Flashback Outfits

Recently, while I took a photo to a friend of mine who was wearing a sport blouse adorned with a reflective grid print, I noticed the photo resulted was all black except of the grid which turned white. I thought that was cute and I shared it on Instagram. And I have also learnt what happens when you use reflective items in photography.

A similar phenomenon inspired the Betabrand‘s Chris Holmes flashback collection. While sporting reflective clothes during several performances, DJ Chris Holmes noticed that some photos taken during the shows were ruined because of reflection effects. But that was also the starting point for developing a series of fashion items designed to ruin paparazzi pictures. That is how flashback’collection was born.

The line contains five pieces; ‘photobomber’, ‘illuminati jacket and pants’, ‘silver screen scarf’ and the ‘halo hats’. The fabric used was coated with glass nanospheres. The highly reflective garments became some kind of ‘magic kit’ able to help people who do not want their picture taken. Basically, we deal with a 2-in-1 concept: regular clothes on a daily basis + invisible wearer when captured in photographs. That’s a smart, funny and simple idea – I like it!

Betabrand, Chris Holmes – reflective betabrand flashback clothing / images via designboom.com

Posted on February 19, 2015March 3, 2015 by laviniaban 0

Rotten Salad

Originally from Geneva, Kosuke Araki is a Japanese designer living in Tokyo. He studied at Tama Art University Tokio and he also has a MA degree in Design Products from Royal College of Art London. Kosuke Araki interned at Nike and his projects were displayed in various exhibitions. His work covers different areas, questioning the values and sensitivities of our age, dealing with consumerism and the process of rapid modernisation.

Kosuke Araki – FOOD WASTE WARE -in Kitchen (2013)

With his project Food Waste Ware, Kosuke Araki gives new life to food waste. Food waste is a global problem and Araki puts it in a very personal way. And it’s not only about sustainability. Designer uses food waste from local markets, shops and his own kitchen to create a wide range of tableware – food waste bowls crafted from rotten vegetables, leftover bones and even tea bags. He also delivers a booklet called A New Life for Food Waste that teach us how to replicate the results at home.

These photos show how much food is discarded from food markets, shops or kitchens on a daily basis. Araki asked food shops to put aside some organic waste for him so he went to collected the pieces after the closure. According to one report, even people who believe that their household wasted no food were shown to be discarding 88 kg of avoidable food waste per year. As he says:

“I could imagine that most of us are unaware of the amount of food we throw away, so I took a one-month record of food waste from my kitchen. I am living alone and cook only for dinner, but even so, every week I could have around 1 kg. Every day, food waste is produced at a huge industrial scale as well as a small domestic scale. Although some of it is processed into something useful, most is disposed of in landfills, contributing to environmental problems.”

The idea of Araki’s project was to revive wasted lives by giving them new roles. Designing the set of bowls, he researched alternative ways of reshaping the material trying to avoid the usage of a silicone mould, which is derived from petroleum, and to make all the process done only by natural materials. Aiming to enable users to design their own tableware out of the food waste they produce daily, he also invites the audience to become more aware of the amount of food waste they generate day by day.

Kosuke Araki – food waste bowls + manual

Posted on December 10, 2014 by laviniaban 0

NikeEams

‘NikeEames‘ model by Ora-Ïto, inspired by the famous Eames Lounge Chair

Eames Lounge Chair, designed by Charles and Ray Eames for the Herman Miller furniture company(1956)

Posted on September 3, 2014 by laviniaban 0

‘Dare to Dream’ Design Awards

Melco Crown Entertainment, with the support of DESIGNBOOM, has launched its signature CSR series “Dare to Dream” by presenting the Dare to Dream Design Awards themed with 『着物×きもの×KIMONO』. “Dare to Dream” design competition aims to preserve and to promote the understanding of the history and beauty of the traditional Japanese kimono while bringing new possibilities and sustainability to kimono.

Devided in two categories – Free Design (delivered in form of fashion, product, architecture, interiors, industrial design, graphic design and lifestyle) and Graphic Design (seeking original and innovative motifs and patterns for kimonos), the competition is open to applicants from every country in the world – from professionals, students, to design-enthusiasts. Registration is free.

For further information check designboom

Posted on August 31, 2014 by laviniaban 0

Alexander Wang’s Flagship Store Design

We know that, apart from his usual fashion collections, Alexander Wang adores designing objects. He already sells jump ropes, inflatable black pool rings, pocket chains, water bottles with holder or shot glasses with case, ashtrays or bottle openers. It seems that this time he decided to move to another level. His recent collaboration with the Australian brand Haydenshape led him to develop these marble-like surfboards displayed in Wang’s new flagship store in Soho, as part of an installation containing a black metal cage and a black wave sculpted from sand. Truth is the five surfboards adorned with different graphic patterns inspired by marble slabs may appear rather as conceptual art pieces than design objects.

images via designboom.com

Posted on July 31, 2014July 31, 2014 by laviniaban 0

Design Concept – ‘Fondue Slippers’

A graduate from Tama Art University’s design department, SATSUKI OHATA is a freelance designer currently based in Tokyo. His ‘Fondue Slipper’ project, recently displayed at Milano Salone Satellite 2014, caught my attention not just by ‘the look’, but mainly by the daring concept that it promotes.

Pay attention, because this project is interesting for several reasons.

Firstly, it challenges the traditional style of shoe making. Satsuki Ohata wanted to design absolutely new footwear, easy to produce and perfectly matching with wearer’s foot. Secondly – proposing a DIY formula, the designer involves the customer, inventing a technique which can be easily performed at home. How it works? You just dip your foot into a liquid and dry it. The idea was inspired by Swiss cuisine (because the production process is similar to cheese fondue).

As a result, the shoe looks like a second skin, it’s easy to wash clean after use, it is designed to wear both inside and outside (it can also be used as slipper by folding the heel).

After all, the concept is smart, easy, fun, creative. And it also leaves room for customization and further improvements.

Of course, what we have here is just a prototype, made out of PVC. The right material is under developing, as Satsuki Ohata aims to develop a kit which allows anybody to fabric his/her own Fondue Slipper at home. We love the idea and support him in this creative adventure!

Posted on June 10, 2014 by laviniaban 0

The Perfect Shoes – Dior Fall 2014

Sporty, robotic, elegant – Raf Simons’ design for Dior Fall 2014 collection is surely a highlight of the season. I’ve always said that a good designer is one who knows how to define a fashion silhouette, to finish it from head to toe. In this regard (and in many others), Raf Simons proves to be the best.