Stalked: Hellen van Rees, Emerging Fashion Designer.
29 April 2015
Hellen van Rees is an
emerging Dutch fashion designer, who graduated from the prestigious Central Saint Martins in 2012. Her designs play on textures and form, working with handmade tweeds inspired by the iconic Chanel tweed.
I caught up with her to talk about her latest collection and what she loves about designing...
How did you get into design and what do you love
about your job?
As a child I was often drawing/making all sorts of things and in general
fascinated by material. As I got older I started drawing more humans and got
into fashion because of the diversity of it. It’s very creative, get to work
with materials, both 2d and 3d and it’s quite technical as well which I like. I
love creating something completely from scratch. So the process of creating a
colour palette by grouping my knitting yarns in different ways, until I’m
happy. Then starting to work on textures and contrast to create a complete
textiles story for the collection (usually influenced by works of art or
something else I came across and photographed) While working on the textiles I
usually get ideas for garments which I research further by collecting imagery
of certain time periods, or architecture. Then gradually building the
collection until it is finished that’s the nice part. The production,
management, pricing, pr, administration, etc, etc, is also fine, but I don’t
love doing that
Stalked: Dee Kurttekin, Marketing Manager, Superga
27 April 2015
I met the lovely Dee on a cold morning a few weeks ago for a walk along the river and to discuss her very interesting role for the popular shoe brand Superga, who are making waves within the industry with their strategy for collaborations.
What do you do and what's the funniest part of your job?
I am the Marketing Manager for Superga in the UK. My job involves working with our social and PR agencies on a day - to - day basis to make sure all our communications are aligned and we're working towards our strategy, looking into potential collaborations, supporting our retail Stores and e-commerce we've opened up 3 new stores since the start of the year, including Bath, Guildford and Notting Hill, so its been a busy time for us. The funniest part of my job I would say are the people I work with. No matter what job you do, you end up spending more time with people at work than anyone else in your life so it really helps having funny, passionate colleagues. We always have a good laugh around our table!
Stalked: Anja Humljan, Photographer
22 April 2015
Recently I stumbled across a stunning photographic series by Anja Humljan, titled Urban Yoga. In this series she looks at how the human body can manipulate itself into the most beautiful forms and if you place these forms against the harsh cold background of the city, then you have something truly spectacular.
I caught up with Anja on her work and her latest book, Urban Yoga, which is all about this incredible series.
What do you love about photography and your job?
I
am exploring the magic of space that centres on human experience, inspiring
others to look at the world around them in a more meaningful way: re-examining
how their bodies inhabit urban places, breathing new human-oriented life into
the efficient and industrial world of urban architecture and design. The role of an architect is not only to build
structures, but also to build bridges between our respected field and the
citizens who use our structures on a daily basis. I am doing this with The
Urban Yoga. It is not yoga as such, but an architectural experiment, a movement
changing the way we experience everyday situations if we focus on our body and
senses. It is inviting citizens to smell, touch, taste, see and hear in order
to experience, how does their city feel. Thus, it is challenging architects to
design architecture that is not only visually and technologically stunning, but
is designed with humans in mind. Therefore, the word yoga in the name of the project:
Just like in yoga, where your body becomes your special space, every urban
environment designed with humans in mind can become a source of positive
energy, a place of self-reflection and self-realization. A place that brings
you back to the world and towards your own sense of being.
Image: New York - Jaka Vinsek
Stalked: Zadie Xa, Artist
20 April 2015
Zadie Xa is a London
based Canadian artist whose work explores identity, desire and personal
fantasy. After completing an MA in Painting from the Royal College of Art 2014,
Zadie now shows her work in renowned galleries such as Studio Voltaire. I
caught up with her at her latest exhibition to talk about her work and love for
fashion.
Why did you decide to be an artist?
I became interested in making art at around 7 years old and kept up with it throughout my teenage years. I had always toyed with the idea of becoming an artist when I was very young but it wasn´t until I was 19 and started my BFA that I really set my mind on pursuing a career in fine art. There was never a definitive reason that motivated me to become an artist, rather it was my excitement about making objects and investigating ideas through visual cues that made me think, okay, I can do this.
Why did you decide to be an artist?
I became interested in making art at around 7 years old and kept up with it throughout my teenage years. I had always toyed with the idea of becoming an artist when I was very young but it wasn´t until I was 19 and started my BFA that I really set my mind on pursuing a career in fine art. There was never a definitive reason that motivated me to become an artist, rather it was my excitement about making objects and investigating ideas through visual cues that made me think, okay, I can do this.
Stalked: Sarah Smart, Illustrator
15 April 2015
Illustration is an intriguing artform that is getting ever more popular by the day. With big brands incorporating it into their latest advertising campaigns and adorning lavish event invitations with it, everyone seems to be getting excited about this some say archaic artform. Sarah Smart is the very talented illustrator that has an impressive client list such as; Harvey Nichols, Stella McCartney & Instyle, as well as Olay and ITV. I caught up with her for a walk along the river Thames to talk art and fashion, and where illustration is set to go in the future.
Why did you decide to become an
illustrator?
They say do what you love and love what you do. For me that's always been
drawing. From Fashion Wheel at an early age, skipping sport for the art room at
school and then studying Illustration at Uni, it's fair to say I've always
loved and gotten lost in it. I tried out jobs in magazines after leaving Uni
but wasn't satisfied and so always went back to the drawing board (excuse the
pun!)
