Acne Fall 2010

by CH Contributor, 8 February 2010

by Richard Prime

No other brand could really close Stockholm's fashion week than the city's own home-grown independent super-brand Acne. With recent glimpses of its forthcoming venture into the world of furniture tantalizingly close in Paris, it was time to see what the brand has in store clothing-wise for the chilly months ahead.

Acne based the collection around an aviation theme, citing Amelia Earhart as a central influence. Menswear gave a variety of flight jacket options in different material options. Trousers were cut close and well, as expected from the brand which made its name from its denim options.

An exciting mix of layers and changes of proportion made up womenswear, with a key piece being the shearling jacket. Light and long skirts marked a contrast from recent micro-mini trends, while men's looks had flexibility in the form of long feminine shirting.

In all, the show was a strong way to end the week, which has saw more than a few surprises and comings-of-age from this richly creative part of the world.

See more images after the jump.

Jaime Hayon x Gaia & Gino: Valencia Collection

by Phuong-Cac Nguyen, 8 February 2010

The prolific Spanish designer Jaime Hayon's elegant Valencia collection for luxury label Gaia & Gino applies his talent for refreshing the modern to must-have iterations of classic candlestick and tea-light holders in crystal.

The handmade pieces make an apt addition to the Turkish design studio's line of "affordable yet rare" products. Sandblasting each holder by hand, each incorporates a pattern mixing shapes and clefts designed to maximize light's refractive capabilities and demonstrate crystal's captivating chemical structure.

The interchangeable bases allow for assembly in a variety of arrangements while the varying heights add to the collection's playfully sophisticated tenor.

The candlestick and tea-light holders in the Valencia collection span $55-200 and debut in stores May 2010.

Steve Powers: A Love Letter For You Book and Tours

by Wendy Dembo, 8 February 2010

This Valentine's Day, celebrate love in all forms with a trip to Philadelphia to tour Steve Powers' ongoing graffiti mural project and the source of his latest book “A Love Letter for You.” Over the summer of 2009 Powers (aka ESPO) painted 50 murals on 20 blocks of Market Street as a love letter to and from West Philadelphia in a project dubbed "Love Letters." (Click on images for expanded view.)

Documenting the process and installation of the "Love Letters" adventure, the book explores Powers' fascination with using graffiti to tell a story. To mark the book launch, Philadelphia will play host to a weekend of fun-filled events, including "Oldhead," a gallery exhibit showcasing the project's process and inspiration, a book signing (get a personalized copy for your sweetheart), and a privately-chartered, slow-speed elevated train tour of the murals guided by the man himself, Steve Powers, as your conductor. Tickets for the tour run $40 per person or $75 for two.

If a Philly vacation isn't in your plans, the book makes a good romantic subsititute. As Powers explains, "The love letter book is designed so you can dedicate the book to your loved one. Just fill in the blanks with your name and theirs and let the sweet cement sentiments seal the deal." Order it from Free News Projects.

See more images and tour info after the jump.

Vans and the Places Where They Were

by Maggie York-Worth, 8 February 2010

Evoking memories of pot-soaked Saturdays or long drives on the highway, filmmaker and photographer Joe Stevens' side project " Vans and the Places Where They Were" documents the glory of the classic seventies van in an ongoing photo essay dating back to 1996.

Formatted horizontally rather than vertically, Stevens makes scrolling through the images akin to watching a lime green and candy paint parade of Econolines and Chevys travel across the screen.

With an approach that looks not just to the evolving social and economic implications of his subject, Stevens describes how the project surveys "surviving custom and conversion vans across the West and examines the dialogue which exists between a van's design aesthetic and that of its surrounding environment.”

Photographed in and around the L.A. area, the landscape enhances the retrograde effect by hinting at the bygone era of Southern California hippie culture. Palm trees and sixties bungalows add to the mystique of pictures like "Black Tradesman with Orange Stripe" and "Dodge with Duct Tape."

The fleeting quality of these old vehicles, some on their last legs, extends to the medium itself (specifically in this case, 120 film). Says Stevens, "film photography as a visual medium has also begun its slow death. Consequently the goal of the project is to one day shoot the last remaining van on the final frame of photographic film in existence. Then the project will be finished."

Generation Love Organic Tees

by Karen Day, 8 February 2010

Generation Love, a collaboration between two friends determined to create a range of fashion-forward tees while doing "the right thing," joins the new wave of design with a conscience. The resulting collection of eco-friendly clothing also taps the current casually glam look for an effortlessly hip aesthetic.

Designers Roni Hirshberg and Audrey Bressa-Valcourt share in the design process, each adding their distinctive personalities while creating a cohesive collection. Using organic cotton and recycled polyester alongside other sustainable fabrics such as Tencel and micro modal, the duo aims to always choose materials that don't leave such a heavy environmental footprint and hope that one day this will be the norm for every label.

Their brand philosophy also includes supporting NYC's rapidly disappearing garment district, where each Generation Love tee is produced and embellished by hand.

With an interest in mixing fabrics and textures, the spring collection includes organic denim and plaids sourced from Japan and France, while fall explores faux fur and leather detailing.

Stocked in specialty stores like Barneys and Scoop and Intermix, Generation Love will sell direct on their website by the end of February 2010. In the meantime, email Audrey (audrey [at] generationlovelothing [dot] com) to order.

Link About It: This Week's Picks

by CH Contributor, 5 February 2010

1. Interview with Stefan Sagmeister
Legendary graphic designer and 99% conference 2010 speaker Stefan Sagmeister recently gave a brief but insightful interview on topics such as inspiration and client handling to design blog Abduzeedo.

2. LG Retro Classic TV
LG's small but incredibly stylish retro TV even lets you change the display colors to sepia and black-and-white. Priced around $216, the kitschy TV is currently being sold only in Korea.
via Needs/Wants

3. The Urban Woodsman Primer
New York Magazine provides a comprehensive guide to the enduring Brooklyn-bred phenomenon of lumberjack chic. The anti-metrosexual feature covers the essential flannel, denim, facial hair, axes, riflery and more that any man needs to get back in touch with his rustic masculinity.

4. Method's 10x10
In the game of technological advancements, there are winners and there are losers. In honor of their 10th anniversary, San Francisco, CA-based design firm Method maps “>Cable's Lost Generation” in an ongoing series about the changing landscape of the design industry called 10x10.
via Core 77

5. The Highfliers
Commissioning NYC downtown photographer Ryan McGinley, the New York Times Magazine highlights Winter Olympians dressed in stunning custom Rodarte looks with a slideshow.

6. Thirty-One Awesome Benches
The bench, originally a simple and utilitarian way to sit, now has hundreds of creative and surprising variations. See 31 Awesome Benches for a round-up of clever takes on the concept.

7. Die Antwoord
Life hilariously imitates art from performance art band Die Antwoord, as they sweep the Internet this week with a rap about ninjas and a look as distinctive as their sound.
via Street Carnage

8. The Ice House
After the Detroit economy collapsed, a group of locals decided to freeze the entire outer shell of an abandoned house to illustrate the economic woes of this beleaguered community. Check out the gorgeous results of the project on the Ice House blog.
via Neatorama

Stockholm Design Week 2010 Preview

by CH Contributor, 5 February 2010

by Richard Prime

This year's forthcoming Stockholm Design Week 2010 marks a turning point in its history, clearly cementing itself as a celebration of design in the true sense of the word. Guest of honor Paul Smith sets the tone, recognized for his unique attitude to store design and his obvious talent for blurring the boundaries between fashion and design.

With many of the world's key design brands slated to show up with their latest collections, Stockholm Furniture Fair is fast becoming one of the fixtures on any design aficionado's yearly planner.

The enticing group show "Check In" held at the Birger Jarl Hotel will exhibit some of Scandinavia's hottest new design talents. Last year the exhibit was a surprise hit, with a well-curated installation in the hotel's lobby and a basement space with some wonderful pieces of work. This year, the installation will undoubtedly deliver again with talent chosen by a jury of some of Scandinavia's keenest design eyes, including trend expert Stefan Nilsson, editor Lisa Kruse and Sara Lönmoth from design school, Konstfack.

At Galleri Moln på Marken will host the ROSBERG/SZATEK exhibition—the upshot of a collaboration between a designer and an artist including interior with wallpapers along with furniture and ceramic items.

One of the highlights of this year's packed schedule looks to be "Form Us With Friends," a concept installation devised by one of Stockholm's best young collectives, Form Us With Love. Taking over a historically protected site, the company itself will feature work, as will others including Voice and Bolon (recently highlighted on CH for their latest eco-friendly floor coverings).

With various parties and events occurring after hours, this could be Stockholm's answer to the vibrant London design mavericks Designers Block. Be sure to hop onto the website for a printable map of showroom openings from local designers in the center of the city. A blend of over twenty design houses, ranging from small cutting-edge operations to larger creative groups, there's enough scope for discovery to fill a day.

See more images after the jump.

Stockholm Design Week 2010
8-14 February 2010
Stockholmsmässan
Mässvägen 1
Stockholm, Sweden, 12580 map
tel. +(46) 87 49 41 00

Design in Vasastan
9-13 February 2010
See site for locations
Design district of Vasastan
Stockholm, Sweden map