Leaving an imprint on New York’s indie fashion circles for the past few years with experimental, expressive collections, young NYC-based designer Brian Wood sees his latest African Warlord line culminating with the drop of his upcoming Africa Vintage Logo limited edition tee.

Known for artistic pieces suited for the streets and runways alike, Brian Wood’s designs are a product of creative vision and the tutelage of visionaries like Marc Jacobs and Anna Sui. The African Warlord concept was an examination of the impact Western popular culture has had on continental African sensibilities. Ripe with color and content, each piece spoke to the collision of two world cultures.

With the Africa Vintage Logo tee, Brian Wood presents his most artfully crafted piece in the collection thus far. The cut and sew tee features 6 printed iconic vintage logos, with a 4 panel-pieced front, and raw edge sleeve finish. The back neck label is also stitched on an appliquéd square of authentic Khenti cloth. Limited to only 100 total pieces produced, the Africa Vintage Logo tee will surely be a rare delicacy among the boutique circuit.

Be on the lookout for a July 1st drop, and check here for a current listing of shops where you’ll be able to invest in this work of textile art.

Mark your calendars: the No 1’s Done It Right collective presents their third charity event, Cherry Blossoms, on April 16th. Get sprung for the spring, as the event showcases the latest collections from designers Kathy Misick, Brian Wood, Pastry, BKc (The Brooklyn Circus), Miss Bruno, and Cranberry.

The evening also features live performances by new-wave/jazzmatic band HEAVy and hip-hop new schooler Mickey Factz. Get there on time for gift bags and giveaways, and stick around for sets by Kev Sakoda, Brina Payne, and DJ Treats on the wheels.

Everything kicks off at The Delancey in Manhattan next Wednesday for a measly 5 bucks. You don’t want to miss this one…

There are many that see fashion as more than a means to looking fly. Some see it as a vehicle to express one’s creativity. As champions of the latter statement, Fabric by Blackburn has entered NY’s luxury street market with sights set on awakening our fashion senses.

Opting for substance and style over hype, Blackburn takes an artistic approach to dressing city dwellers. Experimenting with a palette of expressive colors and patterns, including 60’s style paisley and floral prints, Blackburn is able to create wearable art with function, form and vintage warmth. Each garment speaks to a sensibility rooted in positive vibes and progressive thought.

Be on the lookout this summer when Fabric by Blackburn disturbs the retail slumber.

Just as we’d virtually outgrown the teething stages of internet downloads, TRACE’s own electric lady, Santogold, gives us another morsel to sink our teeth into. After much anticipation, Santogold’s debut video for “L.E.S. Artistes” has hit the web, and the cyber-world is abuzz. Directed by London’s own Nima Nourizadeh, the video references Alejandro Jodorowsky’s The Holy Mountain (1973), a cult film classic marked by psychadelic visuals and allegoric undertones. Santogold takes the opportunity to experiment with her artistry and draw from her bottomless cauldron of creative influences. Both in her music and now with this video, Santogold shows great scope and creative depth of field. All of those expecting an M.I.A. reproduction can kill the noise now (we still love you Maya). Santi has created her own lane. And to all the self-righteous hipsters who think Santi’s laughing with you, just try to keep dancing when you realize she’s laughing at you!

In the streets of New York, it’s easy to overlook the many tatted up walls of Gotham. But for French photographer Le Bijoutier, street art has been worth paying attention to. In his latest photo installation This Means Nothing, that opened this past weekend at powerHouse, he presents a collection of photos that capture the sarcasm, absurdity, poignance, and downright creativity of some of New York’s most infamous vandals. Le Bijoutier focuses his lens on the works of those that have expanded the fat marker and aerosol can definition of street art to include stencil, wheat paste, sticker, painting, chalk, and sculpture. Witness the glyphs of Bast, Faile, and Neck Face in all of their pre-gallery grime.

When most people think of Brazil, visions of sun bleached sands, tanned beauties in Ipanema bikinis, Rio favelas, and World Cup soccer usually come to mind. However, the same historical paths that led to the beauty of the world’s most outrageous Carnivale setting also produced pockets of forgotten Afro-Brazilian communities known as ‘quilombos’. In director Leonard Abrams’ new documentary, Quilombo Country, the origins of these communities are examined and light is shed on the current conditions of the ‘quilombos’ struggling inhabitants.

