Fashion
Technogenesis By DZHUS
May 2nd, 2013 – Ukrainian designer Irina Dzhus, founder of Kiev-based fashion house DZHUS, used philosophical ideas to construct her latest Technogenesis collection. One jaw-dropping piece in the collection is the Transforming Neoprene Hood Dress, a unique black dress made with a futuristic combination of dense knitted fabric and matte neoprene. The front part of the bodice is lined with black rayon, but the transforming hood is lined with black raincoat fabric and features laser cut patterns.
Irina says that the main idea behind Technogenesis is “about regeneration of the anthropogenic civilization’s destructive priorities into a virtually new trans-marginal existence in order to create the post-utilitarian aesthetics.”
The young designer used traditional textiles combined with industrial materials to achieve the desired “post-utilitarian aesthetic.”
“I make all the constructions myself,” Dzhus explained, “as well as I sample fabrics with the focus on their texture and physical properties. My ethereal ideas take shape, and that enraptures me most about being a designer.”
The “Technogenesis” collection won 2nd place in Look into the Future, a young designers contest held by Ukrainian Fashion Week, and it also was shown at Odessa Holiday Fashion Week and I Love Kiev Festival. ( Buy the Transforming Neoprene Hood Dress Here )
Oregon Ducks’ Spring Game Uniforms Honor The Troops
April 29th, 2013 – Around this time each year, we get a sneaky preview of the designs for the new NFL and NCAA football uniforms for the upcoming season. Although many of the new uniforms are interesting, there is one team that consistently impresses us year after year with their dynamic and colorful kit – the University of Oregon. Better known as the Ducks, The University of Oregon took to the field on Saturday for their annual Spring Football Game, once again wearing uniforms that honor the men and women who serve our country.
For the past four years, Nike and the University of Oregon have partnered to create a custom-designed uniform for the team’s final Spring scrimmage. This year, both the home and away uniforms have unique details including new nameplates, insignias and patches that tell stories of support and honor. Following the scrimmage, Oregon football players will present their specially made jerseys to approximately 100 uniformed men and women representing all branches of the military.
Nike co-founder and University of Oregon Track & Field Coach Bill Bowerman’s time in the 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army provided inspiration for the white away football uniform design. Bowerman’s division wore an all-white uniform and was trained for mountain terrain and arctic conditions.
The olive home uniform design was inspired by Oregonian Art Miller’s lifetime of military service in the 41st Division of the U.S. Army. Miller played linebacker for the Ducks as a freshman in 1939 before joining the National Guard and being called to active service. Trained in military intelligence, Miller served the country for more than 29 years and eventually retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He was honored in a pre-game ceremony along with other former Oregon football players who served in the military prior to the Ducks’ Sept. 18, 2010 game vs. Portland State.
The new “titanium carbon” finish on the home uniform helmet features a unique fade from yellow to anthracite in order to elevate the iconic Duck wing pattern on either side.“This is a proud moment for University of Oregon’s Football program and Nike to give back to the community,” said Todd Van Horne, Global VP and Creative Director for Nike Football. “We are proud to honor both Art Miller and Bill Bowerman with these new uniform designs in order to honor Oregon’s men and women of service.”
“Words cannot express our gratitude to the men and women who serve our country and this is why we will continue to salute our armed services as part of our Spring Game,” Oregon head football coach Mark Helfrich said. “Obviously we are extremely fortunate that Nike has chosen to play a major role with their innovative uniforms designed for this special day.”
The Oregon Ducks uniform is a complete Nike system-of-dress where the baselayer, padding, jersey and pant work in concert in order to provide the ultimate in lightweight speed and protection. Lightweight padding is integrated directly into the crucial “hit zones” in the baselayer.
Innovations include Nike Chain Maille Mesh technology, which is incorporated into the back and under the arms for exceptional ventilation and durability. Nike Flywire technology is integrated into the neckline for reduced weight and better lockdown fit over pads; increased sleeve articulation provides better range of motion; and all-over four-way stretch fabrication provides a streamlined shrink-wrap fit.
