THE BIRD & THE BEE BY YVES GELEYN
Zune Arts continues to impress, most recently by updating the artists videos on their site with some great new stuff. Whether you want to give props to 72andSunny for having an eye for talent and design or the folks at Zune Arts for having the sophistication to continue doing such cool stuff, either way, be sure to check out this latest addition just in time for Mother’s Day entitled, “Mother Like No Other” by Yves Geleyn.
Links:
“Mother Like No Other” by Yves Geleyn
Zune Arts
72andSunny
Yves Geleyn at Hornet, Inc
Credits
Posted on May 07, 2008 at 12:59 PM | Comment (0 comments) | Digg
A little while back, I was extended the privilege of being invited with a select group to attend a milestone Big East Basketball game that also played host to one of the largest rivalries in College Basketball. That game, featuring the Syracuse Orangemen versus the Georgetown Hoyas, was a pivotal moment in the Championship for the Big East Conference and was also a keystone event in Nike’s Be True campaign.
BE TRUE is part of Nike’s recognition of the 22 year heritage of the Dunk. Though few people would challenge the Dunk’s dominance as an icon of style on the street, the DNA of the Dunk can be found within the sport of Basketball. Well before the Dunk established its dominance within popular culture, it proved itself on the court. Being True is the essence that defines the Dunk and BE TRUE is both its celebration and the celebration of the culture that has embraced it. That afternoon back in February up at Syracuse University’s Carrier Dome, our small group got the chance to witness first hand the TRUE fans of Syracuse and Georgetown. Over 31,000 fans we’re in attendance that day, and all were brought together to share in the sport of Basketball.
Since then, I’ve been invited to attend, as well as participate in, other BE TRUE events, and throughout the rest of 2008 I’ll periodically share with everybody previews of exclusive products released by Nike as part of their BE TRUE campaign, as well as specific documentation of Nike’s message of what BEING TRUE means.
That said, I’m really honored to be the first to introduce the Rivalry Dunks…
The story behind them involves Nike going back to the roots of the Dunk and their origins in Basketball, as well as Nike’s foundation in collegiate sport. The Rivalry Dunks pay homage to the TRUE fans at three particularly noteworthy colleges. Each of these colleges have fans that have distinguished themselves by camping out in the dead of winter, queuing up in line for days at a time and essentially bleeding their team colors. Nike set out to recognize the passion for sport, and the rivalries that drive it, by working with a lucky group of the most hardcore fans, the teams and the Athletic Departments of each of these three colleges to create a custom Dunk in their honor. This was followed up by a ceremonial dinner and special festivities for those involved, culminating in a pair of the (exceptionally limited) Dunks given to a select group of very fortunate individuals at each function with the rest of the invited guests cheering them on.
The three teams are the Syracuse University Orangemen, The North Carolina Tar Heels, and the Georgetown Hoyas, and these are their Dunks…
I’m also especially grateful to the powers that be over at Swoosh Headquarters, who felt that I deserved my own pair of Orangemen Dunks (Especially when they’ve been listing on Ebay for thousands of dollars per pair). Many thanks…
Posted on April 17, 2008 at 07:26 PM | Comment (9 comments) | Permalink | Digg
BURTON and YANKEES versus RED SOX
Yesterday afternoon I rolled out to the Burton preview with Jeff Carvalho of Weekly Drop. Burton and company are in the midst of showcasing their next deliveries, which includes amazing product like some outerwear designed by Chuck Anderson and another great collection by Idiom, as well as some cool stuff from Habitat and Alien Workshop. After checking out lots of stuff we (unfortunately) won’t be able to get our hands on for a while longer, Tim Brodhagen extended a very gracious invite to roll up to the Bronx to check out the Yankees play the Red Sox at (the soon to be retired) Yankee Stadium. Granted the rivalry between these two teams is the stuff of legend, not much would have prepared me for the chaos I witnessed last night at Yankee Stadium. Maybe I haven’t been going to enough sporting events lately, but with the Yankees and the Red Sox still pretty much neck and neck during the 7th inning, there were consistent pockets of people all around us in various stages of being ejected from the stadium and/or arrested. Literally dozens of people being cuffed and escorted away, with random brawls breaking out between innings at the concession stand and bathrooms. Though some would blame alcohol for all the anarchy, at $8.50 for a can of Coors Light, I’m going to have to have to lay blame on thousands upon thousands of over zealous fans and the mob mentality that seemed to be possessing a huge grip of them. Though just before the 8th, Jeff, Tim and I came close to getting into a brawl with some belligerent Red Sox fans (and one of their drunk girlfriends), it was a really fun time and I enjoyed nearly every minute of it.
And the Yankees won!
Posted on April 17, 2008 at 03:16 PM | Comment (4 comments) | Permalink | Digg
I was out in Portland, Oregon recently (for some stuff I’ll be talking about a little later), and managed to squeeze in a day’s worth of snowboarding on Mount Hood. I rolled out there with a small, but distinguished crew from Nike and it was both unanimously and unequivocally agreed to be an epic day on the mountain for each of us. Many locals said it was probably the best snow fall most had seen in their lifetime of hitting the slopes there. There were several nights in a row of respectable snow fall, and the night before we showed up, Mount Hood saw around two feet worth of fresh powder. Though I haven’t been fortunate enough to find the time and opportunity to go as often as I’d have liked, this was actually my first trip of the season. As such, my good friend Gavin decided that the best way to celebrate this fact would be to make sure we began by jumping off the lip of a double black diamond that looked to me more like the very edge of the world. It was so high and so steep, I could barely make out where the clouds dissipated and the snowy transition began. A few runs later I was (almost) able to follow Gavin, Julien and Christian on expert runs that mostly comprised of weaving between frozen pine trees. There were definitely some amazing runs we shared that day including one particular run where I finally ignored my inhibition towards death on the mountain side, and decided to just let gravity do it’s thing and pull me down a near vertical snow wall at what felt like terminal velocity. Anyhow, I think it’s safe to say we gave all we had (and then some) and once people’s knees started buckling with fatigue while simply standing in place, we all decided it was time to call it a day.
Extra thanks to Gavin for getting us up the mountain quickly and in style (and for the expert binding help), and to Julien and Christian for the good times and warm hospitality. Hopefully we’ll be able to do it again sometime. Also, I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least mention the huckleberry milkshakes these guys turned me onto on the way back down the mountain. Though it took sincere effort to find the strength to get out of the car and waddle on rubbery legs into the Huckleberry Inn, there’s few things in this world as tasty as the huckleberry milkshakes they serve.
Posted on April 17, 2008 at 02:00 PM | Comment (0 comments) | Permalink | Digg
There seems to be a lot of news floating around the blogosphere about the Being True Show. Curated by Emma Reeves and Aaron Rose and being officially supported by Nike, the show features 22 photographers with a particular penchant and talent for capturing the essence and variety of today’s American Youth. Sometimes Joyful, often poignant, but always compelling the show features a single contribution from Tim Barber, Angela Boatwright, Kenneth Cappello, Poppy De Villeneuve, Cheryl Dunn, Naomi Harris, Alex Hoerner, Drew Jarrett, Alain Levitt, Jeaneen Lund, Ari Marcopoulos, Dan Murphy, Jason Nocito, Patrick O’Dell, Mike Piscitelli, David Ransone, Terry Richardson, Jamel Shabazz, David Perez Shadi, Brent Stewart, Ed Templeton, and Tobin Yelland. Anyhow, in addition to the all star cast being showcased in the Being True exhibit, there was also a pretty impressive turnout… Lance Armstrong, Haze, Kaws, Todd James (Reas), Carlo McCormick, Jamie O’Shea, Peter Sutherland, Dante Ross, Dan Funderburgh, were just a few amongst those that came out to the opening.
Anyhow, below are shots from the opening in Brooklyn at the Journal Gallery, but the Los Angeles leg of the tour is opening tonight. It was way too crowded to get shots of the work, so If you’re in the area of the next stop, definitely swing by and check it out first hand…
BEING TRUE - 22 years of American Youth
April 3rd - April 27th, 2008
Opening Reception: Thursday, April 3rd
144 LAB
144 North La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Photos courtesy of Kathy Lo, the Journal Gallery.
Posted on April 03, 2008 at 09:17 AM | Comment (2 comments) | Permalink | Digg
Just a heads up that the main RSS Feed that aggregates all the various blogs on the site has been fixed. So any of you into RSS, should jump on this feed… http://www.12ozprophet.com/index.php/content/feed.xml
Posted on March 24, 2008 at 01:05 PM | Comment (0 comments) | Permalink | Digg
Today I decided to duck out on work and instead grabbed the family and my man Randy Wells and took the L train crosstown to 14th and 6th Ave, and then hopped onto the PATH train to Hoboken, New Jersey with the sole purpose of making our first pilgrimage to Fiore’s Deli for 2008. There’s no doubt that Brooklyn, Little Italy and the West Village each have their own fair share of authentic old-fashioned Italian deli’s, but few can compete with Fiore’s out in Hoboken. Established in 1913, and maintained as the same family owned neighborhood deli it was founded as, Fiore’s built it’s reputation by thoroughly satisfying the local cravings for quality deli foods and great customer service. Back when it first opened it’s doors, Fiore’s met the lunch time needs of the local Italian immigrant population that dominated Hoboken between World War I and World War II. Though the landscape and populace of Hoboken has changed significantly in the 95 years since Fiore’s first opened it’s doors, the deli itself remains fully intact and original, and stepping through it’s doors also feels like you’re stepping back through time. Once frequented regularly by local legend, Frank Sinatra, it’s said that he often had Fiore’s ship braids of mozzarella to his stops while on tour. It’s tough to nail down the best part of Fiore’s, but the mozzarella made fresh daily by the crew of old school Italian-American men behind the counter certainly tops the lists of most people that have been to Fiore’s first hand. In fact, during the weekly lunch time rush, it’s said that locals seem fine with accepting tickets for double parking in exchange for the opportunity to wait in line and snatch up one of Fiore’s renowned mozzarella sandwiches. I’ve also been told the Roast Beef they make rivals their cheese for best eats, but to be honest I’ve never had the opportunity to try it out because I’m too busy stuffing my face with the mozzarella. Anyhow, if you’re ever near Hoboken, definitely stop by and ask John or one of the other fellas behind the counter for a ‘knot of Mozz’… You most definitely will not be disappointed.
Fiore’s Deli
414 Adams St
Hoboken, NJ 07030
(201) 659-1655
www.fioresdeli.com
Posted on March 21, 2008 at 07:17 PM | Comment (3 comments) | Permalink | Digg
Anyone following my blog has probably caught on to a recurring theme of hot photography of hot women. Whether it’s Jamil GS, Terry Richardson (or admittedly, even some of the more voluptious illustrations of Todd James), it’s hard to not appreciate the form of the fairer sex. Gratuitous or not, I now introduce the Photography of Bruno Bisang. Enjoy…
Posted on March 20, 2008 at 05:34 PM | Comment (3 comments) | Permalink | Digg
Being part Brazilian, and having traveled to Brazil many times, I’m definitely familiar with the concept of a shanty town. In Brazil they call them ”favela’s” and they literally pepper the landscape of that country, often growing to consume all the spaces between official public and private developments. They regularly spring up under highway overpasses, near railway tracks, along mountainsides and even in the alleyways between large skyscrapers. Probably established as a temporary shelters, they expand to form a patch work of improvised construction and makeshift infrastructure and sometimes over years, or even decades, evolve to become these sprawling outcroppings of found objects that are probably more like a Tim Burton take of some twisted Dr Seuss storybook-like town. They usually have nicknames, and the more established shanty towns have their own set of unique rules, customs, slang and subculture.
Anyhow, growing up I always associated shanty towns as a phenomenon of the third world limited to impoverished countries and rarely seen by American’s except as charity infomercials and National Geographic specials. Welcome to a post-Bush America…
Via PSFK. To see more Favela images checkout Flickr.
