Big Cat spotted at the Art & Antiques Fair, London - on show till 2 July

Making an impact at the Art & Antiques Fair currently held this week at London Olympia until 2 July is this giant sculpture of a cat made in resin.

Fibula - The Big Cat (limited edition) by LOLEK measures H222 x 250 x 110 cm Resin 1/8
represented by Paris Art Web.

Photo 

© Lucia Carpio 2017 

It is one of the highlights brought to the capital by the critically acclaimed Chicago-based show, The Sculptural Objects Functional Art and Design Fair (SOFA), taking up an area dedicated to celebrating contemporary three-dimensional art and design.

The Big Cat at the Gallery level at Olympia London.  In the background is a selection of modern artwork on show from Signet Contemporary Art.

Fibula - The Big Cat is by French artist Lolek (Laurent Wilga Lerat ) who was born in Paris in 1984.
Cats, abstract animals and people are often the subjects of his art work, some of which are also on show at the fair in the Paris Art Web stand up on the Gallery level.

A more user-friendly size would be this Groovies Cat in Bronze measuring H51 x 74 x 35 cm.

An eclectic mix of pieces drawn from antiquity to the present day are drawing art enthusiasts and collectors. Equally enticing are original sketches, modern pop culture art and luxury designs that integrate art with architecture and interior design, including furniture, glassware, ceramics, mirrors, lighting, art, clocks, rugs, tapestries, jewellery, silverware and sculpture.






















All photos © Lucia Carpio 2017 

Pure Versace SS18 – fresh attitude, easy energy and a passion

Milan Fashion Week Spring-Summer 2018: Versace

“This collection is like a homecoming. It’s about the passions that define Versace, the complexity of men, the energy of today.” Donatella Versace

Tailoring along with strong prints, silk shirts, tracksuits, biker jackets and bombers, parachute trousers and trench coats -  they are all there in Versace's SS2018 Collection shown at Milan Fashion Week, pulled together by the label's fresh attitude, easy energy and a passion that runs deep in the new collection.

Pinstripes are refreshed and remixed:  strong-shouldered tailoring, and shirts where different pinstripes are contrasted and clashed.

The new power of Versace prints: the utility of a tech blouson is contrasted with the romance of its “Balletto” print, while the “Angelo” print appears on a sharp quilted bomber.

Versace silk shirts are made modern, with two shirts cut up and combined, or the optical print shirt cropped to just show above the waist of black silk utility shorts.

Knits are playful, like the cotton knit red twinsets with a bead and crystal crown embellishment, or diagonal cut knits that add dynamism to the layers.   Biker jackets and pants are given unexpected softness in black silk, complete with quilted padding.

Silk pyjamas are the perfect luxury for day. A classic Versace logo looks totally new, embroidered in white stitches on a baby blue or pale pink T-shirt, worn with matching straight leg jeans.

Parachute pants have zips at the side for a volume that’s then gathered by drawstrings, while utility blousons have lattice lacing on the sleeves.

Leather trench coats are created from intricate patchworks of leather squares, the corners held as if by a bolt. They come in black or black-and-white check.

On the other hand, sports influences play their part.
Baby pink tracksuits are in cotton velour textured with a baroque jacquard, while stonewash denim jackets are cut and patchworked with Versace denim prints. Metal chains stitched through tailoring create an eloquent evening take on the pinstripe. The “Cornice” print appears on a sharply tailored silk blazer.

A special Womenswear capsule collection shows the unity of the Versace world: pinstripes, cut-and-clashed prints, rich embroideries. 

Discover more at: www.versace.com

Spring Summer 2018 Menswear - The Arthur Avellano way.

Arthur Avellano introduces his Spring/Summer 2018 menswear collection in latex and leather plus a hose of materials to convey a message of insolence.

This was Arthur Avellan's first fashion show during Paris Fashion Week.  Entitled Chute Libre, Arthur is inspired by films of Joël Schumacher (who commands a cult following,) "telling the story of a man who is
disconnected from the pretense of modern society, fascinated by the inherent slippage of the pressure of the social mask which muzzles our impulses".

Similarly, Arthur puts into perspective the subjects associated with fetishism:
latex, leather, spandex and transposes them into modern menswear featuring basics pieces based on sportswear as well as tailoring.

The 25-year-old Paris-based designer says he wants to bring his unique take on men's dressing, riding on the margins of the androgynous movement, applying a certain elegance to menswear.

It is in his use of latex that is inspiring.

In collaboration with specialized laboratories, Arthur injects originality into his brand thanks to an innovative textile research by developing a unique material, a hybrid latex with properties close to leather in look and texture, its drape and its unique reflection.  While using latex as if it is leather, he also combines it with neoprene for a "sensorial" look.

After studying at the prestigious Ecole Supérieure des Beux Arts in Toulouse and doing a training at the school of Le Chambre Syndicale, Arthur Avellano integrates the Atelier Chardon Savard.

In 2015, his graduate collection the FEAST OF TRIMALCHIO attracted wide acclaim and was  awarded Best graduate collection at the Who's Next trade fair.

Artthur Avellano has also been invited to participate in fashion weeks in New York, Milan and Vietnam.  In 2016 Arthur created his workshop, launched his eponymous brand and collaborated
with other labels, among them Neith Nyer.

All images from Autrement PR

Turning excess fabrics into sartorial luxury

British menswear brand SIR PLUS uses surplus menswear fabrics and crafts them into tailored pieces that suits formal as well as smart casual occasions.

It all started when the founder Henry Hales, noticed excess materials let out on the streets whilst walking down Jermyn St. - the London street famous for sartorial flare.

He soon decided he could use this surplus fabric to make boxers.

From this sustainable approach, the once only boxer brand is now offering collections ranging from casual to formal wear as well as various accessories.

Now, SIR PLUS sources from the UK and Europe, buying the finest surplus fabrics to make their products.

The key pieces include the Nehru Waistcoats and Jackets, featuring the distinctive mandarin collar inspired by the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The outerwear assortment is a selection of different jackets, from the utility, workman, and cotton gilet, which is a sleeveless spin on the classic bomber.

The formal wear collection, perfect for Royal Ascot and weddings, features both double and single-breasted waistcoats that come in an array of colours, some having the options of a piping finish. The new pale blue & pink waistcoats have become the most popular this season, due to customer demand, says the brand. To finish, SIR PLUS offers a range of formal trousers available in both a herringbone and a pinstripe design.

Glamping in style in bell-shaped tents

With such wonderful weather afforded by a heat wave currently in the UK, there is no need to travel to foreign lands to have an enjoyable vacation, especially if you can maximise the warm weather and be at one with nature.  And if you love the idea of camping in the great outdoors but do not fancy sleeping rough in a cramped tent, Boutique Camping has the answer for "glamping" enthusiasts.

The range of Sandstone bell tents makes camping feel more like staying a luxury hotel while having all the comfort of home.  Available in three sizes – 4m, 5m and 6m – they are the perfect size for couples after a luxury outdoor haven.  However, the largest 6m tent can sleep up to eight adults comfortably on airbeds, giving this tent the feel of a luxurious open-plan bedroom, which is great for festivals or glamping slumber parties.

Made from 100% natural, breathable cotton canvas, the  Sandstone bell tents are also mould and rot proof, and water-repellent. And just in case the weather does turn, there are extra-strong pegs tincluded in the pack to make the tent sturdy in windy weather and bad conditions!

Finished in the classic sandstone colour, these vintage-style bell tents can be assembled by one person, according to Boutique Camping, with everything needed for assembly included in the pack. They have also updated their design this year with a host of new features.
At the base, you’ll find a heavy-duty zipped-in ground sheet that gives you the option to unzip and roll up the sides while you lounge, letting the air flow in and around you. You’ll also be kept cool and comfortable thanks to the four zipped windows and air vents at the top.

But if you fancy traveling overseas for a bit of luxury camping, the National Geographic offers  a list of options.  Just don't call it Glamping.  

British charity launches Fashion campaign in July

If you have a knack for sewing and loves to be creative in customising your clothes, you ought to get involved with a charity drive to showcase your talent.

On 1st July, UK charity the British Heart Foundation will launch their first fashion-led campaign entitled, The Big Stitch, to raise awareness to upcycling and reducing waste while raising funds for the BHF.

Shoppers are encouraged to pop into one of their 750 BHF shops nationwide, buy an item and customise it by utilising sewing and dressmaking skills.

All enthusiastic sewing bees are urged to upload their ‘before’ and ‘after’ images on the BHF’s Twitter, Instagram or on BHF’s Facebook page and be in with a chance of winning a Night Out at a London West End show.

On hand to provide support to the Big Stitch campaign is Senior Costume Tchnician of London College of Fashion Jax Black, as well as YouTuber, Just Jodes.  They will both partake in a series of tutorials throughout July on how to customise current trends with ease. The tutorials will appear across Just Jodes social media channels.

Jax Black said: “It is great to see the BHF championing sewing and dressmaking skills. Making alterations, adding buttons, trims, embroidery and other decorative items to your BHF purchases are a great way to update your wardrobe this July.”

Allison Swaine-Hughes, Retail Operations Director at the BHF said: “We are really excited to see new and existing customers come into our shops and browse the vast fashion offerings we have on display. With clothing waste on the rise, our shops provide the perfect sustainable solution for everyone.

According to the BHF, sewing is a skill worth promoting as it has been revealed in a recent study that Brits are spending over £2.5 billion fixing or tailoring clothes and £3 billion replacing items of clothing due to an easily-repairable fault last year.   Some 260 million items of clothing were thrown or given away due to a fault that could have been repaired, with men giving away around six items per year and women chucking out an average of four items a year due to minor damage.

The Big Stitch will launch from July 1st until July 31st. Entries using the hashtag #TheBigStitch and tagging the BHF will be automatically entered into a competition*. A winner will be selected and announced on Aug 1st. 

