Visual Tales

The New York magazine Visual Tales dedicates a large editorial to a promising young talent – XIMON LEE. His graduation collection this year from Parsons titled Children of Leningradsky was unanimously acclaimed, gaining enthusiastic reviews everywhere. Recently, Ximon Lee was announced as one of the eight finalists for the H&M Design Award 2015.

Ximon is from Hong Kong but now lives in New York. His diploma collection inspired by the documentary “Children of Leningradsky” approaches menswear design in a very particular way. Taking inspiration from the oversized clothes worn by homeless children in Russian suburbs, he experimented with layered fabrics and exaggerated shapes, exploring the contrast between synthetic and organic textures, between glossy and raw. The outstanding sandwiched pieces in Ximon Lee’s collection are based especially on recycled denim. Working a lot with found materials, he deconstructed and re-patterned many garments from Salvation Army, experimenting various techniques and surface treatments. The result is clean, bold, unisex, global, timeless, emotional. A body of work interesting not just in terms of fabrics and shapes proposed, but also in the way designer chooses to formulate his personal approach to the world of fashion: simple, smart, genuine. Perfect!

Editorial in New York City magazine Visual Tales / Photographer: Jennifer Livingston / Styling: Haidee Findlay-Levin / Model Jeremy Matos (Red Citizen) / Featured designs: Ximon Lee / images via thefashionisto.com

Posted on December 10, 2014March 23, 2018 by laviniaban 0

Not Your Usual Jewelry

TALLER DE FEEAS, the brainchild of Spanish artist Remedios Vincent, is an unusual mix of jewelry, wearable art pieces, lost-and-found objects – everything ”made to dislike”.

The label itself has an interesting story: TALLER means ” workshop ” and FEEAS comes as an abbreviation of Remedios’ first art blog entitled Flores En El Atico. Initiated as a hobby (visiting antique stores, collecting broken dolls and other antique pieces with a modest, rusty, abandoned and forgotten character), flavoured with a conceptual approach and a passion for craftsmanship, this particular ”vice” has grown into a professional matter. Of course, we have to admit that Remedios has a special talent for that! Her artpieces are intriguing: exquisite, macabre, ironic, unique. Not to mention the perfection of the execution.

Most of these jewels were designed (re) using specific human prosthetics, reminiscent of human body parts (eyelashes, eyes, teeth ) or ancient medical instruments, which are equally related to the body. Exploring an edgy aesthetic, the artist gives new life to pieces that have ceased to be useful in regards to their initial purpose, converting them into brooches, pendants, rings or simply odd art objects.

At a glance, her gallery resembles a cabinet de curiosités. There can be found pieces made out of antique ocular prostheses combined with vintage rings (some of the ”eyes” are from World War II). Other pieces , such as those based on ancient medical and surgical equipment are just as paradoxical (thinking that these discared objects once helped us to improve our life and feel better about ourselves, and now could do the same functioning as original jewellery). Anyway, wearing such an accessory would spice up the most ordinary outfit. So, it’s worth trying, why not?

Posted on January 27, 2014March 23, 2018 by laviniaban 0

Eco Salad

Parrots, pandas, anteaters are not the usual animals to be farmed. But exactly that’s the alternative perspective designed by Fuze Image Maker for Conservation International’s environmental advertising campaign. I guess the images are powerful and suggestive enough.

Conservation International is a nonprofit environmental organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. The organization’s mission is to protect nature, and its biodiversity, for the benefit of humanity.

A project by Fuze Image Maker/ Client: Conservation International/ Advertising Agency: Fischer & Friends, São Paulo, Brazil/ Creative Director: Beto Rogoski, Sthefan Ko, Mario D’Andrea/ Art Director: Michel El Chemorr/ Copywriter: Marco Pupo, Rafael Moreno Barreto Campello/ Illustrator: Fuze Image Maker/ Images via behance.net

Posted on July 23, 2013 by laviniaban 0

νέον

Clothes are the soul of worldwide fashion & luxury industry, but after all they’re just togs. That’s why we should seriously consider new ways of recycling, redefining or redesign.

