Wednesday 29 September 2010

A story from bulls and lionesses - London Fashion Week SS11



We sticked to our promise of our first visit at London Fashion Week back in February and returned filled with anticipation. We were obviously on the hunt for new gems for our boutique and attended as much as possible. From Fashion Shows like Jena.Theo ...



and Mark Fast ...



to the design exhibitions at Vauxhall Fashion Scout and NewGen!

(Man Day came up with some added value)

Of course we took our job very serious, collected cards and lookbooks (our backs still hurt from carrying bags and bags and bags full of material) and took notes ...


... but equally we made sure to enjoy the hustle and bustle of Fashion Week, especially the always entertaining people watching game!

(One of the many celebrities at LFW - Jimmy Choo)


(Hunting the hunter)
Although I can't spill the beans which designers impressed us most (but keep an eye on what's going on in our boutique), I can certainly share one of our highlights! How great are those hats?! It's not a Wolf or a Badger, but I think Henry and Cellina can pull the bull and lioness off with ease.



We had a great time and are looking forward to:


PS: Hidden in one of the pictures is quite a well known blogger. Anyone fancy a round of Where's Wally?

Friday 24 September 2010

Graduate Design Awards - The winners

On Wednesday night we had the amazing opportunity to celebrate our inaugural Graduate Design Awards at The Hospital Club.

What a night....
Expect the unexpected seems to be the most appropriate way to describe it!


The night was filled with performance art curated by Nathalie Levi including contributions from Ilka Leukefeld, Jenny Edbrooke, Jonny Reed, Levantes Dance Theatre, Marnie Hollande, Neesha Champaneria, Stephanie Douet and Tiina Tuomisto.










The evening programme was topped off with amazing live music by The Neutronics and the fantastic music/ visual combination by the VJs Airflux from Milan and DJ Rowdy Superst*r.






However, the true stars of the evening were the first winners of our Graduate Design Awards!

Our cordial congratulations to...

Domingo Rodriguez

who convinced our panel of judges with his beautiful, soft menswear collection



Victoria Delany

whose colourful candlesticks truly shined in the category Product Design



Mayuko Yamamura

whose delicate handknitted silver and mohair collar nearly "spoke for itself".

Mayuko unfortunately couldn't attend in person and her friend Toshi represented her in front of the judges and the audience.



We would like to thank our judges Anoushka Ducas of Anoushka Jewellery and co-founder of Links of London, Lucia van der Post, founding editor of Financial Times’ How To Spend It and Stephanie Wheatley previously of Alexander McQueen and Matthew Williamson, who supported Henry Graham of Wolf & Badger in choosing the winners!

Last but not least we want to say a big "Thank you" to all participating finalists...



... and everyone who came. It wouldn't have been such a wonderful evening without you!










More pictures of the night as always on Facebook and Flickr!

Friday 17 September 2010

Hunting in the City

With the start of London Fashion Week you will find them out there... the Fashionistas. Running from show to show on the hunt for the newest trends and hottest designers, but equally for the game of see and to be seen. Considering the busy schedule of cat walk shows and demonstrations, trainers would be more appropriate, but we know our priorities... We have put together our "hunting outfit" to leave Notting Hill and join the hustle and bustle of London Fashion Week.





We settled for the "Black Pagastick Skirt" from Ricardo Dourado in combination with one of the must-have items of the season, a Cape. Under this stunning "Cotton Cape with Pleated Details" by Natalie C is the "Magdalena Bodysuit" by Obey My Demand. We love how the leather sleeves give the whole outfit the certain extra. The suit without the cape will be perfect for the fashion parties at night, as the bodysuit has some more features than just the leather sleeves in stock.
If you want to have a closer look at the collection from Obey My Demand you should visit us at Saturday 25th September, when Obey My Demand will be holding a Trunk Show in our boutique!




We prefer Gil Carvalho's incredible high heels "Buzz" to trainers and can't think of any better name for those shoes. As soon as we stepped out of the boutique, we had women commenting on them!



In accordance with the our "Hunting" theme we chose the subtle "Rockwell Stud Earrings" by Macha as they reminded us of little rocks.


As soon as we had picked the outfit we knew that we have to use Tomasz's "Gun Pendant" necklace.


The finishing touch is the “Bear in Circus” ring by Eleftheria Lamprou-Karela, which adds some playfulness. It is always good to stop for a second and smile during this hectic week.


Happy London Fashion Week -we are looking forward to seeing you out there!

Obey My Demand – Magdalena Bodysuit £595
Ricardo Dourado – Black Pagastick Skirt £180
Natalie C – Cotton Cape with Pleated Details £345
Gil Carvalho – “Buzz” £520
Tomasz – Gun Pendant black & yellow £145
Eleftheria Lamprou-Karela – “Bear in Circus” ring £1370
Macha – Rockwell Stud Earrings £160

All items available in the Wolf & Badger boutique

Tuesday 14 September 2010

Tamtamtamtamtam

A quick drum roll for the finalists of our Graduate Design Awards.

We counted the votes, we reviewed the products and eventually found our final three in each category.

Congratulations to...


Fashion

Lislie Yeung
Jade Little
Domingo Rodriguez (winner of the public vote)

Products

Richard Brendon
Victorya Delany
Emily Auger (winner of the public vote)

Jewellery

Mayuko Yamamura
Jacqueline Clarke
Eva Vautier (winner of the public vote)

The finals will take place at the 22nd of September in The Hospital Club.

From 7pm onwards the 2nd floor will play host to stunning contemporary art performances curated by Nathalie Levi as well as a live music performances by The Neutronics, VJs Airflux straight from Milan and Rowdy Superst*r on the decks.

The finalists of the awards program will be displayed in the Bellini Lounge in the days running up to the event and the lucky winners will be chosen by our esteemed panel of judges including Lucia van der Post during the evening.

We wish all finalists the best of luck and are looking forward to this exciting evening!

Friday 3 September 2010

Graduate Design Awards - Public Vote

Wolf & Badger is launching its inaugural Graduate Design Awards, offering one lucky graduate from each category the chance to present and sell his/her graduate collection in our flagship boutique in Notting Hill.

(Read all the details here.)

In the last three blog entries below we proudly present you six shortlisted nominees for the categories "Fashion and Accessories", "Jewellery" and "Products".

In each category YOU have the chance to chose one nominee to present his/her collection alongside two nominees chosen by Wolf & Badger in front of a panel of industry experts in the finals at September 22nd in the Hospital Club! The designer with the most "Likes" wins this public "wild card".

Enjoy browsing through the selection... and chose wisely!

We wish all nominees the best of luck!


**** Important! Occassionally the like button on the blog seems to not work. In this case you can vote for your favourite here! ***

Graduate Design Awards Nominees - Products

**** Important! Occassionally the like button on the blog seems to not work. In this case you can vote for your favourite here! ***

Andrew Beaumont

Ceramic & Wood Collection 2010

Can crafted objects be a product of both the hand and digital technology?

This collection of work attempts to answer this question by creating a complex marriage between two very different materials, using radically different processes.

A physical relationship exists in the work that can only be realized by the coming together of handicraft and digital technology.





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Emily Auger

Emily Auger's final degree collection consists of a mixture of elaborate Perspex pieces, which have been covered in prints using a Gloss Laminate film.

With a strong passion for dance she wanted to find a way of portraying movement in design but in an unobvious way.

The prints on the Perspex pieces are created using the technique of dancing with materials under a scanner with the idea that movement can turn an aesthetically non eye-catching design into a sophisticated beautiful one.

At first glance the collection looks like an ordinary interiors set up but when looking at each piece individually the viewer is drawn into a mini world of dance.





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Julian Bond

Pixel Vases

Pixel vases are produced using a mould that is made up of over 1300 individual plaster sticks, which are moved individually to form unique moulds, unlike a normal slip casting mould which is fixed.

Once the user is happy with the design, clay slip is poured into the mould to create the final object. The clay is then fired and glazed.

The objects can take many forms but are all related due to the technique that is used to produce them.





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Sue Ae Kim

Sue Ae Kim is interested in creating narrative, satirical contemporary stories in ceramics
referring to the 18th and 19th century’s figurines in Europe. Ceramic figurines were
used for striking a conversation among people during meal time.

