The collaboration between Berlin based artist Amrie Hoffstater and fashion designer Manish Arora has led to the creation of a collection that is a real feast for the eyes.

Hoffstater’s vivid, kaleidoscopic designs are imaginatively combined with Arora’s handmade embroideries and embellishments and the outcome is quite astonishing.

F/W 11-12 is a bold, free spirited collection of garments that can be really looked as art objects. Asymmetric lines and futuristic shapes are  combined with more classic forms and special attention has been given to both quality and variety in fabrics and materials.

The collection is rich in amazingly detailed, luxurious hand embroideries by Manish Arora, a designer known for his inspiring craft skills and inclination to bold patterns and colors.

I would like to introduce you to Zuo Corp.,  a newcomer in the polish fashion market that managed to conquer numerous Polish celebrities and fashionistas with their fresh and modern urban designs, unconventional ideas and their avant –garde project: Pop-up Shop, a jewel of interior design.

zuo corp. is a dynamic duo of Polish fashion designers Dagmara Rosa and Bartek Michalec who offer conceptual garments and casual wear made with high quality fabrics and components from Italy and Germany at a reasonable price. The collection is based on the idea of unique and includes several dozen items. The concept of the clothes is designed with an “organic geometry” technique maintaining the minimalism of stitching, unisex style and chic look. Zuo Corp’s talented designers specialize in two trademarked patterns:

• Cross blouse - the name comes from the final shape ofa cloth with simple rectangular shape of fabric characteristic for two types of stitches only: vertical and horizontal.
• Horn dress - resembling an origami piece with simple and soft line – inspired by the base of triangle patterns in the front side of the garment.

The dominant colours of the collection are: black, grey and white enriched with earthy colours from brown to khaki. Patterns include polka dots, stripes and checks.

Take a look at Zuo Corp. fashion designs:

Wool horn coats and cashmere wool trench coats appear for the women’s collection. Most of the wool dresses have a system of fringes and belts for the owner to recreate the cloth and change its shape.

The Menswear collection consists of cotton coats and parkas.

A part of the collection is the sportswear line made of high quality knitted cotton including the cross blouse and the clown's trousers.

The sales point of Zuo Corp. is quite a unique and revolutionary idea as their Pop – Up Shop is an inspiring project highlighting design, art and fashion. The avant garde 42square meters object looks like a simple black and seemingly dull cube, while the interior design reveals a visual effect of infinity with an impressive system of mirrors in the ceiling and walls and LED lamps placed on the edges of this mirror cube.

Sundance Festival nominee director Jacek Borcuch said: "It's like form Kubrick's Odyssey! First you see a big obelisk and when you get inside you fell like in Discovery space ship"

Take a look!

A specific space was created and designed by SUPER SUPER studio consisting of two designers Hania Kokczyńska and Jacek Majewski in cooperation with architect Agnieszka Kuczyńska. These talented designers had also the opportunity to design the interior elevation of the Polish pavilion during EXPO 2010 in Shanghai. On 18th of December 2010 they built the first ZUO Corp. on Bracka Street, 20 in the centre of Warsaw in Poland. The author of the sales point idea is brand manager Łukasz Laskowski.

The shop will run up to 30th March 2011;

Opening hours:

Monday - Saturday
12 p.m. – 21p.m.
Bracka str., 20
Warsaw
Poland

Those who like to pay a visit should do it very soon :)

Both the shop and the clothes are very impressive and worth viewing.

The brand will continue to use temporary architecture as a selling point during the next season by creating a new design space in a new location. The next shop will be designed by a new artist, will be set up during summer 2011 and will open its doors to present the fall-winter 2011/12 collection.

Images: Courtesy of Łukasz Laskowski & Zuo Corp. Team
LINKS: http://www.zuocorp.com/

Do you remember we wrote about the architectural shoe brand United Nude and the Part I of the SS11 highlights?

Today we are going to serve you with Part II and more news from United Nude.

This innovative brand seems to continue territorial expansion either in designing new concepts or entering retail markets. Recently opened in November 2010 a concept store of United Nude in the capital city of Cyprus – Nicosia is the step forward for conquering the tastes of vast amounts of fashionistas as the ongoing plan of opening an art-gallery/retail store located in the Miami Design District as part of Art Basel Miami and new flagship stores in London or Paris in 2011.

