Black: the colour of sophistication

It’s never easy to find a gift for a guy, especially a gift that is sleek, modern and classic at the same time.  The only way to approach this complicated gift searching process is to go for brands that are well, modern and classic, like Dunhill.

I’ve been looking for a gift for some time now.  The one criterion I have is that it must be entirely black.  That’s when I found this cufflinks.  They are not just any cufflinks.  They are made out of jet stone, a stone that was formed approximately 182 million years ago during the Jurassic period.  How’s that for timeless?  Dunhill managed to incorporate them into a modern and sleek design that is so simple and versatile. Yes, it’s probably more than what we’re used to paying for a pair of cufflinks but I bet they’ll last you another few hundred of years. Hell, a stone like that probably belongs in a museum.

Another option is this all black pen that features an innovative lacquer finish containing genuine crushed black diamonds and meteorite stone.  It’s also limited edition. I want it for myself.

It’s too bad that they don’t have an all black lighter.  A close match would be this iconic Rollagas lighter with black lacquer, a timeless classic piece.  My grandfather had a similar one.  I like that the logo has been moved from the front of the lighter to the roller itself, the design looks cleaner that way.

Finally, to top it all off, Dunhill’s range of leather collection includes a functional overnight bag that is all black of course.  A unique graphic carbon fibre print is applied to black leather, ensuring that the bag is durable with a high degree of resistance to scratch and water.

Available at Dunhill, shopping for men just got easier.

X Sybil

(Images from Dunhill)

Urban Safari: Natsumi Ivaraki

At the recent Hello Shibuya event, we chanced upon URBAN SAFARI, an accessory label which features handmade animals. It may look like advanced handicraft to some but if you look closer, the work is amazingly delicate and realistic.  I’m not animal lover but I was very impressed.

I think nothing expresses the spirit of the label better than the poem by its creator.

I want to be like them:

their lively body, their beautiful curves,

their defying eyes, their cool figures.

 

I want to live like they do: with such unflattering,

unperturbed, unyielding and lofty mind.

 

Do they also have the moment:

when they are likely to be suffocated by depression

 

which can never be spoken or likely to be oppressed

with jealousy or hostility?

 

It may be that they’ve torn it all up

and been making their way with their eyes set forward.

 

“I want to be strong like they are.”

 

I will live strongly with wildness,

which makes them colorful, on myself: wearing wildness.

Way cute. I’ll definitely be tempted to get one when I come across them again.

x Sybil

(Images from URBAN SAFARI)

Increasing Value: Lauren Vanessa Tickle

$32.00 Brooch, US Currency, Silver, Latex, and Monofilament, 2012

It’s not the first time an artist is working with money, more specifically currency notes but it is the most wearable I’ve seen thus far.  Lauren Vanessa Tickle has created a series of jewellery using currency notes craved out so beautifully, the reason is earrings, necklaces and brooches that are unexpectedly feminine and delicate.

Tickle explains, “I force wearers and observers to reflect on the concept of adornment in our society. One of the most conscious actions humans undertake is the decision of what to wear or not. My work takes underlying materialism and makes it explicit, imploring evaluation from all sides in each social context.”

$300.00 Necklace, US Currency, Silver, Latex, and Monofilament, 2011

$54.00 and $22.00 Brooches, US Currency, Silver, Latex, and Monofilament, 2012

Tickle graduated in 2009 with a Master’s degree in Fine Arts, Jewelry and Metalsmithing. She is also one of eight young contemporary jewelry artists chosen to exhibit work in PREZIOSA Young.  The PREZIOSA contemporary jewellery Young Exhibition was shown in Munchen, Germany in February and will be travelling to Legnica, Poland, for the Silver Festival in May to June 2013 before concluding in Firenze, from 21 June to 20 July 2013, at the Marino Marini Museum for Contemporary Arts.

Weighing $16.00 Earrings, US Currency, Latex, Silver, and Monofilament, 2012

I’m always fascinated with the conception of buying money with more money and Tickle’s artistic process is transparent.  You can buy the $16 earrings for $150.  Take it or leave it.

X Sybil

(Images from Lauren Vanessa Tickle)

Cami Gualta: Breathing life into car tyres

I just took a short trip to Europe.  Needless to say, Milan is a major fashion capital but beyond the usual luxury labels (i.e. Prada), I attempted to search for local talents and stumbled upon Cami Gualta in a cool concept shop, Shopping Lifts Spirit.

Cami Gualta, which means ‘creative room’, is founded by two young artisans, Maria Carmela and Gualtieri Lacerenza.  They met at the Academy of Fashion in Rome and found a common passion in handcraft work.  Their work revolves around eco-sustainability and the re-use of existing materials such as car tyres.  Using tyre as a material, the duo designed accessories such as necklaces, earrings and brooches which look like leaves, tulips, ginkgo biloba.

