Pattern Pulp

Fashion, Friendship & Morgan Carper




I don’t always share my day to day on Pattern Pulp. I go back and forth on how much to personalize the site, as forecasting and pattern recognition shouldn’t only be represented by my weekly activities and biased love for geometrics. I try to curate taking a step back, sorting through events after they’ve happened, to give a more neutral, well-rounded perspective.

That said, it’s fun to bring you in – beyond the world of Instagram, and share the things that I love. Over the summer, I had the opportunity to redesign the website of my dear friend, Morgan Carper.

For those unaware, she’s a wildly talented Brooklyn-based fashion and textile designer. After throwing ideas against the wall and talking about what we’d update and revamp, it was an honor to roll up my sleeves and pull out the wacom tablet to design her e-commerce experience with our friend Efy from Webinhabit.

Every time we get together, we nerd out, compare travel notes, talk about life, relationships, food, and how we try to spend our days doing what we love. I share graphic design and marketing tips while she enlightens me on fabric production, sourcing, her sisters, and the latest music I should be listening to.

Though she’s still an emerging designer, Morgan’s doing incredibly well. Her clothing is truly flattering on everyone, I’m not just saying that.

Every time I wear one of her shirts or dresses, I feel put together, relaxed and sophisticated – a tough balance when you’re moving throughout your day trying to dress for work, social events, and most importantly, yourself.

This past weekend I hosted her Winter Sample Sale at my apartment. Here are some shots of the AW12 and SS13 lines, our friends, and a few of us trying on the goods. It’s kind of amazing that almost all of the dresses, skirts and shirts are interchangeable on everyone, as some of us are tall pixies, and others are short and curvy (ahem).

Here’s my friend Nandita trying on the Tola dress. Striking, right?

There’s still plenty for sale on her site – and if you’d like the same 40% discount, you’re more than welcome to partake in the code, URLOVED, go crazy, get your holiday dress or winter coat!

I also happened to be on the hunt for a dress to wear the following night, as my husband and I were heading to the Charity Water Ball.  Though a gown’s lovely, I wanted it to be a dressy/comfortable evening (it was cold and wet outside), even if that seems like an oxymoron. I ended up in the Yao dress. It was perfect and will be a wardrobe mainstay for a long time to come.

 

Around the Globe: A Trip to Helsinki




Back in September, I did a round up of Marimekko and the patterned wonderment that is Helsinki. Everywhere you turn, someone’s in a dotted scarf, a dog’s being walked by a striped leash or airport food is being served on a stylish tray. It’s just the way it is in Finland, and it’s refreshing.

As I write this, I’m sitting in New York, behind a computer at a marketing agency in Tribeca, designing websites, remembering a specific piece that got away. This ottoman’s great, isn’t it? I sort of wish I jumped on it. The effortless vibe paired with mismatched dots can work in any environment. It’s a reminder not to always play it safe – as a designer or a decorator. What do you think?

PS, We’d love to hear from you! If you’d like to share and submit some personal textured treasures you’ve found from the road (and why they’re meaningful to you), get in touch by sending a note with the title line, Around the Globe to editor@patternpulp.com


Around the Globe: a Trip to Tokyo




Today I’m kicking off with a new section called Around the Globe. It’s devoted to the special things we find when exploring new parts of the world.*

I travel quite a bit on the job and when I arrive in a new city, I do my best to take mental notes as an outsider – initially, with rose colored glasses – then as a critical observer, interviewing men and women about their daily grind: their hopes, fears, families and careers. I’m also an obsessive photographer (like all of you), with an interest not necessarily in the tourist attractions- but more with random textures, color combos, quirky advertisements, street style and interesting eating habits.

Though today’s post doesn’t dig too deep, I thought I’d catalog one of my favorite department stores: Tomorrowland, in Tokyo. The products, the merchandising and the customer service are unparalleled.  I bought this wallet in the men’s department after a year-long search for a replacement. It’s a special collaboration between the Italian leather label, Il Bisonte and the store- which is a strong brand throughout the country.

*We’d love to hear from you! If you’d like to share and submit some personal textured treasures you’ve found from the road (and why they’re meaningful to you), get in touch by sending a note with the title line, Around the Globe to editor@patternpulp.com

Thanks!

Shayna

 

Tackling Product Photography




There’s an art to product photography. Oftentimes texture, gloss and light give the stylistic push a shot needs to make a statement. Mitchell Feinberg‘s recent accessory spread for Marie Claire is one example of a job well done. Incorporating a balance of strict and fluid, light and dark and high and low materials helps create a unique, interesting storyline. If you haven’t already pick up a copy, have a look, it’s a beautiful spread.

 

Marimekko meets Fatboy




Two brand favorites recently merged and are currently on sale. Fat Boy and Marimekko did a print/bean bag collaboration and results are really fun. Would you weave something this bold into your home?

 

Repurposing Patterns with Pottock




Converting his familiar character illustrations into upholstered fabric, Geoff Mcfetridge‘s venture into furniture is as playful as it is practical. The Allofus chair, a product of Pottock, him and his wife’s wallpaper company, merges midcentury styles with a playful pattern. Successful repeats have many legs and it’s exciting to see this soft, tangible extension executed so beautifully.

 

Tracking Repetitive + Awesome.
On Instagram.