United Nude’s Creative Director Rem D Koolhaas reflected on the opening of the store by saying:

“After several strong seasons selling throughout Greece and Cyprus and the wonderful reception that United Nude shoes has received from celebrities, press and tastemakers in these countries it was clear that there was a good opportunity to expand the brand’s presence and the best way to do this is by opening a retail store. The location in the city centre of Nicosia, the capital city of Cyprus was so great we just jumped on it and I’m really proud of the result and the team that has put this store together.”

Open six days a week, the United Nude store is based in Stasikratous Street, a quite prominent street in Cyprus, located next to luxury and fashion brands such as Dolce & Gabanna, Louis Vuitton and Versace.

The concept of the store was designed by Creative Director of United Nude and architect Rem D Koolhaas. Prime aim of the interior design was a “dark shop” concept based on darkness in all areas except for the literally highlighted and showcased shoes in the Wall of Light™, a computer-controlled LED wall which displays the United Nude products as a work of art, encapsulated in geometric frames.

It seems to be a very impressive and modern idea alike the new highlights for S/S 2011 with even more fresh designs and a new line for men. Take a look!

The United Nude Tangle – stunning elastic sandals with rainbow colours are one of the newcomers in United Nude’s signature. Geometric patterns and elastic stripes in a captivating fusion of colours covering the feet in a perfect manner.

United Nude Frame – is a sophisticated return to the roots of United Nude with a twisted high heel made of lightweight carbon fibre and luxurious leather.

United Nude Spike is a DNA of United Nude sandal with simple architectural lines where the heel and the upper design merge.

Zebra prints are the reigning power in United Nude’s concept. They appear in various designs such as the Eamz Pump and Eamz X Back, the Block Ballet Squaretoe and the revolutionary shoe silhouette of Ultra Loop Zebra, inspired from furniture designs – like Charles and Ray Eames chair.

United Nude Pin Buckle is a state-of the-art heel piece oozing with attractiveness. A very chic and stunning appearance is guaranteed.

United Nude Mobius shoes are known as the icon design of United Nude. They are a formed band of sole, heel, foot-bed and upper design in a single strip. 

The United Nude Hollow – star concept for men collection, including black and dark brown colours, leather made shoes combining elegant chic and hollowed carbon fibre heels.

EyeCandies were invited by Act & React to attend a cocktail party connected with a meeting of a fashion persona - Patricia Field. The stylist guru presented her limited edition collection of bags for MCM. on the 21th of February in the exclusive interiors of MCM boutique in Kolonaki, Athens.

Concerning her collaboration with MCM, Patricia notes: "The collaboration originated with a former colleague Marina Storonkin, who worked with me in the 90s. We remained friends through the years to the present, at which time she is a member of the MCM team. This link with Marina brought about my collaboration with MCM."

The event was very well organised and gathered numerous fashion people including Patricia Field, Anna Vissi and many Greek celebrities, fashionistas and bloggers. Patricia is well known for her extraordinary and colourful style as well as her marvellous styling work for popular TV series and movies like “Sex and the City”, “Devil wears Prada”, “Ugly Betty”. She seems to be very outgoing and open person with a very positive vibe. She actively participated in the event by giving interviews, talking with fashion people and posing for pictures.

Patricia showcased the collection of the bags signed with her colourful style and prints. Ms. Field described the creative process: "As a person who has and continues to use MCM bags, I felt I was very familiar with the product and had developed experience and knowledgeable opinions about the product. This experience leads to the idea that the bag was superiorly made and had a strong brand image. I wanted to add the element of lightness in weight for practicality. This was that element thatwas the main inspiration of my design.”

Take a look at some of her signature designs in MCM boutique during the event in Kolonaki, Athens:

Here are the images from the catalogue of MCM presenting items designed by Patricia Field, including eight different designs, ranging from backpacks to wallets, totes and handbags. 

LINKS: http://blog.mcmworldwide.com/view/?page=108

If you are a hat lover, a gloves passionate, a collector of unique clothing  or you are looking for fabulous carnival costumes you must definitely pay a visit to the atelier of the well known Greek milliner - Katerina Karoussos.

We had the pleasure to speak with Katerina about her inspirational work and long-term experience in her magical atelier on Dorileou Street, Athens. It was a really great experience meeting the famous Greek milliner who sustains the tradition of handcrafted production. We are soon going to publish an interview with Katerina Karoussos so stay tuned!

