designer q&a: kenzo minami

Kenzo Minami, originally from Hyogo, Japan, graduated from Parsons School of Design with a BFA in Product Design after majoring in Western Philosophy in Japan. Before he established himself as an artist / designer, he started his career as a set designer for TV broadcast networks, working with MTV, the Sci-Fi Channel and others. This lead to shooting his own shorts and TV spots, and working in broadcast as an art director, director, and motion graphic designer for 7 years.

When and how did you become interested in illustration and visual art?
When I was very little, at my father's die-cast metal factory, because there was nothing else to do. I also think that the fact that I grew up surrounded by metal parts my father's factory was producing, which was essentially a bunch of abstract shapes since they are different parts for larger whole of machinery or products, did have a huge influence and impact on me getting interested in and become visual person - considering that I grew up watching those different shapes and imagined how they all fit and function after they are packaged and shipped. Combined with the fact that my parents didn't really give me any pre-made toys, except Lego Blocks (this is Lego before they had too many pre-made, pre-molded specific shapes) and plastic models to build, I was bound to become someone who automatically start building things out of different parts in different shapes and colours.

What’s the most played song on your iPod?
Even though what I listen to is all over the place in genre, the most played song always come back to be one of the songs by Bob Dylan. At the moment, They are "Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" and "One of Us Must Know", for some reasons.

How would you describe your personal style?
Old Fashioned, in a darker hue.

Describe your spring collection.
After the end, before the beginning.

Outside of art and fashion what inspires you?
Words.

What’s your favorite childhood movie?
Ghostbusters.

Must art have a relationship with fashion?
Within my understanding of definition of fashion, I think that it is bound to have some level of relationship.


View the Kenzo Minami collection in the store.

Visit the Kenzo Minami Website.

white prism

There's a white prism with phony jism
and the soulful convicts forever interred
lose the smile across their faces
The smile that registered hopes or dreams
has proven just a waste
And I'm the indentured servant
forever in his place

~Lou Reed






View the White Prism Tee in the store.
models: Dean & Maria @ Trump

designer q&a: maurie and eve

Maurie and Eve is the Australian brand from Kelly Davies, Scott Davies and Maya Clemmensen. Kel and Scott are brother and sister, Scott and Maya are partners while Kel and Maya are best friends. Kel began a few years back sewing singlets and selling to a few boutiques around the country. And in 2006 Scott and Maya came on board, designing and helping run the business.

The brand is named after Kel and Scott's grandparents. Maurice and Evelyn Williams passed away in 2001, their deaths caused by a tragic car accident. Eve was a model in the 40s and her old Singer Sewing machine was left to Kel. Inspired by this, Kel began making singlets for friends and family and before she knew it was selling to boutiques across Australia and around the world.

Kel was sweet enough to share with us some insight on her life and the new spring collection.

Kelly Taylor or Brenda Walsh?
Brenda all the way… You've got to keep things interesting!

When and how did you become interested in fashion
I think it's fair to say that all girls love dressing up, Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan was definitely an opener to a little girl! It's interesting to see how different people interpret fashion, the way they put themselves together… Girls dress for other girls, everyone wants to look the best, and with that kind of market, who could resist giving it a go!!

How would you describe your personal style?
I'm not sure if it's a good thing, but I'm pretty over the top… more more more of everything…. A fist full of rings, oversized handbags, high high high heels, scarves, big hair, the whole bit!!

What brands or designers are currently on your radar?
Alexander Wang is definitely on our radar at the moment, we love his relaxed tailoring, while still having that hard edge. We're all about mixing styles and seeing how far we can push it… Jeremy Scott is another, he's just crazy and it just works!

Do you sing in the shower and what song?
No… and I've never actually come across a person that does!!

What is the inspiration behind your Spring collection?
The Spring Collection we were in a real Woodstock haze… tie dyes, flowy dresses, bleached ripped denim, midriffs… it's all about the 70's.

What's the most played song on your iPod?
It changes pretty often, but at the moment I have Send Him Back – The Pointer Sisters Pilooski edit on repeat!

What's your favorite childhood movie?
The Labyrinth… I don't know how as I child I could watch that movie and not have nightmares… It scares the hell out of me now!! David Bowie in tights…. I don't know about that!!!

In your eyes what makes a good collection?
We always try to make sure there are enough elements to each collection… make sure we cover all bases with colours, prints, short, long, day, night. We always have 3 or 4 different stories running through each range and tie them together with colours or fabrics. And it has to be easy to wear…

What do you enjoy most about being a fashion designer and having your own label?
Working for ourselves is such a luxury, everyone wants to be their own boss! But its so cool to be able to make EXACTLY what you want to wear, and it's even better when people want to wear it too! We also get to travel a lot; and the 3 of us are so lucky we get to do it all together!

View the Maurie and Eve collection in the store.

Visit the Maurie and Eve Website.

Friend Maurie and Eve on MySpace.

new bruno levy videos

Two amazing music videos just premiered earlier this week, both directed by IDLM Gallery artist Bruno Levy. Bruno has created two unique videos to match tracks from NYC bands The Walkmen and World's End.

