Christopher Conn Askew

GRAPHICS: CHRISTOPHER CONN ASKEW

Words by MPDClick’s Graphics Trend Researcher.

“Christopher Conn Askew has unveiled an exciting new exhibition at the Merry Karnowsky Gallery in Los Angeles, CA which signifies an interesting new direction for future graphic trends.

Having mastered his craft as a tattoo artist and illustrator, Conn Askew went on to the world of fine art and with it he brought a fresh style and approach – referencing his tattoo art heritage and his ability to create unique and original design. The resulting collection has a distinctly Russian/Eastern European aesthetic to it, not least the vintage Russian tattoo styling but also with the use of cyrillic characters.

His collection, ’96 tears’ demonstrates his beautiful use of dark, propagandist colours blended with deep emotion and rich symbolism. The style is mystical with such creations as flower like creatures and masked women contributing to an overall feeling that borders on the sinister and even slightly aggressive, while still retaining an unquestionable ethereal beauty.”

via MPDClick :: Global Fashion Intelligence :: trends :: trend journal :: graphics: christopher conn askew.

 

British Fashion Awards 2011

BFC unveils new category for the British Fashion Awards

Jonathan Saunders, Christopher Kane and Erdem have been revealed as nominees for the new category, New Establishment Award, at the British Fashion Awards. The category recognises brands which have surpassed being emerging designers and are growing into dynamic businesses with a global reach. Chosen by a panel of industry experts, this year’s nominees were selected for their stand-out shows this year, their business growth, dominance in red carpet dressing and the international headlines driven by their collections. The winner will be announced at the British Fashion Awards tonight.

website: www.britishfashionawards.com

via Fashion Monitor: News – BFC unveils new category for the British Fashion Awards.

“Designer of the Year, the ultimate accolade, recognises a leading British based designer brand of couture, ready-to-wear, knitwear or accessories that has directed the shape of fashion in the past year and elevated their international reputation. The award is hotly contested this season between nominees Christopher Kane, Erdem and Sarah Burton for McQueen.”

Thanks to MPDClick for this report “

“A recent interview with Sarah Burton on Nowness.com revealed details on the fashion houses design process and influences for the spring/summer 12 collection, proving MPDClick’s trend predictions for the season.

Burton explained how the initial theme is created just how Lee Alexander McQueen used to work – creating a world, a story, which is then developed within the signature house style. She also explained how she finds it amazing how designers do share underlying themes, in this case for spring/summer 12, underwater. This is a trend MPDClick predicted back in 2010 titled Water Footprint, through comprehensive economic, lifestyle, environmental and social analysis.

Sarah Burton talked through how some of the garments were made, detailing the mathematical process of production to create such dramatic effects. This method was another key indicator, again proving our predictions shown in our autumn/winter 11/12 trend Innovate which talks about the use of scientific and mathematical methods to produce complex patterns. ” for images and more see  MPDClick trend journal

Post Update 29th November 2011:-

Sarah Burton wins at British Fashion Awards
Last night, November 28, saw the British Fashion Council announce the 2011 British Fashion Award winners, with Alexander McQueen’s Creative Director Sarah Burton (pictured, left) taking home the prize for Designer of the Year. Other winners on the night were: Victoria Beckham, who scooped the prize for Designer Brand of the Year; Christopher Kane, who won the New Establishment Award; Mary Katrantzou was awarded the Emerging Talent – Womenswear accolade; while Christopher Raeburn received the award for Emerging Talent – Menswear. The full list of winners is available online.

 

Lemontree – University of Huddersfield

Lemontree is a game specifically for Huddersfield University Library!  https://library.hud.ac.uk/lemontree/

Firstly, grab your library card… next create a Lemontree account then just use the library like you normally would. We’ll give you points and achievements based on your activity!

How it worksLemontree automatically gathers information about your activities within the library when you link it to your library card.So when you visit library, when you bring books back or even when you log in to an e-resource, your actions — provided you’ve registered with us —will register on Lemontree and earn you points! During the week Lemontree will show your progress visually.

via Lemontree – University of Huddersfield.