As tyres are typically associated with durability, the idea of converting something tough and hard into flowers is quite romantic and poetic.

x Sybil

(All images from Cami Gualta blog)

Secret Weapon: A kept secret no more

I was broke but I needed to get away so when my friend went on a work trip to Bangkok Thailand, I jumped on a cheap flight and was out of here in a heartbeat.  Literally, I had to put in an urgent request for my passport application.

Bangkok has changed quite a bit since my previous trip 3 years ago and I enjoyed catching up with the local fashion scene there; meeting new people and discovering new labels.  The designs are good and you sense that the people are always sincere so escaping to Bangkok proved to be just the break I needed.

One of the labels I stumbled upon was Secret Weapon.  Surprisingly it is established by a ballerina, dancer and choreographer.  Born and raised in Thailand, Cris Horwang started her professional training in classical ballet in Thailand and furthered her practice in UK and US.  Her love for leather goods and accessories pushed her to venture and expand into fashion.  Designed as statement pieces, the element of surprise is emphasized in the handbags she design and get this; the motto the label adheres to is “We dress to kill”.  Like so many Thai labels, the concept is fun and witty and that’s the spirit of Thai design I love.

Hand painted, exactly what a rich bitch would have asked for.

Raining silver bullets

Yes, that is a grenade hanging from the handbag.

Cleverly titled Reload, this clutch is the kind of statement piece the designer is famous for.

I will get my hands on one of these weapons soon and for the next few weeks, you will be sure that I’ll be thinking in Thai design mode.  Stay tuned for more emerging designers from Thailand.

x Sybil

(Images from Secret Weapon)

Una Burke: Luxe Leather Accessories

I always loved the concept of wearable art pieces and feel that little tinge of joy when I find someone else who thinks this way too.

Irish born designer now based in London, Una Burke, works with leather using traditional leather-working skills of leather panels and brass fittings. Her works includes pieces of sculptural belts, corsets, jewelry, handbags and abstract body pieces, worn by style icons such as Daphne Guinness, Rihanna and Lady Gaga.

Images from her graduate collection Re.Treat
“The potential for healing within boundaries of something that inhabits the body”.

Trans.Form Collection
“Where deformity is beauty”

Meta.Morph Collection
“Where negativity lies within positivity, as physical improvement encourages social debilitation”

Bastet
“Where the soul would be protected and death would be cheated”

Overcome
“Where nightmares of drowning contrast with daydreams of floating”

 

She sees her works as objects, open to interpretation.; pieces of wearable art rather than garments. Personally, I really love leather and I relate to her works.  In my opinion, she is  an artisan based on her amazing craftsmanship.

Truly someone to keep our eyes on.

X Alex

(All images from Una Burke)

Selda Okutan: the devil is in the detail

On rare occasions, I come across jewellery so well-made and well-designed that the experience of looking at it equates to that of watching a particularly touching movie or going through an art exhibition I connect with.  This is usually because the jewellery is really a piece of art and one recent discovery is jeweller Selda Okutan.  Her pieces are beautifully handcrafted with strong visual narratives.  She describes her pieces as “sculptural jewel with tiny figures”.  Indeed they are.  We speak to her about her craft and her inspirations.

 

Istanbul ring

Tell us more about yourself and how you started your own jewellery label.

After five years of study in Jewellery Technologies and Design, I graduated from Mersin University in 2005.  I worked as a designer for a few reputable companies in the jewellery field until May 2008.  I decided then to establish Selda Okutan Jewellery Design Studio in a small atelier in Istanbul.  After a couple of years, I took one step further and I opened Selda Okutan Jewellery Design Studio & Gallery in Tophane Istanbul.  Apart from myself, I represent five other designer’s work in my gallery.

Being a jewellery designer wasn’t my first goal.  Since a very young age, I dreamt of becoming a sculptor. But then, I met with jewellery and I found myself making jewellery statues (sculptural jewellery).  Actually, I feel like there are so many intersection between making sculptures and what I am doing.  The most distinctive characteristic is the size.  It gives me an advantage to finalize my designs easily.  Also it gives me the opportunity to express so many things in a tiny space.  Most importantly, my designs can be worn and people can show them off.  I feel that the human body is really a ‘mobile art gallery with its own taste’ so whatever you wear becomes a breath-taking art show.

My viewpoint of jewellery is not just about wearable aesthetics and beauty but also about sculptural art objects.  Hence, I am very selective with my designs; the technique and materials that I use are very important for me to express the emotions.  I built my own tools to improve my skill and capability.  Perfection in details is my goal.  In order to fulfil this aim, I research new techniques, equipment and materials.  I like to see people being surprised and the best way to do so is in the details.  I like the expression the devil is in the detail.

Prisoners of Love ring

Of Mice and Men ring

What inspires you as a jewelry designer?

