ZED EYE IS REINVENTING AFRICAN FASHION
THE WORLD CUP MAY BE OVER, BUT AFRICA IS HAVING A LONG-LASTING IMPACT ON FASHION. Tribal Romance, the spring/summer 2010 offering from label Zed Eye is a new take on the ethnic trend, a courtship between tribal prints and chiffons, satin, cotton and floral patterns. “The combinations, although unusual and unexpected, manage to work together as they woo each other and indeed the audience into believing they should be together,” says the creator of the line, Nigerian-born designer Ngozi Pere-Okorotie, 27. “I always play around with differences in fabrics, colours, textures and patterns. “I have always wanted to integrate African prints to my collection ...
BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL – AFRO HAIR AND BEAUTY SHOW 2010
OVER THE SPRING BANK HOLIDAY THE 29TH ANNUAL AFRO HAIR AND BEAUTY SHOW WAS HELD AT THE CONTEMPORARY BUSINESS DESIGN CENTRE, ISLINGTON, LONDON. THE BLACK HAIR AND BEAUTY INDUSTRY IS WORTH MILLIONS OF POUNDS YEAR, YET GO INTO ANY MAINSTREAM BEAUTY OUTLET AND YOU’LL BE HARD PUSHED TO FIND SPECIFIC RANGES FOR NON-WHITES. AS A RESULT OF THIS UNDER-REPRESENTATION, EACH YEAR HUNDREDS ‘ETHNICALLY FOCUSED’ COMPANIES BECOME EXHIBITORS AND SET UP STALL PROMOTING PRODUCTS THAT, BY AND LARGE, ARE AIMED AT THE EVER GROWING AFRO-CARIBBEAN/BLACK/MIXED CONSUMER POPULATION. This year the show’s buzzword was diversity. Gone are the days when the choice of ...
GRACE AND STYLE
MILLIONS OF WOMEN MAY GIVE ALL THE LUXURY LIPSTICKS IN THE WORLD TO LOOK LIKE HER TODAY, SO IT’S PERHAPS PARADOXICAL THAT THE ELEGANT LOOK THAT GRACE KELLY PULLED OFF WAS ALL APPARENTLY DOWN TO A VERY EFFORTLESS APPROACH. The late actress and princess applied a similar simple attitude to her wardrobe as the set of values that she lived her life by. Her style is currently the subject of a Victoria & Albert museum exhibition that was nearly two years in the making. It will probably turn out to be the most popular one ever held in the museum’s Fashion Gallery ...
LUCY ROYLE’S CLINICAL FASHION
LUCY ROYLE, A MANCHESTER-BASED, LEEDS-EDUCATED BRITISH DESIGNER SHOWED HER GRADUATE COLLECTION DURING GRADUATE FASHION WEEK LAST JUNE. INSPIRED BY THE MEDICAL TEXTBOOK GRAY'S ANATOMY, ANATOMICAL DRAWINGS AND SKELETAL AND MUSCULAR STRUCTURES, HER FIRST SHOW WAS REPRESENTATIVE OF HER BACKGROUND. LYDIA MILLIGAN MET WITH THE DESIGNER TO DISCUSS SPINE AND STYLE. Your final collection, inspired by the medical world, was beautiful. Where did the idea spanned from? My dad is a doctor and my mum is a nurse so growing up, I was surrounded by a lot of medical books. For my final collection, I though it would be really nice to ...
AGENT2 HAD A FIELD DAY
LAST WEEKEND SAW THE SAHARA DESERT DUSTY VICTORIA PARK IN EAST LONDON HOST THIS YEAR’S FIELD DAY. PEOPLE WERE OUT IN THEIR DENIM AND SUN HATS BRAVING BEING BURNT IN THE OPEN MEADOW. A HORIZON OF CHECKED SHIRTS MET YOU AS YOU WALKED IN AND OUT OF TENTS FOR SOME SHADE AND SOMEONE TO DRINK YOUR BEER WITHOUT GETTING A MOUTHFUL OF DUST AND STRAW. JENNY BUTLER OF AGENT2 MAGAZINE LOOKS AT A RUNDOWN OF THE BEST BANDS ON OFFER AND ALL THE DAY HAD TO OFFER. When I got through the rather lengthy ticket queue just to get into another ...
THE TRAVELLING BAND – THE HORIZON, ME AND YOU
SINCE THEIR FORMATION OVER THREE YEARS AGO, THE TRAVELLING BAND HAVE TAKEN INFLUENCES FROM ACROSS THE BOARD TO CREATE THEIR OWN BLEND OF PSYCHADELIA, FOLK, BLUES, COUNTRY AND POP. INDEED A DIFFICULT BAND TO PIGEONHOLE, BUT WHAT’S THE FASCINATION WITH LABELLING EVERYTHING WE HEAR? THEIR MUSIC CAN BE INTERPRETED IN ANY NUMBER OF WAYS; A QUALITY WHICH MAKES THIS BAND SO INTERESTING AND PROBABLY THE REASON WHY THEY’VE CREATED SUCH A LOYAL FAN BASE NATIONWIDE. A CERTAIN HONESTY IS PRESENT IN THEIR WORK. 2010 is proving to be an exciting year for TTB. Having completed a string of U.K dates including ...