“Brazil, once the world’s largest slave colony, was brutal and deadly for millions of Africans. But many thousands escaped and rebelled, creating their own communities in Brazil’s untamed hinterland. Largely unknown to the outside world, these communities, known as quilombos, struggle today to preserve a rich heritage born of resistance to oppression.”- Quilombo Country

Narrated by the legendary voice of Public Enemy’s Chuck D, Quilombo Country is the culmination of over 5 years of travel, research, and interaction in the quilombos. Abrams provides an intimate and provocative glimpse into the lives of a people determined to keep their legacy in tact. This Saturday, February 23rd, Quilombo Country will hold its world theatrical screening in New York City’s Anthology Film Archives, at 8pm. Admission is $8, and the screening will be followed by a Q&A with Abrams and a celebratory reception. If you’re in the city come out to support this important documentary and be sure to carry the experience beyond Black History Month.

Since gracing the pages of our Styles Ahead issue back in September (Issue 77, True Originals feature, pg98) as part of the GFC collective, Bronx emcee Mickey Factz has been gaining momentum in the rap game with a relentless presence on the scene and on the web. As “The Voice” of GFC, Mickey has made it clear that he’s not going anywhere, anytime soon…so get used to him.

Drawing the inevitable comparisons to Lupe Fiasco and Kanye West for his intelligent yet playful wordsmanship, and a knack for staying laced up from the ground up, Factz is displaying the growth, creativity, and universal appeal that many New York hip-hop artists have seemed incapable of. With his latest opus, Heaven’s Fallout, Mickey promises to whet the collective appetite of a starving hip-hop community.

With previous efforts, Mickey has traveled to the past and the future, but he’s back in the “now” with this one. Spitting daggers over some familiar, and not-so familiar, arrangements from the worlds of rock, alternative, and electronica, Factz makes light work of an intimidating beatstorm, and manages to keep it undeniably hip-hop. Heaven’s Fallout allows us to excavate the mind of a conflicted, young man on the verge of success, questioning the strength of family ties, the authenticity of friendships, and the bonds formed in romance. Along the way, he takes time to thoughtfully address the state of hip-hop and the fickle clamoring of the streets, never neglecting his signature shit-talking and dexterous flow. With Heaven’s Fallout, Mickey Factz has raised the bar for the mixtape circuit, and has dug his Supra sneakers a little deeper into hip-hop’s soil. Visit www.gfcny.com to download Heaven’s Fallout for free! Konichiwa Bitches!

Stew on this…vegan chef/catering service, Dante Fried Chicken, cooks up organic/vegetarian meals that are finger lickin’ good. In this web-isode, we’re granted access into Dante’s inferno for a look at a few of his favorite recipes and other absurdities. I swear you can smell the aromas through the screen!

A gang of Brooklyn rebels is set to stage a musical coup, armed with guitars, drums, horns and heavy lyricism. Ask the streets about punk-rap band Game Rebellion, and they’ll tell you who’s taking over this rock shit. For some time, Game Rebellion has built up a coalition of willing soldiers, to help further reinforce their poli-intellectual-sexual sound. After much anticipation, the military minded outfit has put the finishing touches on a full length offering. Searching for Rick Rubin is Game Rebellion’s mixtape mash-up, hosted by the renowned DJ, J. Period. The band has taken past productions by rap-rock deity Rick Rubin, and utilized the tools of reinterpretation. The result is a combination of socially concious wordplay and creatively reworked instrumentation. Check out “Searching for Rick Rubin” here or here, and join the rebellion.

By now you’ve heard of the illest barber shop on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Frank’s Chop Shop. With its nostalgic appeal (the shop resembles a 1930’s barber shop, complete with antique barber chairs) and walls lined with barber shop photography, Frank’s Chop Shop has become the favorite destination of street scenesters looking to score premium coffee blends and the latest Frank Books. In addition, the Shop has become well known for its exclusive collection of Frank Distro League Team Series New Era fitted caps. So after getting a razor sharp shape-up, you can add to your collection of crowns on your way out. Hit us up for a chance to receive a complimentary cut and shave from downtown’s finest, while you sneak a glance at the goodies. E-mail lmarcus@trace212.com for a chance to win, but just remember to tip the barber!

www.frankschopshop.com