Monday, February 28, 2011

ALEX DUNSTAN SHOT BY SHANNON SINCLAIR IN BURBERRY S/S 2011 FOR VISUAL TALES MAGAZINE














© Photography Shannon Sinclair / Styling John Tan / Grooming Andy Starkweather / Fashion Burberry Prorsum S/S 2011

Source: Coute Que Coute

SIKI IM SS11: ISOLATION/INTEGRATION



















Xenophobia can manifest itself in many ways involving the relations and perceptions of an ingroup towards an outgroup, a “self” towards an “other”, including a fear of losing identity, suspicion of its activities, aggression, and desire to eliminate its presence to secure a presumed purity, 
SIKI IM’s Spring Summer 2011 collection is inspired by the notion of isolation and integration driven by the physical, emotional, and political context of immigration, A forest of concrete social housing buildings at the periphery that provides an oppressive landscape is the backdrop of this emotionally charged subject. This image portrays minorities detached from Western society with differences in values and customs in European an Urban cities. Immigrants are trying to build a new living space that might be reminiscent of one’s origin and heritage - a heretically closed space that argues the foreignty of the new environment, or the environment argues the new settlers. They want to keep tradition and values of their ancestors, accustom and adjust but face social, economical and physical barriers. 
This dichotomy and friction in hope of integration ,manifests and opens a new culture of its own. This new identity is a sign for respect, freedom and tolerance. It is also a reflection of globalization and modernity. 
The collection reflects this dialectic approach with references of the protagonists from the socio-critical film la Haine by Mathieu Kassovitz: Bomber jackets, jogging pants, shorts, caps are present but fabricated in luxurious washes and dyed silks. Quilting techniques of armor and tradition are applied on trench coats, shorts, and embellished on newer silhouettes of T-shirts. These highly detailed garments are paired with cropped hand tailored blazers in Super 130’s or Wool-silk, long gowns and tunic shirts in cotton or silk, and a voluminous dropped crotch pant - all made in New York City. This juxtaposition of different styles that are emblematic of Western and ethnic cultures allow for newer innovative shapes and proportions. 
While the overall tone might reflect a street influence, the construction of the garments stays true to Siki Im’s signature minimalist construction and purity in design. 
It is the designer’s unique vision that is able to transcend the usually stigmatized immigrant style and to elevate it to a statement of modernity; proposing a synthesis of opposing cultural paradigms, old and new, tradition and subculture. 
It is nice for once to see a collection from a designer with not only such strong aesthetic direction, but with such evident inspirational references and such depth with regards to the overall subject matter. Siki Im himself seems to have a gift for taking inspiration directly from his physical environment as he worked for many years as an architect before turning towards fashion. His FW11/12 is out now as well, and while it is as strong as this collection, I like this one better. You can see his FW work on his facebook page at the link below:
or check out his past collections at his website: 

Sunday, February 27, 2011

DEVOA - Destrustion and Construction - FW 10/11



A couple of highights from previous collections:






Japanese label Devoa was conceived by a former medical trainer and athlete Daisuke Nishida. He utilises the Human Form and the increasingly innovative features of Japanese textiles to create garments subtle in colour, rich in texture and minimal in construction.
He claims that his “research starts with the understanding of the natural movements of the human body. He then constructs patterns towards the movement of skin, muscle, and frame for an action.” DEVOA clothing is based on hypothesis, and draws inspiration from the theory of human change, on a scale as large as the theory of evolution itself to something as small as the growth and degeneration of the individual throughout life. Devoa clothing is available at Layers, and also check out the site which has some really nice pictures of his buyer's presentations.



Monday, February 14, 2011

Irina Ionesco

(For Dazed and Confused Magazine)


 Some of her earlier work....














Irina Ionesco (born on September 3, 1935) is a French photographer born in Paris, France. She was the daughter of Romanian immigrants. She spent her childhood years in Constanţa, Romania before she moved to Paris. She traveled and painted for several years before discovering photography. Her work is described as erotic.

In 1974 she exhibited some of her work at the Nikon Gallery in Paris and attracted lots of attention. She was soon published in numerous magazines, books, and featured at galleries across the globe.

Irina Ionesco is perhaps most famous for her photographs showcasing her young daughter, Eva. The nudes she created with Eva stirred major controversy, as many were shot showcasing the young girl in artsy, erotic situations similar to the work she did with her other, much older subjects.

A major part of Irina's work features lavishly dressed women, decked out in jewels, gloves, and other finery, but also adorning themselves with symbolic pieces such as chokers and other fetishistic props, posing provocatively, offering themselves partially disrobed as objects of sexual possession.


(Cheers for the info, Wikipedia)
© Irina Ionesco