The subject of ‘courtship’ intrigues her by the resemblance of the 21st century’s
behaviour and intimate relationship, and also compares with the situation of how
couples meet and break up easily these days.

She is also interested in what is hidden in the behind the scene of stories in ceramic
art. The idea of English traditional flat-back figurines and back part of plates are
somewhere she can play around, and give a little of hidden surprise.




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Victoria Delany

Victoria Delany aims to challenge the boundaries of design through the creation of ultra-modern, functional domestic objects. Her trademark is her innate ability to re-create traditional items and transform them into compelling, lifelong, contemporary pieces. She achieves this through designing with a theme of simplicity, introducing splashes of bold colour and evoking an instinctive, emotional engagement between user and object.

Victoria Delany works confidently with a variety of materials including metals, woods and fabrics. She employs fine craftsmanship techniques paired with the latest technologies, often combining materials to achieve sophisticated, modern effects.



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Richard Brendon

Richard Brendon describes himself as a Kingston University product a Notting Hill local. All the objects he uses for these projects have been sourced from Portobello Road.

Reflect Collection

These highly reflective cups and saucers can be used as replacement pieces for tea sets where a piece is broken or missing. When a reflective cup is paired with an existing ceramic saucer the pattern is reflected and unites them as a pair.

Detail originals
For this project Richard has developed a technique to reglaze existing ceramic objects, keeping only a small detail from the original pattern. This revives and adds longevity to perviously unwanted and dated ceramics.




Graduate Design Awards Nominees - Jewellery

**** Important! Occassionally the like button on the blog seems to not work. In this case you can vote for your favourite here! ***


Jodie Hurst

Jodie Hurst allows herself to be affected by the scenery she sees around her, and the feelings it provokes.

Regarding growth as her inexhaustible source of inspiration, her work reflects her appreciation for nature, but with living in the big city and urban influence has sneaked it's way in.

Interaction between humankind and the natural world interests Jodie Hurst. Organic forms spring to life in her jewellery, contrasted by "plastic" man-made tones.

The sensual flowing designs attract the daring, craving attention from its audiences like the appeal between a bee and the vibrant flower growing between the cracks of concrete pavement.





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Clea Koluvek

Above all, the purpose of Clea Koluvek's jewellery is to evoke a feeling of joy and wonder.

In a time characterized by cynicism, minimalism, and conceptual art, her work is a tribute to the spiritual and aesthetic delight she experiences in the natural environment. She aims to summon the enchanted world of moon-lit forests and flower-sprinkled meadows and invite the viewer to enter into that magical space.

Inspired by Japanese art and geisha hair jewellery, the delicate silver rings, hair pins, and earrings combine subtle colour harmonies with a gracefully balanced composition.





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Eva Vautier

Reminiscene

Vautier's hybrid practice investigates the poetic possibilities of lacquer for contemporary jewellery, using a dying craft now many thousands of years old. She researches its "memory" and the multiple layers of culture and history embedded within it, to generate new identities in the realm of jewellery.

The Reminiscence Collection integrates concepts of fossils, encapsulations and erosion to evoke the memory of lacquer on both a physical and abstract level offering wearable artefacts that are unfamiliar yet desirable.

Part of this collection and future ones are developed with the great contribution and support of Lacquer Craftsmen from the Aomori Prefecture, Japan.





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Jacqueline Clarke

Caviar Collection

Jacqueline Clarke creates jewellery that is tactile, wearable, covetable.

The collection started with a pebble form, silver precious metal clay and an epoxy resin to cast and sculpt these shapes. Jacqueline started making organic shapes, filing and sanding to achieve the smooth surface and sensuous curves she requires. She wanted to add another texture, and perhaps another material - something that could play with light. Jacqueline discovered minute glass balls, and set them into the resin. The effect is surprising - it looks almost edible - hence she named it her "Caviar Collection".





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Mayuko Yamamura

We often reminisce about the past when we see, hear, smell or touch something familiar…

This collection has taken its inspiration and its concept from classic handicraft techniques, which I consider a symbol of nostalgia. I believe that the fact that an item is hand made, perhaps using inherited skills and techniques, increases the significance of the item and makes it precious.
My aim is to combine vintage textiles with textile techniques – knitting and crocheting precious metal chain - to create precious jewellery, which has interesting visual and tactile qualities.