Posted on March 18, 2008 at 10:39 AM | Comment (2 comments) | Permalink | Digg
Not typically known for photography, Iconoclast has just put up a limited batch of C-print’s from Barry McGee (Twist THR) for sale on their site. Most will recognize the action shot of Ryze 5AV that’s been used in many of Barry’s projects including the Undefeated Billboard Series. Anyhow, these will no doubt end up on eBay for double once sold out, so you might as well do yourself a favor and jump on it if interested in owning a certified original from Barry McGee.
UNTITLED
by Barry McGee
Untitled, 2007
C-print
16 X 20 inches
Edition of 200
Numbered and signed by the artist
Published on the occasion of the exhibit “Beautiful Losers: Contemporary Art and Street Culture”, 2004-2008
Iconoclast via High Snobiety
Posted on March 13, 2008 at 03:07 PM | Comment (0 comments) | Permalink | Digg
YOUR MOM WASN’T YOUR DAD’S FIRST
Granted there are still some campaigns out there keeping it real, but I definitely feel we’d all benefit from a bit more un-political correctness…
Posted on March 08, 2008 at 07:45 PM | Comment (3 comments) | Permalink | Digg
Well, looks like the powers that be have once again done their research and unraveled the mystery. This time it’s about shedding light on the telltale clues to help parents everywhere figure out if their child have joined the ranks of this elusive and shadowy subculture with a penchant for marking up public surfaces. Here’s fair warning: Time to start switching up your look before parents everywhere start tuning in and identifying the legions of ‘taggers’ that have been until now, walking amongst them unnoticed.
Posted on March 08, 2008 at 11:58 AM | Comment (3 comments) | Permalink | Digg
TERRY RICHARDSON, KERMIT & MY SON AUGUST
So while sipping sangria in Barcelona I get a call from my wife, Christy, about how Supreme has gone out and plastered Kermit the frog all over the neighborhood, and how that in turn has caused my son August to scream in delightful hysterics on each and every sighting. Upon getting back into town I get the last weeks worth of updates which includes confirmation that Supreme, has in fact, gotten Terry Richardson to photograph their latest mascot to sport the iconic box logo shirt and that mascot, is in fact the famously green Muppet. So I’m now forced into figuring out how I’m going to approach James Jebbia, the owner of Supreme, about scoring one and wonder if I shouldn’t instead send my two year old son over to his office to beg him for one personally. After all, by my reasoning it’s sort of James’ fault that I’m in this dilemma in the first place. Still somewhat embarrassed about how I’m going to field this request to James, and hesitant to squander a favor from him, I postpone the prerequisite phone call and instead reach out to my good friend Liz who works at their offices. On short notice, and while interrupting work that I’m sure was far more pressing, Liz walks a couple offices over to my other friend West, who currently sits as Supreme’s Brand Director, and manages to sneak a couple of the posters out of the remaining stock set aside for archive. By this time I’m already in the neighborhood, family in tow, so I swing by the Supreme offices to pick up my son’s prize. I give quick thanks to Liz, who’s obviously still very busy, talk to West for a few moments (and promise him my next born if he can set aside an XL version of the t-shirt when they come in), and head out the door already concerned about how much of a disruption I’ve caused during this process. Somewhere between the Supreme offices and the Centre Street station to the JMZ train we’re planning to take back into Brooklyn, I promise my wife Starbucks. As if by miracle, and certainly with the spirit of Jim Henson himself looking over us, we run into none other then Terry Richardson hanging out having a latte in the first Starbucks we come across en route to the train! Nice guy that he is, Terry graciously personalizes one of the posters for my son, and likewise, August doesn’t seem to mind having this stranger write on his new Kermit the frog poster. After a few laughs, we all say our goodbyes and now the whole family (or at least Christy and I) are walking home amazed about how completely awesome it all came together. Kermit now smiles down from the wall high above August’s bed until I can figure out a way to sneak him back out of the house for a few days to get framed.
A special thanks to Liz for her patience and understanding, to West for his generosity in sneaking a few of these posters out of archive and to Terry for being such a good sport. Congratulations to James for yet another job well done.
