The Disturbing Yet Mesmerising

Nobuyoshi Araki is one of Japan's most prolific photographers, having published over 350 books and still counting. His images are usually erotic of girls in bondage and even sometimes being titled pornographic. However disturbing they may seem, there is something that makes you want to see more and something that draws you into the stories of each photograph.

Congratulations to Tina Kalivas

So a few days ago I saw on Sussie Bubble's blog, Tina Kalivas' new collection. And before even reading it, I thought it looked very much like her style and upon reading, it was confirmed. Having done work experience for Tina before, I decided to help her again with the new collection. So I was there on Tuesday and saw some additions of her new collection, and it was amazing. The way Tina works too is just so focused and fast. She made this complex dress in half a day!! Working with her is also very inspirational, she is a very skilled and talented designer and yet so grounded and down to earth about herself.

Images courtesy of the style bubble:
http://stylebubble.typepad.com/style_bubble/page/2/

and this was the dress I helped her with and witnessed Tina make in half a day. 

We are so Lucky

So while I was on the hunt for that very interesting texture, I found myself in the Botanic Gardens of our beautiful city Sydney. And it really dawned on me how lucky I am to live in this city, where there is a magnificent garden right in the heart of the hustle and bustle of the city. It was such a relaxing experience wondering down the winding paths taking photos and enjoying the view. Here are some pictures of that experience enjoy! And I will post up some photos of that interesting textures later on when I have sorted through them all.

Photographic Textures

I took these photos just around my house, since my parents are proud gardeners, it gives me a lot of subjects to play around with. Although I know that floral prints are done to DEATH, but I think I might approach it in a texture perspective. Using these plants, the ground, clouds and my cat, I think it could look very interesting printed on a transparent silk or even a cotton. 

Balenciaga Does Multicultural Interpretations

So, because my collection is shaping up to be bohemian, easy traveller, the concept of journey, and also linking this to my dissertation on the colonial discourse and its effects on traditional dress, I am looking at designers who re-interpret ethnic dress and does this well. Although I am not going in this direction of using 'ethnic' (it is a loaded and problematic term) dress as inspiration and I do not want my collection to have that particular look, but I think this is a very difficult area and you do have to be careful not to be too literal about it and be quite sensitive about your approach. Also for me, I am Chinese background, so I do not want to fall in the trap of looking into my culture and being a 'Chinese' designer. The example I am positing today is Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga fall 2007 collection. Also some quotes from his New York TImes Interview with Cathy Horyn.

http://runway.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/29/q-a-nicolas-ghesquiere/

" I wanted to evoke multiculturalism without being too literal — to put it in an urban situation. Even if you wear an African-inspired dress, a Balinese shape, the way you wear it in the city is with a greater sense of protection. I’ve always like the idea of protection but it was the first time I incorporated ethnic elements."

Q: Do you think designers have a hard time with ethnic?

A: Yes. Some designers, of course, are incredible at it. Azzedine [Alaïa] always did ethnic. Jean Paul Gaultier. But I would say it’s never easy to take it out of its context. You refer to an African queen or a Chinese shape, and it’s not easy for the rest of the people to wear it. There’s not much that is twisted in ethnic-inspired fashion, if I can say that. You know all the raves, the techno parties, which are huge and where the kids all wear khakis and parkas with African things? That’s what I wanted to evoke a little bit. It’s a bit aggressive.

Falll 2007 Collection:

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/F2007RTW-BALENCIA

Nicolas Ghesquiere re-interpreted the 'ethnicity' and multiculturalism so well in this collection because he used a mixture of bright fluro colours with the traditional colours we associate with 'ethnic' dress. He also uses silhouettes and details in a quirky way, where a particular detail was for pants he used a dress or on a collar. Sometimes he added preppy elements the mix with scarf shapes etc. 

For the Love of Knitting

If you are ever after a designer who experiments with wild knitting who better to turn to than Sandra Backlund. Her work is very sculptural and she creates with 3 dimensional body in mind and the result is phenomenal. 

“I am fascinated by all the ways you can highlight and distort the natural silhouette. For me knitting is freedom but also the ultimate challenge”. (Interview with Shilingford, 2009, p. 291)

Another Magazine, Spring Summer 2009

Control C Collection From her website

Last Breath Bruises Collection from her website

For more information about her and her work :

http://www.sandrabacklund.com

Shop Window

I found this interesting shop window display a couple of weeks back on crown st Surry Hills.
The shop was Route 66.