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Vladislav Chistiakov

The author's interest is a movement that arose in humans and object interaction. During exploration, the author noticed that people often feel nervous or otherwise feeling, perform various manipulations with the objects which by default are not intended for that purpose.

The most typical example of male-is amended to finger his wedding ring, key chain pendant is monotone and reel spooled from a finger, etc.

These activities generated inspired to create jewellery collections, where they were to the denunciation, interpreted and become a key substantive meaning of bearing. Many of the natural processes, can be interpreted as a movement, it is important to find the causes and consequences. The Kinetic rings are made from silver, semiprecious stone and a magnet.




Graduate Design Awards Nominees - Fashion and Accessories

**** Important! Occassionally the like button on the blog seems to not work. In this case you can vote for your favourite here! ***


Nicola Williams

Eyewear as an accessory inspires Nicola Williams. She is intrigued by its potential to adorn the eyes and transform the silhouette of the face.

The collection celebrates the versatility of leather as a material, whilst exploring the functionality of sunglasses – inviting the wearer to wear a pair on their head or over the eyes.







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Jade Little

The collection aims to push the constraints of the intimate apparel industry and create more fashion driven control wear pieces that would be attractive to not only those who wanted them to be functional but also the fashion conscience.

Whilst developing the collection, Jade Little decided that she also wanted the line to have the versatility to carry over in to lingerie and even swimwear.

The result is an innovative new collection, which along with accompanying wooden show pieces, which are bespoke, pushes the boundaries.





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Natalie Rae Richardson

‘Well Dressed Animals’ - 2010

Inspired by the anthropomorphic artwork of artist Ryan Berkley, each of the 8 looks invokes the spirit of well-shod wildlife from Berkley's animal portraiture.

Natalie Rae’s collection depicts the wild side of human nature, showing the different elements of our daily lives – the restrained, the carefree, and the wild. Each piece has a unique balance of colours and textures invoking the individuality and humour in each animal's look. The collection also balances a fashion-forward sensibility with sustainability, using organic, ethically sourced fabrics, materials and labour.





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Yelena Loguiiko

The collection is inspired by Picasso’s “Portrait of a Woman after Cranach the Younger” and Cubist geometry, which has translated, into my garments as an eclectic twist of cubism-inspired forms that mingle with elements of Eastern European folklore, primary traditional Latvian dresses.

The collection is formed of both evening- and casual wear, with coats and jackets to mach, all designed and produced with great attention to tailoring details. The designs are defined by extended rounded shoulder lines, a boxy loose silhouette and rich draping becoming a funky meets classical.

Elegant and subtle dark tones; flannel grey, heavy burgundy, spruce yellow, antler, wan blue, silver grey and moon form the collection's chic colour palette, while wool and Mongolian wool and jersey ensure that no chilly breeze spoil a winter walk.





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Lislie Yeung

The collection:
Inspired by an albino dolphin sighting reported on CNN, Lislie Yeung was intrigued to probe deeper into the genetic condition and how albinos' captivating visuals evokes such strong emotions.

The challenge was to create a soft, ethereal, airy and delicate collection that could evoke similar moods and aesthetics as the albinos themselves.

The rarity of albinos called for the use of exotic materials that played with different textures and shades of white, blush and gradient. Custom prints, materials and buckles were designed specifically to make the collection fresh and stand out in the market. Subtle, technical details were key in the collection.






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Domingo Rodriguez

AW10/11 runs on the basis of the spine, the scaffolding lines of the human figure that everything else is built upon. Pieces echo the body creating skeletal forms created through engineered pattern cutting.

The design is streamlined to give a soft, sleek, refined finish for a collection that draws on situational elegance, consisting of pieces that have no base in any fixed history, yet are resonant of many.

A softly tailored; layered silhouette is a reflection of the fibre content and colour. The culmination of these factors create a sense of nonchalant luxury with soft lustrous fabrics and textures, cashmere, layered sleek jersey and sheers, softly blistered leather and suede.

Colours run from nude, flesh and bone through to neutral hues of dust, ash and mink.