Exhibition – Power of Making

A V&A and Crafts Council exhibition
Crafts Council is supported by Arts Council England

6 September 2011–2 January 2012

The Porter Gallery
Room 48
Admission free

“The V&A and Crafts Council celebrate the role of making in our lives by presenting an eclectic selection of over 100 exquisitely crafted objects, ranging from a life-size crochet bear to a ceramic eye patch, a fine metal flute to dry stone walling. Power of Making is a cabinet of curiosities showing works by both amateurs and leading makers from around the world to present a snapshot of making in our time.

The exhibition showcases works made using a diverse range of skills and explores how materials can be used in imaginative and spectacular ways, whether for medical innovation, entertainment, social networking or artistic endeavour.

Making is the most powerful way that we solve problems, express ideas and shape our world. What and how we make defines who we are, and communicates who we want to be.

For many people, making is critical for survival. For others, it is a chosen vocation: a way of thinking, inventing and innovating. And for some it is simply a delight to be able to shape a material and say ‘I made that’. The power of making is that it fulfills each of these human needs and desires.

Those whose craft and ingenuity reach the very highest levels can create amazing things. But making is something everyone can do. The knowledge of how to make – both everyday objects and highly-skilled creations – is one of humanity’s most precious resources.”

 

 

 

Via About the exhibition – Victoria and Albert Museum.

print & pattern: EXHIBITION – marcus walters

thanks to print & pattern: EXHIBITION – marcus walters. for this link

“‘unplanned magic’ is a new exhibition by marcus walters currently taking place at the material gallery in ludlow, UK. ‘unplanned magic’ is also running concurrently at blackbough (also in ludlow) and featuring work by marcus’ fellow screen print artist kate gibb. they have created some collaborative prints by over-printing each others work and they have also produced a limited range of hand sewn notebooks and hand printed tea towels which are available in store at the exhibition and online in marcus’ shop.”

 

 

Frieze Art Fair

This weekend sees the last 2 days of the Frieze Art Fair which features over 170 of the most exciting contemporary art galleries in the world. The fair also includes specially commissioned artists’ projects, a prestigious talks programme and an artist-led education schedule. 13–16 October 2011

via Visitor Information | Frieze Art Fair.

The Rugby Tweed Run

THE RUGBY TWEED RUN

“Vintage has made such a huge impact on the way we dress and always sneaks its way onto our catwalks even if just a hint of detail but it has also changed the way we spend our time and what better way to spend your day than at the ‘Tweed Run’.The ‘Tweed Run’ is a metropolitan bike ride introduced for one reason only ‘style not speed’. The first ever ride was held in London 2009 by ‘Fixed Gear and Single Speed’, an online cycling forum. Since the success of the first bike ride, the ‘Tweed Run’ has been used in similar formats all over the world from Chicago to Sydney and this year see’s New York the proprietor of the tradition today Saturday 15th October 11. All American designer Ralph Lauren has taken on the classic event renaming it ‘The Rugby Tweed Run’ after his dapper Heritage range. The American designer believes that New York  needs to up the ante when it comes to vintage style, so get ready to see participants riding around the city in their best dressed 1930’s and 40’s inspired outfits. Although it is not essential that the bikes must be vintage, the tradition of the run has always seen some of the best antique cycles from fixed wheels, old Brompton’s and penny farthings. The big day will be formed of a 12 mile bike ride, afternoon tea and a gin filled after ride party in Brooklyn….” Read on at MPDClick :: Global Fashion Intelligence :: trends :: trend journal :: event: the rugby tweed run.

Top draw! Graduate’s design skills wow major store chain

“The design flair of a talented University of Huddersfield student has caught the eye of one of the biggest names on the high street.

Not only has retail giant Wilkinson’s awarded a £1,000 prize to new graduate Laura Davenport, after she exhibited her work at a major show in London, but it has also begun talks with the 22-year-old, aiming to use her designs and develop new ideas.

