Last week I got to sit down with my friend Mel to talk about her new project mdlabl. I have known Mel for a lot of years and I think this new undertaking is not only representative of her and her style but also a sweet blend of NY and LA fashion.
Ian-So how did you get into clothing design?
Mel- I've always been into fashion as an art form and not just some fleeting superficial business, so I decided to quit the 4 year university route and go to Fashion School even though everything I was brought up to believe was completely opposite of what I was about to embark on.
So I packed up and moved to LA to do the fashion program at FIDM - having NO experience making clothes, I was sort of discouraged. but like all things, you learn and you figure it out. and here I am - trying to make my mark as a designer w/ art always in mind.
Ian- For someone so fashion conscious I would not have guessed this was your first venture into creating it from scratch.
Your new line is looks great, is there a theme throughout it or is it more of an amalgamation of lots of different looks you've been working on?
Mel- This particular collection was inspired by Issue 2 of Love Magazine based out of the UK (autumn/winter). The issue was called New Blood featuring like 100 young up-and-comers in art, fashion, music, movies, etc. The editorials captured them with the kind of wild in their eyes that makes you want to be right there and a part of it all. It made me think of "the fearless youth" and how limitless that lifestyle is. So the branding and styling of the whole shoot for my first look book was sort of based on that same irreverent attitude.
Ian-I like it sort of a rebel, free form punk rock approach to fashion. You mentioned the British influence, is there any designer/musician/artiest who influences your work?
Mel- I love Burberry Prorsum. There's something about the clean lines, hard-edged menswear inspired design that's just so bad ass. It's like British Punk meets Gentlemen's club. Picture a couple with a death hawk haircuts and tats wearing sharp trench coats. Yes, Please.
London itself is a huge inspiration to me - and I've never actually been there, but the fashion/music/art that comes out of that place has a dark quality about it that I really respond to. Maybe due to their weather?
Ian-I can definitely see that. So whats the long term goal of mdlabl do you picture yourself as a standalone web boutique or could you see your line being picked up by a department store or even ending up somewhere in the middle?
Mel- I want to start out small - sell to high-end specialty boutiques at first and actually use really smart marketing to build a brand that people want to be a part of but one that still feels super exclusive. I feel like once I achieve that, the sky's the limit. I know commercialism is so out right now *wink wink, but I wouldn't mind it if MD:LABL actually blew up and I started showing in NY and Paris among the best of them. That's the dream, but for now - I'm happy being an LA-based brand just trying to make it honest.
Ian- Right on, thanks for letting me interrupt your busy day. Any parting words of wisdom?
Mel- um..more of a request, really. To anyone that does art, whatever the form: Just put mad love, good energy, and heart into everything you make and the world will be less shitty because of you.
I finished a book a while back by Rob Sheffield called "love is a mix tape". Great read, you can breeze through it on a 4 hour plane ride. In the book Sheffield recounts his lost love and the mix tapes (remember those things) they made for each other. He also mentioned a band that a bunch of my friends have been trying to get me into. Even though the guitar player kind of looks like Dwight from the office these guys are great and the new album is solid front to back.
I was over on Bobby Hundo's blog and he had a post featuring the new "Sleigh Bells" jam. Hard to believe the guitarist used to shred for "Poison the Well ". Enjoy
The first week back just wouldn't be complete without a posting about Ken Block. Make sure you come back because we are going to have a couple surprise guests stopping by next week and some exclusive content from mdlbl.
Early in my career I was so desperate for work that I would see how difficult a potential client would be and regardless I would take the work (dooming myself to designer purgatory for the next 3 months). This lead to me being very picky about the type of projects and clients I take on. Let the client know what they can expect from you and be clear on what you expect from them. Here are a few videos to consider before you take on new clients.
Hey guys, did you miss me? Well I missed you big time. I don't usually let you in on my personal life but I feel I owe you an explanation for my leave. I recently got married to my long time girl friend and we spent a few weeks in Hawaii. On the flight out I was playing with my Ipad and came across this ad. Though I find the paper to be a bit pretentious and to arty even for me. However the ad was so awesome and I loved this guy in "I heart Huckabee" that I'm going to give it a go.
Haven't played the game yet but this trailer is super creative.
Serge Birault is a breath of fresh air. In a world where "Pin Up" has been limited to hot rod chicks and skull tattoos Serge has been able to put his own unique spin on the iconic scantily clad ladies. Check out more of his stuff over at geekiz.
Just sent Sushi Ito their new menus and I'm pretty happy with the end result. Keep those Fire Rolls coming you guys.
I love summer (even though its taking its sweet ass time getting here) the beach, camping and of cores breaking out the old BBQ. I have seen this BBQ popping up in all kinds of industrial design zines lately. Its kind of refreshing to see something so functional get a slick re-design.
