February 21, 2012
(Image credit: Designer, Adolfo Sanchez.)
What would you consider to be the aesthetic behind Adolfo Sanchez?
The Adolfo Sanchez aesthetic can be described as unique, beautiful, edgy and timeless.
What were you doing before you formed Adolfo Sanchez?
I started working in retail when I was 16-years-old. I quickly climbed the ladder in the world of retail and ended up working at some of the top fashion houses like Gucci, Versace, and Carolina Herrera to name a few. While at Carolina Herrera, my manager mentioned that she was a freelance make-up artist on her days off and told me about a photo shoot she was going to work on. It was early 2006 and we collaborated on our first shoot. From that point on, I knew I wanted to be in the fashion industry.
Asides from designing, what other interests do you have?
Although I feel that my whole life has revolved around fashion design, I am also drawn to interior and furniture design (perhaps it speaks to the desire of having my own home collection someday!). I also love to immerse myself in all aspects of art, film and music. During my spare time, which is incredibly rare these days, you can find me losing myself at a museum exhibit or letting loose on the dance floor!
What projects are you currently working on?
At the moment, I am working towards the launch of my A/W 2012 collection as my S/S 2012 collection is on the road making appearances at a number of top, trade shows. I’ve also been tapped to dress and style a number of feature and independent films, which are both very exciting. It’d be a great, visual medium to showcase the movement, details and overall theatricality of my clothing. There are a few other projects in development, but it is too early for me to reveal. All I can say is: stay tuned!
In your own opinion, what is unique about Adolfo Sanchez?
I’m not someone that believes that there should be a look that you must have. I love being an individual and don’t like to look like everybody else. I enjoy people who have their own personal take on fashion/style and take their own taste to be able to demonstrate who they are in this world. I have always loved fashion and truly believe that it is wearable art and think one should be free to wear or create anything we love regardless of what’s current.
In business terms, what advice would you give to aspiring designers?
Patience, technique, dedication, perseverance, thick skin, and creativity with an understanding of wear ability; I also think that in order to be a designer you should have the knowledge of how to construct a garment from scratch. You should know the process that begins with the idea in your mind to the finished product that is ready for a client to wear.
Lastly, would you consider Adolfo Sanchez to be successful?
For a fashion label that started in 2006, we’ve definitely made some big strides. Competing in a space that is dominated by other, more established, high-end labels have only made us aware and innovative.
Our clothes can be found at high-end boutiques throughout the West Coast and parts of Canada. Furthermore, we have a lot of online stores that carry the brand and are definitely looking to expand into the East Coast and international markets, especially in Europe and Dubai, as well. For a full list of stores of where the brand is available, feel free to visit our stockist page on the website. We also sell directly from our very own online-store.
We’ve dressed a number number of celebrities and artists, from Janina Gavankar of “True Blood” to JoJo, teenage pop sensation. So yes, I think we are successful but there’s always room for further improvement and challenges.
Posted by Daniel Dunt. Posted In : Interviews
February 18, 2012
Currently playing: The Drums - DaysIn addition to The Drums being one of my favourite bands, the video to their new song is not just phenomenally arty, but exceeds the majority of others I've seen. It really is great, and if you don't give it a quick glance, you're missing out!
