By The Buch (+ Deichmann)
See those little birdies pictured above? They are by a Danish company called Buch + Deichmann. I first came across the company back in the 1980s when I purchased a bunch of nylon barrettes at a store called the Green Room in Stratford. The store still stands, but, alas, B + D no longer makes hair accessories.
Still, these barrettes are so awesome that, over the years, whenever I saw anything remotely B+D-y, I would buy it on the spot. Which is how I accquired a mini collection of Buch + Deichmann (there’s more — bangles, hair combs, barrettes — that’s not pictured here).
B+D started up in Denmark in the early 70s. A designer named Ketty Dalsgaard was inspired by the shiny rings from the moors of fishing boats to create a line of brightly-coloured plastic bracelets. The collection grew to include plastic earrings, chokers and brooches. The seagulls pictured here are one of the most icon of the B + D designs.
By the ’80s, B + D was focussing mostly on the hair accessories, carried mostly in high-end department stores like Harrods, Galeries Lafayette and Bloomingdales. In Ontario, you could pick them up at Queen’s Quay or boutiques like the aforementioned Green Room. And then one day, the company decided to just make reading glasses. Sure glasses might improve my vision, but how could I see through the tears of loss and regret?
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Hi,
I just remembered I had bought a lot of them about 30 years ago. I have some brooches, earrings, bangles and hair things(barretes?). My older sister discovered a small temporarily outlet store where B+D were sold very cheap, so I could’t stop buying. Week after week, I returned to that shop, until everything was sold. I still have 18 small bangles, 8 medium and 2 big bangles and 10-15 hairthing pieces. I did had some triangular brooches, but I can’t find them right now.I don’t use them anymore, but can’t separate from them either.
Lucky!
I can put you in touch with a woman who used to import B&D. I don’t want to be responsible for selling things through my blog, just in case she is spamming. But if you want to contact her directly, here is her name Mary Ellen SAnds and her email is mesasenick@yahoo.com
Oh wow! I remember these! I was completely obsessed with them in the early 80s. Skipped so many lunches so I could buy them cos my mum thought they were too expensive and refused to buy them for me. I loved the straight hair clips with rhinestones and the hinged oval ones too. They came in gorgeous colours that had an almost water-like sheen. So beautiful…….
Hello,
I live in Sydney, Australia.
I’ve just stumbled across your entry regarding the Buch & Deichmann Danish hair clips and accessories. I bought a black one the same as the dark red one in your photograph – the one that is shaped like the number 8 with the pin going through it.
I actually lost my B&D black clip a a few months ago and was very upset as it is the best clip for holding my thick pony tail without pinching. I tried many hairdressing shops and department stores etc, but no one had anything remotely close to the B&D clip. Then the clip turned up at my daughter’s house and I was overjoyed!
Now I would like to buy a few more of these clips but don’t know where to find them.
Please let me know if you can help.
Thank you,
Maria
Your best bet is eBay. I don’t think they make these anymore, but sometimes old stock shows up on eBay. Good luck!
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ebay UK is currently offering barrettes and hair clips. July 11, 2011.
Good to know!
Hi Olga….If anyone is looking for the signed Ketty Dalsgaard B&D 5mm & 8mm bangles you can find them reasonable priced on Jordy b collectibles on Ruby Lane. She also sells the signed clip earrings and neck rings, and other exquisite vintage brooches, necklaces and earrings.
It was designed by Jacob Hull and you may be lucky to find it on Ebay.
Hi, I recently stumbled on an old heavy metal large link B+D bracelet. I remember having bought it back in the ’80s and have never seen anything like it since. Has anyone any information on this bracelet? Thankyou.
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Hi, I am the founder of Buch+Deichmann in Denmark and I am really pleased to read how happy we have made many people around the world. B+D was a unique company and we loved the designs and the quality we were making. It really touches me that there are people out there who still understand and appreciate what we did. What happened was that in 1988 the company went through a turbulent period and the name B+D was bought by our distributor in Argentina and they continued doing business with reading glasses and sunglasses. The core of the management founded a new company under the name of Deichmann & Co where we continued making most of the same products as we had done under B+D and added new product lines. The new brand is called Evita Peroni (www.evitaperoni.com) and we continue to do beautiful products that we distribute around the world. The person in charge of the company is our daughter Camilla Deichmann. If anyone would like to know more you are welcome to contact me Henning@Deichmann.dk
Henning Deichmann! You have shared the best news ever! I have obsessivly searched for replacements to my oval hair slide since I was litte! While they are not on the current site, I have hope that I can get them or something very close, again someday!