Follow-up: Taping Spaces

It’s always a treat when you can post a follow-up to a topic you’ve covered in another market. Back in July, then later in August, the topic of bondage, the recession and DIY styling came about. Perhaps the most literal translation of this trend appeared in the pages of Dazed and Confused where a male model was wrapped in a t-shirt and pink duct tape. Today it’s exciting to see bloggers reinterpreting this trend, commercializing it for the masses. Above you’ll see Jane Aldridge’s styled photoshoot, merging a Martin Margiela blazer with a black belt and a long line of duct tape. Certainly the most feminine and classy angle we’ve seen to date.

January 28, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Body Stories for the Inner Escapist

After viewing Tim Burton’s show at the MoMA, it’s hard not to draw parallels to Roberto Kusterle’s fantastical photography. Each piece is truly a show-stopper and a window into a world that challenges literal meaning. Here at Pattern Pulp, we all believe that moods can be defined in countless ways. It’s the inspirational element of a story that sticks, and if it’s done well, it will further resonate within society. Avatar is a perfect example of this. Brands continue to tackle this challenge on a daily basis, and Coca Cola provides perhaps some of the best examples in the market. When you invite your viewer into a world they’ve only dreamed of then give them a pair of wings, you have to trust that they will fly. Kusterle’s ability to convey affection and human emotion is remarkable, and sets the escapist bar just a little bit higher.

By: Shayna Kulik and Emily Gup

January 27, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Brands Burning

As 2010 rolls on ahead, artists, writers, designers are all pondering the future, and it seems that burning the past (esp. 2009) might be a way to move forward. Burning, a cathartic ritual for many religions, releases the energy of the past to spark new beginnings.

The New York Times Magazine recently featured a stunning cover with the “T” scorched and engulfed in flames. Pyromaniacs set designer, Gary Card and the photographer, Jacob Sutton, were inspired by the “Wicker Man” 1973 horror movie and commissioned a welder to fabricate a 10-foot-tall steel T. After layering it with sugar cane and soaking it in alcohol, they lit it with a blowtorch and “ran for their lives”. Although the T was intended for an Anglomania themed issue, you couldn’t help but feel it symbolized the current demise of the great newspaper in crisis to its internet nemesis.

Paralleling this theme, artist Karmelo Bermejo recently presented “The Grand Finale” at Art Basel Miami in December. The fireworks show ignited the word “Recession,” commemorating the failure caused by the worldwide economic crisis. Though controversial, this celebratory event emphasized art’s fleeting, yet explosive nature.

Using burn marks as a design element with a more lasting effect, the designers at LOVE Magazine recently styled Coco Sumner, incorporating past, present and future themes into the shoot, spread and article.

Art that isn’t so fleeting is best exemplified by Olivier Kosta Thefaine, who uses a cigarette lighter to burn his graffiti-inspired patterns into the ceilings of galleries. Inspired by Paris street culture, his illustrative strokes transform bare white rooms with complex smoke mosaics. Rather than desecrating to create the desired effect, the flame’s byproduct is in fact the “paintbrush.”

And lastly, burning has emerged as a tangible art in the fashion world. Balmain’s Spring 2010 Ready-to-Wear collection presents an array of tattered clothing with visible signs of distress. From beaded jackets to bullet strewn tees to ripped jeans. A tough sexy trend is already resonating with the fashion glitterati. Be ready to rock this look for major bucks or get inspired go DIY with your bleach, scissors and lighters. Layer up with skinny pants, embellished tops and jackets to complete the look. Tough girl attitude optional.

By: Angela Chen

January 26, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Bold and Beaded

When’s the last time your neckline stole the show? Be it a formal affair or a casual day at work, it seems as though women are opting for the boldest jewelry they can find. The floating necklace from yesteryear is nothing but a dainty memory as these statement pieces take a front seat. Be it a high-end Fenton jumble, a bugle-beaded grosgrain ribbon, barbed-wire metallics or enlarged romantic charms, designers are pulling out all the stops and giving women a reason to shop.

These mixed media accessories are carefully crafted using unconventional materials such as painted shells, leather, lace, feather, rope, glass, zippers, fabric, mesh, stones, polymer clay and wood. Just as chefs use their leftovers for next day’s specials, these masterpieces have a crafty homemade appeal that are true attention grabbers. Michelle Obama’s already jumped on the bandwagon, so why be shy? It seems like fun to resemble a 3D Rauschenberg.

Trend Coverage by: Aysha Ibtasam

January 14, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Follow up: The Spherical Formula

Spherical designs are so common they probably deserve their own “feature” button on Pattern Pulp. That being said, it’s important to identify with designs that speak to you, as having a discriminating eye can help sift through the clutter. Both of these layouts share a similar palette and emit a playfulness that’s easily transferrable for commercial use. In the latest issue of Theme Magazine, Peter Sutherland curates a stunning layout inspired by the spirit of freedom. This photo, shot by Hannah Whitaker, is a true embodiment of this concept. Paralleling this theme, Valentino’s recently released book, A Grand Italian Epic, converts a typographic pinwheel into an iconic status, the perfect symbol for a timeless brand.

January 11, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

The Herringbone Collective

Herringbone is about as popular as plaid. That being said, the variations in execution keep it fresh from season to season. Designers are continually reinventing the wheel, breathing life into this timeless classic. Ari Heckman, a development consultant and interior designer based in New York City, uses a wide array of materials, such as carrera marble, glass and metal when tiling this pattern for various clients. “I enjoy using textured patterns that reference men’s suiting for interior settings. There’s something about the translation from fabric to a more durable material, like marble or stone, that’s very exciting to me.” The examples above showcase glass work from Noho Star, a restaurant in New York, a piece of graffiti on 23rd Street in Chelsea, Nero Marquina marble, a leather woven Cole Haan handbag, colorful woodwork in the children’s department at Printemps in Paris and a yarn stitched pillow that’s currently on sale at Urban Outfitters.

January 8, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik