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What to see and do at Blueprint Emporium 2010 Part 5

INDIA

CUE by Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna

Designers Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna draw inspiration from linear structures, geometrical lines, and modern art. Their look is minimal and the clothing, modern and sophisticated.

On closer look, the clothes illustrate an aesthetic which is innovative yet understated, put together with effortless finesse, and a subtly subversive twist.

Fluke Design Company

Fluke Design Company is the brainchild of Rashmi Dogra, who is an artist, product designer and a serious fashionista. Her inspiration comes from everyday life, different cultures and personalities. All her products are crafted and painted by hand, after which they are tested for durability.

Meher Kakalia

Meher Kakalia, Londoner and mother of two, has long been fascinated by her country’s shoe-making traditions. Now she designs shoes in her Brixton studio and has them all hand made in a workshop she set up in her home town of Karachi. Fusing ancient shoe-making techniques with a metropolitan aesthetic, Meher Kakalia offers hand crafted pieces of fashion which will stand the test of time.

RISA

Abhijeet Khanna started out as design assistant to Manish Arora for four years. He represented Indian Contemporary Design at Bijenkorf in 2003, a prestigious store in Amsterdam where he has showcased his collections and won many accolades. Abhijeet’s fashion-forward designs are eclectic and a synthesis of the best of east and west. They reflect strong Indian influences in terms of techniques like hand embroidery and block prints even as they exude global appeal with their modern silhouettes and palettes.

RISA is for the woman with soft, flowing hair that cascades down or is tied loose, and she smells of spices and roses and tulips. She is an eternal youth, and her adolescence never vanishes, a woman whom age forgets. Retailing at Harrods in London and Isetan in Tokyo, his designs are a global sensation.

ANTWERP, BELGIUM

Ek Thongprasert

Ek Thongprasert graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Art in Antwerp. The inspiration behind Ek’s collection is the question, “What makes something precious?” The collection is based on classic jewellery silhouettes, from the outline of crown jewel necklaces to simple chains. The work maintains original silhouettes but discards conventional details, drawing instead on colour-dyed fur and exaggerated sizes to replace conventional high-priced materials.

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

Iommé

lommé is a Scandinavian accessory brand, whose bags are designed by two Danish designers. lommé bags are crafted from self-developed materials. The canvas is hand-coated and randomly quilted by experienced lomme designers from Copenhagen, Denmark. The materials are then hand-treated with natural oils to ensure they age with an elegant sheen, as seen in fine leathers. As such, the material is water-resistant and easy to maintain. lommé uses high quality Swiss-made riri zippers, stainless steel hardware, fine grade A buffalo and goatskin leathers, and hand-braided cow leather crafted by lommé's local leather smith. Each bag is unique, just like it's owner, and made in lomme's private workshop.

HONG KONG

Johanna Ho

Johanna Ho graduated from Central St Martins in London with both Undergraduate and Masters Degrees in 1997. Her graduation show was highlighted by the then London Times Fashion Editor Iain R. Webb as one of the top new talents of the year. Soon after graduation, Johanna launched her own label. Her first
ready-to-wear collection was shown at London Fashion Week and bought by Barneys NY.

Subsequent collections were sold to around 30 retailers internationally including Via Bus Stop, Takashimaya, Seibu, Browns, Harrod’s, Meyer, Lane Crawford Hong Kong and D-Mop Hong Kong.

LOS ANGELES

Android Homme

Android Homme products are designed to metaphorically reflect that all humans are inherently programmed beings, similar to robots and computers. Android Homme challenges the public to reformat, encouraging the installation of new software that produces better individual and collective results. The logo inspiration of the pyramid derives from the divine proportion, the physical nature that
keeps the harmony and unity of the universe. The ascension points towards the creator or your higher self. It represents the mind, body, and spirit, all of which keep us conscious.

Fall 2010 will additionally mark the premiere of low-tops into the collection including the Apollo, an allleather low-top available in Red and Gray/White. Additionally, the Craft Lo, available in a variety of high end materials. The Craft Lo and Craft Hi feature a leather toecap, but the Hi, as well as all the seasons accessories, are offered in one colourway, Black. The moccasin inspired Moc-1 is available in similar high end materials.

MELBOURNE

Yeojin Bae

Yeojin Bae creates clothes with a distinctive mix of sophisticated wearability yet still effortlessly cool.The collection is edited down to become a seasonal capsule wardrobe highlighting the designer’s love of refined tailoring with meticulously detailed dresses. Having graduated from the Whitehouse School of Fashion in 1992, Yeojin went on to work as a senior designer for many Australian labels including Saba and Charlie Brown as well as internships in New York with Marc Jacobs and Anna Sui. In late 2006 designer Yeojin Bae unveiled her self-titled label and her capsule collection of dresses to an enviable list of stockists worldwide, including Barneys in New York, Liberty and Matches in London, and Sauce in Dubai.

In March 2007, Yeojin was awarded the Tiffany and Co Young Designer of the Year award in Australia. This was followed by Marie Claire awarding Yeojin the “One to Watch Award”. The UK Sunday Times selected Yeojin Bae as the only Australian among an international list of boutique brands to watch. Yeojin has been featured in UK Vogue, UK Harpers Bazaar,US Elle, Harpers Bazaar Dubai, Australian Vogue and Russh. In March 2008 Yeojin opened her first retail venture, a lofty salon style Showroom in Prahran, Melbourne in which she can showcase her full collection in more intimate and personal surroundings.

HOSSEGOR, FRANCE

Pull-in
Pull-in started out as innerwear for extreme sports, and has since evolved into an innerwear brand for men, women and children. The range of Pull-in innerwear runs the gamut from underwear to leggings. It is renowned for its colourful and punchy prints, high quality material, finish, and cut, as well as its inventive elastic bands – which combine as an unrivalled product, released in 4 collections a year.

PARIS

Surface To Air

In the late 90’s Surface To Air consisted of a group of friends who wanted to work on projects they liked. Year after year, the team grew into a multidisciplinary company spanning across creative domains such as fashion, graphics, photography, design, music, films. Today each facet of the company develops its
own activity but always within the Surface To Air vision, that is, to offer a modern interpretation of classic and technical garments.

<< BACK: Exhibitors of Blueprint Emporium 2010

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