designer profile: Ground-Zero

Ground Zero was established by brothers Eri and Philip Chu. The brothers started fashion design in high school by remaking their own vintage clothing. Eri graduated from the Design School with a major in graphic design and went on to work for a classic tailor shop. Philip chose a degree in fashion management at Middlesex University in London. The brothers then teamed up to take the fashion world heads on with Ground-Zero. They continue to find inspiration in the street fashion of London, their home-base.

Philip kindly answered a few questions we posed him about the collection.

How did you get into fashion design?
There was a time when my brother and I were doing absolutely nothing in our lives so we decided to do something that interested us, just for the hell of it. We made music, art work and t-shirt prints...Ground-Zero was just one of those projects. As time went by, I came to realize that I was really interested in fashion design so I went to the university for a course.

What does the Fall 2008 collection represent?
The Obsession. We just put it in an exaggerated and funny way, drug-taking and all.

Why did you name your company Ground-Zero, what does it mean to you?
We feel that 'ground' and 'zero' are the start of everything.

How has London street culture influenced your collections?
Nothing that you can see, but the charisma of the collections.

Outside of fashion, what inspires you?
Everything but nothing. Some things I can't really tell but they are in my body.

What brands are currently on your radar?
Jose Castro, Junn. J, and JC de Castelbajac

In your eyes what makes a good collection?
Surprise, out of the ordinary.

What kind of person do you imagine wearing your clothing?
We never think of that. We just do what we want to do, never really doing something for someone randomly.

view the Men's Collection at I Dont Like Mondays

view the Women's Collection at I Dont Like Mondays


visit Ground-Zero at www.ground-zero.co.uk

pass some ammunition

Let my hair grow,
Find some old clothes,
Let the world know
That my glory days were plaid.
~Chicago









View the Courtney Dress in the store.
model: Courtney @ Trump

designer profile: Purlieu

Purlieu was formed in response to the summer Sky Ferren and Wynnie Crews went mad. Their first collaboration was an exhibition titled Get Happy and Mothers, an installation where children and rabbits played freely with pretty thugs and happy gangsters. They shared a common interest in illustration and all things made by peoples’ hands. Soon after meeting, they were living in Los Angeles on facing couches in a friend’s apartment. In L.A., they visited the garment district every day and developed their product.

I had the pleasure of asking Wynnie a few questions about her line, the idea behind her fall collection, and her inspirations.

How did you get into fashion design?
I was in high school. My mom had a sewing machine, and I started altering my clothes to make them fit better- I shopped mostly at thrift stores, and this gave me the freedom to buy just about anything I liked, regardless of the size, and customize it. But I knew nothing of the real "rag business" until Sky and I moved to LA and saw it first hand. That's when Purlieu was born.

What does the Fall 2008 collection, titled 'Native American,' represent?
Native American is about Americana, and the culture of the modern-day Native American (i.e. anyone who calls him/herself an American).

Why did you choose the name Purlieu?
To us, the name is about the idea of a haunt or a special place that a person frequents- possibly a remote or secluded place where you would go to be alone.

How would you define your personal style?
Experimental, intuitive

Outside of fashion, what inspires you?
Nature & American culture

You develop and produce everything personally, from the patterns to the screen printing. What process do you find the most challenging?
Patternmaking - It can take a lot of trial and error to perfect an idea.

In your eyes what makes a good collection?
Quality vs. quantity, cohesiveness, freshness.

What kind of person do you imagine wearing your clothing?
Girls ages 16-30 - Intelligent, fashion forward, with a sense of humor.

visit Purlieu at www.purlieu.net

rila turns evil

Our very own Rila just shot a music video for Deantoni Parks, the amazing drummer from Astroid Power-up! Check out the pics of her below from the nightmare sequence.