Nike Pro Combat DeFlex padding eliminates bulk and allows for low-profile, lightweight impact protection specifically throughout the crucial “hit zone” between the knees and shoulders. It is also integrated in the hip and knee areas of the pant for crucial impact protection that stays in place.
Photography By Nike Inc.
Scotch & Soda Spring / Summer 2013 Collection
April 10th, 2013 – Scotch & Soda have been cranking out classic staple pieces since the 80′s, fast forward twenty years, and the Amsterdam based fashion house is keeping the hits relevant. The spring / summer 2013 collection is military-inspired with a fresh twist, dominated by indigo toned items that are bleached down and over-dyed in colorful summer shades. Amongst the desaturated undertones of the garments are pops of minty green, whites, and neon colors to keep the pieces light – think casually stylish guy ventures to the equator, with no iron.
Cable knitted crew neck pull $180.00 – Denim colored chino shorts $120.00
Tiger print short-sleeved tee $75.00
Outdoor mountaineering jacket with hood $300.00 – Short-sleeved tie-dye tee with artwork $75.00 - All-over printed flower shorts $115.00
All-over printed linen shirt $140.00
Tiger print short-sleeved tee $75.00
Ethnic Rock chino shorts $140.00
Sailor sweater with 3/4 sleeves $107.00
Outdoor mountaineering jacket with hood $300.00
Photography Courtesy of Scotch & Soda
Easily Entertained: Car Play Mat T-Shirt
April 3rd 2013 – This one is for every parent out there who is completely exhausted, but still manages to get up and take their kids to the park on Sunday mornings. Bky Kids came up with the Car Play Mat T-Shirt, a clever, and super stylish (depending on your taste) t-shirt to keep your tot amused while you rest on the picnic blanket. What looks like a plain white tee from the front, is actually an illustrated map of a charming town with way too many roundabouts for a four year old to handle. Now you can relax under the sun, while your t-shirt double as your kids entertainment.
Zimmermann: A Bikini-Clad Aussie Takeover
March 21st, 2013 – For eons Brazil has reined supreme in the the bikini arena. Look Rio, we have to hand it to you, you’ve had a good run, but Lycra has a new daddy. We’re talking about Zimmermann Swimsuits, fresh from Sydney. Spandex-savvy sisters Nicky and Simone Zimmermann are the wonder duo behind the curve-loving cuts dripping in delectable colors. The Sydney sisters spent the past twenty years honing their craft, garnering a cult following in Australia. Now that Zimmermann is stateside, the fashion house opened its first shop in New York last year, their floral frocks are showing up on woman all over the world. The Aussie’s have just release their 2013/2014 swimwear collection which is bursting of tantalizing floral one pieces, delicately knitted bikinis, vibrant, silk wrap dresses and chic, high-waisted satin one-pieces (swoon!). We have to admit, the beach never looked so haute.
Photography Courtesy of Zimmermann
Going Beyond Borders With Stella Jean
February 26th, 2013 – Italian-Haitian fashion designer Stella Jean is instinctively going beyond borders with a bold and refined new collection, turning up the heat with prints and colors. Jean got his foot in the fashion door when he started as a model, parading for Egon Von Furstenberg before he realized his true talent of fashion design. The idea of juxtaposing cultural prints is nothing new for the worldly designer, exotic destinations have been the inspiration for Jean in the past. But this collection playfully combines primary colors with all the nuances of the world, in a graceful and charming manner. Hawaiian prints are carefully mixed with stripes and polka dots then twisted into a spirited fifties ensemble with chunky accessories. Hats and headdresses are a dominant feature in the collection as vibrant turbines and weaved hats become a strong accent piece to the exciting garments. Their is an extraordinary richness amongst the garments as zeitgeists and cultures collide.
Chanel Reinvents The Grand Palais
January 28th, 2013 – Couture gowns do not belong on the runway. They belong on the stage. And nobody understands the theatrics of Haute Couture better than Karl Lagerfeld, artistic director and visionary for Chanel, who explained “I saw it in my dream, put it on my paper, gave it to the man that builds my set, and I think he worked it out beautifully.” Lagerfield transformed his dream, into an artistic instrument, which he then used to metamorphose Grand Palais in Paris into a dazzling forest wonderland to display Chanel’s Spring 2013 Haute Couture collection.
Lagerfield has reinvented the runway of the Grand Palais in the past. Once the designer whipped the space into a charming Alice-like tea time feast, another time Lagerfield created an Antarctic wonderland – glacier included. This season, the models walked the sandy runway to the sound of chirping birds, surrounded by a pine scented forest. The towering trees reach up towards the iron, steel, and glass barrel-vaulted roof, giving the entire space an imaginative green house feel.
“This is not a usual runway situation, one after the other, in a kind of military speed.” Lagerfield noted “This was a more romantic catwalk.” The designer used the ground space of the famous Beaux-Arts structure to create a more organic place for the models to walk, instead of the traditional linear catwalk. The set designer connected wood fencing together and wrapped it around the circular runway, which leads to the main amphitheater, where guests have joined to witness the collection. The fencing is a suitable way to enhance the forest aesthetic while creating a separation from the bustling backstage antics and the show’s front-of-house dramatics.
(Photography by Olivier Saillant, Aldo Castoldi and Janice Alida)
Culture Chanel Exhibition, Guangzhou
January 24th, 2013 – Chanel has commissioned Jean-Louis Froment, the art director of Prince Pierre Foundation of Monaco, to curate their latest exhibition at Zaha Hadid’s famed Guangzhou Opera House in China. The creative team at chanel teamed up with Froment to deliver a deep rooted history of founder Coco Chanel, and shed light on her tight knit group of groundbreaking artist friends which included people like Amedeo Modigliani, , Jean Cocteau and Pablo Picasso, all of whom had a massive impact on 20th century art. Titled Culture Chanel, the exhibit is centered around Picasso’s biggest paint job: le train bleu. The expansive stage backdrop was painted in 1924 by Picasso for his close friend Sergei Diaghilev, artistic director of Ballets Russes, who used it for an eponymous choreography. On display are over 400 works, including drawings, photographs, paintings, manuscripts, books and films. To top it off, Chanel’s fashion creations by both the legendary Coco and Chanel’s current designer Karl Lagerfeld, are blended into the art filled exhibition.
(photography By Jonathan Leijonhufvud)
Behind The Seams: Whiskey Tasting
This gallery post is carefully curated by KNSTRCT and sponsored by the Chivas 1801 Club. Available only to members of the Chivas Brotherhood. Join now.
January 23rd, 2013 – Next month KNSTRCT will be heading down to the Lone Star State, joining the Chivas Brotherhood in Houston to experience the art of blending first hand from their expert whiskey makers. The creators at Chivas Regal use time as an instrument in their artwork – 12, 18, and sometimes 25 years of true authentic craft, bottled up into a smooth velvety taste. I don’t think we need to spell it out, but a night of whiskey tasting is a form of art we’re itching to experience first hand. Just as Chivas has paired together delicious elements to cultivate rich tastes, we paired together a deck of stellar pieces to create a dapper ensemble for some whiskey tasting adventures.
Botanical Layers by Masha Reva + SNDCT
January 14th, 2012 – Masha Reva and SYNDICATE of Kiev have mashed up their own mix of botanical paraphernalia and printed the floral arrangements on fine quality sweaters, which are dramatically tailored to be over sized in the shoulder and upper arm area.”The collection juxtapositions immersion in the rapid pace of contemporary life, gadgets and social networks with a yearning for our natural environment, explored as a metaphorical botanical garden of Photoshop layers and loading bars,” Reva explained. Reva and SNDCT’s concept is that people who are living a contemporary lifestyle, are fully immersed in gadgets, but are always searching for nature. This concept manifests itself on the sweater in a layering effect. The grey checks of the base transparency layer in Photoshop reads on one of the sweaters while a floral layer filled with tropical leaves are shown above the transparent layer. The loading bar, printed on the back of the sweater brings the entire idea full circle.
(Photography: Synchrodogs)
Agi & Sam Sends Out Personalize China Invites For Their A/W 2013 Fashion Show
January 4th, 2013 – If you are on the list to witness the Agi & Sam’s AW 2013 collection hit the runway at January 7th’s MAN Show Sponsored by Topman and Fashion East, than you may have received a fragile invite in the mail. The duo took a new approach for their AW 2013 fashion show invites when they sent out personalized plates to all their attendees. The silverlining in each Agi & Sam collection is the strong emphasis on bespoke print and humor, as the two believe that fashion should never be taken too seriously. Perhaps it might just be their cheeky sense of humor that drives them to explore unpaved routes, such as these regal styled china invites; where the faces of Agi and Sam as children are painted in the center. The hand painted plate pays homage to their English roots with imagery of a royal crown, a large crest, and horsemen on a recreational hunt with their hounds.
Agi & Sam’s recent collections have brought back the funk, taking inspiration from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, but we can’t help but wonder if this traditional English style piece of china is really a hint as to what their new collection will be.
In past collections Agi & Sam mix their humor and print in this colorful Lucha libre print jacket.
(Photography: StyleSavage)
Swimsuits & Sex: Mara Hoffman’s 2013 Resort Collection
December 20th, 2012 - Pattern making cyborg Mara Hoffman has channeled her up beat energy into a high tempo and spirited new resort 2013 swimwear collection. The New York City based print extraordinaire hit the fashion scene near 2006 with series of slinky garments raging with bright colors and bold arrangements. Hoffman’s booming success naturally forced her to flourish her creativity into the launch of a bi-annual swimwear collection which, in this frigid season, is the light at the end of the winter escape to Miami you’re planning. Hoffman says that she draws inspiration from her “personal affinity with world travel, nature, mythology, and magic.” Lucky for us, no need to go searching those sporadic ‘hole in the wall’ swimwear boutiques to get your hands on her fruitful pieces – the designer opened a new online shop this year. Oh – and because we all know how wild those winter breaks can get, Hoffman teamed up with Planned Parenthood to make sure you wrap it up in style! Check out her equally impressive patterned condoms after the review of the collection. Enjoy!
(Photography: Martin Benz)
Ibn Jasper x Diamond Supply Co. Capsule Collection for UNKNWN
December 5th, 2012 – Miami is popping right now with Basel’ers who have traveled from far points of the world to join in the celebration of art & design. In respects to the annual week long event, Diamond Supply Co. teamed up with Ibn Jasper to create a special sneaker sold exclusively at LeBron James’ Miami based shop UNKNWN. The white snake suede sneaker is inspired by moccasins, but re-invented with a more luxury twist as diamond blue accents find their way onto the sole and tongue of the shoe. The two toned sneaker is stark white on the outside with a punch of bright orange on the inside, and a over-sized zipper that streams up the back. Before you completely fall in love with this limited edition sneaker, you should know that there are only 100 pairs made, 50 of which will be sold online starting December 8th at noon – and the other 50 will be sold in the UNKNWN shop.
