Discovering Denmark
Denmark is known for a lot of things – pastries, furniture design (Poul Henningsen, anyone?) Tivoli, The Little Mermaid – but until recently, not much has been said of its fashion. Copenhagen, is quickly becoming one of the world’s fastest-growing fashion hubs, and we’ve got to get up on it….quickly. Two of Denmark’s hottest labels, Henrik Vibskov and Baum und Pferdgarten have already developed cult followings globally and are now beginning to catch fire in the U.S.
The artist/filmmaker/musician/designer, Vibskov, a graduate of Central Saint Martins, launched his label in 2001 and now sells in select luxury boutiques worldwide. For his Fall/Winter 2008 collection, Vibskov takes his characteristic playful androgyny to new extremes, casting all of his models with green bangs so as to render gender irrelevant. The collection draws its inspiration from Scotland, with a spiced-up take on the traditional tartans and plaids, an assortment of heavy knits and oversized metallic jackets. He pairs many of the looks with funky, multicolored tights and leggings — wardrobe staples for any would-be Scandinavian fashionista.
Rikke Baumgarten and Helle Hestehave founded Baum und Pferdgarten in 1999 and have since taken the international fashion world by storm. Their look, which they self-describe as “offbeat and different,” is suited to women who like to straddle the line between timeless classics and the avant-garde. The Fall/Winter 2008 collection offers looks ostensibly designed for a modern Wednesday Addams. A simple palate of black, white, grey and the occasional splash of navy and wintergreen is accented by whimsical (if not slightly spooky) owls in silhouette. Separates abound here, as the fashion world says good-bye to the reign of the summer dress.
For a closer look at Henrik Vibskov and Baum und Pferdgarten, visit here and here.
Tic Tecktonik
Remember this (refer to the video above)? No? Well don’t feel bad. Although, some of the wild gyrations emulate or are even direct references to 80’s house dancing, popping or even voguing tecktonik is on a category on its own.
A mix of hip hop with techno style flare techtonik was born in the sweaty dance halls of Parisian night clubs circa 2000. Yet unlike other dance movements like popping - which are usually associated with a music genre - tecktonik is not attached to any particular music. Mosh heads rage to metal in their pits and even the cabbage patch has old school hip hop to thank but tecktonik has yet to adopt a music scene.
Considered passe by some the dance trend has latched on to other subculture scenes such as that of the Dance-punks and the Nu Ravers and is mostly associated with electronic house music. But despite lacking a specific scene of its own tecktonik is in full bloom, enjoying a surge of popularity thanks to artists such as Yelle.
Known by French audiences for her brand of cheeky quasi-feminist lyrics, Yelle’s techno/dance remix of “A Cause les Garcons” and accompanying music video — which features tecktonik dancing — is quickly becoming a tecktonik favorite.Passe or “in,” stupid or fly, super cool or super wack either way tecktonik seems to have staying power. So, just in case have your tightest pair of jeans and coolest kicks ready - you never know when a dance battle may break out.
New School Soul
txt_Shawn Lawrence James//ph_Rahan Cotterel
Jade is planted on the frontlines of a musical revolution of the mind, heart, and outer body. She represents a new age of honesty where the truths of our generation are derived from individual experience, not perception. Watch her fly.
Name: Jade
Age: 22?
Born: NYC
Based: nomad
Occupation: singer/songwriter
Do you remember the day you decided music was what you were going to do for the rest of your life?
Actually, no. It was just something I did, no question. As for taking risks and evolving it into a profession, I would say when I was 17. I had just been signed to my first production company. They put me in a studio and told me to write. I had full control over my project; I was my own boss and my own delivery person. That made pressure intense, but there’s nothing more liberating than running your own life from all angles.
Describe your sound.
I would say soulful. Everything I write comes from the heart. I find it difficult to describe, though I will say it is rhythm and blues, experimental soul candy-coated with catchy tunes that stick in your head, so I hear.
What impact do you feel your music have on your supporters/haters?
I cant say for certain, but I would hope my fans will always want more than what I’m giving. I want people to walk away and feel like they know me a little more because I shared a bit of my soul. Precize, my producer, hates it when I introduce like 5 new songs every show, but I cant help it. I get overly excited and hype. As for the haters, I could care less.
What’s your next short term goal?
To not have negative 500 dollars in my bank account. No, seriously.
How did you become involved with G.F.C.?
We’re familia. We support each other and respect each other. They are an extremely talented group. Saint introduced me to Precize over a year ago. He said he knew this producer who was looking for an artist, so I dropped by his Harlem apartment up on 128, sat in his really small bedroom and listened to beats that gave me goosebumps. It was like he wrote them for me and knew I would come. I wrote to them while we recorded and that’s pretty much been the case since. We built this sound from the ground up. It’s ours.
Love Lockdown?
You’re in a relationship where the sound of your mates name makes you cringe. Those weekly rendezvous’ are now duller than dishwater and the auditions for a replacement are well underway. Whatever the case, it’s time to call it quits! Lost on how to make it happen? Grab a pen and pad and take a trip to the theater.
For the past year, members of The Bush Theatre in London have been asking their audience members to submit their best break up stories. Bringing five of the hottest young playwrights in the mix, they collectively developed the play 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover. Comprised of several vignettes on doing “the deed,” the writers have produced a comedic gem birthed from the public submissions. The show will now be playing through August 9th, and features Claire Keelan, Ralf Little, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, and Michelle Terry. For more information: The Bush Theatre’s website.
Talib Kweli Documentary
Talib Kweli has recently released a trailor for the upcoming Talib Kweli Documentary, which is supposed to have a crazy amount of guest appearances from people like Kanye West, Mos Def, The Beastie Boys, Dave Chappelle, The Roots, Jay-Z, De La Soul, Common, Hi-Tek, Jean Grae, Pharrell, Killer Mike, Fat Lip, Damon Dash, Rosario Dawson, Pete Rock, Marc Ecko, Mad Lib Bobbito, Black Sheep, Cee-Lo, and The Dungeon Family. I’m really excited to see the finished product, it’s about time this man got the recognition he deserved, from the people who know him best.
?uestloves Nike
The next installment of Nike’s 1World project will feature a collaboration with the Legendary Roots Crew’s own, ?uestlove. The ‘Air Questo’ will be released in three stores in the United States.
First, on August 1st at the Alife Rivington Club in New York City with a performance by ?uestlove himself. Next, at UBIQ in Philadelphia on the 5th and then THE MONTALBÁN in Hollywood, California on the 6th. The Air Questo will be made of a mixture of materials, earthy tones like maroon, green and red, and the use of Elephant print.
Nike’s 1World Project Nike Air Force 1 Collection features limited edition Nike Air Force Ones designed in collaboration with the world’s most renowned music and visual artists, athletes and designers. The collection will be made up of a total of 18 designs, and so far Rasheed Wallace and KAWS from the USA, Busy P from France, and Gore-Texer from Japan have all contributed. The project will last through December 2008. For more information go to the Nike 1World website.
St. Elsewhere
txt_Shawn Lawrence James//ph_Rahan Cotterel
Music, much like fashion, is formed around the intent of expression and constant progression. Rowdy is one of the few that’s able to thread the fine line of both and today he speaks with Stylistics about what helps him sew together a sound as abstract as the pieces he creates and collects.
Name: Rowdy Superstar
Better Known As: Mr. Sequin
Age: I think I’m 22?!?!?
Based: The Big, Big LDN/ Londontown!
Occupation: Artistic person! [Laughs] Rapper, producer, stylist choreographer.
Where did the name Rowdy come from?
I’m not 100% sure anymore. I know it happened while I was in school.
It’s the only name that has made sense enough to be my title. My previous name made me a junior and doesn’t suit me so I shed it quite quickly. [Rowdy] actually means spirited and driven.
Tell us about the various styles you draw from musically to make your own.
Musically, I draw from a bunch of different things, not just other music. I’m inspired by attitudes. [I’m inspired by] punk because its just about being raw in a “I done give a fuck!” kind of way. And that’s how I always live. Hip Hop because it’s a culture. It’s still new enough to still be budding, but old enough to have strong roots. And pop because it’s about having fun, being playful and taking thing too seriously.
Are those same styles used in your fashion?
My style in regards to the way I look I guess its a representation of my character, which is a culmination of the attitudes I just mentioned. I like to be seen so I guess what’s why me and sequins get along so well. To me, knowing your own style is more about how you wear it rather than what you wear. I got swagger! And that can save any old rag I throw on.
What song best describes your outfit from the shoot?
Of my own? It would have to be “New Day New Way” [But] I know there’s a Prince song but the title escapes me.
What would you say is your biggest misconception?
That people hear the title “Rapper” and pigeonhole me and expect to hear/see a Kanye, Jay-Z, or Dizzee Rascal type or for me to speak about stereotypical “rapper” subjects. I thin in that sense a lot of people (especially artists themselves) have forgotten that the power of Hip Hop was about it having no limits and more importantly being able to express yourself and your life in a way that’s true and real to you. Sticking to formula is not what it’s about – [now] its what it’s slowly becoming.
