creative insight | Marc Ecko on The Breakfast Club

I’ve always loved Marc Ecko because he doesn’t shy away from honesty. Whether he’s analyzing his own faults or someone else’s, he always provides a genuine perspective, instead of the “ass-kissing” perspective that’s so infamous these days. Recently, he did an interview with Power 105.1’s Breakfast Club where he promoted his new book, Unlabel: Selling You Without Selling Out, and he provided great insight on his career and the fashion industry as a whole. He even touched on Kanye West’s recent cries of frustration and it was truly refreshing to hear a different interpretation of Ye’s expressiveness. Please check out the full interview below. 

Source: The Breakfast Club 

femme style | Marissa Webb Spring/Summer RTW 2014

New York’s Fashion Week arrived on September 5^th, and one of my highest show anticipations was built for Marissa Webb’s Ready-to-Wear collection. For years, I’ve been mesmerized by Marissa’s style which defines a perfect marriage between a tomboy and femme fatale. I was introduced to her by researching the designers of one of my favorite brands, J.Crew, and since then, I fell in love with her modish style of dress. So, it’s no secret that I was awaiting her 2014 Ready to Wear collection to make its debut during New York Fashion Week. The best ensembles of the collection were long-sleeve tie-blouses, paired with corsets, tutus, and/or pencil skirts. Once again, Marissa made sure to infuse both worlds of tomboy and femme fatale and I loved it. Check out footage from the show below.

Source: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

modish view | Burberry Trench

 

The last trench is a piece from Burberry's Regent Street Collection which is a limited edition trench coat collection that was made in honor of Burberry's flagship store located at 121 Regent Street in London. I have honestly fell in lust with its touch of alligator skin on the sleeves. I've said it two million times before and I'll say it again: Burberry murders all competition in the trench coat department.

Homme Style | kiryuyrik A.W.12.13

Le Bag | The Syd by Christian Louboutin

Since Christian Louboutin has transformed into an "everyone owns it" brand, it has lost a lot of its appeal to me, however, I adore this black leather backpack called The Syd. It can be worn as either a backpack or a shopping bag and there is also a large clutch attached to it for a nice accentuation. Now, this was designed for CL's men's collection but this should have been assigned to the ladies because for a man, The Syd is not a good choice...just my opinion. 

Modish View | Julius x H. Lorenzo Jacket

Julius Clothing, one of the top high-fashion specialty stores in the nation, created this dope red leather jacket exclusively for the LA based retailer, H. Lorenzo. H. Lorenzo is known for its avant-garde items that features many of the world's top designer labels and  this Julius piece is a nice addition to its inventory. Very hot. 

Fashion Speaks | Frankie Morello

When I first came across the clothing brand Frankie Morello a few seasons ago I was very skeptical. Skeptical in a sense of why in the hell do their men's collection emulate a high-fashion Italian version of Rocawear? Honestly, that is what I thought. Even more-so, with the recent release of their Spring/Summer 2013 collection, I witnessed the same thing yet now, I understand why that street element is included in some of their designs. Maurizio Modica and Pierfrancesco Gigliotti, the founders of Frankie Morello, were two mysteries for me until I came across the interview below. The interview helped me receive clarity on the streetwear facet because Maurizio advised that he grew up being a part of  Italian street culture as a performer and choreographer, so it makes sense now. The aforementioned is why I love when designers become candid in interviews about their backgrounds because it opens up a personable path for their supports to follow, which I believe is important. Check out the interview below. 

Avid Visionaries | Ayeisha Mesinger Interview

Name: Ayeisha Mesinger 

Visionary Class: Fashion | Designer  

Hometown: Los Angeles 

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Bria: What attracted you to fashion design?

Ayeisha: Sometimes I think it was temporary insanity! But I suppose most of my designs have been inspired by things I want but can not find.

Bria: Who were your fashion icons growing up as a young girl? 

Ayeisha: The Cosby characters [such as] Claire, Denise and Theo Huxtable, and Cindy Lauper are a given; and then I would say it was people like Cecily Tyson and Grace Jones who my parents loved because they were of West Indian decent. So, all very different people and characters but I think as a child I liked to observe, and it was interesting to see how such [diverse] individuals could be aesthetically appealing to such a range of people.

Bria: Who has been your largest fashion influence? 

Ayeisha: Alexander McQueen. I feel like it’s such an obvious answer these days but really, I had jaw dropping reactions to all of his shows and I admire his ability to turn his imagination into pieces of art. 

Bria:  How did you hone your design skills? Was it more through technical instruction or creative growth? 
Ayeisha: Some of this and that for sure. I designed before I went back to school for it.  I think for me, school gave me the confidence and technical skills to execute. Part of creative growth for me has been acknowledging the role that merchandising plays. You have to edit designs and you have to consider what will and won’t sell. 

Bria: What initiated the beginning of your brand Morgan Parish?  

Ayeisha: A need for a tote [bag] to drag around L.A. while I was working. I had a canvas tote that I always dragged around but I really wanted a leather one that I could beat up. This spawned the Ranch Tote, and the [creation of the] Prospect Clutch was kind of like, while I am at it, I really wish this clutch existed.

