Design

September 30, 2018 by Christine

Luxury Brand 7L System Launch Party, Manchester

Manchester has always been at the forefront of the textile industry, most notably for its role producing cotton during the industrial revolution. Today however, Manchester is perhaps best known for the technology, digital and design industries that are flourishing here in the UK’s fastest-growing city. We were invited to Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry for luxury brand 7L System’s launch party. Mr T and I headed down to take a look…

The Museum of Science and Industry was the perfect place to celebrate the launch of such an innovative brand. Combing science and style, the 7L System has innovation at its core. 7L uses pioneering textile technology to create 7 layers of clothing that each tackle extreme weather conditions. There is a base layer, wind layer, thermal layer, field layer, rain layer and insulation layer. Worn together or separately, each individual layer has been crafted to work with the architecture of the body to ensure optimum fit and performance.

Luxury brand 7L System has partnered with the European Space Agency to design and manufacture functional tech garments for the Space Agency field teams. Brand Designer and Manchester Fashion School graduate Dominic Stansfield has also been asked to design a limited edition 50 year Apollo Landing Celebration Jacket.

Interestingly, the original Apollo suits were created by Manchester tech manufacturers Frankenstein & Sons, who were also responsible for the production of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001 Space Odyssey suits. The original Apollo suit jacket was on display in one of the Museum’s glass cabinets, it looked fairly cumbersome and not all that stylish!

British Fashion photographer Clive Arrowsmith who produced sketches and stills for Kubrick’s s 2001 Space Odyssey was at the event shooting portraits of the launch party goers! (Mr T had his portrait taken) Clive Arrowsmith is probably best known for shooting well-known names like David Bowie, Mick Jagger, George Harrison, Def Leppard, Michael Caine and Kate Bush to name just a few…he also shoots for Vogue!

It was very exciting to see such global or even intergalactic innovation taking place on our doorstep! I’m sure it won’t be long until 7L are dressing people in style for commercial space tourism. This is history in the making.

Stay fabulous

Christine

September 9, 2018 by Christine

Ralph Lauren 50th Anniversary

Many years ago I watched Oprah interview Ralph Lauren at his working ranch in the Colorado Rockies. Ralph Lauren’s story is one of great integrity, one of true passion and proves that from humble beginnings- BIG dreams can come true!

On Friday 6th September, the second day of New York Fashion Week the world watched as celebrities and the fashion elite came together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ralph Lauren.

Mr Lauren initially launched his label in 1967 aged 28. The lifestyle brand began as a collection of men’s ties, before developing into the first ‘Polo’ menswear collection in 1968. Womenswear was introduced in the 1970s. Today, the designer still acts as chief creative officer at the brand.

Ralph Lauren creates a story through design, each season he tells a tale channeling fluently the source of his inspiration, whether he’s inspired by his Colorado ranch, The French Riviera or a London gentlemen’s club. Each season Ralph pulls on rich sources of inspiration, combining texture, pattern and form in his own effortlessly elegant style.

The American fashion house marked its half century by hosting a fashion show and gala dinner seamlessly integrated against the backdrop of the Bethesda Terrace fountain in Manhattan’s Central Park, a homage to Mr Lauren’s hometown of New York City.

In keeping with the philanthropy of the brand, the event benefited the Central Park Conservancy – a private, nonprofit organisation that relies on donations to prevent the decline of the world-renowned park.

Ralph Lauren has built an iconic brand that has withstood the test of time, through economic turbulence and the changing demands of its customers. It’s impossible to visit a Ralph Lauren store without being impressed, the brand manages to create a sense of escapism through beautifully designed homeware, clothing and sense of atmosphere- that alone is a testament to true passion!

“I don’t design clothes, I design dreams” – Ralph Lauren

Stay fabulous

Christine

For more info on Ralph Lauren’s 50th Anniversary click HERE

Image via digitalnewsagency.com

March 18, 2018 by Christine

Mario Valentino- A History of Fashion, Design & Art

Mario Valentino- A History of Fashion, Design & Art: This week I was very pleased to receive a copy of the beautiful new coffee table book ‘Mario Valentino- A History of Fashion, Design & Art’ This fabulous hardback new album chronicles 65 Years of ‘Made in Italy’ excellence- with my ongoing love affair with all things Italian, I couldn’t wait to sit down with a coffee and flick through the pages…

The Valentino brand was established in Naples, Italy back in 1952 and has long been synonymous with luxury shoes, accessories and clothing. This latest book documents the Valentino story from the 1900’s when Mario’s father, Vincenzo made handmade shoes, to the first ever small Valentino shop in the heart of Naples and the rise of the global Valentino brand we know today.

Mario Valentino was born in Naples in 1927 and followed in his father’s footsteps. His father Vincenzo was one of the most famous pre-war show makers, he made shoes for nobility and famous show-biz stars of the time including Josephine Baker!

The book offers an insight into the character of the ‘sensitive entrepreneur’ that is Mario Valentino noting his detached attitude towards the frenzy of fashion and paints the picture of a worldly, educated man with a passion for reading and artistic-culture and an ‘obsessive’ art collector.

My favorite parts of the book are the old photographs and illustrations, the book contains 200 colour illustrations and some precious documents from Valentino’s archive. The black and white photographs featured in the book offer a real glimpse into the key moments that shaped the Valentino brand.

From the 1950’s to the 1980’s Italy saw a real surge of design talent rising up from humble beginnings to take on the long-established fashion world. Mario Valentino was a key player in bringing Italian fashion to the World’s stage.

My favourite photograph in the whole book is that of Italy’s top designers taken in 1985, which really shows the stellar talent coming from Italy at that time. The photograph shows Laura Biagiotti, Mario Valentino, Gianni Versace, Krizia Paolo Fendi, Valentino Gianfranco Ferre, Mila Schon, Giorgio Armani, Taj Missoni, Franco Moschino and Luiciano Soprani all stood side-by-side looking cheerful. Now if that line up isn’t a reflection of how a small group of Italian designers shook the old-grade of established couturiers, I don’t know what is!

Against the backdrop of the key moments throughout fashion history this beautiful new hardback, glossy book ‘Mario Valentino- A History of Fashion, Design & Art’ captures the emergence of an ambitious and extraordinary fashion enterprise with an enlightened founder at its helm, a sensitive entrepreneur on a quest to for beauty and originality.

Stay fabulous

Christine

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