Today’s NEXT BIG THING comes from 21-year old Londoner Milo Li-ren Mckeand of Helpless Romantic! For those of you who don’t know already, Polaroid announced in February of this year that it is ceasing production of film and will withdraw from instant film products completely by early 2009. Milo’s Polaroid pins are a sweet tribute to these very special cameras!

How old is your company and how did you get your start?
I started selling things about two years ago, after I built an online portfolio for my graphic design work, which showcased a little of the tinkerings I enjoyed making, which people seemed to like. The shop just grew from there. I think I could start calling Helpless Romantic a real company starting from when I graduated last summer.

How long have you been interested in photography/polaroids?
It’s more of an obsession than interest, really. I’m not sure what it is about them, the magic of watching that moment in time develop in your hands? Is that cheesy? My obsession really started when I found an old SX70 camera at a charity shop, and since then I’ve been ebaying weeks of my life away trying to win all the different ones. The idea to make this series of brooches came when it was announced that Polaroid was stopping making the film and cameras. I just thought it fitting to make a tribute to one of my loves. It still boggles me how something so iconic is going to come to an end.

Do you have any particular goals for Helpless Romantic this year?
I’m not sure where HR will go. It’s already surpassed all my expectations really, but I am actually planning to go back to school come September. I shall be doing a “Technical Effects for Performance” course at the London College of Fashion which, if I have read the course outline properly, is the first step I must take to begin making Dark Crystal 2. I’m very obsessed with new processes and learning how to construct and make things and am very excited at the prospect of making strange, wonderful things for movies.

You do a lot of custom work with your jewelry. What’s been one of the more unusual requests?
I don’t think I’ve had requests for anything very unusual really, but my favourite/most unusual order I think was from a boy for a Valentine gift.
I couldnt say how old he was, but he wrote to me in a way that suggested he was quite young, maybe 12 or 13, and the present was for his classroom assistant teacher. He changed the address for it to be sent to three times, at first to be sent to him to take to her, then he decided he was too shy to give it to her so asked for it to be sent directly to the school. And then finally I think he managed to find her home address. He made me make sure to include a note that said, “From your secret admirer. NOT YOUR FIANCE!” Getting his emails made me smile a lot.

What is the origin of your company’s name, Helpless Romantic?
Simply that I am one.