For further information on The Big Stitch and information about how to locate your nearest BHF shop visit bhf.org.uk/TheBigStitch

Super-Texture - lush textile products from Tom Dixon

Tom Dixon's first foray into weaving, sewing and embellishment results in its new Super-Texture collection of textile products covering a range of lush textures, from velvets to boucles and knits.

In fact there are six textures to boost: Soft, Deco, Boucle, Fleck, Check, Line - together turned into a playground of tactility designed to be stacked and combined, forming a big canvas for colour.

Tom Dixon's design team scoured the globe to source quality materials.

The colours provide a subtle and soft background to this season’s metallic lighting, marble and glass accessories.

The London-made Line cushions and throw for example feature graphic lines, block colours and alternating patterns inspired by Op Art, and achieved by machine knitting and technical programming.

Each cushion - filled with high-quality duck feather from Denmark - comes with a branded copper-plated pull zipper with a blue zipper tape.

From the Soft collection comes plush mohair velvet in steel-grey, brass-ochre, copper-pink, and Yves Klein-blue. This series of cushions and pouches fashioned from Dutch woven fabric is composed of South-African Angora goat hair historically said to be as valuable as gold itself. Combined with European craftsmanship and a generous filling of Danish duck feathers this range offers superior pile height and the ultimate indulgence in comfort and texture. The pouches come complete with the simple glint of a copper hoop and their signature zip.

THOMAS SABO launches Royalty Range From Autumn/Winter 2017

Glorious ornamentation, graphic modern details and plays of colour in royal blue, purple and dark green are the essence of THOMAS SABO's new Royalty range from the 2017 Autumn/Winter Jewellery Collection.

"In the Royalty range, we have interpreted the stylistics of the Victorian era in a modern manner. The elaborate ornamentation makes each item of jewellery an elegant fashion statement," says THOMAS SABO Creative Director Susanne Kölbli about the inspiration.

The richly detailed cross pendant and choker, as well as the feminine rings, earrings and bracelets of the range are made of 925 Sterling silver, some with 18k rose gold plating, and were forged by hand in a vintage line structure.

Each item of jewellery is finished with high-quality stone embellishments.

THOMAS SABO's Royalty range (previewed on video) will be available from 1 July 2017 in all of their shops and shop-in-shops, and through selected partners as well as on their website.

THOMAS SABO  established in 1984 by Thomas Sabo in Lauf an der Pegnitz, Germany, operates around 300 of its own shops across all five continents with a total of around 1,860 employees. THOMAS SABO also collaborates globally with approximately 2,800 trade partners.

Tom Dixon opens flagship shop in Hong Kong

The historic Hollywood Road in Hong Kong's trendy Soho where antique shops have traded high quality Chinese antiques for more than a hundred years - is now also the new retail home of the iconic British product design brand Tom Dixon, which opened its first standalone shop in South East Asia this week.

The duplex store takes a prime location on the island close to the dynamic city's business and commercial Central district, and houses the brand’s latest furniture, lighting designs and home accessories.

“With an acceleration of interest for our work in this region, 52 Hollywood Road emerges as the new epicentre of our latest expansion in Asia. The two-storey showroom showcases a curated collection of our core products where charred timber cladding and grey marble fixtures complement the concrete floor and walls, and serve as a fitting backdrop to our metallic tones of copper, brass and chrome,”   according to the designer Tom Dixon.

The ground floor of the Tom Dixon flagship offers a veritable Aladdin’s cave of home accessories. From bold table-top architecture to the scent of London itself, the copper cave houses a cabinet of Tom Dixon curiosities. Designed to engage and encourage interaction, shoppers are also invited to explore the versatility of the collections through a plug and play lighting track and the designers tool box engineered to demonstrate finishes, colour and fabric options.

The café, operated by Nodi, offers a selection of artisanal coffee, small snacks and the perfect meeting place for Hong Kong's affluent set and design enthusiasts to slow down and soak in the latest ideas in furniture, accessories and lighting.

Tom concluded: “As our second monobrand in the eastern hemisphere, 52 Hollywood Road is the launch pad for many extraordinary adventures in Asia.”

The Rug Company launching new collaboration with fashion designer Elie Saab

Recognised globally for his sense of elegance and quality, fashion designer Elie Saab drew on his personal passion for architecture and interiors to create three modern rug designs inspired by signature elements of the house style of The Rug Company: a fusion of femininity, luxury and modernity.

The epitome of restrained elegance, In Bloom, pictured here, features oversized florals in a pared-back palette - shimmering silk tones of teal, gun metal and green.  Challenging the traditional format of a rug, the blooms burst from both ends of the rug and reach for its centre, creating an elegant mirror pattern.
The other two designs are Brushstrokes and Lace Leaves.

All three rugs have been expertly woven by hand by The Rug Company’s weavers in Nepal, using age old weaving techniques and the finest wool and silk available.
The full collection is now available online or from The Rug Company’s showrooms worldwide.