Like most designers I keep a folder of random images that I have saved over the years. Most of these are used as inspiration for color or composition, others are just for pure amusement. I thought I would share a few of them with ya'll.
The brand spanking new Hurley )( Space Gallery opens its doors this weekend in Costa Mesa, Ca. Check out what they have lined up for their first event. Truck full of books, lots of paint and a huge new space, sounds like a recipe for a good opening.
WB just released some shots of the costume they will be using in the up coming Captain America "The First Avenger" movie. It would have been pretty easy to cheese this one up with tassels or blue scale armor, good job keeping it real.
I saw this over on the Known Blog and thought it deserved a re-post:
As we've been reporting over the past week, our friend Banksy was nice enough to come to LA, hang out for a week, premiere his new film, and make some street art for the ENTIRE community to enjoy.
BAD NEWS…
The Banksy painting was removed from it's original location at 410 S. La Brea Ave. yesterday morning.
Now, In this exclusive video sent to JetSet Graffiti anonymously by “a friend of the artist”, the removal process has been captured. The million dollar question we’re about to answer? Who did it?
JetSet Graffiti has confirmed through a business partner of Banksy's that it was the infamous Doug Christmas of Ace Gallery in Los Angeles that organized the removal and impending unauthorized sale of the artwork.
Famous for treating his bills as if they didn't exist; Since 1976, Christmas has been sued 55 times by artists, other dealers and art collectors, according to a profile in 2009 in the LA Weekly.
According to the source of the anonymous video, "I asked the workers what they were doing with it, and they said they were hired to remove it, and that it would go into a 'big collection of art'. We now know that this piece is currently being offered for sale through Ace."
Our take on this mess? Glad you asked:
"Do NOT support this sale; the artist never confirmed the work was his, and the piece is now considered counterfeit. Look, if these wealthy gallerists and collectors are going to try and use an artist's hard work to make money, they will do it on his terms, not off his back. It makes sense for the artist to distance himself from the work now. Banksy never confirmed it was his to begin with, so Ace Gallery and every other greedy art-star fucker can piss off. The irony of it all is that the boys who play the "art is exclusive" BS game so well are now being pushed out by their own rules of engagement so they have to resort to "stealing" the work. They can own the art all they want; but they'll never own the street." -Daniel Lahoda, Owner, www.jetsetgraffiti.com
The Ghostvillage Project was created over 3 days on the west coast of Scotland. 6 artists - Timid, Remi/Rough, System, Stormie Mills, Juice 126, Derm - were given free reign to paint in an abandoned 1970s village. Working together on huge collaborative walls and individually in hidden nooks and crannies all over the site the artists realised long held dreams and were inspired by the bleakness and remoteness of the site. Drawing on the history of the village the artists' stated intent on completion of the project was to populate the ghostvillage with the art and characters that it deserved.
Here in San Diego we have had a lot of success and heart break (winning our division 5 straight years but never getting to the big game). There seems to be a lot to root for these days. Even though we lost LT we picked up a promising running back in Mathews and we are closer to a new stadium than ever. GO BOLTS
Last night my buddy Matt hooked it up with a double feature of Iron Man 1 and 2. I have to say I went in with low expectations, I mean whiplash? a B villain in a follow up to an origin story? I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Not only did it exceed expectations but there is a sneak peak for you hard core nerds of Marvels next movie.
I decided to see how far I could get through a new clients web site in a 6 hour shift. I went from concept to putting it up live; and I'm pretty excited how it turned out.
Design is a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Here is one opinion.
Iv been working on the blog consistently for the past few months. Over that time Iv been paying closer attention to other blogs and sites in general. Iv been trying to find out what makes me go back consistently, how often they up date, what sets the content apart, that sort of thing. I just saw this interview with the creator of the Oatmeal, Mathew Inman, I think it sheds a bit of light on the subject.
The first time I herd Bankseys name was an interview with Sheppard, he called his work the most beautiful vandalism he had ever seen. Banksey has always been more message less medium more philosopher than artist and I feel like that punk rock spirit comes through in this movie. Enjoy the sneak peak.
I do a lot of work for non-profit clients. It balances out the more corporate projects I take on and leaves me feeling like Im helping people rather than selling "stuff" to them. I just got done working on WeAllTest.com, the project is about trying to raise awareness for the growing STD numbers we are seeing in California. Specifically we wanted people to sign up to receive reminders to get tested on a regular basis through an automated text message system. Check it out.
Mumford and Sons have been getting more and more play here in SD but there album has been high on the Euro charts for months. Here is the first single (Little Lion Man). On a side note Iv been toying with the idea of picking up the banjo.
Your old 8-bit video games are back and pissed you haven't played with them since getting your PS3. Nice work Patrick.