Shoe Game | Rupert Sanderson

The Hydra 

A five inch art piece. 

Chapeau | Just Don x Brooklyn Nets

Brooklyn Nets 

X

Just Don

Out of pure curiosity, I just want to know does this collaboration alter your vision of the Brooklyn Net's logo? The snapbacks are pretty ill and they do enhance the logo a little when displayed in this form but I want to know what you all think. Hit the ?uestions tab. 

Credit: Don C. 

Avid Visionaries | Alfred Lape Interview

Bria: Where are you from? 

Alfred: I grew up in and I'm originally from Seattle, WA.

Bria: How was your childhood growing up? And did you have a creative drive as a kid?

Alfred: As a child, I loved and was always into the arts. I drew cartoons a lot - Spiderman, X-Men, Calvin & Hobbes, Dragon Ball-Z, etc. I played the piano for 10 or more years. I was always into music. My brother and I would have to save our lunch money during high school and collect records and albums. I used to make houses out of cardboard as a child as well so my mother thought I would be an architect. Then in high school, I learned how to crochet hats because I would always see Lauryn Hill, Common, etc. have those crocheted beanies and at that time, you couldn't find them anywhere, and I wanted something unique. So I got into the game, making hats before I expanded into doing garments.

Bria: What first engaged you into the fashion culture? 

Alfred: From as far back to when I was 13 years old, I was into presentation and how I expressed myself with my appearance. Everything had to look a certain way. Every detail from the shirt, jacket, shoes, accessories, and even my hair cut had to be executed. I learned to cut my own hair at that age and to this day if I'm wearing my clothes and I go out, I will not go out without a haircut. It was art to me and I was the canvas to express my art. Later in life, that attention to detail would lead to sales and a strategy to promote my brand on a guerrilla level.  I was heavenly influenced by music videos also. I wanted to look like my favorite artists in the videos.

Bria: How did your clothing label, LAVSH come to fruition? 

Alfred: LAVSH was founded in 2007. I started the brand with my bestfriend, Danny Prasad, we have been friends since we were 13 years old.  LAVSH came into fruition because I would get ideas and visions and I wanted to create them. As I said earlier, I initially got into fashion by making hats in high school for fun. In college, I wanted to push myself and I became curious with creating clothes. My mom had a sewing machine and I would go to the thrift store and alter/deconstruct a garment and learn how to put it together. After awhile, I would make make my own clothes and I wore my creations, and people would ask me where they can get a piece.

From there, we started making custom pieces for people by default. There was a demand for the product, but we couldn't manufacture these cut-and-sew pieces because it would cost $200,000 to start a line. It was either quit, since we didn't have the financing or sew it ourselves. We chose to dream and sew it ourselves. 

Later I met my mentor Jacque Goldsmith when I was in Seattle and she's been in the industry for years, and worked with pioneering brands like Alphanumeric, Enyce, and MECCA. She taught me how to sew, pattern make, taught me about the industry, working with factories, etc. Then when I moved to Los Angeles, I had another mentor Rose, who worked with lines like Jeremy Scott and Brian Lichtenberg, and she expanded my knowledge as well.

I would spend 18 hours a day for 3 days [consecutively] creating a single jacket, pants, or accessories, depending on the intricacy. We would wear it out to events, tradeshows, parties, etc. Eventually, we had artists like N.E.R.D, Kid Cudi, Mayor Hawthorne, Janelle Monae, Keri Hilson, Chris Brown, Black Eyed Peas, Jeremy Scott, Shay Mitchell, Jasmine Villegas, and many others wearing LAVSH. Recently, we were even featured in last month's issue of Vogue.

Bria: LAVSH is a very distinctive brand and in my opinion it promotes a lot of individuality through the line with very assertive quotes. What inspired you to do that? 

Alfred: The LAVSH brand and customer are rebels and underdogs. We incorporated quotes and a message with the [clothing] line organically, because it was just in our nature.  We wanted to make a visual impact with each design as well as each product name. We reflect culture, real people, and we all go through the same experiences, obstacles, and challenges, so people can identify with the message.

City Lifer | Paper Frank's Mural Reveal

This past weekend I took a visit to Ginza Boutique in the Underground to check out the talented, visual artist, Paper Frank reveal his mural he created in the boutique...which is amazing. It was a nice event and I also decided to capture some city lifers in the midst of it. Dismiss judgment of my photography skills as my "on-hand" photographer couldn't participate :(  But enjoy! 

Special thanks to my city style models! 

Footwear | Turquoise Suede Slippers

Charles Philip Shanghai, of course. Yes the slipper design is simple but the intricacy of the fabric and colorway used for each slipper always entices me. Mainly because no other shoe designer is doing the same thing in such a high-quality method, within a decent price range as well. Dopeness.  

Stylecon | Entree LS Summer 2012 Collection

Concrete Jungle Collection 

Whoever conjured up the Rodman Misunderstood design deserves a round. 

It's simple...yet brilliant. 

www.entreelifestyle.com