Every morning I wake up and delete a lot of email. We all do. I always read the Fashion Redef newsletter though. It’s inspiring, succinct and a daily digest that keeps me abreast of what’s happening in the fashion industry. They analyze the sexy and the obscure in a clever and refreshing way. Yesterday, HK Mindy Meissen, the curator, called out this quote from Nike CEO, Mike Parker. It’s everything – and essentially the whole backbone of Pattern Studio.
There’s a lot of good color making the rounds in London this Spring.
We’ve been in a pastel period for some time, and it seems like we’re moving a bit forward, finally. Between Maitre Choux’s grand opening and the Liberty x Nike collaboration, the graphics are flat colorful vectors full of wit and whimsy.
The new patisserie in South Kensington is a passion project by Joakim Prat, and the editable items mirror the branding in their geometric story. The desserts are absolutely delicious, I highly recommend popping in if you’re a local – I went on a recent trip with my friend Lily, and it took all the willpower in the world to resist ripping into the package before getting it home to share.
Down on Regent Street, Liberty London’s window is a 3D model of patterned terrain. Foam core has been cut into curved landscapes, depicting depth through pattern. Check it out if you’re walking by, it’s really well done.
Just two years ago, we noticed Blackmilk making waves throughout the legging industry. Since that summer, competitors have popped up throughout the globe, creating colorful athletic lines to support active lifestyles. This phenomenon made sportswear more colorful and fashionable, not to mention, extremely wearable as everyday attire. Here are a few pieces that reflect this trend. You’ll notice florals, pattern blocking, geometrics, camouflage, and abstract textures.
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1. Alala makes sportswear luxurious through clean and elegant design, using expressive ink-like marks to add a refined, artistic feel in their Spring/Summer 2014 Collection.
2. Nike teams up with Liberty of London to add a splash of floral neon in their Womens Quickstrike Pack sneaker collection.
3. Lucas Hugh’s combination of florals, geometric patterns and architectural lines ultimately create colorful, flattering silhouettes for workout attire in his Spring/Summer 2014 Collection.
4. The Seea Calafia Leggings made by Without Walls finds the right balance between form and function. The leggings, consisting of an abstracted graphic floral print, are also ideal for several sports activities and even covers up to UPF 50+ for max sun protection.
5. Another example of Without Walls’ ability to strike a balance between form and function: comfortable, quick-dry polyester and breathable cotton in a classic camo print for men in their Undefeated Camo Run Tight.
6. Live The Process printed leggings + bra top is an example of a more classic, feminine floral print, but through the lens of a subdued palette.
7. Without Walls Printed Drop-Inseam Pant is an example of one of their louder, brighter, geometric patterns.
8. Sweaty Betty Chandrasana Yoga Leggings – while these leggings are made with the intention of use for Downward-Facing Dog, the shades of blue placed in various geometric blocks gives an added style statement to your practice.
A well-designed Nordstrom catalog arrived in my mailbox last night. It’s all about getting active, which couldn’t be more appropriate for January. While flipping though, admiring the type, model and copy layouts, I stopped short on pg 23. I present you with Nike’s latest and greatest: the Free TR Fit 3 Print training shoe. If I needed a new pair, I’d get them in purple and black.
If you’re a fan of Liberty London and you’re a fan of the hightop, you’ll be in paisley heaven with the latest Nike collaboration. The styles include the Air Max 1, Cortez and Free 5.0 in sport red, university gold and imperial purple.
Personally, I love the wedge- what’s your favorite?
Influenced by skateboarding culture, his homebase of Barcelona and a healthy dose of creative irony, Emil Kozak has become a leader of what’s relevant in today’s graphic market. Devising obscure references through words, objects and codes, Kozak has produced artwork for clients ranging from Vans, Element, and Burton, to Nike, Lab Skateboards and Uniqlo. “I hope that my work can remind us that imagination can defy gravity and bend time.” Kozak’s mantra is yet another example of trends in design bridging both space and time. Check out our Q+A for a glimpse into the world of this vector wunderkind.
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PP: What websites do you generally start your day with? Do you have a daily routine for news/blog/information consumption?
EK: I check the wave forecasts first thing when I wake up. Sometimes I check the news, but usually i just get started on working.
PP: As a designer, how did you discover your talent and how has it evolved over your creative career?
EK: When i was a kid I was really into Lego and making things out of wood. At my parents house there is still all my homemade pinball machines, pirate ships and what not. When I got older, I started making tape-covers for mix tapes and the demo-tapes for our punk-band on the Xerox machine at my dad’s work. When I finished High School, my mom gave me the idea to try out a graphic design education. I did and was hooked.
PP: Do you discuss your work with other designers? If so, how does that impact your creation process?
EK: Yes, I have friends with similar professions and we always help each other out, when the eyes give up… It affects more of the final decision making concerning colorways or small variations. Conceptual work etc. is between my notebook and me 🙂
PP: Where do you usually work on your patterns and what is your preferred method of creation + execution?
EK: First I sketch with pencil and paper. Then I scan and finish it on computer.
PP: When is the last time you took a professional/creative risk??
EK: I guess I take small risks on a weekly basis, but the last major one was deciding to go freelance, and start up my own studio.
PP: Do you incorporate commercial trends into your work and if so, is this a factor that drives your design?
EK: Sure, I’m just as much a product of my environment as anybody else. Zeitgeist and the contemporary is a powerful thing. I actually think it’s kinda cool that we are all in this boat together somehow with shared beliefs and a collective consciousness.