Images courtesy of Katerina Karoussos

This weekend from Friday to Sunday (18th -20th February) Katerina Karoussos invites you to join her in the “Life goes on” BAZAAR where she will be showcasing handmade and unique accessories, hats and clothes.

Escapism Couture is the latest digital amazement in fashion created by multitalented and prolific fashion designer Iris van Herpen.

Her futuristic collection influenced by digital technology was showcased in Parisian Haute Couture Fashion Week.

Iris’s intention was to compose a mixture of art, fashion and design with the use of unconventional fabrics, sculptural shapes and new technologies. Escapism Couture is highly inspired by the artwork of Kris Kuksi, “a post industial Rococo master”. Both his work and the collection of Iris van Herpen is full of intricacy and eccentricity.

Iris used 3D printing techniques with the help of architect Daniel Widrig. The hat maestro Stephen Jones designed headpieces made of loud speakers and remnants of computer parts as the literal and philosophical response to technology.

The forms of her designs resemble fish scales, sculptural shapes, pads, curves and folds. The fabrics of the collection are quite untypical for fashion but commonly used in the architecture and mostly consisted of metal.

Iris main intention in her Escapism Couture was to bring digital knowledge in the clothes using very difficult techniques and combining them with handwork. The process of creation consists of three main steps: pieces are designed on the computer, improved by other programmes and exposed to laser processing. The result shows that Iris managed to combine innovation along with traditional techniques. The catwalk gave the impression of performance with sculptural figures walking with Parisian grace.

Images via:
http://www.irisvanherpen.com
http://www.dazeddigital.com

Lately, my fashion inspirations circle around a somehow forgotten but powerful field in fashion’s imagery – illustration. Everything seems to be a lucky coincidence or some kind of unplanned procedure: - starting from the book which broaches the subject of fashion illustration, then a great telephone conversation with a fashion illustrator, and finally with Christian Dior’s Haute Couture tribute to René Gruau – the eminence in fashion illustration.

René Gruau, an outstanding artist with a versatile style based on line signature. He used to describe line as a root of art and significant feature capturing spointeinty, pace, emotions and many more:

“Just a line? But it is the basis of all art, with a single line we can express grandeur, nobility, sensuality, the line synthesises sensations and concentrates knowledge”, René Gruau

Miss Dior
Fashion Illustration by René Gruau, Miss Dior perfumes, 1947
This illustration was the work initilizing fruitful and artistic cooperation of Christian Dior with René Gruau for the Christian Dior Fashion House

“René Gruau, Original illustration of Christian Dior for cover of L’Officiel, October 1948
Brush drawing in ink, watercolour and gouache
Courtesy Galerie Bartsch & Chariau
Gruau’s work dominates high fashion magazines of the 1950s. His decisive, graphic outline always produced a dramatic effect. He was Dior’s favourite illustrator;”
Picture and passage from the book “100 years of Fashion Illustration”, p.158, Cally Blackman

“René Gruau, Ensemble by Christian Dior, Femina, IV, 1949
Courtesy Museum of Costume, Bath
Dior deplored the demise of the hat, which he attributed to a reaction against those worn during the war. For him, a woman was not properly dressed without one.”
Picture and passage from the book “100 years of Fashion Illustration”, p.159, Cally Blackman

Worth-mentioning is the exhibition entitled:  “Dior Illustrated : René Gruau and the Line of Beauty” saluting René Gruau’s heritage to fashion that took place at Somerset House in London during 10 Nov 2010 - 9 Jan 2011. The curators of the event: Claire Catterall and Vincent Leret presented the deep insights and assuptions of the exhibition :

The basis of inspirations for the present Dior Haute Couture performance is probably conveying John Galliano’seducational background as a fashion illustrator and his love for beauty in motion. Galliano achieved some kind of fusion in illustration and real animation by rendering his designs with real dedication to René Gruau’s dynamic style in fashion ilustrations.

According to his inspirations, John Galliano notes: “To be inspired by Dior is to be inspired by Rene Gruau. His sketches capture the silhouette and spirit of Dior and a new era of fashion and femininity. His illustrations are timeless, ever youthful, ever faithful to the moment he saw; they capture the energy, the sophistication and daring of Dior, and are equally a token of an enduring friendship”.

So did Galliano with the models by transforming them into the personifications of elegance and beauty in Gruau's style:

Images via Fashion Gone Rogue