(Photography: UNKNWN)
A Modular Footwear System: The Nike Studio Wrap
November 19th, 2012 – “A better-than-barefoot experience in a modular footwear system,” is how Nike is describing their latest shoe baby. The shoe, which comes tightly packaged in a six piece system, and is designed to give woman an elevated workout in the studio (typically referring to yoga, Pilates, or dance). “It’s great that women get to use their feet to bend, flex, squat, rotate, push and pull, but bare feet have some limits,” Nike explains, “First, uncovered feet are not always allowed in gyms and studios for hygienic purposes. Also, the bare foot can sometimes slip right in the midst of the most Zen moments. Socks slip too, and while socks with sticky grip on the bottom seem like the obvious solution, they can also scrunch up, move around and aren’t always the most flattering to walk around in.” The Studio Wrap is Nike’s functional and super stylish solution to studio footwear – There’s no sweaty or slippery feet, no bunched up socks, and even with a bad pedicure, people won’t be looking at your toes with this sexy silhouette. The Studio Wrap will be available to purchase in Spring 2013. (Price: $110)
(Photography: Nike)
Zimmermann Suits Up In Tulum
November 16th, 2012 – The crew from the beloved Australian based fashion house Zimmermann made their way up to Tulum a few months back to pair their floral frocks from the Spring/Summer 2013 collection with the turquoise water and over grown palms. The collection features floral swim suits and a playful set of beachwear cover-ups. The girly garments tell a bohemian tale as some pieces are patched together with squares of various patterns, while others are dressed with laser-cut details, and classic animal prints! ($195-$250)
(Photographer: Benny Horne)
Gareth Pugh’s Trim Jacket
November 12th, 2012 - Gareth Pugh took the fashion industry by storm when he paraded his trademark inflatable garments on London’s catwalk back in 2006. But before this fashion powerhouse had his collection stamped onto the pages of high styled magazine, Pugh was designing costumes for the English National Youth Theatre at the tender age of 14 – where he picked up a few theatrical tricks.
As Pugh continues to experiment with form and volume, the garments in his collections are truly wearable sculptures. The Trim Jacket, from pugh’s latest collection is a clever example of this. The jacket is an open-fronted draped overcoat with padded shoulders and scoop pockets on the inside. Even though the jacket is masterfully constructed of numerous types of fabrics, (wool, cotton, lambskin, spandex, and rayon) the solid two toned colors and edgy angular construction makes this piece a relevant urban overcoat!
(Photographs: Ssence)
A Sweet Vectory For Baguera
The new Vectory Collection of clutches by Portuguese fashion house BAGUERA are a series of meticulously constructed bags to add a powerful pop of color to any ensemble. The multi-faceted clutches have an angular construction pattern as designer Branca Cuvier connected acrylic Parallelograms, rhombuses, and triangular shapes to create the eye catching exterior. Gradient transitions, high-gloss, mirror, and multi-color patterns are all ideas that Cuvier implemented into the collection. The Vectory clutches go for around $180 per bag, but these handcrafted pieces might meet its worth – as it is the perfect accessory to illustrate the 21st century modern day woman – bold, clever, and playfully complex!
(Photography by Francisco Nogueira)
Super’s Limited Edition: The Golden State Sunglasses
(Photography Courtesy of Retro Super Future)
Behind the Seams With Four Year Old Alonso Mateo
October 18th 2012 – We’re not really sure if the world is ready for Alonso Mateo, our resident kidswear expert. But we’re willing to find out. At first glance, one word comes to your head: swag. This kid’s got it. We have to admit, this dapper little dude dresses better than about 98.8% of our male friends (Sorry guys), and he’s only four years old no less.
As luck would have it, Mateo spent some time last week schooling us his latest wardrobe obsessions. We asked the Monterrey-born-slash-Laguna-Beach-raised tot to help us pick out the coolest kidswear garments in the game – fierce combat boots, dapper bow ties, flower pins, and vintage sunglasses all made the top of his list!
