Posts

WHEN TWO BECOME A SHOE.

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I visited Prada’s store in Tokyo’s Aoyama many years ago on a work trip.
And it popped into my head recently.

The design, by Herzong & de Meuron, is beautifully unique and no doubt has become an attraction in and of itself.

I’ve always been a little amused that the pattern that dominates the design seems more aligned to the lines of Bottega Veneta,
albeit more of a diagonally squished square than Veneta’s Intrecciato.

I played with what might become of the two,
blended together into the design of a shoe.

The most straightforward route to new ideas
is to assemble two different things,
and blend them together.

LOUISE WILSON’S FILM LIST

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Her feedback could be brutal,
and she was famous for it.
Louise Wilson was the course director for the Fashion Design MA at St Martins – tutoring the likes of McQueen and Saunders, Kane and Kokosalaki.

 

When I first met her, my interview was quick enough to give me whiplash.

The next time was nearly 20 years later, when her response to me was much friendlier.
She was a big fan of the all black, utterly plain versions of our sandals and would visit the office (FitFlop) to review the range.

We got on well and I’d go as far to say as the brutally honest feedback – negative and positive – was a welcome receipt.

 

It was her way of provoking a reaction.

For pursuing better.
A better reason for the product to exist.
To justify its place.

“No point in doing any old ****. “

 

In an interview a few years ago (for @Another magazine I think) Molly Goddard (a student of Wilson’s) shared this list of films that Wilson would give to her students – I assume to broaden perspective and inspire ideas.

Thought I’d share it here.

“It’s a secret language known to different people, in different ways, that enables them to read a subliminal message without realising they’re reading it.” : Louise Wilson.

 

MASTERFUL STORYTELLING

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When Wes Anderson’s take on four of Roald Dahl’s short stories appeared, I devoured them in one sitting.

Fresh, unique delivery, with great storytelling.

It seems someone at Montblanc was thinking along similar lines.

Such great storytelling.

Watch

CHOCOLATE EMOTION

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I don’t need an advert to encourage me to buy chocolate.
I love the stuff.

I post this as an example (and a reminder to myself)
of really good storytelling.

It’s only a minute long.

It pokes at your curiosity
and pulls at your heart strings.

Watch

LYRICAL PLAY

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Sometimes,
I like to play
with lyrics,
while maintaining
the melody.

…

‘Rusted laptop lying by the grass
Stories lining, in the seams.
Timeless styling, reference love between,
Cherished moments and what they mean.’

…

Which song
have I
played with?

 

Play the Answer. (Diana Krall’s version)

FORD vs FERRARI

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Not just for Motor Rollers.

My friend Anup asked me for a film recommendation.
“Ford vs Ferrari,” I said.

So,
if you’re looking for a film recommendation,
you don’t have to.

That’s all folks.
Cue the music.

ps.
If you’re thinking
“Wait a sec, isn’t that film called something else?!”
You’d be right.
Depending on which country you’re in,
it’s also called Le Mans 66.

pps.
This post was not sponsored by The Walt Disney Company, nor Netflix.

 

Watch the Trailer

REFLECTIONS IN STORYLINES

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“Have you noticed?”

The reflections in storylines.

There’s a point,
when your minds wide open,
to the world around you,
and patterns appear.

Especially when the things
you’ve been studying,
keep appearing.

As if they’re asking the question.

Ever since I started researching story structure – Joseph Campbell, Christopher Vogler, Dan Harmon etc etc – there’s a beautifully simple sense of joy when I notice elements of the structure play out in a film I’m watching, or a book I’m reading.

Knowing the structure of something,
recognising elements of detail,
allows you to appreciate a product
a little more.

Noticing the reflection
of the beginning,
in the ending,
brings a smile.

As if they’re asking the question.
“Have you noticed?”

 

‘Movement’ open toe bootie.

COUTURE – SS24 VALENTINO – A SELECTION

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A selection from the recent SS24 Valentino Couture collection.
The shades of colour feel fresh, and mature.
Bold, and classic.
As much as I love zooming in to see the detail of the garment, or the heel of a shoe, it’s also interesting to pull back and see the collection at a distance.
To see how colours pop, or profiles flow.

Watch

INTERLUDES

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This is my kind of collaboration.
Eclectic and Soulful.
My friend William Watson, and his friend Ebi Kagbala, are Death To Tennis, and they’ve been cultivating a series of interludes with musicians from New York City and Seoul.

Styled in Death To Tennis.
Rhythm their own.
Unique.

I’ve been listening to them for the last few days,
and this one is one of my faves.

Watch / Listen

 

TROPICAL CLOGS.

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Inspiration is everywhere, weaving its way around the world. Floating in the ether.
For anyone and everyone to reach out and catch.

And it’s interesting to see where similar sources of inspiration eventually re-appears, and on what.

How inspirations can begin in a similar place and go on such different journeys.

Through the minds of different people, and appear on different materials, on different products, with different brands and in different markets.

For a recent project, I designed a tropical inspired print to brighten up the days of those who work in healthcare, and their patients.

A print that would embellish the Toffeln clog’s that nurses love so much.

After all, images of nature’s beauty can inspire health benefits, no matter how slight.

My trip to Hawaii in 2001 came to mind.
Tropical flowers felt right.

The clogs launched a few weeks ago.

While Oscar de la Renta’s gorgeous new dresses (atop) might not be suitable for the ward,
Toffeln’s tropical clogs certainly are.

They’re Clogs with a cause – check out their charitable side. 

And on the weekend, you could wear both! 

Comfort, elegance, and charity.