Posted by Daniel Dunt. Posted In : Music
February 17, 2012
(Image credit: Lazy Oaf Spring/Summer 2012 Menswear shot by Bella Howard.) As expected, the Lazy Oaf Spring/Summer 2012 menswear collection and lookbook is just as phenomenal as the womenswear collection and lookbook, which I typed about in yesterday's post, Lazy Oaf Spring/Summer 2012 Womenswear. That's right, 2 Lazy Oaf orientated posts in 2 days.Whilst the womenswear collection featured fruit, floral, animal and asymmetric prints, the menswear collection has headed in a slightly different direction. Animals are still very much a standing theme throughout the collection, and staying true to the stereotypical Lazy Oaf concept, asymmetric prints are too. Something we didn't see too often in the womenswear collection was almost comical cartoon-like graphic prints and admirable typography, which in a way seem to continuously distinguish the menswear and womenswear designs, after being a seemingly frequent occurrence last season in the Lazy Oaf Autumn/Winter 2012 menswear collection also. Lazy Oaf seem to want their girls to look flirty, fun, friendly and attractive, whereas their boys are handsome, funny and tough. Perhaps this is simply an interpretation of what we all experienced in the school playground as children, and how the girls are always giggling among themselves and constantly pointing out the cute guys, whilst the guys are lapping up the attention and trying their absolute best to be as witty and tough-looking as possible. I mean, impressing girls was never my forte, as in most cases I've always been deemed as 'one of the girls', but it's a possibility, right? Once again, I've marked this collection as one of my all time favourites. And therefore once again, well done, Lazy Oaf!The full Lazy Oaf Spring/Summer 2012 collection will be available to purchase via the Lazy Oaf website and/or London-based store/boutique. In the meantime, you can view the full Spring/Summer 2012 menswear lookbook right here!Photography by Bella Howard.
Posted by Daniel Dunt. Posted In : Spring/Summer 2012
February 16, 2012
(Image credit: Lazy Oaf Spring/Summer 2012 Womenswear shot by Bella Howard.)
Once again, London-based art-graphic label Lazy Oaf has torn in another season with a phenomenal look book. Yes, I appreciate that some of you may feel that they have been producing these admirable accumulations of imagery consecutively for a more than appropriate amount of time, and they have been wonderful so often that they're now getting boring, but no, not me. I'm still hooked on the on the stuff, and might even go as far as saying that the release of the Lazy Oaf lookbook is one of my yearly highlights, falling just inches behind the release of a new song and/or album by Marina and the Diamonds, of course.It seems that Lazy Oaf have really latched onto the large obesity figures here in the United Kingdom and feel that it is there responsibility to promote healthy eating, which is why a vast array of items from the Lazy Oaf Spring/Summer 2012 womenswear collection have some sort of fruit orientation. For instance, we have the Pineapple Crop T-Shirt, Fruit Cocktail Dress and Mixed Fruit Crop T-Shirt, followed by a handful of stereotypical Lazy Oaf prints, which include asymmetric shapes and/or patterns, animal prints, and to fit in with the whole Spring/Summer vibe, a handful of arty floral prints. Honestly, it is only after viewing this lookbook that I have an odd, sudden craving for watermelon, pineapple, strawberries and oranges.To summarise, Lazy Oaf have once again produced an exuberant collection that has been rammed full of fun, arty prints, and I have to say, this might just be one of my personal favourites. Therefore, well done, Lazy Oaf! The full Lazy Oaf Spring/Summer 2012 collection will be available to purchase via the Lazy Oaf website and/or London-based store/boutique. In the meantime, you can view the full Spring/Summer 2012 womenswear lookbook right here!Photography by Bella Howard.
Posted by Daniel Dunt. Posted In : Spring/Summer 2012
February 14, 2012
Note that all answers in this interview were provided by Florence, Italy-based illustrator, Francesco Lo Iacono of INVERTED COMMAS.