We first came across Alonso Mateo on Instagram, his mother, Luisa, posts photographs of him, as mothers often do, but with Mateo’s streetwise style and insanely sweet cheeks, he instantly became a Knstrct favorite. At just four years old, Alonso Mateo is well traveled and cultured, with the passport reminiscent of a rockstar. He says he finds inspiration for his style in the paintings of René Magritte, “the singer from the group, Fun, in the ‘We Are Young’ music video” (Nate Ruess – for those of you who aren’t a hip as Alonso), and from his father. (Quite the trifecta!) But it is his mother – who is equally eclectic – that shops with Mateo and helps him coordinate his daily ensembles. Luisa explained that she first noticed Mateo’s interest in style when she “would put a scarf or a beanie on him and he wouldn’t mind. After a while…When he was 3 almost 4…He started asking me for bowties and suits!” ??When Alonso Mateo isn’t helping us pick out cool garments and accessories for kids, you can find him shredding on the soccer field, catching waves at his favorite surf spot, or hanging out with his ginormous great dane, Hendrix, on the beautiful California coast. Check out his favorite fall get-ups below and follow him on Instagram (@luisafere) to watch the little guy’s style evolve.
Grey pea coat from Crewcuts | Sweater from Little Marc Jacobs | Dress Shirt from American Apparel | Bowtie from Nordstrom | Sunglasses from Dior | Jeans from Earnest Sewn | Boots from All Saints
Bomber Jacket from Opening Ceremony Kids |Button-up Shirt from Dior | Sunglasses by Dior
LOVE sweatshirt from ACNE Miniature | Light blue collar shirt from American Apparel | Flower pin by Lanvin | Pants were tailor made in Mexico | Hightop sneakers by Gucci | Sunglasses by Ray-Ban Jr.
Leather jacket by All Saints | T-shirt by Homespun for Crewcuts | Harem camo pants were tailor made in Mexico | Boots by All Saints | Sunglasses by Gucci | Necklace by KumKum Kasta
Cream shorts, shirt & blazer all by Crewcuts | Pocket square from Paul Smith | Sunglasses from Ray-Ban Jr. | Shoes by Gucci
Shirt by Dior | Black jacket was tailor made in Mexico | Pocket square by Tom Ford | Belt from Gucci | Jeans by Diesel | Boots by All Saints | Sunglasses are vintage from Gentlemen’s Breakfast store in Laguna Beach
Sweater by Bonpoint | T-shirt from Prefresh | Dark jeans by Diesel | Boots from All Saints | Belt by Gucci | Sunglasses from Crewcuts
Leather jacket by Gucci | Jeans from Joe’s Jeans | T-shirt “ya gotta wanna” by Scotch Shrunk | Sunglasses from Ray-Ban Jr. | Alonso Mateo’s dog Hendrix
T-Shirt & pants from Duke of London | Boots by All Saints | Sunglasses from Ray-Ban Jr. | Jacket in hand by Brin D’ Herbe | Bracelets & necklace by Mexican jewelry designer KumKum Kasta
Pants were tailor made in Mexico | T-shirt from Bonpoint | Scarf from Crewcuts | Shoes by Gucci
Leather jacket by All Saints | T-shirt from Homespun for Crewcuts | Harem Camo pants were tailor made in Mexico | Boots by All Saints | Sunglasses from Gucci | Necklace from KumKum Kasta
Off to School: Jacket from Moncler | T-Shirt by Scotch Shrunk | Pants from Bonpoint | Sneakers from Bensimon | Lunchbox by Gap Kids
Pants from Crewcuts | Shirt by Liho | Bowtie from Mimi Fong | Belt by Gucci
This fashion brainchild extends his talents to the sea, as he holds his mom Luisa’s hand before a surf sesh.