MEET FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER MICHAEL DAVID ADAMS
NEW YORK-BASED FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER MICHAEL DAVID ADAMS, 35, ORIGINALLY FROM PENNSYLVANIA, SPILLS HIS SNAP HAPPY BEANS ON LIFE AS A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER, A QUICK CAREER CHANGE FROM AN ORCHESTRA CONDUCTOR AND HOW IT FEELS TO CALL THE BIG APPLE HOME. HIS WORK HAS BEEN FEATURED IN PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING VANITY FAIR ITALY, MARIE CLAIRE CHINA, VOGUE NIPPON AND QVEST. Your work has a very strong feel. Do you plan for it or does it just happen? I do plan certain things with shoots: the flow of the days shot list, how the makeup and hair and styling work together when working with creative ...
THE DOLL HOUSE JEWELLERY
HELEN TURTON HAS JUST LAUNCHED THE DOLL HOUSE, AN INDEPENDENT JEWELLERY COMPANY. EVERY PIECE IS INDIVIDUALLY DESIGNED, SOURCED AND HANDMADE USING DOLLHOUSE MINIATURES, CREATING A UNIQUE, KITSCH LOOK. ALMAZ OHENE MET HER TO CHAT ABOUT HER INSPIRATION, HER BUSINESS PLANS AND WHY SHE DIDN’T GIVE ALMAZ A PIECE FOR HER BIRTHDAY; SEE, ALMAZ AND HELEN GO WAY BACK... We meet at a Sheffield bar. Helen orders pink fruit beer for both of us while I admire her outfit. She’s wearing... well, she places her hands in front of her on top of the bar, so that I can see her ...
SIX SCENTS: THE SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS
AFTER THE TRIUMPH OF THEIR FIRST SET OF FRAGRANCES, SERIES ONE, SIX SCENTS GOT THEIR NOSES STUCK IN TO CREATING NEW WAYS OF TANTALISING THE SENSES. AGENT2 Magazine’s Jennifer Butler speaks to Kaya Sorhaindo about uncovering the lost art of engaging with perfumes, and how creativity with a conscience has inspired the support of designers. Kaya has a very strong sense of what story she is telling with the perfumes he creates. His recent exhibition at the Markt Scope Art Show in New York was more than just a viewing for a latest line of fragrances. Visitors were encouraged to interact with ...
THE FACE
THERE WAS ONLY ONE PLACE TO SEE AND BE SEEN ON 20TH AUGUST THIS YEAR- THE FACE. MODELS, MAKE-UP ARTISTS, STYLISTS, FASHIONISTAS, DESIGNERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, PUNKS, GOTHS, YOU NAME IT- ALL DESCENDED ON THE LEGENDARY CLUB NIGHT, INCLUDING AGENT2’s VERONICA CARPIO… [caption id="attachment_4414" align="alignright" width="212" caption="AGENT2's Veronica Carpio"][/caption] Despite a brief hiatus, The Face club night returned with a bang, promising to ‘turn London back to its best with a night celebrating eccentricity, art, eclectic music, fashion and excess’. And it certainly delivered. The Green Carnation in Soho saw a night dedicated to freedom, beauty, art, eccentricity and extravaganza with renowned DJs Steve ...
WIN HAOSHI DESIGN RABBIT RING
AGENT2 BROUGHT YOU NEWS EARLIER THIS YEAR OF HAOSHI DESIGN STUDIO FROM TAIWAN AND THEIR FANTASTIC COLLECTION OF RESIN ANIMAL JEWELLERY. Haoshi Design studio wants us to acknowledge the small joys in life–that the existence of things such as animals, fruit and everyday objects are important. To honor their ideals they create collections of jewelery that will help us remember what they stand behind. We have one of Haoshi's beautiful pieces to give away. We are offering one lucky AGENT2 reader the chance to get their dainty fingers on this fabulous Rabbit Ring. To be in with a chance of winning simply enter ...
THE JACQUES TOWNHOUSE
An Alice in Wonderland world of English eccentricity, vintage glamour and bohemian mysticism entranced guests at the launch of The Jacques Townhouse, a quirky collaboration between Jacques Cider and David Carter, of award-winning boutique hotel, 40 WINKS. 1950’s attired concierge and bevy of bellboys greeted arrivals at reception to grant a key and offer guidance on the delights hidden behind each door. The basement held host to Benefit Cosmetics new Lash Couture service, while the dressing up box next door offered a suitably retro styling service. Ladies were transformed into vintage pin-ups and flash! The girls fluttered their exotic lashes ...