(Image credit: Illustrator, Francesco Lo Iacono.) What would you consider to be the aesthetic behind INVERTED COMMAS? I guess it's all about the characters and the colours. I try to create characters that reflect some of our deepest feelings. I talk about hope, desire and disappointment; strong feelings that we try to control or fight. Most of those characters reflect me and my world, but I hope that everyone can relate to them - mostly because I portray seemingly common and primary feelings. Those characters live in my own private world, and they are ready to be shared and lived by anyone else. Colours are a massive part of my work. I've always worked with very bright colours, and I've always loved them. Why? I don't know exactly. Colour has been something I've admired since my childhood. I rarely consider black or grey as colour options. I wanted to create strong contrasts. I tend to reject any loose theories about colours and their meaning. Everything comes naturally, and even though it's a fairly simple concept, it's difficult to explain. What were you doing before you formed INVERTED COMMAS? I'd say... what I'm still doing! I mainly work as a teacher and as a freelance translator/illustrator; I've got quite a busy life. INVERTED COMMAS is like my secret garden in which I try to share my own world. I try to manage all of my activities to the best standard possible. Asides from illustration, what other interest’s do you have? I love all forms of art. I'm into painting, photography and fashion. I adore going to exhibitions; it's something which helps create a new vision of the world, to discover other points of view, to create, to search. I like music, mostly alternative and rock. My life is fairly busy, and it's therefore extremely difficult to find spare time to relax or to cultivate other interests, but as soon as I'm able to, I like going out for coffee with friends or taking a walk - maybe with my camera, so I can then take some pictures too. I also consider myself a shopaholic! What projects are you currently working on? Do you have anything exciting coming up in the near future? I'm currently working on a handful of new illustrations for another round of INVERTED COMMAS tote bags. Previews of the designs are available via my Tumblr blog. In my mind I have lots of ideas. I'm thinking about some interesting collaborations with other artists and/or fashion designers - alongside other options. The only issue is that it requires a lot of time and effort, and I therefore need to figure out how everything would work before I get ahead of myself. I'm also currently considering making some INVERTED COMMAS t-shirts, since people have requested them numerous times. In your own opinion, what is unique about INVERTED COMMAS? I could say that they are unique because they show my personal point of view. But that may be a little easy. Still, it's true. When I decided that I wanted to make some tote bags, I looked for some cool ideas, messages and trends to work on, but finally I told myself that I had to show my true self, and that's why I decided to share my own world, without thinking "Will this be popular/successful?" I've been painting for so many years, with the majority being large and expensive paintings. This time I wanted the art to reach everybody, so I thought that tote bags could be an admirable compromise. My illustrations are unique, and you can't find anything like them anywhere else. In business terms, what advice would you give to aspiring illustrators? I'm not too good when it comes to giving advice, but I do think that in anything you do, you need to give it your all. That's what I do, in my all activities. I give everything I have when teaching, and I give everything I have when I make my own art. That's the only way you can and should work. You need to love what you do, as it's the only way that you're going to be strong and professional. Lastly, would you say that INVERTED COMMAS is successful? I wouldn't say that INVERTED COMMAS is successful just yet, because it's not as popular as I would eventually like it to be. Although, it is successful in my own mind, and in terms of what I personally consider success to be. I'm relatively happy with the compromises I've made, and every time I see someone wearing one of my tote bags, I feel that I couldn't ask for much more. After all, that's how and why INVERTED COMMAS came to be.
Posted by Daniel Dunt. Posted In : Interviews
February 12, 2012
(Image credit: "The Meeting" by Simon Ekrelius.) Simon Ekrelius is a genius! I know I’m not usually this upfront when it comes to dishing out compliments, but it’s true, really!
“The Meeting” is the title of Simon’s Autumn/Winter 2012 collection, and as stated before, it’s got genius written all over it. I know it’s still early days as far as Autumn/Winter 2012 goes, as we’re still currently lapping up Spring/Summer 2012, but I honestly feel that this may be one of my favourite collections of the coming season - which is surely a massive compliment to Simon, seeming that I’ve only viewed a handful of additional collections so far!
This assemblage of phenomenal designs is made up of an array of fabrics, including viscose jersey, nylon, leatherette and silk chiffon in shades of black, grey and yellow. Simon has stated that the collection “is inspired by DNA’s evolving double helix and notorious femmes-brigandes like Bonnie Parker and Patty Hearst – dramatic revolutionaries with savvy style.” adding, “In modern times, crime and genetics have become intertwined. This girl doesn’t rob for money nor kill. She steals feelings and lures victims into confusion.” The whole idea is extremely mysterious, and incredibly innovative!
"The Meeting" definitely has a grunge vibe about it, and if I we were looking for a collection which has intertwined both art and fashion impeccably, then this would be taking the #1 trophy home for sure!
I'm almost positive the full look book will be available for public viewing shortly, yet in the meantime, be sure to follow Simon’s updates via the labels Facebook page, right here!
Posted by Daniel Dunt. Posted In : Autumn/Winter 2012
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