Jessica Au is a fashion designer based in East London. She studied at Middlesex University, graduated in 2010 and launched her label last year. Post graduation from Middlesex University, Jessica Au’s brand has been immediately picked up from fashion magazines’ most coveted stylists for celebrities, and independent boutiques from around the world have been waitlisted to stock her current collection. She has redefined what it means to be ‘ One To Watch’, as she begins to restructure the path of a traditional fashion designer’s career during fashion’s most sought after month. This year alone Au’s collection has been housed in Japan’s TEKNOPOLICE alongside massive underground labels such as Kokontozai, the iconic Philip Treacy, William Richard Green, and many of today’s most sought after designers. Her London based stockists include: 123 Bethnal
Green Road alongside Dr.Noki and William R Green and Shop 172 on Brick Lane.

JAU LABEL has launched her SS13 upcycled collaboration with VVVintage, which sold out at Somerset House London Fashion Week, September 2012. The garments were created using recycled fabric to promote sustainability and ethics, and the look is fresher than we would expect. Jessica took this opportunity to experiment with fabrics and new techniques. As she says, It’s been lots of fun creating the collection!

The title picked for Jessica’s SPRING SUMMER 2013, Neon, comes from the Greek νέον (neon) meaning “new one”. Au’s recent infatuation with Die Antwoord’s “Zef Style” and the wave of neo-trash movement set her mind to work on her first womenswear and menswear collection that would focus on merging Japanese street style with stripper influences such as Brooke Candy. Combining her obsession with illustration and her curiosity surrounding intricate artistic concepts allows Jessica Au to design with fabrics and aesthetics that have never been seen or used before.

Collection’s lookbook is accompanied by the “Schizolog” Fashion Film, directed by Rob Heppell. Worth to take a look!

Posted on December 28, 2012March 23, 2018 by laviniaban 0

Fashion Object by Issey Miyake

We love to talk about fashion, styles, trends, fashion Dos and fashion Don’ts… but ultimately these are only marginal topics. We realize that only when we meet something unexpected and brilliant, something like pure/authentic design.

After a long ‘absence’ from the fashion scene (some people love their lab more then they love the limelight), Miyake is back, and brings out something very special. The new clothing line launched by Issey Miyake is titled “132 5”, and contains 10 bi-dimensional objects, whose final form is given by their fitting on the body. The project was launched by Miyake Realty Lab, a research team formed by Issey Miyake- the designer, Manabu Kikuchi- the textile engineer, Sachiko Yamamoto- the pattern maker. Super team& super project!

132 5 was revealed in the Japanese Exhibition at the Barbican. Defined as a successful connection between math and fashion design, it develops the idea of alternative clothing, recycling, regeneration, evolution. A perfect balance between aesthetics and practical clothing, an alternative solution for constructing outfits, a perfect mix between technology and creativity. That means ‘design’, huh?

Why do I find it so amazing? First of all, it’s the idea of a folded piece of clothing looking like a fabric square. When you pull the headband of the folded square end, it reveals a three-dimensional shape, ready to be dressed. The garment shape is described by various folds, angles and triangles that are structured to function simultaneously as folding edges. Then, the 3D shapes can be easily retreated back and return to the initial stage. A challenge like this excited Martin Margiela once, generating his famous “Flat Collection.” The solving technique was, of course, very different.
Now, why 132 5? According to the designer, 1 refers to “a single piece of fabric”, 2 and 3 are related to the garment dimensions, and 5 leaves room for experimentation and new dimensions. But above all, as an extra argument, the materials themselves have been produced through a sophisticated technology, by recycling PET – the project also has a strong Environmental core. Are we witnessing a new revolution in fashion in pure Japanese way?

Posted on March 27, 2011March 23, 2018 by laviniaban 0

Fashion Salad