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Designer Profile: Jemima

2013-04-28T20:40:00.000+02:00

Here is yet another favourite upcoming designer, who we are featuring for the Pipes & Sneakers next big thing. Jemima -

born out of london, 90's child, jemima invites you into her fashion house; presenting to you today, her autumn/winter jacket collection. jemima believes that fashion should never be taken too seriously.and that clothes were made to have fun in; conquer the world in, and be taken off...

Jemima took the brave decision to leave medical school to pursue her career in fashion. Since then she has designed for prestigious fashion houses including Rag & Bone and Topshop and most recently designing for the new Kenneth Brannagh film "Maryland" which comes out at the end of this year.

What is your inspiration?

"Everything. Apart from fashion magazines which I try and avoid because they are out-dated. Everything was designed a year ago and is the wrong season so they are too backdated to draw inspirations from. Literally everything around me inspires me: I got a colour-way from a fence and a shape from a pattern in the floorboards the other day! What people are wearing on the street is also the biggest inspiration."

What advice would you give other up-and-coming designers?

" It is incredibly difficult and takes so much longer than you'd think. I've had years of running about and working for free, picking up needles, fabrics, and having bags of clothes break in the middle of the street. But you have to remember that everything you do, however seemingly unimportant it feels, you're constantly learning. The two pieces of advice I'd give is to not concern yourselves too much with other people's opinions on your work. The other would be to just make clothes and wear them. The great thing about being a designer is that you can wear your creations all the time!"

To find out more visit Jemima Studios

RRP: £370

Photography ZoeLVH

Designer Profile: LUNA MAE LONDON

2013-04-27T18:00:00.000+02:00

As you know, Pipes & Sneakers loves featuring those brands; designers; artists; photographers: and musicians we believe will become the next big thing. Well, we had the pleasure of meeting up and interviewing the ambitious and beautiful Claudia Lambeth - founder and owner of the lingerie brand Luna Mae London.

Proudly hand-crafted in the UK, Luna Mae London uses only the finest silks in its creation, ensuring the most luxurious feel whilst offering undeniable comfort and functionality. Enticing the senses with unique cutting-edge designs, Luna Mae London lingerie is designed to be seen not only in the boudoir but also admired in public.

Why did you decide to create a luxury lingerie brand like Luna Mae London?

"For as long as I can remember, I have always had an incredible obsession with lingerie. I used to dream of creating beautiful lingerie which was made of the softest silks and all handcrafted in England. I believe that lingerie is a very powerful tool since it can automatically transform a woman's confidence if she knows she is wearing a very special set underneath her clothes. I always feel that since it is the most intimate thing a woman can possibly wear, every woman deserves to celebrate her body and wear beautiful fabrics which feel great against her skin. My vision was create incredibly sexy pieces by interpreting new ideas and shapes on the female form which are both striking and eye-catching. My designs enhance and embrace a woman's curves by sculpting the figure, drawing attention to her most special assets. I want every woman who wears Luna Mae London lingerie to feel empowered and confident."

What is your inspiration for your designs?

"My designs are heavily influenced by structural symmetry so I am always looking for new and interesting ways to architecturally frame the body. As a designer, I am naturally inspired by everything surrounding me; be it a façade of a building or the back of a dress I see on a woman walking down the street. Photography by Helmut Newton and Ellen Von Unwerth are big inspirations for me; I find the erotic undertones in their work fascinating. The celebration of intimacy also plays an important role since I want to make a woman feel daring and desirable in the bedroom so I try to create pieces which will enhance this experience."

What have been your hardest struggles since you founded your company, and how did you overcome them?

"As a young designer it can sometimes be frustrating not to be taken seriously and you run the risk of being overlooked simply because of your age. It then becomes a challenge to convince people that you are truly passionate about what you are doing and you try your best to make them realise this. It is easy to feel intimidated by bigger and more established brands but you have to remember that they all started out in just the same way as you. Competition can make a designer feel uneasy but it is healthy because it spurs you on to create exciting pieces yourself. I studied Law at university and took a big leap to start my own brand last year even though I was aware that there are so many risks involved but as long as your are passionate about something, you shouldn't be prevented you from achieving what you want."

What have been your highlights?

"The best thing has to be when I am feeling particularly inspired in the designing process and being able to translate the image in my head onto my sketch book. When a set of lingerie comes together and you can understand the construction of it, it is such a great feeling. It can be difficult working with lots of different fabrics and learning that some designs may not work as well as you originally planned and you have to go back to the drawing board and adapt them in order to have a finished product. It is easy to get carried away and design pieces which are striking and unique (and usually quite complex!) but you have to be realistic and decide whether these designs can actually be worn as lingerie. Receiving all my silks in the post was also a great feeling because it made the whole process much more real and easier to envisage my designs as finished pieces. Our first collection is in production now so I cannot wait to hold the garments in my hands for the first time!"

Confidence can be an issue for some women that would otherwise love to wear lingerie, both for themselves and their man. What is your advice to these women for gaining confidence about their bodies?

"Wearing great lingerie underneath a woman's clothing should give them confidence even if it is only they themselves who will see it. I believe a woman should wear lingerie for herself, just as much as for her man. I wanted to make the most luxurious lingerie possible for a woman which is why Luna Mae London pieces are all silk lined so they feel just as good on the inside as they do on the outside. I wanted this to translate into a woman's opinion of herself; it is so important that every woman, no matter who she is, deserves to feel beautiful inside and out. "

Luna Mae London's first collection will be launching in July 2014. To find out more please visit the Luna Mae London website.

Photography by Anais Rachel

Copper Trend: Bart van Heesch Design

2013-03-04T11:05:00.000+01:00

In the past year we have observed both within the fashion and design world that there was an attraction to applying copper and brass. We are especially attracted to the innovative design by Bart van Heesch. Bart van Heesch set the pace in using luxurious materials, and designed beautiful bikes made out of copper and brass. They are that stylish that they formed part of Amsterdam Fashion Week's decor.

As Bart himself states: ‘I used the archetypal Dutch bike. This model hasn’t changed for 100 years and for me its still the best city bike in Holland. It’s sturdy design means that nothing will be broken and if it is then it’s easy to repair. All the parts are fully copper plated which means the bike becomes more beautiful as the years pass.’

For more information visit his website here.

Charlie May LFW A/W13

2013-02-18T08:50:00.000+01:00

Today we saw the show by well known blogger Charlie May with her Girl a la Mode blog, London based graduate Charlie May has recently launched her own label as a young British designer and we were impressed to see her beautiful collection. We look forward to seeing more!

Photography ZoeLVH

London Fashion Week: Belle Sauvage A/W13

2013-02-16T14:34:00.000+01:00

The Belle Sauvage show was definitely one of those shows that attracted a lot of attention. The queue was long and the air was full of excitement when the minimal techno beats started and the beautiful Japanese inspired themed models came down the catwalk. The combination of Chanel inspired jackets, boy-ish sports beanies, all driven by an obvious baroque theme - still managed to create a wearable look radiating originality.

Photography: ZoeLVH

London Fashion Week: A/W13 Krystof Strozyna

2013-02-16T11:30:00.000+01:00

For A/W13 Krystof Strozyna has taken a journey under the sea, taking inspiration from the colours and textures of the creatures of the ocean. The main colours of the collection refer to those used by John William Waterhouse in his painting "The Siren" and included shades of green, grey, burgundy and black. In wool, silk and viscose, the collection of dresses and separates includes sublte cuts and feminine silhouettes which celebrate the female form and encourage womanliness in the wearer. Enjoy

Photography: ZoeLVH

Pampa Records

2013-02-16T01:16:00.002+01:00

"Pampa is the label from old pals DJ Koze and Marcus Fink, dedicated to releasing club music that's seriously danceable without recourse to the tried and tested ingredients. A home for house and techno tunes that will conquer hearts and take root there forever, music that's brave and not afraid to break with convention. By signing artists such as Die Vögel and their “Blaue Moschee”, or Jackmate & the Missing Linkx with their “Discodisco2”, Axel Boman's “Holy Love” EP, Nathan Fake and soon Isolée, Robag Wruhme .. DJ Koze and Marcus have proven that Pampa doesn't consecrate technical musical perfection for its own sake, but serve the purpose of giving birth to great music."
Source

Well, Pampa, you have become my very favorite Label of electronic music. Every single record you put out is special. It's something different and new. As you say, you and your signed artists have the guts to deviate from the normal and touch our hearts. With what you bring out, you make my life a little better. The sounds I hear make me become all emotional 'n shit. But, that's what music's all about, right? I say thank you, Pampa.

Gucci's Made to Order Handbags - Now in Zurich, too!

