Mad Hatters Tee Party

Anish Kapoor at the Royal Academy of Arts

2009-10-05T02:17:00.000-07:00

Tall Tree and the Eye, 2009

Svayambah, 2009

Svayambah, 2009

Untitled, 2009

After a lazy Sunday breakfast, Ed and I made our way over to the Royal Academy to see the Anish Kapoor retrospective. Like a rock concert, the queue for the exhibition snaked its way outside the gallery and across into the grand plaza. In total we waited outside for about 20 minutes to get in but it was well worth the wait.

The exhibition highlighted monumental pieces throughout Kapoors career. The most memorable was the piece named Svayambah , sanskit word meaning “self generated’, which moves slowly through the galleries staining the breath of each of the spaces it enters. Another sensual piece was “Yellow”, an inverted yellow nipple covering the entire wall of the gallery. The visual richness of Kapoors work reflects the wealth his Indian heritage coupled with a violent surreal sexuality that rippled its way through each of the gallery halls.

I felt incredibly privileged seeing his work outside of library books and would highly recommend anyone living in London to go and see the exhibition.

Sindiso Khumalo Label Launch

2009-10-02T08:33:00.000-07:00

Can't really say that much about this collection except "Whew!!!"

Please check out our website for more details.

Don't Sleep on Africa

2009-09-30T08:09:00.000-07:00

This post is dedicated to Tracey Lotter. A true South African ambassador. These images were mostly taken by South African based photographer Chris Saunders, celebarting SA street style. Love it!!

London Design Festival: So much to see, so little time...

2009-09-27T17:03:00.000-07:00

angela davis on the streets of hoxton

chairs at the tea rooms, hoxton.

thermo-reactive wallpaper.

not sure where what happened but i but into these very good looking design pieces on bricklane. decided to take one of them home with me.

a door in hoxton.

wearable furniture.

ed in his element.

eight legged chair

hand woven stool.

wonderful design duo. jamesplumb.

more pics to come on fb. x

Christopher Kane at Topshop

2009-09-23T06:24:00.000-07:00

I had a look at this collection this weekend. I'm no too sure about the ringlets on everything, but i do like the digital print crocodile dress. Instore now, go check it out.

Lazy Leopards

2009-09-11T08:07:00.001-07:00

I far prefer people wearing animal print when no one else is wearing it. So considering its not been in any AW09 shows recently and I haven't seen it in the highstreet; I would suggest going round to your local charity shop and grabbing yourself a leopard or two.

Raf Simons X Doc Martens AW 09

2009-09-03T07:30:00.000-07:00

Available at Dover Street market and Selfridges. Love the combination of metallics using pewter and gold next to one another.

Love:Eds Fleece

2009-08-29T17:47:00.000-07:00

Ok, so the winter has hit us! Yes we've had no summer, no sunshine, no sizzling evenings spent sitting with friends on the pavement in our local pub, no bikini bathers basking in victoria park, no kids swimming in the heath, no running around in a carefree manner in flip flops or gladiators greeting people randomly, no frisbees, no footballs, no rugby , no cricket, no nothing. After being trapped indoors for nearly eight months we have nothing to show for it. Absolutely nothing. No summer quotes, no memory books, no greeting cards or letters, no nothing. So Ed W, came in wearing a fleece waistee last night, inspiring this post. Love the featured denim waistee with a fleece lining.

Happy Birthday Michael

2009-08-29T12:45:00.000-07:00

To the greatest star of his time. Thank you Michael, for the fashion, the moves, the music. Lala kahle Umkhonto.

Inspired: Denim Shorts

2009-08-28T01:48:00.001-07:00

Whether they're highwaisted or studded, a pair of denim shorts are a wardrobe essential.

Love: Who's BAD?

2009-08-27T16:50:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackon and Agyness Deyn. I am still to do my Michael tribute, but only once the man is "completely" buried. So till then, we can enjoy the wonderful sights of a great muse styled onto a hopeful-new-blood-oh -so -sweet-english- eccentric-fashion muse. Agyness for President!

Kate Moss AW09 in Topshop

2009-08-27T09:01:00.000-07:00

New Heights: I got my eyes on you

2009-08-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

My latest shoe obsession is definitively these leather Kurt Geiger platform ankle boots. With a Bauhaus-esque quality, these shoes look like they were designed by an architect. Also available in plum, which is so very winter .

Two birds, One Stone : Daryl van Wouw

2009-08-20T03:34:00.000-07:00

Another cloudy day in London, another day spent in front of the a screen. Feeling very sorry for myself today. Maybe because Ed has gone to Dorset and I'm all alone with the hermit who lives downstairs. Anyways shoes always cheer me up, here's Shoe maker Daryl van Wouw at The Vitual Shoe Museum.

Love the grey converse trainers.

Love: Big Loose Knits

2009-08-17T08:55:00.000-07:00

Shabby elegance and must be worn in an oh-so-effortless-i-don't-give-a-fuck-kinda way.

AW09 H&M

2009-08-16T12:55:00.001-07:00

Can someone tell me where I can find this collection. I went traipsing round the highstreet last Thursday and couldn't find it. Please note the styling of the leather bandeau dress with a Tshirt. Bandeau dresses need an edge otherwise you'll end up looking like Cheryl Cole.

Love: Leather Biker Jackets

2009-08-11T10:31:00.000-07:00

I've been looking for the ultimate leather jacket for some years now and I think I may have found it in Whistles AW09 collection. My flatmate, ever so stylish Rebecca , introduced me to THE ULTIMATE biker jacket. It's a soft, snug, cropped biker style jacket, with a lived in quality to it. My obsession for leather bikers arises from their versatility and multiseasonal nature. Investing £250 on a jacket isn't cheap from the onset but if you divide it into how long you will own the jacket:

£250 / 24 months ( at its bear minimum)

The jacket works out at £10.40 a month. What a steal!!!

Go on and empty that piggy bank, its all about cost per wear at the end of the day.

Secret Obsession: Yes Master

2009-08-10T11:33:00.000-07:00

Chemist turned lingerie designer Igor Pacemski lingerie brand Yes Master is now available at ASOS.

River Island AW09

2009-08-10T11:26:00.001-07:00

Love: Stella McCartney Boots

2009-08-10T11:16:00.000-07:00

Where are all the Shoreditch Twats.... in hackney!

2009-08-04T16:42:00.000-07:00

Yes, we've moved. The shoreditch twat is now the hackney twat. Still gorgeous, still creative and living for the sun. We don't wait for the summer, we are the summer!

New ways to wear you Boyfriend...jeans

2009-08-03T14:11:00.000-07:00

Topshop AW09

2009-08-03T14:05:00.000-07:00

And Beyond

2009-07-26T16:01:00.001-07:00

Dutch design duo "And Beyond" consist of designers Jolanda van den Broek and Brigitte Hendrix. With their dynamic digital prints and tailoring, their garments reveal aspects of an alienated surreal world brought into reality . Their avangardistic approach is one that spans far beyond the boundaries of fashion as this multidisciplinary duo have also experimented on various projects within the art and design world and . Definately a pair to watch.

Tribes of "Cool" Colonizing the Parks

2009-07-26T14:58:00.000-07:00

Hackney has slowly turned into the new land of "cool". Yesterday Eddie and myself went for a walk around London fields. We were both hungover and all we were looking for was some fresh air and a curry from the local Indian lady who sells her Thali's at £4.50 on Saturday afternoons. Upon our arrival into Broadway market all I could see that maybe we had chosen the wrong field to relax in. Don't get me wrong I love London Fields, its were I had my birthday but it does feel like all the tribes of Shoreditch have moved over London Fields. Across a blanket of indie shades, mustaches, and Elvis quiffs Ed and I finally found our spot in the sun and lay there. "Oh yes", I thought, "this is perfect."

As I lay in the sun I reveling in the only sunshine I've received since my trip to Croatia I suddenly heard a thumping sound. "OH NO!" I thought, " that can't be Justice their blasting from their beaten up 80's wannabe boombox....Oh god it is". I turned to Edward saying " Isn't it terribly inconsiderate for them to be thumping that music in the park. It defeats the whole purpose of being in the park. ..Peace and quiet..hello?"

Ed smiled and looked at me with a look that said "Oh little middle-aged Sindi, don't moan and please do not go over to them and spoil their fun."

"Argh!" I thought, then I turned towards the group and I gave them a death stare through my sunglasses. Thought it might help, it didn't. So I just lay there, grumpy and hungover.

I wanted to leave this group in particular with a few words...

To you and your mustache wearing friends it is horribly inconsiderate blasting music in the park. Especially in a place like London where a spot of grass and sunshine is a rare piece of real estate. I have nothing against Justice, I actually like them, but not on my Saturday afternoon in the park. Learn a few manners and maybe then you can come back if not, go back to Shoreditch.

HUMöR

2009-07-17T07:17:00.000-07:00

Oh how I love days like today, when I'm just cruising on the cyber world, literally surfing. Then I come across really wicked designers. Ahhhhh....

So the menswear fashion palette has been quite transformative over the years with designers like Ozwald Boateng challenging the status quo and really pushing the boundaries with color. Well today I discovered another crayon lover, Danish fashion group HUMöR, who are visually expolosive. Being heavily influenced by the metropolitan underground electronic music scene, they describe their work as inspired from "Tokyo’s Shibuya area, where the fashion crowd is giving an entirely new meaning to the word paint box." I'm all over it like a rash.

My Neighbour Totoro

2009-07-17T07:09:00.000-07:00

Hey, I know I've gone awol. Sorry. Went to Croatia for a few weeks. anyways I'm back and have loads to share. So much has happened since I left. Michael died, and I shall be doing a tribute post for him. But want to do it justice. Get some really great images. Also I'm in the process of starting a new blog with a good friend Asha Davies. Stay tuned.

Ok So this post is dedicated the the wonderful graphics in the animation My Neighbour Totoro. This is Hayao Miyazaki's earlier animations. Its incredible. I love the Cat bus.

Another Mad Hatter

2009-06-01T01:45:00.000-07:00

Central St Martins Graduate Henrik Vibskov Mad Hatter-meets granddad collections are both entertaining and wearable. Rooted within indeginoues aztec and african prints his work is completely eccentric....bordering on nutty. Its off the circus we go , head to toe in Vibskov!!

http://www.henrikvibskov.com/

Off to the Circus we go

2009-05-29T04:26:00.000-07:00

Its my belief that clothing should take you to the circus, dressing should be a moment where you feel you can become anything you want to be. If i were to join the circus, I'd love to be a trapeze artist. Their leotards and spandex make American Apparel look like M&S.

There's a designer whose garments I feel are heavily influenced by this belief, his name is Isaac Manu. With a kaleidoscope of technicolor prints and dramatic cut out effects within his compositions, Manu's truly work celebrates the extra-ordinary.

all images courtesy of http://www.isaacymanu.com

A stroke of genius

2009-05-28T09:31:00.000-07:00

Just discovered possibly the best site EVER!!!

http://www.dear-god.net/

I love this entry :

Bauhaus Now

2009-05-28T06:37:00.000-07:00

Ok this exhibition has come to an end, but Wok store in Milan held a fantastic exhibition called Bauhaus Now featuring young fresh German design. The pieces were a combination of furniture, sculptural video-installation and fashion.

Exhibited here is designer Sebastian Schoenheit

check out

www.bauhaus-now.com www.wok-store.com
www.sebastianschoenheit.de

African Record Covers

2009-05-28T06:02:00.001-07:00

Oh how I love looking at interesting graphics. My favorite are the old African records from the 70's. Reminiscing on graphic design before the days of Photoshop. Enjoy!

Hmmm Bongi, I'm not too sure who came up with the record title.....I guess there can only be one Makeba.

We're not all going to Graceland

2009-05-28T05:32:00.000-07:00

Following a near death experience this Saturday, I felt the need to update my blog. Seriously!

Ok so there's a little bit of gossip that Paul Simon cheated Lady Smith Black Mambazo from the rights to the music they produced with him on the Graceland album. The story is Paul basically made millions from an album that rejuvenated his career. The album also became a great platform for both Paul and LadySmith to showcase the injustices that took place in old Apartheid South Africa . So it is difficult to hear that Paul took all the credit for it when it is clearly the success of the project was due to the distinctly Zulu rhythms produced by LSBM.

Now Ed, was terribly upset when he heard this. I could see from the corner of my eye (I was driving ) that this news troubled his soul. So I went online to try and verify this information...but nothing, nada? So this is a shout out to anyone who knows whether this information is true or false and has some documents to prove. As a Natal girl who still is in love with the Graceland album I hope Paul can be proven wrong and this is not another culture vulture incident. Also if this information is incorrect, this will set my hippie boyfriends heart as ease, and he can continue believing in the goodness in humanity.

Ode to Brett and Street Heart Studios

2009-05-07T09:40:00.000-07:00

Tragedy strikes at the strangest times, and has hit one of my dear friends. Cape Town based photographer Brett Rubin has had his studio Street Heart burn down in an awful fire. All I can say is "its always darkest before dawn". You will overcome this.

"Aluta Continua"

Here's to you my friend. xxx

All images courtesy of : http://brettrubin.com

Visual Love Affair

2009-05-07T09:19:00.000-07:00

For many years I've had this love affair the strange and the magical that exists in fashion photography. Here are some of my favourite image makers:

David La Chapelle

Nick Knight

Poster tea

2009-04-15T10:47:00.000-07:00

This is a poster I've been working on over the past few weeks inspired by a mergence between traditional cross stitch patterns and the photography of Leni Riefenstahl.

Thinking Tea?

2009-04-15T09:51:00.001-07:00

Sometimes thinking too much isn't the best way forward.

Doodle tea

2009-04-15T09:48:00.000-07:00

This is one of the things i do, i like to illustrate. I'd say my method is a combination of doodle/illustration/ doodle. I need to do this more....

“So what do you do?”

2009-04-15T07:54:00.001-07:00

Its 2pm, the sun is shining and I’ve just driven back from my good friend Livs apartment to collect the photographs from our shoot last Sunday. Been listening too Kanye West “Its Amazing”, such a summer tune. Anyways as I mentioned I just got back from Livs place. Liv, is a freelance photographer and is responsible for the great images of my garments that I'll be using to launch my label.

So whilst sitting at her flat over cup of Tea and discussing the intimate details of our friends lives, myself, Liv and her boyfriend Ben began a discussion on the topic of work. It is interesting because as a freelancer we share similar frustrations with regards to defining what we do. Honestly I find it really strange how people fail to understand that what it is you actually do when you describe yourself as a freelancer. A typical conversation will go like this:

Meeting a New person in a pub.

Person A: “So what do you do?”

Freelancer: “Oh I’m a freelancer. I’m currently working on my own label, I also develop small websites for friends in the creative industry, and am also working on a number of small graphic design projects. ”

Person:” Ahh, so then what is it you do during the day?”

Freelancer: “Well, as I explained I’m involved in a number of creative projects such as working on my own label, developing small websites for friends in the creative industry, and working on a number of small graphic design projects”

Person A: “So you don’t have a job?”

Freelancer: (sigh) “Well, as I stated I have several “Jobs” on the go at the moment, which include working on my own label, developing small websites for friends in the creative industry, and working on a number of small graphic design projects”

Person A: (looking confused) “Oh”

Freelancer : “So what do you do?” ( with a sympathetic look on her face)

“So what do you do?” , what an interesting question to ask someone you’ve never met before. English philosopher Alain De bottom, wrote a book called “The Pleasures an Sorrows of Work”, in which he basically explains how the idea of placing value into what you do only really occurred in the middle of the eighteenth century. A group of bourgeois thinkers turned the idea of work and labour on its head. Placing significance, recognition and value on what people do on a daily basis. Before they came along, people were quite happy with the idea being the baker in the village or the fisherman of the village and not placing any real value onto it.

This of course is a sharp contrast to how we live today, whereby the first question anyone will ask you if they don’t know you very well is “So what do you do?”, as opposed to “ Where are you from” or “Where you family is from”. It seems like the choice of our daily occupation has been used to define our entire existence on the planet. It defines our identity, our strengths and weakness, our goals and passions. But does it really? Or have we decided to use what people do as a shortcut to try and figure out who they are. And if so then why don’t we just carry our CV around with us when going to the pub. At least that’ll be far more accurate. Actually we could take this idea further and suggest not having all these long biographies written that take up so much space in Waterstones or Exclusive Books. But rather just having a big folder at the front desk with 3 page CV’s in it. Mandela’s “Long Walk to Freedom” abridged.

Ben and Liv have formulated a new method when breaking the ice with someone you’re meeting for the first time. They choose to ask people the following question “What are you into?”. Which is generally followed by a horribly perplexed look. “Hmmm” the person will think, “ do you mean it in a sexual way or do you want me to describe a musical interest I have.” To be honest I feel its harder for people to describe their interests as it a far more revealing and probably plays more of a role in ones personal identity e.g. I work mainly in the textiles and fashion arena, and although I have a great passion for fashion and textiles I am interested in the following : the architecture of old Victorian homes, Erchart Tolle's philosophies, watching how Black people fetishize their hair. I also have a keen interest in politics, beauty products, climate change etc. And so like everyone reading this there are many things I am interested in yet neither one of these things are placed as the centerfold of my identity, so why should what I do on a day to day basis be.

In conclusion I think the idea of finding ones “true calling” is a concept anchored on helium balloons. We have such a great resource of ideas and interests, its too restricted to believe that there will only be one thing, and thats all we’ll do for the rest of our lives. So next time you meet someone you don’t know maybe ask them what they’re into rather than what they do, you never know you might not be the only one in the room into wips and chains.