AGENT2 Magazine

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU WITH FIBRE HAIRDRESSING

YOU MAY HAVE FAILED THE POST-CHRISTMAS DETOX, YOU MIGHT NEVER FULFIL YOUR RESOLUTIONS AND YOU PROBABLY WON’T BECOME A REGULAR AT THE GYM AFTER ALL, BUT ONE THING YOU MOST DEFINITELY CAN CHANGE FOR 2010 IS YOUR HAIR. IT DOESN’T BLOAT EVERY MONTH, IT DOESN’T PUT ON WEIGHT AND WHEN IT’S STYLED, IT WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN. GIRLS. BOYS. IF IT’S AN IMAGE OVERHAUL YOU WANT THEN LOOK NO FURTHER. The New Year is often a time of reflection. We start the year with great expectations, pinning hideous photos to the fridge as a means to motivate ourselves to avoid ...

ZIAD GHANEM – THE CULT COUTURIER

“MY DESIGNS ARE LIKE WATCHING A HOLLYWOOD MUSICAL ON ACID” This statement is fairly accurate when it comes to trying to describe Ziad Ghanem’s designs. Branded the ‘Cult Couturier’ for his eclectic mix of streetwear and couture, Ziad creates bespoke creations for clients as well as his ready-to-wear collections and his junior line, Maiden Britain. Working almost exclusively with recycled materials, he has quickly gathered a cult following and tremendous respect in the fashion industry. He has also collaborated with Topman and Firetrap and has worked alongside Random Bangle (aka accessories designer Russell Barratt), and can add Editor to his repertoire ...

TOMORROW IN A YEAR – THE KNIFE

A BIRD SINGING, THE RAIN FALLING ON LEAVES, THE WIND CARESSING BUSHES AND BRANCHES ARE SOUNDS AND MUSIC OF NATURE AND THE KNIFE WITH MT. SIMS AND PLANNINGTOROCK HAVE CHANNELED THESE MELODIES IN THE ELECTRONIC OPERA “TOMORROW, IN A YEAR”. Through the centuries nature has inspired many poets, painters, writers and musicians, who have tried to express the beauty, strength and complexity of the world around them. But these guys have gone beyond. The project was proposed by the Danish performance group Hotel Pro Forma who wanted to take on stage Darwin's “On The Origin Of The Species” and his researches about ...

LADIES GET THE TAILOR’S TOUCH

STOWERS BESPOKE TAILORS ARE INTRODUCING A LADIES TAILORING AND HAUTE COUTURE SERVICE, AT THEIR ALREADY FAMOUS STORE IN SAVILLE ROW, WITH THE LAUNCH OF THEIR HOLLYWOOD COLLECTION. There are three expert tailors at Stowers Bespoke who together bring over 120 years experience. Ray Stowers, Brian Jeffrey and Brian Pusey are supported by a number of highly skilled cutters, under-cutters and other experienced individuals. From hemming a handkerchief, to designing for royalty, there aren’t many tailoring situations this team of experts haven’t encountered. Ray Stowers has dreamed of designing womenswear for some time, but it was the closure of ladies tailoring at Hardy ...

LAMIJA SULJEVIC INTERVIEW

INSPIRED BY THE YOUTH SHE NEVER HAD, THE WAR-TORN HOMELAND FROM WHICH SHE HAD TO FLEE AND THE HANDICRAFT HERITAGE OF HER ANCESTORS, LAMIJA SULJEVIC’S FIRST-EVER INDIVIDUAL COLLECTION IS SUITABLY NOSTALGIC, YET ALSO TOTALLY FORWARD THINKING – BECOMING OF A LADY WHO HERSELF HOPES TO ONE DAY TO FLY THE “SAFE” NEST OF STOCKHOLM FOR MORE PARISIAN CLIMES. AGENT2 MAGAZINE’S ALEX JACKSON DISCUSSES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HANDMADE, CHILDHOOD AND “THE NEXT STEP” WITH THIS SWEDEN-BASED UP-AND-COMER Looking at your FW/10 pieces there seems to be quite a strong Balkan influence, a sort of Byzantine-gypsy feel – and I can’t ...

CARNABY STREET CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF FASHION AND MUSIC

CARNABY STREET IS ABOUT TO MARK ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A YEAR OF CELEBRATIONS AND EVENTS. Since the Swinging 60s this iconic street has been synonymous with cutting edge fashion, music and youth culture. John Stephen opened his first shop His Clothes in Beak Street just off Carnaby Street in 1957, which became a Mecca for mods and started its travels as the hub for male fashion. The first event launches on the 26 February until the beginning of April and is an innovative exhibition and limited edition book of the same title; ‘Carnaby Street: 1960 - 2010’. The event will be ...

WIN A SOLID SILVER BELT BUCKLE COURTESY OF DAVID WEBDALE

BEING A MAN AND FINDING UNIQUE, WEARABLE JEWELLERY AND ACCESSORIES CAN BE DIFFICULT; SOMETIMES IT’S TOO TEMPTING TO GO WITH THE MAINSTREAM HIGH-STREET PIECES EVERYONE ELSE IS WEARING. LONDON-BASED DESIGNER-MAKER DAVID WEBDALE HOPES TO HAVE THE ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM. David’s extensive range of subtle yet striking jewellery, belts and bags are designed to appeal to all styles. He creates pieces in both silver and gold and many include stunning jewels set into contemporary shapes. The cufflinks show off David’s trademark window technique; a style that stands out against the everyday knot design. His necklaces combine fashionable beads with edgy silver ...

CLASSIC COLOGNE, A SCENT OF LUXURY

ASKING THOSE WHO’VE BEEN TO COLOGNE WHAT THEY REMEMBER FROM IT WILL OFTEN BRING UP AN ASSORTMENT OF REPLIES, FOR IN THIS SMALL CITY BURSTING WITH STORIES, THERE REALLY IS AN AWFUL LOT TO SEE AND DO. AGENT2 DISCOVERS, IN BETWEEN CLIMBING GOTHIC CATHEDRALS AND SHOPPING IN THE NEW QUARTER, THAT COLOGNE ISN’T JUST YOUR AVERAGE GERMAN TOWN. RIDDLED WITH ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE, WARTIME RUINS AND 18THC BUILDINGS, IT IS THE ONE OF THE FINEST CATALOGUES OF HISTORY GERMANY HAS TO OFFER. Cologne, or Köln, as it is known in Germany, is nestled in West Germany, only an hour away from Brussels ...

DEJAN DESPOTOVIC, FULL OF EASTERN PROMISE

AT JUST 23 YEARS OF AGE, DEJAN DESPOTOVIC HAS MANAGED TO CRAM A BEYOND-IMPRESSIVE AMOUNT OF ACHIEVEMENTS INTO HIS RELATIVELY SHORT LIFE. HAVING HIS OWN ACCLAIMED DESIGNER COLLECTIONS, A SUCCESSFUL STINT WORKING AS A STYLIST ON THE SERBIAN EDITION OF ELLE, WINNING NUMEROUS INDUSTRY AWARDS AND INTERNING AT GARETH PUGH AND BIBA ARE JUST A FEW OF THE THINGS THE SERBIAN DESIGNER CAN ADD TO HIS CV. NOT BAD AT ALL FOR SOMEONE WITH ONLY FOUR YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE BEHIND HIM. But for a man whose success has been mostly down to his menswear collections, it comes as something of ...

READER OFFER – THE EXCELSIOR CITY ESCAPE

“THE EXCELSIOR CITY ESCAPE” Take some time to relax and combine your visit in Cologne with a visit to the Claudius Therme! The Claudius Therme is located in the Cologne Rhine Park and is considered to be one of the most beautiful thermal baths in Europe. With its appealing architecture based on the Roman bathing culture, the thermal bath harmonically fits into the charming parkland. Enjoy the exclusive stay at the Excelsior Hotel Ernst together with revitalizing “Sunny Day” treatments in the Claudius Therme. Program: 2 nights- stay in a superior room * * * 3 course menu in one of our restaurants including complementing beverages * * * Welcome cocktail in ...