2013-02-14T00:11:00.002+01:00

So, for all you Gucci bag lovers - especially those from Switzerland - here's some good news:

Gucci is pleased to announce the extension of its women’s Made to Order program to now include not only the New Bamboo but also the New Jackie and the Stirrup bags. Through this exclusive service featuring an array of exotic skins and color combinations, Gucci’s most iconic handbags enhance the House’s tradition of personalized luxury. Conceived by Creative Director Frida Giannini, these signature styles are available upon order in ultra precious materials such as ostrich and crocodile.

Each Made to Order handbag is the result of the exquisite craftsmanship and manual techniques of Gucci’s artisans. Several finishes are available for crocodile skin, including shiny, metallic or mat effects, while the selection of metal details – such as the signature spur ornament and all other hardware components – comprises options in light gold and silver or antique gold and silver, depending upon the preferred material and color combination. The sophisticated color palette moves from timeless tones of azul blue, light grey and cocoa to vibrant hues such as emerald green, pomegranate and saffron.

Complementing each accessory, Made to Order wallets boast the same material, colors and finishing of the handbags, including the zip around model with tassel and the Bamboo and Stirrup continental styles.

Every single item is available for personalization with the customer’s initials on the interior – embossed in gold, silver or dry-stone – and includes delivery in special packaging with the Made to Order script. Alongside the men’s Made to Measure suiting and Made to Order shoe programs, the women’s service symbolizes Gucci’s longstanding commitment to create bespoke designs to meet today’s demands.

Starting from tomorrow, February 14th, this exclusive service will be offered at the Gucci store in Zurich Bahnhofstrasse, too! So, all I can think of now is "Happy Valentine's". x

New Bamboo

New Jackie

Stirrup

Stirrup | All pictures © by Gucci

Inspiration: Russell Leng

2013-02-03T22:45:00.002+01:00

This weeks inspirations comes from Russell Leng who is an emerging artist from Vancouver, Canada. His paintings have so much depth that it has the capability to hold your attention for an infinite duration. Enjoy the aesthetics of geometric shapes and the harmony of the various deep and icy colours.

YASHKATHOR

2013-01-26T16:16:00.004+01:00

Zoe had the pleasure of wearing one of the beautiful YaskaThor hats to Berlin Fashion Week. YashkaThor's philosophy closely represents our idea of the influence of aesthetics (both in fashion and architecture) on our daily lives, our well-being and our identity. YashkaThor believes that "hats have transformative powers that affect the wearer’s mood, appearance and experiences". We strongly believe that this notion should become a far wider explored science to enrich human life to its fullest potential. This science should be a benchmark for everyday design and the construction of anything that we find beautiful and important in our lives. Visit their website to learn more about the magical creations from YashkaThor.

Berlin Fashion Week 2013 | Blaenk

2013-01-26T15:08:00.001+01:00

We visited Blaenk's A/W 2013/14 Women’s Wear Collection by designers Silke Geib and Nadine Möllenkamp during Berlin Fashion Week 2013. See our little preview of their collection below.

Berlin Fashion Week 2013 | Zoe Ona

2013-01-24T01:04:00.002+01:00

Probably our favorite show of this year's Berlin Fashion Week. Loving all about Zoe Ona's collection - the right colours matched with the right materials make the outfits look astonishingly beautiful. Take a look. x

Design Brooklyn

2013-01-23T23:39:00.001+01:00

If you share our love for the beauty of design and if you value the ability of balancing history in a modern lifestyle, then you will love Brooklyn. Pipes & Sneakers editor Zoe had the luck of assisting the renowned photographer Michel Arnaud on his most recent project: Design Brooklyn and experienced the different aspects that the borough has to offer. The opportunity to visit the interior design studios, townhouse conversions/renovations, to be a part of the spectacular Brooklyn lifestyle and to see as many individual and creative restaurants, was truly enriching. In every other world city, I crave for this fulfilling combination. If you want to keep up with this ever evolving Brooklyn experience, you should check out the bimonthly blog: Design Brooklyn.

Photography: Michel Arnaud

Berlin Fashion Week 2013 | Stylenite with MICHALSKY

2013-01-22T00:34:00.000+01:00

We were lucky enough to be invited to the exclusive StyleNite with two MICHALSKY fashion shows for a grand finale of Berlin Fashion Week 2013. Among cool music acts such as Icona Pop and Tiefschwarz, a great location at the Tempodrom and loads of interesting guests, we thoroughly enjoyed the two collections themed "Broken Promises". Have a look.

All pictures © by GJ, ZLVH & MICHALSKY

Berlin Fashion Week 2013 | Anne Gorke

2013-01-20T00:16:00.000+01:00

Here we go with the runway highlights from Anne Gorke's Autumn / Winter 2013 Collection at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Berlin 2013. We loved to see the reappearance of the navy/beige combinations, combined with flat Dr. Martens and straight cuts.

Home London & Top Drawer London 2013

2013-01-14T20:56:00.001+01:00

Since we are not only inspired by the beauty of fashion, but also believe that the aesthetics of your home and surroundings play a crucial role in a Pipes&Sneakers lifestyle, we visited the Home London Design Fair. This fair was for buyers and press only and portrayed all the current trends in the world of interiors. In general we find lighting to be particularly fascinating, therefore I have specifically focused on the new lighting trends of 2013.
The showcased lightings below are designed by the following brands:
Seletti, Droog, Luminosity, Clair Norcross, Scraplights/ Graypants, PlacesandSpaces...

ZoeLVH Photography

London Collections: Men - Qasimi

2013-01-13T14:47:00.001+01:00

At the Qasimi Homme AW13 presentation during London Collections: Men, we saw a renewed sense of minimalism created through balancing tailored with streetwear clothing. The emphasis of the collections was on beautiful deep winter colours: dark green, blacks and browns. "Qasimi often draws his inspirations from Socio-political issues, architecture as well as contemporary art; creating garments for men that seek an attitude within the conventional clothing." To see more click here.

Mr Elbank

2013-01-12T22:54:00.000+01:00

Love the work by Sydney based photographer Mr Elbank, a man who describes himself as:
"Englishman, overseas, passionate photographer, who likes the random in life, a dry sense of humor and cantankerous about most things..."
We hope you enjoy the beards and freckles as much as we did. Check out more of his work right here. x

Céline Prefall 2013

2013-01-10T19:45:00.000+01:00

Loving everything about Céline's 2013 prefall collection, created by British designer Phoebe Philo.

via Trendland

César Pesquera's Work

2013-01-09T11:08:00.000+01:00

César Pesquera is a filmmaker and visual artist . His work has been broadcast worldwide and exhibited in different festivals and international events. I especially find the Collage beautiful and intriguing.

"Constellations deals with the idea of identity and the photographic portrait as a constructed image. It aims to question the nature of the photographic portrait as a psychological study working with film stars and pop icons pictures."

To see more of his inspiring work see his personal website: César Pesquera

Eye-Candy 01/13 - Marcel Christ & Berndnaut

2013-01-05T14:40:00.001+01:00

Our first eye-candy and visual inspiration of the new year is the photography by Marcel Christ who has taken amazing photos of exploding colourful powder and the Nimbus Serie by Berndnaut who mastered the art of conjuring clouds. Enjoy the beautiful and fascinating work.

Source: Marcel Christ

Source: Berndnaut

Fei Fei Sun on Vogue Italia's Cover

2013-01-03T11:22:00.000+01:00

Fei Fei Sun is the first Chinese model to be shown solo on the cover of Vogue Italia. Is this finally indicating a change? Even though we are part of an increasingly global world, the fashion magazine covers are usually dominated by a narrow stereotype of the white beauty ideal. We hope that seeing Fei Fei Sun on the cover of Vogue Italia is setting a benchmark for a sincere global fashion world.

Vogue Italia about the cover and issue: “Fusion elegance. The language of style is universal: border-free. Thus, by evoking the exotic and sophisticated allure of China Machado, the fusion icon of the Fifties, a story of elegance and refinement is recounted.”

Time Preference

2012-12-30T11:29:00.000+01:00

Dear readers,

I don't really know where to start. It has been a while since my last post and if it wasn't for Zoe who is a multitasking goddess, there would not have been a single sign of life on this blog in over three months. So, the fact that you are reading this is due to my dear friend's efforts. Thanks.

Throughout my studies I have regularly come across something called time preference. It's something we all have and do all the time. For instance, the fact that I am currently writing this post instead of finishing the exercise in "UML 2.x Modelling" I was working on five minutes ago shows that I prefer investing my available time in the present (I am thoroughly enjoying this post at the moment) rather than in the future (the exam in "Informatics for Economists II" is coming up next week). And as standard theory of Economics suggests, the people who tend to live a hedonist life à la James Dean with high time preferences, on average end up with far less attractive jobs, less savings, lower life expectancies, and ultimately a poorer life in the long-term. So, from a rational point of view I am currently doing the wrong thing for me and my future well-being.

