lushdesigns - on the bank of the thames

Yes this blog is orientated around fashion so this post on 'interiors' may seem a little confusing. But I think the beauty of fashion is that it involves everything! So here is some beautiful print work you should buy to tart up your house.

Lushdesigns is the design company and shop that I found in the streets of Greenwich, London. I find it almost sickening how beautifully simple and effective these works are.

 Check out their website for more details:

www.lushlampshades.co.uk

HPR Autumn/Winter 2011 Soho press event.

One of Londons biggest fashion PR companies, HPR London, launched thier clients new A/W 2011 collections at their HQ last week in Soho.

Above and below are some scene pictures from the event. Their clients collections consisted of names like Paul and Joe, Beautiful Bottoms and Liz black, beautiful arranged and displayed in their viewing room.

We were allowed full access to handling and photographing the pieces, below are some of may favourite pieces. Personally I have a strong love for fashion print so here are a few items and new design encounters I discovered at HPR press launch.

Eugene.Lin is the designer of the two garments below. The print that has been used is absolutely   stunning, my camera did not do it justice! Digitally printed, using inspiration from texture then manipulted into a degrade. This is a fantastic example of two differnt techniques and styles in printing have been merged through the use of digital printing technology.

www.eugene-lin.com

Paul and Joe are also of HPR client list, launching a fantastic range for this coming winter. With nordic inspired knitwear to fur lined hoods. Check out their website for more details : www.paulandjoe.com

However this print below is some beautifully simple it just to feature on my blog. I have always been a sucker for butterflies and this block print would have certainly been a keeper.

Liz Black was a new designer, personally, for me to come across. I know my blogging partner, Magda, has recently styled with her clothes. But it was a first for me to come up close and personal with the garments. Main fabric used was neo-prime, with hand painted print surface decoration. Potential inspiration, Jackson Pollock? I loved the technique as neo-prime is rarely used with any form of printing, but please check out the website for her latest look book:

www.lizblacknet

Of course there were many other fantastic designers there so I have a list of my personal favourites who's website you should certainly visit:

www.nougatlondon.co.uk

www.beautifulbottoms.co.uk

www.nakkna.com

www.ambersakai.com

www.hprlondon.com

Audrey Lam - Scarf designer

Audrey, is a new scarf designer I have recently discovered at a London PR press event, HPR London.

Audery Lam is the londoner of Malaysian extraction, currently living in New york, loves to create her work from visual inspirations she has found from around the world.

Firstly training at Edinburgh College of Art then on to an MA  Fashion at central Saint Martins college, she has designed for an array of companies from Diesel to Calvin klein.

Her art work comes from varied media - etchings, screen prints and illustrations - i have added some pictures that I loved from her current look book.

For more information go to:

www.hprlondon.com

studio@audreyinc.com

Inside the Sass and Bide Australian HQ

Above is the entrance to the Sass and Bide design studio in Alexandria, Sydney. 

I recently returned after a two week placement with the company. Assisting in the graphics and website design department as well as working with the head designer on next seasons prints.

Out of all the locations I have worked in this was the hardest to find. Hidden at the back of an industrial site amongst other fashion and T.V studios with continental cafes squeezed in between the concrete buildings.

The atmosphere of the place was fantastic to be in. Friendly and efficient are the key words I would use. None of that pretentious disorganised chaos I have found in other European studios.

Below are some pictures I managed to take within the studio.

This sculpture was the original idea for one of their new prints as well as their current main webpage.

The image above was taken in their basement. A place were all their in store VM items are produced. As well as props I believe used in the fashion shows as well as for inspiration.

Above is the sign for the entrance to one the Sass and Bide stores in Victoria Mall, Sydney.

This was the interior. A lot of the VM for the stores is based on key sculptures that represent the mood/theme of the current collection.

For more information check out their website:

www.sassandbide.com

Graduate Fashion Week 2011

This week, Earls Court held their yearly Graduate Fashion week event, with sponsoring from George.

I arrived on the Monday evening to a crowd, bubbling with excitement. The first sight to my eye was the champagne bar, crammed with people into a tiny area. Fearing if they stepped over the line into the go between space they would loose their chance to network with elite amongst the viewers of the show.

Their was a high level of co-odination gone into to constructing the stands. Kingston University had there own special parlour whilst Northumbria University had an extensively organised arrangement of their students work, supporting some stunning textiles pieces. 

Below is the Nottingham Trent stand. I was impressed by their knitwear and of course their cordwainers course, also a hot contestant against London College of Fashion.

Students work from Nottingham Trent.

Colchester had one of the most students work on display. With three rails displaying garments with supporting sketchbooks.

This bird was beautifully set against the side cuff. 

Graduate of Colchester University, Susannah Gage, proudly standing next to one of the rials at their stand.  

Below are some general pieces that I found inspiring. Especially this head. It hasn't got no real strong link with the piece, but it still made me stop and look which I think has got to be worth a blog mention.

Knit wear piece from Ravensbourne University.

Overall it was a great show, it was a shame all universities didn't show their collections in the catwalk show. More universities are becoming more independent and funding their own shows. My university for instance, Ravensbourne, being one of them. So check out their catwalk show on 27th June at Greenwich Peninsula.

 www.gfw.org.uk

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Ted Baker new summer season prints

Being a bit of a print diva I have found the Ted Baker design brand has really cought my eye with the diversity of print styles and techniques all rolled into one season. Here are some examples . . . .

Mirror Imaging

The is mirror image print is of photographs from a woodland stream. Print named 'enchanted forest'. The print has been mirrored then flipped upside down. So at first it is rather hard to suss out exactly what you are lookng at, this I like to think is a good thing. Mirror imaging is starting to become overused but it is still refreshing to see a simply beautiful piece created.

Hand drawn
At the opposite end of the digi mirror print is use of hand drawing. Below is my favourite print out of the all. I find the colour pallette refreshing. This mint green colour hasn't been used very much recently so maybe it's time for a come back?

The cut is simple however the attention to detail, green piping around the waist band and pockets, highlights the print and emitts a unique radience. The colour pallette also allows a wide range of block coloured tops to be matched.


Placement
Hummingbirds always look beautiful whatever you put them on. However I think this placement could have been done a bit more skillfully. Perphaps going around the body opposed to being just positioned at the front of the dress?

Traditional
The floral print will never die out as it's audience is still as strong today as it was 100 years ago. this year Ted Baker hunted for vintage prints and this is their own take on their research.

And of course all foral prints have to go some form of frilly top, scarf or hand bag. This print has a wide market, striking through all ages. So it's no wonder Ted Baker hasn't demolished using tradiotional florals just yet.

www.tedbaker.com