Postures and emotions of the human body is my main inspiration.  Because of that I really like to observe and study.  Sometimes, the story of my designs are comes from my own experience or from a book.  But mostly I am inspired by the story of others.  Apart from those, the things that I really enjoy are pictures or knowledge of other art disciplinary.  I like statues and other 3D art applications.  I am a fan of industrial designs; especially furniture, home decoration and hi-tech architectures.  I believe in the importance of being inspired by different disciplinary.

 

Do you have any favourite designers? Who are they?

Without a doubt, Blind Spot Jewellery is my favourite.  I find his work amazing; full of intelligence and patience.  I believe flame must have been created for him.

Circle of Life ring

Selection Wedding ring

Tell us more about the human figures in your designs.  What is the inspiration behind the figures?

Emotions, thoughts, postures, dreams and expressions form my inspirations.  I live in a huge city, Istanbul.  This city feeds me; it is such a crowded city that wherever turn my head, there is different story to create a jewel.

 

Who do you envision wearing your designs and why?

People who like being different, who like to discover and be educated.

 

We read that you are currently working on ceramic figures for your new designs.  Can you share with us more information about this new collection?  When can we expect to see the new designs?

Ceramic and porcelain are very special material.  The material itself is very fragile.  Hence the tools that I use are designed by myself, according to my needs.  Working with porcelain is like digging a hole with a needle.  In order to work precisely, you have to be very patient and careful.

I have been working on this collection for a long time and the new designs that you will see in the very near future are unusual compared to my other collections.  You will even see some colourful designs.  They are mostly rings and I am still doing some experiments.  But you will see them very soon!

And we can’t wait!  Meanwhile, you should start collecting her pieces!

X Sybil

(Images from Boticca)

Dior X Anselm Reyle: I love collaborations

One thing I always love is collaborations and my favorite kind are those between fashion houses and artists. It is just the type of thing to propel the artist to instant recognition and adds an immediate ‘cool’ factor to the brand involved.

This time, Dior has gotten together with German conceptual artist Anselm Reyle who also exhibited at the Frieze Art Fair, to create a collection of accessories (handbags, shoes and jewelry). Using the artist’s signature camouflage print, Dior’s take involves loud and fun shades of fluoro yellow, green and pink.

Little Yorkshire, 2010

Mixed media on canvas, steel frame with lacquer

Just to show a variety of Anselm Reyle’s works. I love this piece. Reminds me of those rainbow colors you see on crude oil.

Untitled, 2008
Bronze, effect lacquer, plinth with piano lacquer

I can almost see it on the street already. It’s just so recognizable.

What did I say about it being fun and loud.

I love the accessories too. The purple one reminds me of the ‘crude oil’ sculpture. Gorgeous colours.

Somehow I imagine this ad would trickle down to the street and we will see pop art-sy colored nails everywhere!

Here’s a classic with a twist. I like it!

Anyone for some army disco mix? Wonder what they’ll come up with next. More collaborations I hope.

X Alex

(Image from gagosian,vogue de, harpersbazaar au)

The Mermaid and the Officer

I have been collecting sunglasses.  When I’m feeling down, buying a pair of shades cheers me up and cost less than a new handbag.  I buy mostly vintage shades as they feel sturdy and solid in my hands, unlike the trendy, but poorly produced sunglasses these days.  However, vintage shades are scarce and good quality sunglasses are hard to come by  That is, until you find Cutler and Gross.

Founded by Graham Cutler and Tony Gross, the boutique stocks handmade bespoke frames.  The shades are not vintage but they are definitely well made.  You will find unsurpassed quality and timeless aesthetics.  The manufacturing process for Cutler and Gross sunglasses and eyeglasses may be expensive and time consuming but it is worth every penny you are paying since it is said that a pair of Cutler and Gross is made to last a lifetime.

The Spring/Summer 2011 collection is titled The Mermaid and the Officer.  Very sexy!  Inspired by the lyrics of the song ‘Song To The Siren’, the collection is sparkly and clear like the deep blue sea.  The song’s reference to the sirens tempting sailors at sea stems from Greek mythology and in an analogous manner, the collection is fun and playful.

A pair of Culter and Gross is in my shopping list. Unfortunately, it is a very long list.

X Sybil

(Images from eyegoodies)

Simple, Versatile and Timeless

Say hello to my latest purchase of a necklace from Johnny Ramli. I’ve previously wrote about Johnny Ramli’s jewellery collection here.  Using oxidized silver and found objects, Ramli’s pieces evoke a sense of nostalgic and mythical charm.  They look like they belong in another age and time; rustic yet romantic at the same time.

I’ve opted for a piece that is simple, versatile and timeless. Coins being his trademark, this is an ideal piece to start a Ramli collection.  Cheers to more Ramli pieces in future!

X Sybil

(Image by self)