Hats From The Quiet Life, Los Angeles
October 7th, 2012 – Over on the left coast, Andy Mueller, creative director of Los Angeles based fashion house Quiet Life, is stitching up some seriously cool hats. Three of these hats, Native, Mountain and Denim Herringbone, fall under a limited collection of Quickstrike 5 Panel caps. The Mountain 5 Panel and Native 5 Panel hats are both comfortably constructed of a narrative scenic fabric which embodies a major part of Mueller’s passion, who became addicted to the art of image making and photo taking at a very young age. ($45)
(Photography: Quiet Life)
Mödernaked S/S 2013 Caps, Spain
March 27th, 2013 – Lead designer and founder of Modernaked, Solange Carneiro, has created a surprisingly delightful range of caps with eclectic prints of cupcakes, lions, tropical flamingos, and even a beach side trailer park for their new Spring/Summer 2013 collection. Relatively new to the fashion scene, Carneiro introduced the world to Modernaked last year with a stellar collection of jewelry encompassing quirky animal rings, bicycle necklaces, and pistol shaped earrings. Now, the designer is back with a series of handcrafted 5 Panels Caps made with authentic vintage fabric. In addition to the vibrant caps, Carneiro added some noteworthy floral backpacks and a new skateboard collection to the mix.
Photography By Modernaked
Behind The Seams: London Fashion Week SS 2013
New York City’s Fashion Week never dissappints, but if you fast forward one week to London’s Fashion Week, you’re in for a serious treat. London brings it, every season, in a massive way! The catwalk is filled with vibrant colors, never before seen patterns, stunning make-up, huge hair, theatrics, and some effortlessly chic personalities to bring it all together. Some of the stand out’s last week were Peter Pilotto‘s intricate digital patterns and rendered in sequins, Louise Gray with a collection suitable for a platoon of fashionable warriors, Burberry Prorsum and their colorful metallic coats, and Mary Katrantzou, the master of prints, who sent stamp-inspired dresses down the runway. 
Before the show: Models having a laugh backstage at the Louise Gray show in London.
Mary Katrantzou sent a buzz through the fashion industry with a series of floor length dresses filled with intricate patterns.
They mean business! A stream of models close the Burberry Prorsum in a colorful display of metallic coats.
Bring on the blues: Holly Fulton’s collection hit the runway in full force with incredible embellishment and 3D roses.
Topshop took the stage with a more affordable collection that holds its own against the couture fashion houses.
Meadham Kirchhoff dazzled with imaginative and over-the-top garments.
A stamp inspired dress from Mary Katrantzou
Katy Davis SS 2013 Collection
Peter Pilotto‘s intricate digital patterns and rendered in sequins
Activate Your Wardrobe: 9 Ways Technology Can Enhance Your Style
This article is sponsored by HP, who challenged fans to design a HP Ultrabook Bag! Head over to HP and vote for your favorite bag. (Pssss – The winning designer gets a grand prize of $10,000 and a cool new HP Spectre XT Ultrabook™).
September 20th, 2012 – The wearable technology industry is booming! Currently, there are 14 million nifty items on the market that intersect fashion and technology, by 2016 there is expected to be a whopping 171 million. All these groundbreaking inventions are on the brink of changing the way we interact with one another on a daily basis. After sifting through 14 million products (kidding!) we chose nine really epic pieces that showcase where we are today in the wearable technologies industry. Did you know you could charge your cell phone with your rain boots? Wear a necklace that can detect and display your emotions? Or, our personal favorite, a dress that can whip up a stellar White Russian cocktail. Best-party-trick-ever!
1. Power Wellies: Wearable technology has its challenges, especially with how they get powered. Here’s a great energy-harvesting solution created by Orange in collaboration with Gotwind. Together, they created energy producing wellie boots that enable users to charge their phone or other mobile gadgets. The prototype wellies use a unique ‘power generating sole’ that converts heat from your feet into an electrical current. This ‘welectricity’ can then be used to re-charge your mobile phone!
2. MOVE Activewear: Move is a concept technology garment designed by Electricfoxy, that guides you toward optimal performance and precision in movement in an ambient, precise, and beautiful way. From daily activities to sports activities to expressive movement, it provides a softer, poetic, and more personal approach to physical performance that helps you alleviate incorrect physical movement, which can lead to chronic pain or even long-term damage. The garment includes 4 stretch and bend sensors located in the front, back and sides – then the garment sends all that data to a mobile app, a cloud service that includes a library of movements and storage so that you can save and backup any custom moves that you create along with your progress and tracking data.