Posted on March 06, 2008 at 02:30 AM | Comment (3 comments) | Permalink | Digg
I recently received a very gracious invitation from the crew at Montana to jet out to Barcelona. Though originally conceived as a business trip, it turned out to be a week long series of amazing sights, incredible meals and really, really great company. I’ve been somewhat determined to avoid getting sucked into attending the BBB trade shows they hold out there (or any of the recent Magic trade shows for that matter), so this was my first trip to Spain. At the urging of Luis, who happens to be one of the North American distributors of Montana Paint, as well as some convincing from Os Gemeos, who we’re just coming off the tail end of a show they’d had in Madrid, I had the perfect excuse (and extra motivation) to set a date and finally shoot out there. I’ve been building with Jordi (the owner of Montana) and Angelo (Montana’s Director of Marketing) for the last several months on various projects (more on that later...) and we’d also been planning a photo shoot for an upcoming feature planned for 12ozProphet.com so it seemed like perfect timing.
After getting to know Jordi, Angelo, Albert and the rest of the Montana Crew, I can say with confidence that now I’ll definitely use any excuse I can come up with to swing back out to Barcelona. I’ve often heard that people in Spain are well known for their generous nature and hospitality, but the guys behind Montana Colors are some of the most genuine and good hearted people I’ve ever met. In addition to being able to confidently claim ownership over the best quality spray paint in the world, and being a major supporter of Graffiti Art culture globally, they also have the best spots in Barcelona for paella, tapas and sangria on lock. Anyhow, you’ll be seeing the results of our collaboration really soon, but in the meantime, here’s some photos from the trip…
JFK Airport while going by at 300mph.
I’m not 100% certain, but I believe these are the French Alps. Regardless, I thought it looked pretty amazing.
One of the many beautiful beaches in Barcelona.
We rolled out to this beach-side local spot with a crew of like 20 people. This is the 30 pound paella dish they served us up with.
Angelo throwing it down at the paella table.
A sneak peak at the Nitro 2G Color line Montana will be dropping in the next couple weeks.
The Montana flag ship store in Barcelona.
Obviously, there’s no way you can roll through town with a crew of dudes from Montana without having someone linger behind and start writing on stuff.
Otavio and Gustavo (Os Gemeos) horsing around with Jordi
One of the main Montana factory buildings wrapped in art from Os Gemeos and Nina.
Part of the Montana assembly line where the Alien cans get their trademarked low pressure valve system inserted.
More Os Gemeos artwork… This time masterfully adorning the bathroom wall to the main offices.
So I’ve been hearing a collective chorus of whining from everybody that missed out on February’s ‘Be True’ city-pack Dunks. Well, here’s your chance for redemption, because I just got word from an anonymous authority that next weekend ushers in the next three sets from the series. For those of you too young to remember 1985, it was an epic year for popular culture, as it saw the introduction of Elmo, New Coke, and most significant… the original Nike - Be True to Your School Dunks. Unlike the pairs released in 1985, the new sets feature the original poster graphic on the footbeds, but beyond that they retain all the detailing, style and soul of the original. Expect to see these in a select stores next weekend (I could say where, but I can’t just hand you everything now, can I?) Those that know can figure it out, happy hunting to the rest of you…
Enjoy!
Posted on February 29, 2008 at 03:27 PM | Comment (6 comments) | Permalink | Digg
I’ve been pretty slammed with work lately and falling slightly behind on my posts, but here’s a couple of shots I took from a recent trip to Syracuse, NY…
Nike extended an invitation to watch first hand what happens when two long time rivals, and Big East Championship hopefuls, are pitted against each other on the basketball court. The Syracuse Orangemen were on home turf and one loss away from losing their shot at the championship, and clearly not willing to allow the Georgetown Hoyas to take it. So the evening before, I met Demetria and Dean from Nike along with Long and Eric from Flaunt Magazine at JFK Airport and jetted up to Syracuse, New York where we met up with Jeff and Beau from the Weekly Drop to attend one of the biggest games of the season at Syracuse University’s Carrier Dome.
It probably goes without saying that fans of both teams would be pretty excited about this game, but little can prepare you for the sports frenzy that gripped the town of Syracuse that weekend. The carrier dome was stuffed with a record number of fans that took every opportunity to make sure the world knew exactly who they were cheering for. ‘Ohhh’, ‘Awww’, Georgetown taunts and various Syracuse themed cheers combined to create a steady roar that could undoubtedly be heard for several miles in every direction. In an atmosphere this electric, watching these two college teams fighting for victory felt a lot more like witnessing two titans doing battle. Anyhow, there was just no way Syracuse could lose under conditions like these, and sure enough, that day the Orangemen beat the Hoyas 77 - 70.
No doubt everyone in attendance will be talking about that game for years to come, including myself. It was an amazing experience shared with a great crew of people. A special thanks to Demetria and Dean for inviting me and a big shout out to Jeff, Beau, Long and Eric for all the great company.
Posted on February 22, 2008 at 09:37 AM | Comment (6 comments) | Permalink | Digg
It’s always a pleasure to be among the first to bear witness to what Nike has up it’s sleeve, and with all the anticipation surrounding All Star weekend building to a steady roar, I was given a peek at two pairs of Nike sneakers preceding the main event set to start popping off down in New Orleans. Coming off the tail end of the AF1’s 25th anniversary and at the start of the year long celebration of the Dunk, these two pairs pay homage to the Big Easy with their smooth styling and signature colors. Equally impressive is that a full $50 from every pair sold is being donated on behalf of Nike and the select retailers stocking them through the Let Me Play program to the Greater New Orleans Foundation to help promote physical fitness and sports to kids and their communities.
More info at www.nike.com, www.letmeplay.com and www.gnof.org
These will be available at Nike Town New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sports Plus in New Orleans, but good luck getting your hands on a pair. In the meantime enjoy the shots below…
Posted on February 12, 2008 at 05:41 PM | Comment (19 comments) | Permalink | Digg
Looks like Sisley is trying to top their previous campaigns with the shock and awe factor. I’m not usually the type to go for the glamorization of drugs, or similarly destructive lifestyles, but I’m feeling this ad. What I find odd is that though Sisley seem to be killing it with the ads, I can’t recall the last time spotted someone actually wearing the product. The only shop I’ve noticed in NYC, is on Broadway near 8th Street and I only noticed it because of how poor the location was. Seems odd that they’re so driven on creating an identity with all these campaigns, but then make so few efforts (or at least successful ones) at differentiating or positioning the product itself or continuing such a strategic and heavy handed brand identity with it. Anyhow, though reminiscent of another cool campaign for it’s day, the Sisley ads are cool, so hopefully we keep seeing them.
Posted on February 11, 2008 at 08:35 PM | Comment (3 comments) | Permalink | Digg
Here’s a first glimpse on an upcoming AKA project which will be a book of photography by Yuri Shibuya. For those not familiar, Yuri has been spending her summers over the last ten years walking the streets and hanging out with the ragtag cast of characters that help define the downtown New York City scene. With a particular emphasis on documenting graffiti, street culture, and especially skaters, Yuri’s photography is a very honest and nostalgic glimpse at street life in the Big Apple over the last decade. Anyhow, designed by the AKA Crew and Yuri, expect to see this drop later this year. In the meantime, here’s a few images…
Be sure to check out Yuri’s website at www.yurishibuya.com and her blog here on 12ozprophet.com
In progress…
and a couple shots from the book…
Posted on February 07, 2008 at 10:55 AM | Comment (0 comments) | Permalink | Digg
Granted, I’m not crazy about the design myself, but just the fact that Peter Vallone is putting his mug on tv and rallying for a boycott of Arizona Ice Tea just because of the graffiti-inspired aesthetic on these drinks is enough to make me want to make Arizona’s ‘All City’ beverages truly all city. (Someone at Arizona needs to reach out to 12oz cause I bet we could really make that happen) I mean seriously… with the outrageous national deficit, crumbling dollar, collapsing housing and stock market, looming recession, and the big apple rotting from the inside out, do we really need politicians parading around on television telling us what drinks we should or shouldn’t be buying?