Starring IDLM teamster Rila Fukushima, the World's End music video is a nightmarish brew of tentacles and ink. You can see some stills we posted earlier from the video here.







Bruno's video for NYC hipster-kings The Walkmen was shot entirely in Nepal, where Bruno has been living until his recent return to Manhattan. Bruno was kind enough to answer a few questions we had for him, detailing his experience shooting the video.

Where did you shoot the video?
This video was shot in a town called Kagbeni in Mustang, Nepal.

How long did it take to shoot?
The whole process from going up and down the mountain was 10 days, I shot that whole time, time lapses of mountains and the sky, plus the whole journey up which I never used in the final edit of the video. The actually shooting with the kids took about 2 days.

How did you decide on the story for this video?
The story came up when I was walking up the mountain, I knew I wanted to do something with kids, and about village life, about a different life that most people that might view this video get to experience, but then as I was going through different scenarios with my Nepalese friend, he just said happiness. Lets shoot something on happiness. So I decided to strip all plot ideas, to go up find the kid, shoot and see what happens.

Where did you find those kids with the smooth moves?
Lal Devi, the main girl, when I saw her I knew she had that something that makes her stand out, a kind of cross between a child, a boy and a beautiful girl, the swagger, the attitude, something, and I knew I wanted to base the whole thing around her.

The kids, they were so excited to see some one shoot a video and asked they could be in it, worked out perfect.

You shoot all of your videos in stopmotion. Why this format?
Honestly, I couldn't afford a video camera to get this film-like quality. It is restricting but I wanted to work within the boundaries of a certain medium and see what I could come up with. It's easy to become distracted with so many new cameras, formats, technology, tricks, I get confused. My friend used to always say, keep it simple stupid, I always remember that when I'm working.

What did you find the most grueling in the entire process?
Trying to get the videos out into a market, trying to get more good artists to work with, sharing visions.

The most rewarding?
Sharing this beautiful place that I love with other people.

Who's your favorite music video artist?
I've been living in the middle of nowhere for too long, it used to take 30 minutes to one hour to download a 4 minute video in Nepal, granted there was power, I'm just catching up, but there is soo much good stuff out there, and equally too much crap.


View Bruno Levy's Gallery collection in the store.

Visit Bruno's website.

designer q&a: priestess nyc

Cody Ross is the ballsy brains and talent behind the cult label Priestess NYC. The quirky womenswear label has become an overnight sensation since its launch in late 2007. Cody's unique creations have been worn by celebrities and models, donned by everyone from Bjork to Juliette Lewis.

Cody grew up in Dallas, Texas, and went on to earn a BSc from the London School of Economics as well as credentials in Pattern-Construction+Design from London's Central Saint Martins.

After working as a financial analyst in China for several years, he returned to the states and launched Priestess NYC. Cody currently designs and manages his line out of his West Village townhouse-cum-atelier in NYC.


What famous designers have influenced you, and how?
1. Bernhard Willhelm. For his ingenious pop references, his use of toys and video games to trash and freaky-minimalism, he has a swashbuckling approach to design, hands-down.
2. Jeremy Scott. He is King of exaggeration and visual-razzmatazz. I love his satirical and tong-and-cheek approach, especially his new stuff.
3. Rick Owens. For his subversive, sartorial style that is raw and refined, haunted and haute. I know he’s a super-star but he seems to always operate on the fringe. His goth-androgyny is weird and cool.
4. Walter Van Beirendonck. For his audacious shock-and-awe, fetish-fantasies, kaleidoscopic color-ways, crazy materials and total rejection of mainstream stuff. He’s the maverick risk-taker -- and always has been.
5. Marjan Pejoski/KTZ. Because he’s the master of unisex and conveys happy-absurdity in all his stuff.

Describe your Spring Collection in a Haiku:
Goth-glam punk girl stuff
Colorful kitschy soft screams
Silky-smooth yummy

What brands or designers are currently on your radar?
Georgy Baratashvili. . . Henrik Vibskov. . . Marjan Pejoski . . .Comme des Garcons . . .

If you were a letter of the alphabet, which would best describe you and why?
“Z” . . .because it’s the last one . .and ‘the best stuff comes at the end of the sequence.’

Outside of fashion what inspires you?
Mathematics. . .Japanese toys, David LaChapelle’s photography. . . I’m interested in finance and economic history. . .and all things kitsch.

In your eyes what makes a good collection?
A broad range of selection . . . ability to ‘transcend demographics’ . . .versatility.

E.T. or ALF?
Both are cool!

What do you enjoy most about being a fashion designer and having your own label?
Creative freedom.

What's your favorite piece of clothing you own?
Biker Jacket in silver-metallic finish.

What advice would you give to a designer just starting out?
Don’t spend beyond your means.

View the Priestess collection in the store.

Read Cody's blog.

Visit the Priestess NYC Website.

Friend Priestess NYC on MySpace.

Friend Cody on Facebook.