It means that within months, Laura could see designs from her award-winning portfolio reproduced on fabrics and ceramics in some of the UK’s most popular stores.

“It would be absolutely fantastic to go into a branch of Wilkinson’s and see some of my designs on sale. It feels great to be recognised and rewarded at the same time!” said Laura.

She describes her style as illustrative with a quirky edge and likes to incorporate different themes into her designs – nautical and floral influences have recently found their way into her work.

Laura has just graduated from one of the University’s most popular courses, in textile design for fashion and interiors. It might be a cutting edge course, using computer technology, but it has deep roots in Huddersfield’s long tradition of education and training in textiles, to meet the needs of local industry.

Every year, a group of the most promising students on the course are chosen to take their work to a London showcase event named New Designers. Laura had some of her latest designs on display, in a category sponsored by Wilkinson’s. She was awarded the first prize and the company immediately began to discuss future projects.

“Laura has beautiful drawing skills, which Wilkinson’s immediately picked up on,” said her course leader, Nicola Redmore. “She had a lovely, fresh collection on display and Laura is a very commercial designer, in the best sense of the term. She is very grounded and knows what will appeal to the public. She is definitely one of our most promising students”.

A feature of the textile design for fashion and interiors course is that students create their designs – using both computers and traditional skills – and then follow them through to production and accompany the finished product with a marketing statement.

Also, the majority of the students take up the opportunity to go on work placement for part of the course. Laura Davenport had placements with two Cheshire-based textile firms and she is convinced that the experience is a factor in her success.

Nicola Redmore said that the emphasis on work placement was an important element in high employability rates among ex-students and those who took up the option tended to come out with the best degrees.

Laura, who lives in her native Stockport and comes from an artistic family, is now embarking on her career as a designer and after her early taste of  success she might consider working as a freelance designer.”

via.hud.ac.uk  see also the report on the New Designers Website 

Nail It – Graduate impresses in national exhibition

DIY tool attracts national retailer. A Product Design student from the University of Huddersfield has wowed major companies at a national exhibition, landing an award and production contract. Martin Jordan, who has recently graduated with a first-class degree, showcased his final year project at the New Designers Exhibition in London, and caught the eye of one of the nation’s major retailers.Martin’s safety-conscious DIY invention took the show by storm, earning him the New Designers Wilkinson Award for Product Design and the recognition of major retailer Wilkinson. Indeed, so impressed were Wilkinson – the judges of the New Designers competition – that they have offered Martin the chance to produce his new tool.

Called Nail It, Martin’s product is a culmination of a year’s worth of research and design, concentrating on a DIY tool from a wide and extensive brief. The concept of the tool is to aid hammering a nail which is self standing, to avoid injury and improve quality.

for more on this story follow this link

 

Fabric trends at Textile Forum

“Fabric trends at Textile Forum August 09, 2011.
UKTextile Forum is staged at The Music Room in London during October 19-20. Fabrics woven and knitted from natural fibres will be even more evident at the October Textile Forum as new exhibitors British Alpaca Fashion, Johnstons of Elgin and The Merino Company join for the first time. “This season the emphasis is very much on natural and fancy fabrics with lace particularly prominent as the impact of the Royal Wedding shows no signs of abating. Visitors will also be able to see the upcoming trend for fabrics with a 3D effect,” says organiser Linda Laderman. “Textile Forum will also capitalise on the resurgence in demand for British-made fabrics, popular for their heritage status.”At Filtex the 3D effect is created with embroidery and Michaels Bridal Fabrics also has fabrics with this effect. According to Alan Litman in the aftermath of the Royal Wedding crochet still continues to be incredibly popular and floral laces with brushed lace is defining the new winter bridal collections.A strong range of cottons from Acorn and Ringhart, fine mens and womens wools and cashmeres from Holland & Sherry, tweeds from Marling & Evans, merino wool knits from JT Knitting and The Merino Company, buttons from R & B Accessories and exotic leathers from G H Leathers are among the extensive collections available at the October exhibition.”

via UK : Fabric trends at Textile Forum – Textile News UK.