Pattern Pulp

Fashion: Florals Getting Fierce




As temperatures rise in Manhattan, it truly feels like summer’s around the corner. Fashion editors, publishers and retailers are simultaneously feeling a collective green thumb, as saturated florals flood the marketplace. Deep, vibrant blossoms are appearing on everything from home goods to branded merchandise. This Velvet Due chair slipcover, which was recently highlighted in the design issue of the New York Times Style Magazine, was created by Ken Scott, and  is the epitome of psychedelic wonderment.

Merging Americana themes with Japanese style, Barbie‘s most recent collaboration with Comme des Garcons presents a gridded floral pattern entitled, Jingle Flowers. Whether you’re pairing magenta with turq, yellow or black, you won’t go wrong with any of these combos, as this all-star color palette is ushering in summer with broad strokes and intricate details.

Budget Buys: John Robshaw Sale




We’ve always been a fan of John Robshaw’s textiles. His offerings are a testament to his passion for authentic artisan prints and techniques from a variety of cultures around the world. With a touch of artistic intervention he adds an authentic touch to old techniques with little tweaks- like mixing and matching patterns and using methods of overlapping to update age-old crafts. The results are stunning and we’re excited to announce his Spring Sample Sale, going on from May 4 – 7; pop in and foray around as if you’re in one of the old world markets Robshaw frequents and see what goodies you can find!

245 West 29th Street: New York, NY. 10001, 11 am – 8 pm

Budget Buys: Social Couture Tableware




Playful vector graphics have timeless appeal. They apply to the youth market and are widely adaptable across multiple platforms. I probably churned out 10 a day when I worked as a children’s footwear designer at my first job in Manhattan. Today, Social Couture‘s vibrant and geometric line is for sale on One Kings Lane. While several of these styles have already sold out, some are still some available. Check them out, as they’re as inspirational as they are gift-worthy!

Trend: Tiger Treatments




Over the past year, I’ve felt the urge to write about tigers on numerous occasions. Oddly though, it just didn’t feel right. Well, today’s the day this story finally gets threaded together, as a few trips to Barneys, the back streets of Paris and the Lower East Side have proven that tigers continue to play muse when it comes to graphic application- be it current or a throwback to the 80’s. The above murals are an inverse of each other, and an interesting parallel of color palettes. The composition to the left is a painting by Colleen Rochette and is on display at Barney’s Department store on Madison Avenue. The mural to the right is opposite L’as Du Falafel, a popular Falafel joint in the Marais in Paris.

This Diane Von Furstenburg dress puts the stripes and eyes of the tiger on full display, creating an abstract and artistic interpretation of the animal print. Merging camouflage trends with a motif repeat approach, Sandro, a retail favorite for women in Paris, is selling tiger-bedecked dresses and shirts this season. Magnificent 7 plays homage to vintage asian themes while this white tiger painting at The Cake Shop, a popular indie music venue on the Lower East Side, is a distinct reminder that no one’s letting go of the 80’s anytime soon.

Trend: Thorns + Thickets




Thorns conjure up endless imagery. From floral to fairytale to punk, it’s impossible to ignore the dark correlations associated with this part of nature. Cui Fei, a fine artist from Jinan, China incorporates thorns into her art, using minimalism and nature to convey symbolic messaging. Be it calligraphic undertones in Read by Touch, or a disturbing, dada-like take on braille, this piece, like many of her others, forces the viewer to consider nature’s discarded elements. Commercializing the thorn, Barney’s Coop recently used unpruned rose stems to texturize their accessories spread, creating bold fresh contrasts. Whether these triangular pricks are being used to reel in summer or just transition us beyond the overplayed pyramid stud, it will be interesting to see how designers throw their own spin on this prickly ornament.

Fashion: Sovereign Beck for Spring




With the Kentucky Derby around the corner, it seems only appropriate to share Sovereign Beck‘s latest Spring/Summer collection. We recently did an interview with this talented Brooklyn duo and luckily for us, they’re in production overload these days! Every guy wants a tie that will will define his character, be it creative, conservative or inconspicuous, and in our effort to showcase the most complimentary styles to Steven AlanBonobos and Brooks Brothers, we thought you should see these light weighted wonders.

Tracking Repetitive + Awesome.
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