3. Cocktail Making Robot Dress: Daredroid is a biomechanic hybrid cocktail robot, which rewards players with a White Russian cocktail upon accepting and completing a game of Truth or Dare. The dress combines pneumatic technology with open-source hardware and human temperament to provide you with a freshly made White Russian cocktail. Your presence triggers the dress to produce milk, and your willingness to play a game of Truth and Dare combined with your natural charm, triggers the decision to give you more than just tepid milk.
4. Color Changing Dress: The Rainforest Dress by Rainbow Winters is a garment that changes colors when it comes in contact with the sunlight or water - morphing from a black and white dress into a colorful ensemble!
5. Transparency Changing Dress: INTIMACY 2.0 by Studio Roosegaarde is a wearable dresses composed of leather and smart e-foils which would be daringly perfect to wear on the red carpet! In response to the heartbeat of each person, INTIMACY 2.0 becomes more or less transparent. This high-tech fashion project explores the relation between intimacy, fashion, and technology.
6. Augmented Reality Helmet: Designer Maxence Parache has created Hyper-reality, which alters the perception of our environment using an augmented reality helmet, an interactive glove, and a Kinetic system. The experience allows you to navigate through a 3D environment as if you’re in an entirely new world.
7. Pulse Ring: Stay in your zone. Pulse is a wearable accessory and mobile phone experience that monitors your heart rate and helps keep you in your most optimal fitness zone. The tech geniuses at Electricfoxy were determined to make fitness performance simple. In addition, focusing on staying within your optimal target heart rate zone can help you burn more calories and reach your goals more efficiently. No constant calculation in your head. No bulky hardware. Pulse simplifies your heart rate performance and helps keep you in your zone, beautifully and discretely.
8. Zip Earbud Jacket: Finally, a fashionable solution to keeping your earbud cords from knotting. Zip is a garment by Electricfoxy that connects to your phone or music player and allows you to control it simply by performing natural gestures that are built into the mechanics of the garments we wear. In this case, zip up to increase the volume, zip down to decrease it, and tug on the pullstraps to retract the integrated earbuds.
9. Emotion Sensing Necklace: VIBE by Philips Design is one of their “far-future” initiatives. The necklace is an emotional sensing necklace that combines conductive ink and textile sensors. The fashionable device can read multiple biometric signals of the wearer and communicates them to other devices and other wearers. Most electronic communication is limited to very direct channels where we naturally exhibit many more signals or channel indirectly. This opens up a whole new universe of emotional applications, such as physical and emotional gaming, mind and stress control applications, as well as emotional telephony!
Stella Jean’s Jeune Belle Et Gatee Collection
August 27th, 2012 – What sort of creations would you expect from a Haitian born designer raised in Rome, with a deep Creole heritage? Something unexpected, perhaps? We’re talking about the cultural roots of fashion merry-maker Stell Jean.
Mr. Jean’s Jeune Belle Et Gatee Collection was inspired by old photographs taken at the end of the seventies and the beginning of the eighties showing the mother of the designer at embassy cocktail parties and art shows.
The beautiful silk collection is a stunning example of Jean’s unique process of creating the garments. Jean appraoches the clothes in a direct manner, skipping the step of drawing and straight to the body.
Marrying so, the thought of Vionnet, an indispensable drape, and, in some way shape, the dress directly on the body, since, in his words “the body having three dimensions we can not commit to paper.”
Jean dreamed that the garments in this collection would be a prelude to intriguing evenings. Dresses of elegance and feminine pantsuits are hand painted with images and colorful patterns, his draping has a slip on sensuality in the form of soft jerseys shining as silk!
(Photography: Stella Jean)
