Mouse to Minx’s “Bunty” comic-inspired product line grows in time for Christmas

Paula Daly with a Bunty apron
Paula Daly with a Bunty apron

Chic retailer Mouse To Minx are ramping up their product line inspired by the once hugely popular and today fondly-remembered Bunty comic, published by DC Thomson for 30 years.

We previously reported on a number of the items being offered by the company, which first appeared as a vintage and new designer retailer in 2005 in a unique example of retail theatre in Bristol. On starting an e-commerce channel in 2007, it was listed on the “Top 50 on the web” in 2008 just before the recession took its toll, when it was enjoying a customer base on five continents.

Bunty-inspired scarves inspired by the famous girls comicfrom Mouse to Minx
Bunty-inspired scarves inspired by the famous girls comic are just one of the product lines being offered to retailers by Mouse to Minx, with plans for limited online sales through the company’s web site.
Mugs based on art from Bunty's long-running "The Four Mary's" strip
Mugs based on art from Bunty’s long-running “The Four Mary’s” strip

“Our newest chapter of adventures launched in 2015, as Mouse to Minx became the first brand ever to be awarded a design licence from publisher DC Thomson to restore and use illustrations from the legendary vintage girls’ comic Bunty,” says owner Paula Daly of their brand’s most exciting development to date. “I had the pleasure of scouring through their archive to identify the images I wanted to work with, and had a wonderful time bringing the illustrations back to life so that they could be used on a range of products.”

Bunty was published between 1958 and 2001, running for 2249 weekly issues plus some five little-known Bunty Monthly reprint comics while its 50 annuals, or ‘Book For Girls’, concluded with the 2009 cover dated publication. It is still much missed by fans, with a thriving “Bring Back Bunty” group on Facebook.

One of the Bunty comic’s longest running stories was “The Four Marys”, and using a ‘school cook’ story from 1961 Paula has designed a collection of homewares which was launched to the wholesale trade at Olympia in May and which, as we previously reported, is now available on the Mouse to Minx website, including aprons

“When we were young not all girls were maturing at the same rate and there were a good few who were not obsessed with boys, pop-idols and problem pages,” says Paula of Bunty‘s appeal. “There were a good many who had hobbies and interests, like to read about capable heroines and ambitious young female business-makers, icons and role-models. And then there was the ubiquitous ‘school’ story.

“The girls who read Bunty liked reading, making, doing and inventing as well as enjoying using their imagination in playing with a character whose fashion wardrobe was changing with the trends of the time and on a weekly basis. And what’s not to like about that?”

Along with the growing Bunty range – Paula carefully digitally restores found vintage paper ephemera, amongst her other designs are Fine Art Giclee prints which re-worked from old, worn adventure book covers, gives anyone the chance to be immortalised as the heroine of their own ripping adventure making a perfect and unique gift.

Mouse to Minx Bunty Promo

Six different 20 x 25 cm Giclee prints, three featuring panels from “The Four Marys” and three with ‘paper dolls’ of Bunty herself are part of the range offered.

• There are more details of all Mouse To Minx’s Bunty merchandise on the company’s website 

• Find From Mouse to Minx on Facebook 

• Follow From Mouse to Minx on Twitter @Mouse_to_Minx

Bunty® © and associated characters TM © DC Thomson & Co. Ltd. 2015

Please note, these items are no longer available from the company mentioned due to licensing changes – this item is retained “as is” for archive purposes. However, Mouse to Minx is still in business an offers a range of retro, sometimes classic girls illustration-inspired items. Check them out on MousetoMinx.co.uk



Categories: downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Merchandise

Tags: , , , , , ,

Discover more from downthetubes.net

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading