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MONDAY, JUNE 01 2009

Daydream Nation - Hong Kong





dreaming out loud

Daydream Nation is the creation of brother-sister design-duo Jing and Kay Wong, graduates of Central Saint Martins and Royal College of Art doing Theatre Design and Textiles Design.

Playfully quirky and ready-to-wear, their clothes and accessories are designed to tell the story of the season, and are performed occassionally at 'London Fashion Week'! They have also caught the eye of the prestigious Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), and were twice sponsored to perform in their Theatre!

The brand was awarded Winner of the "INSIDE WHITE" Best Womenswear Collection in Milan, 2008. Our collection is now available in Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Tokyo Beams, Henri Bendel, Franck et Fils, and over 40 shops around the globe. Our products have been featured in publications like Vogue UK, Teen Vogue, ID, Cosmopolitan, Elle, So-En, and Style Bubble. and have attracted fans like Juliette Binoche.

Daydream Nation has created a special line called "The Dreamers" for Urban Outfitters, which will hit the shops from May 2009.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28 2009

Stylein - Denmark





Fall/Winter 2009

Our good friends at Stylein have been busy putting together their latest Winter collection.

The full collection can be viewed at www.stylein.se. Enjoy

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 27 2009

Alexander McQueen - London



Autum/Winter 2009 Collection

Since its conception, the Alexander McQueen PUMA collaboration has sought to push traditional boundaries of sport-fashion, testing the limits of form, function and design. Following the success of the footwear line the new Alexander McQueen PUMA apparel and accessories collection promises to be an evolution of this innovative creative vision.

The metaphoric concept of 'Power' is the DNA of the new collection. Physical and mental power exist at the very core of sport and the collection strives to interpret and convey 'Power' in innovative and unexpected ways.

With 'Power' as a constant reference, each season's collection will also have a specific seasonal theme related to sport. The Autumn/Winter 2009 seasonal theme is 'boxing' - a sport with power at its essence, referenced in style, color and material applications. The performance-inspired sport-fashion collection uses intricate craftsmanship and superior quality fabrics to create a stylized and progressive assembly of apparel and accessories for men and women. The visual icon of the season the 'Griffin', an expression of power and inner force, is used throughout the collection as a graphic application. Innovative detailing such as ergonomic cuts, combat bandages, silhouettes and overlays are the most visual features of the debut collection.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 20 2009

Karen Walker Jewellery - New Zealand







Karen Walker Jewellery is fine jewellery, made from yellow and white gold, sterling silver and precious stones, designed for the modern girl. Karen's philosophy about 'everyday luxury' rings true with this collection; every piece is made to be worn day or night, dressed up or down.

To date the jewellery line has been extremely successful, and is now available at over 110 stores worldwide. it is distributed by Diptrics in Japan and is represented in Australia, London and New York, as well as Karen's Native New Zealand.

Karen now shows in New York Fashion Week every season, where the jewellery is included on the runway also. February 2009 will be the date of Karen's 5th bi-annual show in NYC.

Jewellery Available online from -Karen Walker,Walker and Hall

Photography:Derek Henderson

CONTRIBUTED BY MURRAY BEVAN0 COMMENTS
SATURDAY, JULY 05 2008

Brian Tenorio - Manila





Dreams

Shoe label Tenorio Manila's DREAMS Collection is Brian Tenorio's parting anthology as he leaves for his graduate studies in New York this fall of 2008. The following text was written by Brian Tenorio, the Filipino designer label's Design Principal.

The foundation of all dreams is hope. Hope could then be the theme of my 2007 to 2008. It has been a while since I've released a statement as myself and not as the design principal of my label. Let me then write in the first person and share some learning I have from my beginnings in this industry, my short time in shoe design, and some insight on what is next. This is a 'fashion show in print' in ways, as I do not attempt to showcase what is ready to wear, or what is hip. The goal of this text (and incidentally my Dreams Collection) is to inform and alert, remember, inspire, agitate, enliven, and hopefully widen the confines of what we think is real and necessary, to celebrate what is Filipino and Filipinized, and what we think is us and ours.

Photography:Carlo Lino

If you are in Manila, checkout the Dreams Launch party at Nuvo this 23 july. Sponsored by Moet & Chandon and Calvin Klein Fragrances.

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SATURDAY, JULY 05 2008

Yeojin Bae - Australia







Structural and elegant, Yeojin Bae delivers a collection for summer that plays with proportion and shape. Inspired by post modernist architect Frank Gehry and a futuristic sensibility, Bae pits balloon silhouettes against hourglass figures.

Using the balloon as a starting point, Bae designed the inverse; figure hugging shapes that mould to the waist and hips. Circular shapes that sculpt the body. The short sleeve tuxedo jacket nips in at the waist and emphasises the shoulders with stepped circular sleeves. Bae works circular armholes against cinched waists; silk shifts are finished with gaping gathered sleeves that flash glimpses of skin. Asymmetric cutaways expose sexy shoulders, and are balanced with floor skimming lengths.

The designer's expert tailoring allows for suiting that is striking and modern. Clean lines are kept in a straight 7/8 pant and blazer that sits at the high hip. The suiting mini skirt juxtaposes volume with length, bagging out slightly at the waist and falling short on the thigh. This season's trench in cement grey polished cotton features an exaggerated bell sleeve blooming out of a shirred shoulder panel.

Fabrications are heavy versus light. Rounded shapes are embraced in featherweight silks that fall into flattering feminine forms; voluminous one-shoulder mini-dresses blouson into an elasticised hem. This lightness is juxtaposed with double weight silk to give structure. Weightless polished cottons and textural crepe silk work together to deliver Bae's architectural feel.

Trims are kept minimal and linear. Zig Zag contrast raffia trims the elongated sleeveless tunic. Simple plaited detail maintains the theme on chic silk cami's and long-sleeved tops. Yeojin Bae's first foray into accessories for the label is a cinched leather and stretch netting belt, which expertly melds the ideas of simple embellishment and lines.

Colours are clean and understated. Indigo, black, porcelain and pale grey are highlighted with a shock of cobalt or soft pink. Prints are kept bold and oversized in rich flat colours that intensify against the collections' paired-back colour palette. The oversized vintage leaf print works to exaggerate free silhouettes.

Yeojin Bae strives to create a comprehensive wardrobe for women today with each collection. This summer, angular lines work with rounded shapes and clean detailing to create a look that is modern and effortless.

Yeojin Bae's summer collection is available from the Yeojin Bae concept showroom in Melbourne and selected boutiques and Myer stores from August 2008.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 20 2008

Mr. Rose - Australia







Australian designed and made women's wear label, Mr. Rose launched with a collection of women's shirting (Classic and Tuxedo styles) in premium European fabrics with a new sizing system that incorporates variation in bust size - our Bud (AB cup), Blossom (BC cup) and Bloom (CD cup) has grown a loyal following of women who are thrilled not to have a gape or sack effect when wearing a crisp white shirt. We have since expanded this range to include divine silks in plains and prints.

The design of our store is salon meets gallery meets luxe lobby lounge - we are a destination, tucked amongst some wonderful art galleries. We aspire to high service levels, are open from Tuesday to Saturday and host events in the evening for femmes as well as seasonal trunk shows, which are our appointment only shopping opportunities............... Champagne, tasty treats and one-on-one service.

The store located in Paddington is now the exclusive home to Mr. Rose shirting as well as Bespoke by Sasha - an atelier reviving the art of traditional silk flower making - blooms in head pieces, brooches and neckpieces. We also carry the Mrs Press collection of silk camisoles and French knickers plus we exclusively hold German legwear brand FALKE who do amazing hosiery.

So we believe that all a woman needs is a gorgeous shirt, a bloom to adorn and fabulous legs...............!

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THURSDAY, JUNE 19 2008

Beyond the Valley - London







Now officially listed as one of the UK's coolbrands for 2008 , alongside respected brands such as Vivienne Westwood, and Dazed & Confused, Beyond the Valley continues to stock some of the most innovative and unique products around, often exclusively, such as their menswear and womenswear collections by Yuko Yoshitake. New additions include fashion from Alejandra Quesada, Material by Product and Makin Jan Mar, lighting from Jake Phipps and the elegant, edgy jewellery of Miss Bibi.

Created by three Central St. Martin's graduates, disillusioned by the difficulties that they had faced as emerging design professionals, Beyond the Valley was conceived as a springboard for new designers to launch themselves into the fashion, art and design industries. Based in their Newburgh Street retail store and gallery in the heart of Soho, the brand has grown since its inception two years ago, launching its own iconic fashion and product lines, and developing an international reputation for sourcing fresh, new design talent.

Brainchild of Jo Jackson, Kate Harwood and Kristjana S. Williams, their permanent unit off Carnaby Street specializes in carrying the newest, freshest designers from around the world, ranging from fashion to wallpaper, fine art to furniture, jewellery to graphic design. More than a mere store, the Soho boutique has also previously created Darkside of the Valley, an exclusive collection for Topshop, crafted a temporary 'guerilla' sister store in Helsinki, and curated Wunderville, a multi-venue Victorian freakshow showcasing 15 of London's top designers for London Design Festival. The Beyond the Valley online store also launched last year, offering a range of their best selling items.

Recent events in the gallery space included a temporary shop from Benetton's sister company Fabrica and interactive installations from Nick Night's SHOWstudio in association with Evian. Entitled 'The Replenishing Body,' a giant, ever-changing video montage of body parts was projected on one of the walls, constructed from recorded fragments of gallery viewers and invited celebrities that included Jodie Harsh, Roisin Murphy, Diane Pernet and Lily Cole.

Beyond the Valley showcased new collections for London Fashion Week in 2008. Plus Spring/Summer ranges from Yuko Yoshitake, Call of the Wild, and Vita Vass will be arriving in-store shortly. Upcoming exhibitions for 2008 include music installations from Silent Studios, and illustrations from up-and-coming illustrator Danny Sangra.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 19 2008

Slow and Steady Wins the Race - New York







How come experimental ideas only exist in the high-priced avant-garde realm? How come The Gap and H&M only provide trickle down basics? Slow and Steady Wins the Race transposes these too different arenas into each other.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race is a new clothing label, presented as a quarterly clothing diary, cataloguing ideas that are focused on a specific and fundamental characteristic of clothing design.

With each issue, Slow and Steady Wins the Race, intends to slowly open the cap on a more democratic dissemination, promotion and appreciation of clothing.

The mission of the label is to push and produce interesting and significant pieces from the simplest fabrics and materials.

Only one hundred copies of each issue will be printed and distributed to magazines and select stores.

These constraints may physically contradict the goal of democratizing ideas, but they, in fact, aid it more efficiently. The catalogues are meant to be shared, to be passed from desk to hand, across coffee cups and in backpacks and purses. The same intention applies to the eventual history of clothing.

Available online from - Slow and Steady Wins the Race, Ooga Booga.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 19 2008

IOSSELLIANI - Italy







Paolo Giacomelli and Roberta Paolucci are the power duo behind the Italian jewelry brand, IOSSELLIANI. Born in Rome, Paolo began his career creating jewelry and accessories for famous turn-of-the- century designers, including Missoni, Fiorucci, and Anna Pianura for Crimson. For the past seasons, he has also worked with Kenzo and Antonio Marras.

In 1997, Giacomelli began working with designer and craftsman Roberta Paolucci. Together they established IOSSELLIANI as a way to more freely express their creative vision. They aim to create unique styles and focus on the careful handcrafting of each piece. As their collections developed, they began incorporating precious stones and metals, resulting in their luxury brand, Progetto AR100. In 1998, the pair created masks and bodices that were used for the Alessandro dell-Acqua catwalk.

In 2005, IOSSELLIANI set up a new workspace in Rome for designers, filmographers, and other artists to share and exchange art-related ideas and projects. One such project is the re-creation of old, traditional Italian jewels into a new luxury line: AU-750-IOS. This new 18k gold collection is the opportunity for IOSSELLIANI to promote their contemporary approach to traditional jewelry-making techniques.

For the future of IOSSELLIANI, Paolo Giacomelli and Roberta Paolucci wish to establish an even greater presence globally. 2006 marks the first time IOSSELLIANI is being represented in the U.S. and the welcome so far has been excellent. Their ultimate goal is to further promote the independent development of creative ideas, a vision that will truly set them apart as jewelry-makers of the new century.

Available from - IOSSELLIANI.

CONTRIBUTED BY SARA CONSOLI0 COMMENTS