Next time you walk by your neighborhood bodega, make sure and pick up a can or three of Arizona, as well as tell the dude behind the counter that these cans are the hot shit and all the kids in high school are collecting them and selling them on eBay for big bucks. Seriously… nothing will be more satisfying then turning this around and pushing the sale of these beverages through the roof. Also be sure and check out Arizona’s website and drop their ( and ) to tell them how much you love their drinks and that you’ll be picking up a case of ‘All City’ after cashing your next paycheck.
And on the real… with presidential elections in full swing, don’t forget to get informed, get involved and vote.
via Razor Apple
Posted on February 07, 2008 at 09:02 AM | Comment (10 comments) | Permalink | Digg
Those of you guys that really know me, are well aware of my obsession with all forms of lithography. I especially geek out when you see something that’s been obviously well thought out, carefully designed and printed with particular care. Half the time, I don’t even notice what it is that’s being printed because I’m too busy checking out the technique and craftsmanship of the printing itself. Anyhow, here’s some art prints I just got turned on to that I felt were a great example of how great lithography (in this case reproduced using a letter press) and great art make for incredible results (and very well priced I might add). Also be sure and check out some of the other art on their main site.
Candykiller Blog by way of FFFound!.
Posted on February 05, 2008 at 09:31 AM | Comment (1 comments) | Permalink | Digg
It’s pretty amazing to see how far the stakes have risen in the quest for the hottest retail space. Though at the end of the day, it’s still the product that matters, there’s something important to be said about how that product is positioned, shown and sold, especially when it’s by the same company that’s producing it. The big fashion houses have been addressing this need forever, but for the last several years as Streetwear and Urban Brands have become more established, there’s been a very clear effort by some companies to further separate themselves from the pack. The minimalist shop with simple polished concrete floors or the DIY - Ikea adapted displays just don’t cut it anymore regardless of how cool a brand is (or how cool they think they are). Below are a few favorite (recent) examples, as well as the firms that helped in making them happen.
Much respect to both Bathing Ape and Wonderwall for taking note and bringing this ideal to Streetwear, as well as consistently setting the bar and giving consumers some of the most beautiful spaces in which to purchase gear from.
Addendum (02/05/08): I’m surprised to see how quickly this entry made it’s rounds. Since then it’s been brought to my attention that I was a little ambiguous about who’s responsible for the great spaces you see below. Though I’m sure the agencies that helped put these projects together had input as to the concept, each of the apparel companies below represent some of the most creative and innovative players in the industry. In the case of Alife, as a crew they’ve often been involved in designing spaces for both themselves and others and Matt Fontana has a long history in interrior design and building out cool retail locations. Also knowing Kaws pretty well, it’s very clear that the OriginalFake shop is a beautifully realized interpretation of his aesthetic and thought process. Anyhow, I just wanted to point that out and make sure proper credit for these amazing spaces is given, since it’s most obviously due…
Supreme LA by Supreme and Harry Allen & Associates
Union NYC by Union and Harry Allen & Associates
Alife LA by Alife and Otto Design Group
OriginalFake by OriginalFake and Wonderwall (Truly Amazing)
Posted on February 04, 2008 at 12:04 PM | Comment (3 comments) | Permalink | Digg
Granted it’s not uncommon to see Terry Richardson’s stuff pop up from time to time on many of the streetwear blogs, but his campaigns for Sisley are pretty amazing so I’ll post some shots anyways for those of you that have been sleeping…
Posted on February 02, 2008 at 12:59 PM | Comment (2 comments) | Permalink | Digg
Most people probably aren’t aware of that there was a time when Supreme actively promoted themselves and advertised. I guess these days there’s little reason since people queue up outside the shop for even unannounced Supreme product, but back in the early days of the brand, you’d catch them out trying to make a name for themselves like everyone else. Anyhow, it’s amazing to see how dope these ads are even today. Seems like these days it’s rare to see a graphic that’s good enough to hold up into the next season, let alone a decade or longer.
That said, enjoy these gems brought to you by Supreme and Ecstatic…
Supreme Ads Season 1:
Supreme Ads Season 2:
While on the subject of vintage Supreme, check out this detailed archive of their t-shirt releases and discussion forum…
Posted on February 01, 2008 at 02:11 PM | Comment (3 comments) | Permalink | Digg