2 COVET – MARCH 2010

UNIFORM WARES WATCHES Uniform Wares produces objects and apparel intended for everyday use by individuals with an eye for meticulous design details. Their products have an intentionally pared down form that is characterised by distinct colour. The colour of each product helps design its purpose, how it is used, what for and by whom. The Uniform Wares aesthetic has been tailored with longevity in mind, we believe that a product should have a practical permanence. Each product is designed at Uniform Wares' London headquarters. uniformwares.com PAUL SMITH FOR STELTON Arne Jacobsen's Cylinda-Line bar accessories have been around since the 1960s and the latest incarnation of ...

TWOTWENTYTWO MAKES A REAL MARK

LONDON’S LANDMARK HOTEL IS FAMOUS FOR ITS FIVE STAR OLD-SCHOOL LUXURY IN THE CAPITAL. ITS NEWEST ADDITION, RESTAURANT AND BAR, TWOTWENTYTWO CERTAINLY DOES LIVES UP TO ITS NAME, KEEPING UP ITS REPUTATION FOR IMPECABLE SERVICE IN LUXURIOUS AND STYLISH SURROUNDINGS. The basement of the Landmark Hotel is the recently refurbished home of twotwentywo, a short walk from Marylebone tube. Named after the address the hotel’s situated at – 222 Marylebone Road, you may be surprised at the light, airy space that twotwentytwo delivers. Upon entering you may be surprised by what you find. Red wooden panelling covers the walls, in keeping with ...

“INDIA” – JOURNEY TO THE LAND OF MYSTERY AND WONDER

A SEVENTY-FIVE STRONG TROUPE OF MYSTIFYING ARTISTS HAILING FROM MANY REGIONS OF THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT COME TO FRANKFURT AM MAIN UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF HIS HONOURABLE GAJ SINGH II, MAHARAJA OF JODHPUR, TO ENTERTAIN AND INSPIRE US WITH THE SPECTACULAR WORLD PREMIERE OF THE SHOW ‘INDIA’. With help of superbly innovative stage technology, Prime Time Entertainment AG transforms municipal space in the centres of European cities into a magical tent village. The huge marquee, in the perfect illusion of a palace landscape, is where the bewitching Indian culture presents itself in a whole manner of new and exciting ways. Upon entering this ...

IZMAYLOVA – THE EDGE OF DARKNESS

THE RECESSION HAS PUT PAID TO THE ASPIRATIONS OF MANY A YOUNG DESIGNER, BUT WITH 2010 SET TO BE A PHENOMENAL YEAR FOR FASHION, IT’S ONLY FITTING THAT NEW LABEL IZMAYLOVA SHOULD CHOOSE TO ANNOUNCE ITS ARRIVAL IN STYLE. WITH SEVERAL DESIGN HOUSES FORCED TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS OR COMPROMISE ON LUXURY, IT’S A RELIEF TO SEE A LABEL BRINGING A HEALTHY DOSE OF GLAMOUR BACK TO THE CAPITAL. AND GLAMOUR IS MOST DEFINITELY IZMAYLOVA’S FORTE. Founded in 2009 by native muscovite and Creative Director Antonina Izmaylova under the business direction of Parisian-born Nathanael Gam, the label resides at the highest ...

BAD ROMANCE

AS WE ARRIVE AT THE SECOND DECADE OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM, AGENT2 ASKS WHETHER WE ARE STILL A NATION OF ROMANTICS, OR IF ROMANCE REALLY DID GO OUT WITH THE RECORD PLAYER. There was once a time where the term ‘in a relationship’ meant more than just a Facebook status. Love letters were as eagerly anticipated as the text messages of today, and Valentine’s Day was not just about the number of cuddly toys to pass through Clintons’ front door in the run-up to February 14. But today, it seems as though romance might just be exclusive to the chocolate industry and ...