April Treat: Something Silky
13 April 2015
In February I told you all about my new years resolution which is to spend more on one or two items for my wardrobe that I really love, rather than something which is on trend and from the high-street that will keep my style attention for all of a month!! So I'm doing a year long blog feature on what I'm spending my monthly pay cheque on each month....
We had a little break in March, as I may have purchased a little plane ticket to the South of France but for April i'm back on it!! My treat for April is all things soft and silky, please may I introduce Marina London.. one of my favourite brands and one I always go to when I get some dosh in!!
These are the two little beauties I've treated myself with for this month!
First of all her classic 'VIRGIN SHIRT'
Stalked: Aase Hopstock, Shoe Designer and Illustrator
10 April 2015
Aase Hopstock knows
the way to many women's hearts is through their... Feet!! Yes this little lady
is a shoe designer. I met Aase at London Fashion Week this year to
talk about her passion for shoes and also her latest venture, fashion illustration. She has one of those blogs you just want to keep scrolling down and down and down!
What do you do and
what do you love about your job?
I'm a shoe
designer and a fashion illustrator. As a shoe designer I adore both the the
design and production process. To see your most precious ideas come to
life ever season is immensely rewarding. I also love seeing the progression of
my brand, feeling that each collection is better accomplished, and received,
than the last, - that is a big deal. At the moment Im taking a season off to
restructure, so this Fashion Week I'm focusing on my work as an Illustrator. I
run an illustrated style blog called The Style Drawer, so LFW is like a candy
store - my favourite times of year - when I'm spoilt for choice and I can
revel in the excess of sartorial splendour. I adore seeing people making an
effort to express themselves through aesthetics, it makes me really happy.
Stalked: Marcelle Joseph, Independent Curator and Author
7 April 2015
Curator and supporter
of young designers, Marcelle Joseph, is a well known face on both the art and
fashion scenes. Having begun her career in law Marcelle chose to leave this
industry to pursue her passion in the arts and is now a highly respected curator,
running projects at interesting pop up locations around London. Her love for
young creatives also extends to the fashion industry by supporting emerging
designers and in result has a killer wardrobe to accompany that passion!
I caught up with
Marcelle while wandering around Studio Voltaire to see the latest exciting young
female artists in which the gallery is supporting.
Why did you decide to
start Marcelle Joseph Projects and how do you pick your artists and projects?
After toiling away for
over a decade as a corporate lawyer at a mega firm with over 700 lawyers
worldwide, I went back to study Art Business at Christie’s. After
finishing this degree, I wanted to do something entrepreneurial and curatorial
and shied away from working for a large gallery or auction house.
Founding my own roving projects company gave me the opportunity to work
with a myriad of artists from emerging artists discovered at their MA degree
shows to established artists such as Sir Howard Hodgkin and Louise Bourgeois.
Given that I work nomadically, I first have to find the venue for an
exhibition and then a curatorial construct if it is not a solo presentation. At
that point, I can pick the artists according to the exhibition theme. I
am always visiting gallery and museum exhibitions in London and endeavour to go
to at least one international art fair each year. This year, it is Frieze
New York in May after visiting Artissima in Torino last year and Art Brussels
in 2013. Seeing so much art develops the eye and I try to stay true to my
own eye and love to make discoveries, giving young artists their first solo
shows in London.
Stalked: Alexei Obolensky, Founder and Director, Wasted Talent
3 April 2015
Alexei, is the founder and director of a very special agency. The type of agency that gets this Stalker extremely excited because it's all about supporting young talented individuals and as my regular readers know, championing young emerging designers is one of my loves and the reason I am still blogging now!
Wasted Talent is an agency that Alexei and his partner started not so long ago, specialising in growing young entrepreneurs and creatives with their fountain of knowledge and expertise. From sales and distribution, marketing & PR , design consultancy to creative content, they help to build their clients strategies and grow their brands like they were their own. They also stationed themselves in the most of divine areas of the world to do this.... South West of France!
I caught up with Alexei when I popped to see what the lovely Daisy Knights had created for her AW15 collection at Somerset House.
Tell me all about
Wasted Talent and how did you get into it?
Wasted Talent is a 360 degree agency with our
roots in surfing but our minds on the global stage based out of South West
France. We nurture and grow projects that we believe in, whether that be for
individuals that we manage or brands that we believe have got the legs to
succeed in Europe but need a platform to grow from. My partner and I got into
it by seeing so much fragmentation, incompetence and waste in the sector of the
industry we are in, yet there being so much potential we really wanted to create
something that pulls it all together, and here we are.
Stalked: Carmen Manzano, A Textile Student With Fabulous Style
1 April 2015
I met the lovely Carmen during London Fashion week as she running from show to show blogging for Modices, the Brazilian blog. This little lady has a wonderful sense of unique style, punk rock mixed with 70s chic, and that hair .. oh you can't help but love this girl! More excitingly is that she is not just another blogger (says me!) but is in fact at the beginning of her career in fashion. Carmen is a Textile student, what route she will take in this industry is a mystery at the moment!!
Who is the most exciting emerging designer you've come across this season?
I died for Faustine Steinmetz!
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