Sun 11th Dec: Whose that illustration in the window?

Since these faces popped up in the window of Afrique Fabrics in Dalston a few a days ago I have been trying to work out who its by......... I LOVE it so much! Thanks to the power of communication that is Twitter and a response from Niki Livingston I discovered that it is Damien Poulain.................. of course!!! Take a look back at some familiar faces from a previous post here and here.

Sat 10th Dec: Flog It Darlings! Judy Blame Sample Sale

Today is the last day of a 2 day sample sale of Judy Blame special pieces........... all one of a kind and all made with love and care............. invest in an iconic classic that will bring you or your loved one good energy and fun.............. there are necklaces, brooches, badges, t-shirts, parcel tapes and framed artworks.......... and a cup of tea and slice of Stollen cake if the kettle is on!

Fri 9th Dec: Gareth Pugh vs. M.A.C

Last night M.A.C held a party to launch Gareth Pugh's new range for the cosmetic's company complete with angular edge eyelashes worn to perfect effect by Princess Julia who span the decks for PonyStep. The campaign film shot by Ruth Hogben was projected on a huge screen and can now be viewed over on SHOWstudio. A photobooth was decorated in Pugh's optical pattern and the monochrome photos printed out with his logo on the paper - brilliant!........

(Dave Baby, Judy Blame and Kim Howells, Nova Dando and friend, Aaron Frew)

Fri 9th Dec: Elisha Smith Leverock's "I Want Muscle"

'I want Muscle' a film by Elisha Smith-Leverock Winner of the 2011 ASVOFF MK2 Grand Prix from Elisha Smith-Leverock on Vimeo.

Last evening Elisha Smith Leverock celebrated her ASVOFF win with a UK premiere of her film "I Want Muscle" by hosting a screening and Q&A with the body-builder star Kizzie Vaines. This personal project put together with a team of loyal collaborators surpassed its original intention by becoming a success in its own right down to the infectious fascination of the refreshing subject matter. Kizzie was an absolute delight to interview infront of an audience of fashion film enthusiasts who attended the event at the NIKE1948 space with special protein shake inspired cocktails by Bompass & Parr. I think this is a great example to testify that if you are passionate about something and want to share it with the world - go ahead and put it into action and others will follow............... read all about the background to the piece at my previous post .......

Fri 9th Dec: Noel Stewart for Hussein Chalayan in Muse Les Arts Decoratifs

Recently I was asked my favourite accessory of SS12 and my top pick was the iridescent visor by Noel Stewart for Hussein Chalayan. Back in September whilst we were all in London admiring his hats for Erdem, Roksanda and Jaeger ........ Noel was already straight onto the next collaboration travelling to Paris Fashion Week for the Hussein Chalayan show in Muse Les Arts Decoratifs. Here are some fantastic snaps from setting up the spectacle and a good detail shot of the prismatic sensational headwear!

Thanks to Noel for the photographs from his personal records.

Here is the fashion film for his own SS12 collection by Morgan O'Donovan:

Noel Stewart SS12 from Morgan O'Donovan on Vimeo.

Weds 7th Dec: Phillips de Pury & Co. Pop Up Shop at Claridge's

The Philips de Pury Pop-Up Shop at Claridge's opened its doors last evening, set up for Christmas shoppers looking for a unique limited edition piece of art or design from the city's newest names in the field. My two faves Bethan Wood and David David are included in the showcase alongside Max Lamb, Martino Gamper, Michael Anastasiades, Tauba Auerbach, Faye Toogood, Snarkitecture, Brunno Jahara, Victoria Wilmotte, Jonathan Muecke, Oeuffice, and Ben Adams. Above is a "Collection of Light" by Humans Since 1982 which is a collection of LEDs arranged in a hamormonic order to simply become a lamp in its own right whilst looking like a zooilogical collection case of fireflys. Martino Gamper has curated a special Martino and Friends section displayed on a bespoke shelving unit built to house the wares of Francis Upritchard, Gemma Holt, Rob Upritchard and Martino Gamper.
Ive been desperate to get my hands on Bethan's Pivot rings since she first showed me the samples so this is a very exciting opportunity to finally purchase the genius jewellery .......... and this gorgeous hand printed poster by David David. Pop in to the Pop-Up shop whilst you are up west but make sure you go before the holidays as it will be closed from 24 December – 3 January.

Open 2 December 2011 - 31 January 2012 at 45-47 Brook Street at Claridge's, London
10am – 7pm Monday – Saturday and 12pm – 5pm Sunday

Weds 7th Dec: Alun Davies cont........

I have pulled together some of Alun's Facebook profile pictures here to give a personal insight into the artist ............ as he regularly has a brilliant image capturing whatever he is working on at that particular time ......... he is a cross section of time and jobs to illustrate the previous post on his practise.........