What do you love more: designing clothing or rhythms?
That’s hard for me to answer because they are two of the three ways of expressing myself! But out of those two, if I had to choose, I would have to say sounds. My music is my heart and soul translated. That travels further and connects with more people on a deeper level (I hope) sound can penetrate, clothes just sit on top.
What did you love most about your stay in New York?
Everything. I love everything about New York. The smell, the pulse of the city, the speed at which things move. The spontaneity, the fact that it felt familiar while at the same time feeling like you’re in a different world. I loved the love I got from people, blogs, etc. The lemon loaf from Starbucks, the peppermint pie from Burger King and the BBQ’s [Laughs]
Usually, the case with individualists is that they are their biggest competition. What keeps you motivated to continue to push the envelope?
I’m not sure if I do “try” to push the envelope. What I do continue to do is stay 100% true to what is me and I strive to have an understanding of myself as I grow, mature and change. In doing that, I guess I’m able to express something that’s individual. There is only one me! I have to be in love with everything I do I have no boundaries for myself. There’s enough of that created by others. I also made a promise to myself that if I do something by accident that is similar to something that I seen/heard, I have to delete it and keep it moving.
A Show Born in Brooklyn
Unlike other web sitcoms that are normally a one man show on youtube, The Burg is a cohesive collection of episodes that star a set cast and is streamed through its own website. The show consists of series of webisodes that range in length (the longest, “Show” being 23 minutes and the shortest being “Grounds” at 3 minutes) and vary in topics yet focus on one central theme, hipster hate. Ok, so maybe hate is too strong of a word in describing The Burg’s attitude toward hipsters. The series’ humor mainly consists of observations or overzealous rants (almost Seinfeldesque in nature) made by the cast concerning the detrimental effects of the gentrification of Williamsburg, Brooklyn which they accuse the hipster crowd of perpetrating. Ironically, the cast of characters could be classified as hipster themselves. Although production of the show seems sporadic new episodes such as “Hip or Hip” and “Jump” are up on their site at Theburg.tv At Arndt und Partner gallery in Berlin, Kolk was given a freedom to experiment with new media. His single brushstroke wall portraits of young women, such as Rapunzel, function as a reflection of a young woman’s hauntingly hollow perception of self. However, it is really only with a series of sculptures, the artist’s first, that one really gets a sense of Karen Parker’s confusion. Simply entitled Karen Parker, one sculpture is of a young woman wearing a mask, in a state of undress. Perpetuating the sense of a non-existent sense of identity, the sculpture seems like an accurate depiction of a depressed woman. Venturing through the gallery rooms will take you to the extremes of your emotional landscape and will leave you questioning your sense of self and the social constructs that have allowed the development of an entire generation of confusion. Check it out here.
Think of Friends meets The Office with a strong dose of hipster geared cynicism. Thats the best way to describe the internet phenomena known as The Burg.Normally, discussing a sitcom isn’t TRACE’s cup of tea but what makes The Burg an interesting exception is the show’s format - it’s a web series or web sitcom if you will.
Edun Live Design Contest
Think you have what it takes to be a designer? EDUN LIVE, Bono and Ali Hewson’s ethical t-shirt clothing line, has been assisting and increasing employment and trade in South and East Africa since their company began in 2005. Every EDUN t-shirt produced is made from 100% African organic cotton. Now, you have a chance to join the Grow to Sew movement by showcasing your artistic talent and supporting a good cause.EDUN LIVE is looking for ‘green-themed’ entries that will make their blank cotton tees pop with color and creativity. The winning design will be printed and sold at the VIRGIN MOBILE FESTIVAL, held in Baltimore, MD on August 9th & 10th. The winner will also receive an EDUN LIVE wardrobe valued at $1000, and 10% of the proceeds of all t-shirts will go directly to EDUN LIVE’s initiatives in Africa.The contest closes on July 24th, so get your creative gears grinding and enter your designs here.Karen Parker’s World
Frustration. Anger. Resentment. Confusion. These are just some of the emotions that suffuse Karen Parker’s World. In his new exhibit, Douglas Kolk creates a personalized narrative of a young person’s struggle to come to terms with her sense of selfhood. Long concerned with the questions of identity, Kolk’s mixed media collages and paintings have attempted to portray the modern individual’s confusion with finding his or her own place within the world.