are such a prominent part of who and what we are that it’s hard not to draw inspiration from them.

Finally, this scent bottle is absolutely beautiful – I particularly love the metal detailing because the craftsmanship is so impressive. It also feels like something out of the 1920s and I can’t help but imagine the story behind it. Who owned this? Where has it been? That’s part of the magic of discovering these rare pieces, isn’t it? They have so much history.

Those are some great choices, Tina. Did you pick any of them with someone specific in mind?

Well, I’m very close to my sister and we bond over our shared appreciation of jewellery, so I can definitely see her sporting this necklace and earring combo.

Then, this small pill box instantly reminded me of my grandmother. Growing up, I specifically remember she had a different pill box for every day of the week, all with varying intricate designs. I definitely picked it with her in mind.

I also think my dad would be thrilled to receive this book as a gift. He works in real estate so he’s always looking out for new interior design trends.

We know this is a tough decision, but do you have a favourite item?

I’d have to say the earrings. They’re classy, valuable, and real gold– you can’t go wrong!

We couldn’t agree more. Could you tell us what you enjoyed most about your We Are Not A Shop experience?

I found the whole experience to be very personal. It’s clear all the items are very carefully selected and chosen with love, which is so rare. Everything is great quality, too, and it’s all for a good cause which makes it 10 times better.

Finally, would you recommend We Are Not A Shop to a friend?

Of course, 100 percent! I’ll be back soon myself…

Thank you for joining us, Tina! And good luck decorating your new home, we can’t wait to see how it turns out.

Tina is currently working on two exhibitions: the collaborative, all-female exhibition CURRENT/S II, which you can check out at Studio 104 St Lucia Street, Valletta, and her upcoming solo exhibition scheduled for next September.