UK's New Fashion Hub

There are many fashion hubs around the world that almost everyone knows - London, Milan, Paris, New York being the obvious examples, but there are some that have been forgotten amongst the monumental influence of the major cities. The resurrection of a once flourishing London Borough whose textiles and fashion industry was the centre of the capital city, named Hackney, is underway. The Hackney Fashion Hub (pictured above) is set to be the new home for young and emerging fashion designers, as this centre provides support for start-up fashion businesses, training and mentoring for passionate entrepreneurs in the industry, apprenticeship and training opportunities and work spaces such as The Stitching Academy and The Sampling, Alteration and Manufacturing Unit. Along with this, a trust will be set up to promote fashion events, initiatives and businesses within the area. On-site work has just began and the fashion industry worldwide is waiting eagerly for the hub to open.

For more information on Hackney Fashion Hub, head to www.hackneyfashionhub.co.uk

Image courtesy of Hackney Fashion Hub

Prehistoric

It's no secret that the enigmatic American fashion designer, Rick Owens, follows a darker path in design. His clothes are infamous within the fashion industry, and there is a clear cult of followers who adhere to the shadowy stream of fashion of which he hails. Earlier this year, the designer let The Wall Street Journal into his Parisian apartment, revealing he is completely dedicated to this aesthetic. The designer has now expanded his furniture range, named "Prehistoric", which is scarily reflective of his fashion designs. The range is predominantly made from petrified wood, in the typical colour palette of greys, blacks and whites, and would be more of a modern interpretation of the Ice Age than prehistory. The furniture range is now on display at the London's Carpenters Workshop Gallery.

Images courtesy of GQ Australia

Architecture of Time

The elusive Italian fashion label, Costume National, has collaborated with the famed photographer, Hiroshi Sugimoto, for an exhibition that captures the mechanical eeriness of modern architecture. Hiroshi is no stranger to capturing the stillness of the manmade, but is more adept to presenting nature (particularly seascapes, lightning and unexplored territories) without the beauty of colour. The usual pin-sharp photography of Hiroshi has been abandoned for a spooky, blurred perspective of architectural landmarks. In this series, called "Architecture of Time", he beautifies the organic and the unnatural simultaneously, almost coming full circle with his work. 

The exhibition is now open until January 13, 2014, at the Costume National Aoyama Complex in Tokyo, Japan.

Images courtesy of CNAC, Costume National and Content Mode

Architectural Musings

The femininely mechanical vision of Dion Lee has earned him a place as one of the most respected Australian fashion designers. His collections always present to women the possibilities of fashion in the future - three-dimensional appliqué, fluidly shaped cuts and geometric detailing all features of his garments. Even though Mr. Lee admits he does not draw inspiration from the orderly discipline of architectural design, the aesthetic he is so famous for is reflective of modern, post-modern and futurist architecture. He has collaborated with photographer, Zac Handley, to show off his favourite structural sites in Sydney in an editorial for underdog fashion e-tailer, SSENSE - a few of the images featured here.

To view the interview and complete editorial, CLICK HERE

Images courtesy of SSENSE

Fendi x Karl Lagerfeld: The Glory of Water

It is no surprise that Karl Lagerfeld, as proactive as he is, has contributed his creative genius to Fendi in collaboratively coordinating the launch of the new Paris flagship store. In the heat of Couture Week, an event such as this is heightened by the complementing photography exhibition showcasing the King of Fashion's matchless photography of the Roman fountains of Italy (as part of their collaborative project to restore Trevi Fountain) that went hand-in-hand with the event. The exhibition, "The Glory of Water", is applaudable, seeing as it has given lost glorification to these historical water features of Italy. Amongst the more concentrated buzz around the designers' collections, the exhibition brought a contemplative and almost melancholic air to the chaotic week.  

For a look at the launch of the flagship Fendi store on Avenue Montaigne and more details on the "Glory of Water" exhibition, CLICK HERE

Images courtesy of Fendi, FauxRealFashion, Wallpaper, Blou Art Info and Elle

The gN Project | Zegna

The gN project, started by Italian luxury label, Ermenegildo Zegna, has been around for quite some time now. The elusive campaign has no doubt forced myself and Zegna loyalists what this campaign is trying to convey to us. The photographs and videos of projections of words such "Album", "Gesture", "Dichotomy", "Pure" and "Aesthetic" must hint to more goings-on behind the scenes of the renowned Zegna label.

Further on in the campaign, it was revealed - the project is a lead up to the anticipated debut of Stefano Pilati as the Head Designer for the label. Stefano Pilati is a well-respected man throughout the fashion industry, having spent many years as Head Designer for Yves Saint Laurent before Hedi Slimane infamously changed the name to "Saint Laurent Paris". 

Significant organizational shifts have occurred in the last few years in the fashion industry, and it's easy to understand why this campaign ever started - to help non-Italians pronounce the "GN" in Zegna. This campaign has been for the sole purpose of educating and visually enthralling possible customers and loyalists ahead of the revamp of the label to be seen worldwide on June 22nd. Will Stefano Pilati stay true to the Zegna aesthetic or rule with his signature style? We'll have to wait and see....

Images courtesy of The gN Project by Zegna

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Tom Ford's Ranch

 

 It's no surprise that Tom Ford is strict on the straightness of lines, garners attention to the most minimal of details and stays true to his contemporary aesthetic. Combining this with one of the world's most renowned minimalist architects, Tadao Ando, equates to a well-design ranch that seems to convey an alienic and eerie atmosphere.

The ranch, situated in New Mexico, both blends with and stands out amongst the arid desert land of the Americas. The structures within the ranch are reminiscent of concrete futuristic settings from Gattaca and Aeon Flux, and allow a private space within open land. Tom Ford rarely goes wrong, and in this case he has got it completely right. Being a high profile designer, this ranch is the perfect getaway from his busy life, yet keeping the city life reminiscently close through the post-modern circular concrete structures of the ranch.

To view more of Tadao Ando's extraordinary architectural designs, CLICK HERE

Images courtesy of Trendland

Rick Owens and his Crib

The dark, minimal and strong philosophical themes of Rick Owens' collections have always made fashion conscious people curious of his lifestyle, especially since his approach to fashion is not one for the sake of trends, but rather a deep connection between the wearer, the clothes and his allowing people to embody his mysterious persona. Recently, the designer let in The Wall Street Journal to give us a tour of his humble abode.

They say, "Home is where the Heart is", and there's no doubt that Rick has given his heart and soul to both his fashion and his residence. Rick may be a fashion designer, but he is also an interior designer, with his furniture reflecting the earthen tones and textures of his fashion collections. The apartment may look like it's in a secluded location, but looks deceive - it's right in the fashion capital of Paris, France.

The mark of a true designer is when their whole life is an extension of their creative talent and skill, and there is no doubt Rick practices what he preaches. 

To view the complete tour of Rick Owens' apartment, CLICK HERE

To view Rick Owens' fashion collections and interior designs, CLICK HERE

Images courtesy of The Global Grind and Acclaim Magazine

Fendi's New Fountain

The glorious Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy, a popular tourist destination and a significant Italian historical piece of architecture, is to be restored under a project initiated by Fendi. Sophia Venuturi Fendi, Creative Director and Head Designer for Fendi, and the illustrious King of Fashion, Karl Lagerfeld, will be running the initiative. The project aims not only to bring renewed life into the fountain, but also merge the creative forces of Fendi and Lagerfeld to further emphasize the importance of Fashion in Italian arts and culture. I look forward to seeing the undoubtedly beautiful result of the project! Watch the video below for more information on the project.

Images courtesy of Blogs.ft and Wikipedia

Video courtesy of the official Fendi Youtube channel