James Clar and Donatella Versace unveil collaborative piece at the Singular Suit show
World-famous fashion designers and international artists are brought together by Esquire Magazine to re-think the idea of the man’s suit.
30th, July 2009, London - The biggest names in fashion, design and art gathered at Somerset House, London last night to celebrate the opening of the Esquire Singular Suit show. Esquire asked 18 leading fashion designers and tailors to collaborate with a major artist of their choice to create a bespoke, one-off suit that represents their skills and artistic vision. Celebrated Italian designer, Donatella Versace, picked light artist James Clar for the project. James is the artist-in-residence at traffic, a design and art practice in Dubai. Their collaboration has resulted in an awe-inspiring piece that pushes film fantasy into visceral reality. The inspiration for the piece is cinema’s iconic gentleman spy, classic characters like James Bond, The Saint and Thomas Crowne were forever dodging bullets and dicey situations, all while wearing their dapper suits. This image of the elegant man in explosive situations propelled James Clar to envision a fantastic scene straight from a film. James Clar and Donatella Versace’s piece for Esquire features a Versace suit with giant spikes of light exploding from the seams, a re-interpretation of a still frame of a film right at the moment of an explosion. Each spike is approximately 1.5 metres long, making the entire sculpture more than 3 metres tall. The suit joins 17 others at the Esquire Singular Suit Exhibition at Somerset House. Designs include an Aquascutum and Antony Gormley creation made entirely from metal plates and leadfilled trousers (and a “naked” organza suit by Spencer Tunick and Richard James. Louis Vuitton designer Paul Helbers has teamed up with Christian Schoeler to fashion a heavy suit made entirely from a painted canvas, while Henry Holland has worked with Marc Jacobs’ tattooist, Scott Campbell, to create a leather mustard-coloured suit with tattoo-style markings of supermodels’ names on the sleeve. Norton & Sons and Turner Prize-winner Jeremy Deller have drawn inspiration from Winston Churchill by re-creating the prime minister’s “Siren Suit” — a trademark suit that Churchill designed for himself during the war. The suits will be photographed to appear in a unique portfolio in the special hardback September edition of Esquire magazine, on sale 6 August. A must-have for all fashion-conscious men, the September issue features more than 60 pages dedicated to the suit. The issue will not only appear in hardback on the newsstands, but Esquire will be producing a limited edition VIP slipcase, designed especially for the magazine by Ralph Lauren. Esquire editor Jeremy Langmead says: “The designers and artists who took part in Esquire’s Singular Suit project have visually re-defined what the suit represents; the imagination and work involved is incredible. It’s extraordinary to see so many creative forces, from two of the world’s most influential mediums, presenting their work under one roof.” The full list of designers and muses collaborating in the Singular Suit project are:
1. Richard James with artist Spencer Tunick
2. Sir Paul Smith with sculptor Richard Woods
3. Christopher Bailey of Burberry with musician George Craig
4. John Galliano with photographer Zanna
5. Patrick Grant at Norton & Sons with Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller
6. Kim Jones at Dunhill with artist Terence Koh
7. Graeme Fidler at Aquascutum with Turner Prize-winning sculptor Antony Gormley
8. Henry Holland with Scott Campbell (Marc Jacobs’ tattooist)
9. Dolce & Gabbana with designer/architect/sculptor Ron Arad
10. Donatella Versace with light artist/designer James Clar
11. Tommy Hilfiger with musician Joey Ramone
12. Paul Elbers at Louis Vuitton with artist Christian Schoeler
13. Kris Van Assche at Dior with artist Mat Collishaw
14. Italo Zucchelli at Calvin Klein with artist Nate Lowman
15. Giorgio Armani with theatre designer/artist Robert Wilson
16. Bruno Pieters at Hugo Boss and artist Jan De Cock
17. Ralph Lauren with Ferrari
18. Frida Giannini of Gucci with Mark Ronson
The Singular Suit project opens to the public at the Terrace Rooms, Seamen’s Hall at Somerset House from 31 July – 31 August. Esquire [ read more ] »
Somerset House - web site »

Andromeda revolutionizes shape. Here comes Melt Meee: the fluid dimension of light
A refined diversion for the new hand-made glass collection evoking deconstruction through sinuous figurative vortices.
Murano – Andromeda presents a new collection of chandeliers with fluid shapes, combining the most refined aspects of hand-made glass with a visionary style: a destabilization of symmetry with grand scenic presence and a delicate light-hearted appearance. Evocative right from the name, Melt Meee represents a desire for freedom and a precise conceptual choice. Through the fluidity of its silhouettes, the collection interprets the dreams of our era, a time when messages and desires pass through the senses and shapes in the quest for an exuberant and ironic view of reality. By deconstructing shapes and breaking down volumes, Andromeda goes to the heart of technique and remodels the appearance of an iconic symbol, identifying its essence and transforming it into an ironic and revolutionary gesture. The collection consists of four models with 3, 8, 16 and 24 lights in seven sophisticated colours designed to exalt the particular technique used to make the elements. The resulting alchemy of colour and shape is so effective that it expresses the identity of the collection- a surprising mixture of technical skill and visionary creativity. Melt Meee in fact confirms Andromeda's vocation for freedom of expression, refined diversion and a mould-breaking approach to style. The collection was designed in-house, further evidence of the company's characteristic and instantly recognizable visionary ability, discernible not in a single form of expression, but rather in its capacity to interpret the signs and formal requisites of an object, then wholly or partly reinterpret its meanings and structures. Thanks to the wealth of inflections and references determined by the multiplicity of colours and shapes, Melt Meee sometimes expresses sensuality, sometimes an ironic attitude with dreamlike overtones, sometimes a majestic scenic presence. The collection is thus able to spark dialogues with a wide range of styles and adapt to numerous contexts, from residential settings to hotels and from minimalism to neo-baroque. Melt Meee is being launched simultaneously throughout the world through Andromeda’s representatives in Venice, Miami, London, Dubai, New Delhi. [ read more ] »
Andromeda International - web site »

Thailand International Furniture Fair 2009
'IMAGINE GREEN LIVING'
The TIFF 2009 will be yet another event where the significance of ‘Green Furniture’ in Thailand will be underlined. Visitors will discover how committed and progressive Thai furniture makers are to the concept through an impressive showcase of environmentally friendly and harm-free furniture that excel in both form and function. The event will be undoubtedly Thailand’s grandest furniture fair of the year. It is a great opportunity for interested foreign buyers to keep pace with the latest innovations and designs Thai furniture industry has to offer. At this event, they will discover how progressive we are in terms of design, raw material selection, and of course, the uniqueness of Thai furniture.”
In addition to a fascinating range of furniture products on display, visitors will also be entertained by many interesting activities. The ‘Design in Thailand’ pavilion will present a host of outstanding furniture designs by leading Thai furniture entrepreneurs. The ‘Design Circle’ will be a very beneficial activity to match capable designers with furniture makers so they can work together to achieve even greater business success. Visitors will also enjoy a special exhibition showcasing outstanding designs that have won the ‘DEmark’ or ‘Design Excellence Award’... [ read more ] »
Thailand International Furniture Fair 2009 - web site »

The 4th Nitori One-House Total Coordination Competition 2009: Home Fashion Nitori
Aims of the Competition: Nitori develops products based on the concept of One-House Total Coordination Merchandising (OTCM), in which all the spaces of a house are totally coordinated. In this competition, Nitori invites the public to propose totally coordinated designs of fabrics, furniture and interior accessories that match the idea of OTCM. This competition aims to commercialize excellent designs and sell them at Nitori stores as well as discover new designers to work with Nitori. * We may not be able to commercialize the designs due to circumstances beyond our control.
Themes: We have prepared three different settings of generational and family structure as themes.
Setting 1: A family consisting of a couple in their 40s and two teenagers. They favor a moderately trendy and functional space that fits their family structure.
Setting 2: A couple in their 20s to 30s. This fashion-conscious pair favors an urban style of interior design.
Setting 3: A couple in their 50s. They are not affected by trends, and favor a conservative interior design that they wonÅft tire of. Ease of use is their priority. ... [ read more ] »
Nitori Co., Ltd. Product Design Room - web site »

Ford Thunderbird Kitchen Appliances, designed by Robert Radi, receive renewed attention
Designed in 2004 at the request of Ford Licensing and marketing executive Howard Ong, the Ford Thunderbird Kitchen Appliances commemorates the 50th anniversary of the legendary 1955 car. Thanks to Peter Pachal - Editor of DVICE and Online Editor at NBC News - the line has received renewed attention across online and printed media. You never know ... 2010 is the 55th anniversary of the Ford Thunderbird.
Ford Thunderbird kitchen appliances remind us why American cars are cool
DVICE by Peter Pachal - Editor
In the wake of the White House’s Detroit bailout, we needed a reminder of why we should have any good thoughts about American automakers. Well, we got it in the form of these awesome kitchen appliances by Radi Design, made to resemble the exterior of a beautiful 1955 Ford Thunderbird. They’re a few years old, but these sleek retro toys are still cool - just look at the analog dials on that blender! Personally, though, I want the grill. This bailout is still tragic, but at least from these designs you can see there was some point in history when U.S. carmakers were innovative and took pride in their work. Let’s hope that day comes again.
Radi Design’s Auto Inspired Kitchen Appliances
The Elite Choice
Radi Design has unveiled kitchen appliances modelled on the 1955 Ford Thunderbird. The fact that American auto companies are being bailed out by the government and hence, these kitchen appliances lend an almost nostalgic and patriotic touch. The appliances include pieces that look almost like a replica of those luxurious and classy American cars. The funniest appliance has to be the blender which comes with an analog dial. The other appliances are nothing less and sport a retro but fun look which instantly attracts you. You would no more have to deal with boring kitchen appliances. The designs seem to encourage the buyer to consider American auto again, and buy American cars when things are going so wrong with the industry. In any case, the Radi Design’s kitchen appliances take creativity and innovation to the next level and make every American proud of auto heritage. [ read more ] »
art | design | Robert Radi »
Radi Design - web site »

Dynamei, the line of instants
Between musical performance and recitation, a reflection on the flow of time through art, the work by Michela Vianello has been presented at the Murano glassworks.
Murano - 27 November 2008. The Andromeda glassworks was the venue for the world preview of Dynamei, the line of instants, the new work of art by Michela Vianello. In an enthralling evening-event, the arts were entrusted with the task of describing art. The recited word, music, gestures and manipulations were used to transmit the concepts, emotions and inspirations expressed by the artist in the work. The theatre for the performances was Andromeda's exhibition room, transformed for the occasion by a series of informal-material installations, also the work of Michela Vianello and made from such materials as sand, glass, iron, mortar and bricks. Dynamei (from the ancient Greek: the moments of now) belongs to the school of Optical Art, characterised by the relationship between dynamic tension and immobility. The work seems animated by the image of movement as pure idea, an optical effect obtained from absolutely static shapes and colours. Consisting of 2000 hand-shaped blown glass spheres in the characteristic "ballotton", striped and ribbed versions with three different diameters and nine colours, Dynamei is 3.2 m high and weighs 600 kg. But over and above its strictly artistic and aesthetic characteristics, Dynamei expresses many aspects, ranging from philosophy to science, theology and physics. The decision to use spheres, curves and lines and the recurrence of numerological aspects (4, 7 and 22) in the structure of the work is not in fact casual but rather a reference to precise theories and fundamental concepts in western scientific and philosophical research. With Dynamei, Michela Vianello looks at existence and interrogates the extreme. A meditation on time and its elements, on its flowing and fading away, using matter such as glass, made of sand, to paint a body of thought to cross the visible. Dynamei will be on display in Andromeda's exhibition room in the Calle Miotti 16 on Murano until 30 January 2009. [ read more ] »
Andromeda International - web site »