Pattern Pulp

Vintage Inspiration from Rilla




RillaShop

A few weeks ago, I was in San Francisco for a wedding. Since I’m always trying to pack in as much as I can, I caught up with several friends in between festivities. One of them was Courtney Cummins. She filled me on on her latest endeavor which has been really fun to watch from the sidelines- a new online shop called RILLA, which carries new and vintage pieces, all through a print and patterned lens.

Cummins has a magnificent eye- she merges new and old seamlessly. All designers know that vintage is an inspiring pot of gold, and whether you’re looking to reinterpret or summon a specific era, motifs and color-ways speak to varied points in time. I just purchased two tops (the one above being one of them) and encourage you to peruse as well- if you’re itching for spring to get started, this might be a nice place to jumpstart your wardrobe shift.

 

Around the Globe in San Francisco




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I’m finally back in New York after a two week stint on the west coast. The weather was a welcome change, as was catching up with family, friends and colleagues I don’t get to see that often.

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My hand’s been on the mend for the past few weeks as well, from a somewhat ridiculous kitchen accident involving a wine bottle opener…(I know…) which has been fairly frustrating (particularly in the work dept). I will say that Sherpaa, Mt. Sinai, NYU Langone and Beth Israel and I have all become my good friends this month. Sherpaa, in particular. On a more positive and serious note though, on week three, while on the road, I was able to start designing again, which was a long awaited relief (for both me, and my clients).

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To balance my new-found free time during this unworkable, yet medicated period, I went on more inspiration hunts, photographing, absorbing, meeting new people and mentally sketching new ideas out in my head. I also watched two full seasons of Nashville and signed up for a Hulu Plus account. It was a forced break in a sense, and terrible timing, as several deadlines had been looming, but so is life. Sometimes accidents happen, and you just have to be grateful that you have a good support system and healthcare.

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Today, I thought I’d share some pictures from my last pitstop in San Francisco, before heading to the airport. Justin (my husband) and I met up with a few friends at Heath Ceramics in the Mission, off of many solid recommendations. It’s a superb space filled with beautiful objects.

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In another world where I didn’t have a kitchen set I was using and already attached to, I’d fill my home with their ceramics and textiles. The vibe throughout is modern, but simple and very color and texture focused. If you like Fort Standard, Anthology Mag, Purl, and Steven Alan, these products are for you.

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For over a half a century, Heath Ceramics has produced handcrafted tableware and architectural tile in it’s Sausalito, CA factory. They also carry the Alabama Chanin line– which is prominently featured today.

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Their placemats combine organic cotton and intricate stitching- reminiscent of Japanese decorative techniques. They’re as simple as they are busy, and if you’re looking to make your own, they sell DIY kits.

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The ceramic plates follow a similar stitch story, only the application is obviously different. It’s all delicate and a nice balance of folk meets modern. If you’re in the area, don’t skip this gem, there are so many interesting stories throughout and small gifts to purchase, if you’re in the market for that kind of thing.

Color Stories & Cartoon Cred




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For anyone who follows the evolution of seasonal retail, window display design, graphic trends and fashion advertising, they’ll notice these images aren’t exactly new. I’ve been sitting on them for a while. In addition to Pinterest, I have a ‘ready to post’ folder on my desktop filled with about 100 themes that get sorted daily. When the piece feels right, it goes live. For some reason, this cartoon collection and it’s distinct palette’s sat dormant for too long.

Does that mean it’s no longer relevant? Perhaps, but there’s a timelessness to the creative, directed primarily through the Comme Des Garcon campaign. I love the Topsy Turvy Tales, illustrated by W. Heath Robinson. With a title like, Pixy Twittertoes and Mr. Merrylegs, it doesn’t get much better than that.

The colors are unexpected and have a vintage appeal. Taking a page out of the same book, these Marc Jacob tights mimic the palette and this Upper East Side shrubbery is sculptural and kid-like, transporting us to Disney World or Bush Gardens. Utilizing a pink, yellow and blue tale, Barneys presents a modern day Lichtenstein, realized through office supplies and post-it notes.

 

Pattern delights from Blabla




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If you’re shopping in the baby department, it’s likely you’ve crossed paths with the adorable line, Blabla. The patterns have a loose illustrative hand and the crochet dolls are sophisticated playmates with soft features and sturdy trunks. We’re fans of everything from the mobiles to the sheets to the bean bags. If you haven’t checked this Atlanta-based company out, bookmark their site, it’s one of the few American lines that truly feels international.

 

Wagner & M.M. Lafleur's Bird of Fortune




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Off the heels of President’s Day, we thought we’d share a collaboration that hits an interesting cultural mark. Miyako, the creative director behind the women’s workwear brand, M.M. Lafleur, along with mixed media artist, Mark Wanger, have teamed up to create an impressive piece of wearable art.

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Made entirely from collaged currency, Wanger’s peacock entitled, Bird of Fortune, is a departure from his regular editorial and media collaborations. Merging masculine and feminine along with capitalism and anarchy, this monetary creation is a beautiful deconstructed piece, filled with innuendos. The elegant wrap and flow obscures the obvious, spurring interest and intrigue. We’re big fans. What do you think? Click here to explore and/or purchase.

 

Patternity x Clarks




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I’m a big fan of Patternity. Back in November, they published these pictures on instagram. I obviously got excited. Then, though, I had a bit of a conundrum- can I post this collaboration that they’re publicizing through one form of social media? I felt funny about it- like it was an invasion of privacy in some weird way, even though they were documenting spring production on their feed…so I waited. A week ago, both Clark and Patternity released photos of their spring partnership – and I have to say it’s one of the most playful and sophisticated pattern collaborations I’ve seen in a while. Bravo guys! To buy the dessert boot pattern, click here.

 

Tracking Repetitive + Awesome.
On Instagram.