Now, this is all theory and some of you might defame this narrow and too rational, cold hearted and economist-like point of view on the rich- or poorness of life. But as you can see by the existence of this post, I do not - and simply cannot - follow all of the doctrines I am confronted with throughout my studies, mainly because I am human and therefore irrational. However, I suppose we all find ourselves in these inner conflicts when deciding whether to enjoy the moment or invest in the future - at least once in a while. And I further assume that what might become one of the arguments for investing in the future is somewhat mentioned in the statement of the paragraph above. In fact, it is what most of our parents, teachers and mentors tell us: work and study hard, think about the future, don't make the same mistakes I did 20 years ago, and so on. In other words: the more you invest in the future now, the more is going to come back to you later. Or else, the more you abdicate the immediate pleasures in life, the better you are off in the future. So, all in all my point of view doesn't seem too alien to most of society's values - whether it be in the US, Europe, Asia or in many other parts of the world.

But is this way of thinking the right way to go? Does the constant investment in our future on average really pay off as predicted? And if so, does this really make our life richer? Now, a philosopher would be infuriated by the lack of sensibility in the usage of my words. In fact, he would demand a definition of what is right and wrong, rich and poor. But since I am unversed in this area, I will continue using these words hoping you get what I mean by rich, poor, right and wrong.

Steve Jobs has responded to these questions in one of his many famous quotes:

"Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." (Stanford commencement speech, 2005)

So in his point of view, I should give up my studies, open a bar on a beach in Sydney, work on my blog, be a dj and photographer - because a good part of this is what I think of when someone asks me what I would love to do in life. I do think there is some truth in his words and we all need these motivational speeches to believe in ourselves, even beyond our capabilities. But many of us, like me, simply don't have this mentioned courage to live the life he suggests. And quite frankly, I assume that many of us don't even know what their heart and intuition is trying to tell them. As a result, this recipe doesn't always work out since it does not go beyond our imagination.

Most of you will probably think that is is the healthy balance that makes us most satisfied with our life. Investing in the future whilst not forgetting to enjoy the present whenever possible. But this every so often is an idealized point of view. Some need to study so hard in order to succeed that spare time is not an option. Some have jobs that are so time consuming that the pleasures of the moment are almost inexistent. And arguments suggesting that the chosen study field or chosen job should be so satisfying in itself that it can compensate for at least a good part of the lack of pleasures in the present rarely go along with reality. So, where do we draw the line for the healthy balance mentioned above? Personally, I don't have a good answer to this. I simply know that there is a line. But I don't know where exactly.

I would like to close this string of thoughts with the question on what makes us happy since I guess this is the ultimate question I was actually aiming at. I rarely feel unhappy, even in times in which I do nothing else than studying, working, eating and sleeping. Times, in which I scarcely see or speak to my dearest friends, barely follow my hobbies (as you might have noticed) or go out and enjoy the environment in which I live in. However, I do feel that something is missing in my life and when I take myself some time for the pleasures mentioned above, I feel overwhelmingly satisfied. Therefore, I sometimes wonder whether I am doing the right thing to maximize the amount of personal happiness in my life. So the question I want to leave you with is: What way of life will make you most happy, now and in the future?

Here's a TED talk about happiness by Daniel Kahneman - one of the persons who has influenced my way of thinking in a profound way. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Note: it's the last four minutes that are most important. And now back to UML 2.x.

Saint Alfred for Converse Pro Leather Collection

2012-12-26T15:43:00.002+01:00

We stumbled across these awesome new sneakers, and owing it to our name we felt it as our duty to share them with our readers. Saint Alfred designed cozy wool uppers with luxe leather details ranging on the heel and gold foil tongue logo. The Saint Alfred for Converse Pro Leather collection is available in grey or black with each style offering a clean and sophisticated feel. Coming out on December 29th, they will be available online here.

Sougwen Chung

2012-12-20T19:26:00.000+01:00

The stunning artist Sougwen Chung who is a Brooklyn based artist, however Canadian-born and Chinese-raised, creates these inspiring eye indulging pieces of art. Her work is a combination of new technologies and traditional art. She uses different mediums, materials and forms of communications to create an abstract universe in her art. I find myself starting to dream and wandering off with my thoughts to a deeper understanding of the feelings she managed to create in her art.