Sun 4th Dec: Alun Davies Profile and Studio Visit

This season I had the pleasure of working with Alun Davies on the art direction of my LFW presentation, exhibition space and fashion film. As the most softly spoken man in set design, it's a wonder how the rest of the team heard us at meetings ...... a trait we both share in our shy personas.......... just one similarity in both of our stories ........... another being that we both assisted Shona Heath. When I flew the nest to the freelance realm, I handed over the baton to Alun who had joined the team to intern. Now we both have our own enterprises and studios just a short stroll from Shona's which was one of the very first artist's blocks to emerge on Shacklewell Lane.

In a breather inbetween season's I took a saunter up the road to Alun's new workshop to find out more of his history and what to look out for in his future plans. Alun has recently taken residency near Rectory Road with Piers Atkinson and a handful of other creatives including Emma Roach. It was with both of these friends that Alun started producing projects under his own name. Originally from a graphic design education at Kingston University, Alun was always keen on exploring 3D disciplines to execute his ideas. This lead to a tutor pointing him in the direction of the pioneering SHOWstudio platform and a period of shadowing Penny Martin and Paul Hetherington. Alun has fond memories of this chapter taking on responsibilities for visualizing and constructing maquttes to be filmed for various features going live on the site. It was an exciting interim of witnessing Nick Kninight establish the "Home Of Fashion Film " and the perfect place to plant the seed of possible career options to pursue. Until this time Alun was still making the transition from creating photographic imagery to a new understanding of a role in creating the physical props and sets within pictures. Alun was in heaven helping out on set with the likes of Juergen Teller, Michael Howells, and Simon Foxton whilst forming his own connections with other assistants at the time including photographer Jez Tozer.

SHOWstudio's unique collision of art, music, fashion and performance that took place on a daily basis instilled a passion for Alun to follow. His very first commission came from Lara Ferros for Plastique magazine, to build a set in reference to a junk theme. Having just become friends with the ethical designer Lu Flux, he had an automatic resource of recycled goods to raid. Amongst the range of retro wares were some rugby helmets which Alun decorated with other smaller components in the loot. This one article was such a success that a second job came in to cover helmets in Swarovski crystals and then a third to travel on location to Wales with Kim Howells. For this story Alun glued nuts and bolts to breast plates and shin pads - covering cyber armour and cementing a firm collaborative partnership to flourish further (eg. with her designer clients). Probably his most notorious embellished armour was for Lady Gaga's Monseter Ball. His current flatmate Anna Trevelyan worked with him to develop motorbike helmets with fins and shoulder pads covered in mirror tiles for the troop of dancers on tour. In the family tree of London cross-pollination, Anna introduced Alun to Charlie Le Mindu and the three combined forces on an installation for his stockist Machine A. The basement of the boutique became a habitat of Le Mindu signature sinister surroundings and Alun was on board the Belgian's burgeoning scene. He was soon made acquainted with Charlie's Berlin connection - Peaches (a former client when he was a hair dresser in the city). Whilst visiting London for the festival circuit she broke her ankle and Alun stepped in to "Pimp" her wheelchair ride. In under 24hrs Alun had decorated the device with pink weave and delivered her backstage at Lovebox, literally pushing her to curtain call. This was the very beginning of partnering with Peaches and a journey which took him back to her home town and art directing the production of her first opera. The spontaneous over-night transformation of some crutches ended up in taking on the task of designing the set for an entire pop musical in a completely new country!

From this European experience, Alun extended his network and has since helped the two capitals creative undergrounds collide when Layall Hakaria asked him to oversee the concept for his arena of the NYC Downlow at this year's Glastonbury Festival. Alun brought over performance Danni Daniels to host the extravaganza "Bedlam vs. Benidorm". The success of teaming up with Hakaria has seen exhibitions for the House of Organza and now the latest and most current collaboration on a Christmas concept for Vogue Fabrics. For the first day of December, Alun dressed Dalston's premiere drag destination with a giant red ribbon to draw attention to World Aids Day. This installation was then upgraded with the addition of a grotto graveyard and performance of Princess Julia appearing from a coffin casket.This has kick started a month of events and a daily morphing window display as an alternative advent calendar with a new door for each day - literally! Alun has also been responsible for the festive identity of Aqua stores fitting out their facades with neon sculptures.

This is just the cherry on the top of the current work-load for Alun who makes his props alongside the fruit and feather milliner Piers Atkinson who he shares his studio with. To recap on the magnificent work Alun did for Piers last season check out this documentary of the presentation at the Sanderson with Paloma Faith and fashion film with Zaiba Jabbar at Zandra Rhodes penthouse. ......... and be sure to revisit the cosmic underwater worlds he magic-ed up for my film and show with musical score by Patrick Wolf....

PIERS ATKINSON SS12 'HOT VOODOO" by Sarah Keeling and Elva Rodrigruez from Kim Howells on Vimeo.

Keep track of what is coming up for his live advent calendar over at his twitter, Blog and Newsletter............... and click on all the links above to see my archive posts on the projects.