Fashion: Bold and Optimistic?

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Diane Von Furstenberg’s latest window display showcases mismatched patterns and fabric textures throughout her dress and bag collections. Referencing bright and iconic summer shapes, reminiscent of j.crew flip flops and Tory Burch tunics, DVF’s approach to the upcoming season is blaringly optimistic. That being said, I’d be curious to see how the recession translates into next year’s spring/summer collection, as today’s economical dip was hardly a factor when these ensembles were designed over a year ago.

L.A. Styles

While in Silverlake last month, I stumbled across Sally Bartz’s collection of handbags under her newly founded company, Halsea. Inspired by west coast colors and summer icons, Bartz’s crab monograms and bamboo squares decorate luggage, tote and weekend bags, providing a breath of fresh air from LA’s hipster styles.

London Styles

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UK designer, Peter Jensen has a playful eeriness to his work. While he’s an acquired taste for some, his playful pairing of graphics and tailoring requires introspective buying on the customer’s part. This parrot pattern is representative of Jensen’s homage to the animal kingdom. Carl M. Wellman infuses Brazilian, Italian, English and Japanese floral themes with biodegradable packaging for Le Marchand Du Cacao. A stunning combination of high and low materials.

March 5, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Kid Friendly Clouds

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Though we’d typically hold off on our cloud postings til late March when pairings can be aligned with April showers, cumulous floaters have proven inspirational as of late. Åsa Dahlbäck, a graphic designer from Sweden, creates sharp textured markings to form bold fluffy dimples. Utilizing the largest markers in the box, Tsumori Chisato’s cloud dress portrays a dreamlike state, obscuring clarity with harmonious violets.

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In a playful salute to “partly-cloudy” weather reports, Rose Clark’s collaboration with Sinem Erkas reveals a portable balloon installation series for fashion and art magazine, Exit. Continuing along bold and witty lines, the users of we heart it, found amusement in this hungry gutter by The 6emeia Project. Harmless street art to make you smile.

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Fusing photography with playful attainability, these pastel clouds encourage conceptual daydreaming. Alison Foshee, of California, explores the potential of everyday objects in her dynamic collages. Here she has layered an assortment of stickers to form whimsical colorful droplets.

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Cloud and rain inspired accessories have infultrated the marketplace in a variety of forms. This blue wooden sculpture by Flatland OK, solidifies unattainable pairings. Modernizing Ming Dynasty Era alcove beds, Courtney Skott of San Francisco has carved out pixelated cloud patterns in an effort to decorate her “room within a room” concept. Feminizing this concept, necklaces and other curious jewelry findings can be located here.

March 2, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Artist Interview: Julia Rothman

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Julia Rothman is one of the most talented and original pattern designers in today’s marketplace. I had the pleasure of catching up with her at “Design by the Book,” a collaborative event hosted by The New York Public Library and Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge. Rothman has a the ability to beautify ordinary objects, using her unique style of illustration and layout to create whimsical repeats. Her work has been featured in countless publications and dons home goods of every variety. Check out our Q+A for a glimpse into her daily routine.

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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?

JR: Design Sponge, Print&Pattern, Poppytalk, Oh Joy!, The Post Family, Grain Edit always start my day. And the NYTimes for news of course.

PP: Do you discuss your work with other designers? If so, how does that impact your creation + execution process?

JR: I am on the video phone with Jenny Volvovski and Matt Lamothe, my Also partners all day every weekday. They see everything I am working on and give a constant critique on my work. That is always helpful. Sometimes they notice ways to improve my design that I would have never thought of. I think it’s always helpful to have designers you trust giving you feedback. You don’t always have to listen, but at least you are presented with other points of view.

PP: Where do you usually work on your patterns and how much time is devoted to illustration vs computer layout?

JR: I start with drawings I make with a pen in my sketchbook. I usually work on those hanging around my house, usually lounging on my couch. The time I spend making drawings varies but it’s usually the majority of the work. After the drawings are all done I go to my office and scan them in at high resolution. After that I manipulate and color the drawings using Adobe Illustrator.

PP: How has your work evolved over your career?

JR: In the beginning I was making drawings and then scanning them in and trying to make them into patterns. Over time when I decided making patterns was where I wanted to focus, I made drawings keeping in mind how they would later repeat. And then eventually when I started making specific products- wallpaper, mugs, stationery, it had to evolve one step even further. I had to give scale, colors and subject matter even more consideration for how it would specifically look on that object. For example, when I was making patterns to build up a portfolio I wasn’t worrying about the amount of colors. I put in as many as I wanted. But working recently on my wallpaper designs for Hygge&West, I had to limit my colors to three or less which was a fun challenge.

PP: What are some of your favorite creations/mediums/color palettes?

JR: I recently worked on a project organized by Design Sponge and the New York Public Library and made a very detailed navy men pattern. I was inspired by a book of uniforms and symbols of navy officers from around the world. I really love how it came out. I also recently made two patterns of vintage office supplies for Galison, a stationery company. I am really excited to see how those patterns get applied to a variety of products. They come out this Spring!

When I am painting I always use gouache. I love how flat matte the paint gets. It’s also similar to the flatness in silkscreen, another favorite medium.

One of the most often criticisms I get is about my color palettes. I tend to use really muted colors. Often art directors ask me to brighten up my colors. I’m more attracted to subtle tones with pops of brightness here or there.

PP: How do you incorporate commercial trends into your work- is this a factor that drives your design?

JR: I try not to think about trends too much. I make designs I think will be interesting whether or not they are popular themes or palettes at that moment. I’m sure with the amount of designs I look at on blogs every day, trends affect what I do, but it’s not on purpose.

PP: Do you have any advice for younger designers who are just getting started?

JR: I always tell new designers to be pro-active about promoting themselves. Nothing is going to come to you. You can be an incredible designer, but nobody will know that until you show them. And if the first person doesn’t think you’re great, don’t get discouraged. Maybe the next person will, or the next one after that.

February 24, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Homegoods: Forest Tales

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There’s nothing more symbolic of the February winter slump than bare trees silhouetted by dusk. Designers from nearly every home goods and accessory category have infused their direction into this trend, moving away from the cozy appeal of eco-friendly design. Tuleh’s S/S09 patterns possess a whimsical stillness that alludes to natural transition. Flora detailing can also be found on glass plates sold at Lancelotti Housewares in downtown Manhattan. Each plate is an interactive experience for both the chef and the diner, as the transparent canvas provides a scenic backdrop for every meal.

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Embracing tonal medleys, Forest Tales speaks to a darker feminine side of contrasts. Selfridges of London sells pillows with sunrise/sunset references. Using only a narrow silhouette and silver embossing, this metallic leather-bound notebook from ABC Carpet is both bold and simple. Continuing to veer from prim and proper, this Black Forest China collection from Germany caters to the Tiffany-hating types, an under appreciated niche. Armani Code combines transparency, gradients and nature to produce elegant, sultry packaging for it’s latest signature fragrance.

February 23, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Fashion: Steering the Slopes

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Snow gear has become so fashion forward that a trip to the slopes can be just as interesting for the people-watching as it is for the thrill-seeking. Over the past few years, companies such as Burton and 686 have tapped young talent to bring graphic masterpieces to winter outerwear. While fashion brands typically refer to global trends for inspiration, both of these companies have succeeded at risk-taking within trend categories for several seasons now- one of the many traits they share with their customer base. “It’s fun to wear crazier colors when you’re on the slopes- you can border on obnoxious and get away with it,” says Kim Devall, a snowboarder from New York. The above jackets by Burton and 686 exemplify a growing trend that fuses neons with photography. Below are a few examples of other relevant trends within this season’s ski and snowboarding collections.

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Plaid Gear: Smarty Marker Jacket, Army Caliber Glove and System Jacket.

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Striped Gear: Shelter Jacket, Striped Burton Board, and Acc Fleet Jacket.

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Camouflage Gear: Foreign Legion Boy’s Jacket, Fly Pant, and Arctic Jacket.

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Mixed Media Gear: Times Famous Family Jacket and The Operator Board.

February 9, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Service: Personalize Your Own Patterns

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It’s quite liberating to know you can print customized textiles at your own leisure. Oftentimes, good ideas die before seeing the light of day on account of complexities in production. With the creation of Spoonflower, the design world’s latest solution to customizable DIY fabric, the final step has become as easy as hitting the send button. As noted by Orli Sharaby, of PSFK, “Seems like a no brainer for the crafting community, and provides an exciting new option for anyone who simply wants a new set of curtains and can’t find exactly the right pattern to match their home’s decor.”

February 6, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik