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Absolutely Fabulous stars Patsy and Eddy wear Folkestone-designed beach kaftans in movie
00:00, 08 July 2016
updated: 09:25, 08 July 2016
A shop window in Folkestone's Creative Quarter may look familiar to some residents who have gone to see the new Absolutely Fabulous movie.
Maison Marine boutique in the Old High Street is showing off two very colourful beach kaftans worn by co-stars Patsy and Eddy in the new blockbuster, out now in cinemas.
Absolutely Fabulous, a BBC sitcom, shot to fame in the early 1990s and has developed a fast-growing fan base.
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The garments worn by the celebrities Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley were designed by Zoe Holborough, who has her own studio just a few minute’s walk away at the Quarterhouse in Tontine Street.
Ms Holborough, a mother-of-two and the co-founder of design brand Tallulah & Hope, said: “Costume designer Rebecca Hale came to the design studio in Folkestone and chose those two designs just from drawings and fabric swatches in October 2015.
“It’s been a very positive experience.
“Kent is filling up with great talent and Jean at Maison Marine has been incredible in celebrating that.
“It’s hugely thrilling to be included in a movie so fashion orientated and so funny.”
Together, the pair decided to show just how Fabulous Folkestone’s talent is - but putting them on display for all to see.
And people have instantly made the connection when walking up and down the cobbled street.
Boutique owner Jean Macdonald, of Linden Crescent in Folkestone, moved her store from Hythe in October last year.
It was Ms Macdonald who decided to give the pieces a platform in the shop as an alternative to the online based market.
“It has been really impressive, actually, how many people are interested,” she said.
“When you are in a street like this there are a lot of of shops for people to see and clearly they are not going to notice everything.
“But I couldn’t help but notice how many people stopped to look at the kaftans because visually they are very attractive.
“And when they notice the photograph of Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley underneath, wearing the very same kaftans people go ‘oh wow, well I never’ - it was a great positive response.”
The boutique shop specialises in good quality pre-owned items for men, women and the home, offering them a second chance with a new owner.
Despite the movie being released on Friday, July 1, the shop window has been Absolutely Fabulous for best part of a week.
Ms Macdonald said: “Several times a day people like to see what I have done, but this one is pretty special so I have kept it there longer.”
Some of the traders in the area, including Ms Macdonald and Miss Holborough, are going to “make a night of it” and see the blockbuster at the Silver Screen Cinema in Guildhall Street.