OMER ASIM
AFTER STUDYING ARCHITECTURE AND PSYCHOLOGY AT LONDON UNIVERSITIES, SUDANESE-BORN DESIGNER OMER ASIM THANKFULLY DECIDED TO SWITCH TO FASHION. HIS ACADEMIC BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE WITH THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND ITS PROPAGANDA FEED HIS INNOVATIVE FORAYS INTO THE FASHION WORLD. BEFORE LAUNCHING HIS OWN LABEL JUST OVER A YEAR AGO AND BEING A STAR EXHIBITOR AT LONDON FASHION WEEK’S ON|OFF, ASIM LEARNT THE TRADE AT VIVIENNE WESTWOOD AND AS PART OF THE COSTUME TEAM FOR THE HARRY POTTER SAGA. After studying architecture as an undergrad, you were going to do a post-graduate degree in psychology before switching to fashion design. ...
ROSSO – DINING THAT WON’T LEAVE YOU SEEING RED
SITUATED ON MANCHESTER'S PRESTIGIOUS KING STREET, ROSSO HAS RECEIVED A SOMEWHAT LUKEWARM RECEPTION TO THE CITY'S EVER GROWING PORTFOLIO OF ITALIAN RESTAURANTS. THIS IS NOT TO SAY THERE HASN'T BEEN A GREAT DEAL OF INTEREST SURROUNDING IT; WITH THE CO-OWNER BEING MANCHESTER UNITED STAR RIO FERDINAND AND THE COUNTLESS STORIES CIRCULATING OF CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS. WOULD THE POSSIBILITY OF DINING IN THE SAME ROOM AS BILLY ZANE (AS SEEN ON THEIR WEBSITE) BE ENOUGH TO RATE ROSSO AMONGST MANCHESTER'S MANY CREDIBLE EATERIES? HAD THEIR SEVEN MONTHS OF OPENING ALLOWED FOR ANY TEETHING PROBLEMS TO BE SMOOTHED OUT? AGENT2 WENT TO ...
DIANE GEVORGIAN: “MY CLOTHES ARE WORKS OF ART”
METAL ROOSTER AND LADY GAGA INSPIRE DIANE GEVORGIAN WOMENSWEAR AND FOOTWEAR COLLECTION. HER ONE-OF-A-KIND CLOTHES GATHERED RAVE REVIEW AFTER HER UNTOLD CATWALK. AMY FALLON MET THE YOUNG DESIGNER READY TO REVOLUTIONISE BRITISH FASHION. The eight metal roosters discovered by up-and-coming designer Diane Gevorgian at a Sunday car boot sale were always going to be sacrificed for her spring summer 2010 collection. A day after finding them, the 23-year-old University of East London 2010 graduate took them to a metal worker and had them “chopped to pieces”. Holding the ‘remains’ of the ‘dead’ animals in her hands, the designer began taking inspiration from their ...
HEAT PROOF
SHIELD YOURSELF FROM THE RAYS WITH THE LATEST CUTTING EDGE SUN CARE. BE IT ECO-FRIENDLY INGREDIENTS OR A FUSS FREE FORM, WE BRING YOU A SELECTION OF SUN SCREENS WITH BENEFITS. Sunscreen Swipes SPF30, £28, Supergoop! For sun protection on the go, Supergoop! Offers the ultimate convenience in the form of its re-sealable wipe designs. Solving the problem of sticky fingers and stains, Sunscreen Wipes fill the niche for city sun care, particularly the handbag friendly Travel Swipes size. Free from parabens, petrochemicals, fragrances and phthalates, this is a fuss free formula with green credentials. UV Protect Targeted Sunscreen Stick For Face & ...
STYLE
LUCY ROYLE’S CLINICAL FASHION
LUCY ROYLE, A MANCHESTER-BASED, LEEDS-EDUCATED BRITISH DESIGNER SHOWED HER GRADUATE COLLECTION DURING GRADUATE FASHION WEEK LAST JUNE. INSPIRED BY THE MEDICAL TEXTBOOK GRAY’S ANATOMY, ANATOMICAL DRAWINGS AND SKELETAL AND MUSCULAR STRUCTURES, HER FIRST SHOW WAS REPRESENTATIVE OF HER BACKGROUND. LYDIA MILLIGAN MET WITH THE DESIGNER TO DISCUSS... [more]
AKABI: FEMALE STYLE INTELLIGENCE
THE BLISTERING SUMMER ISN’T THE ONLY THING BRINGING A HEAT WAVE TO LONDON. SUSTAINABLE AFRICAN WOMENSWEAR BRAND AKABI SHOWCASED ITS GOOD-NATURED, PRETTY PRINTED COLLECTION IN JULY, JUST MONTHS AFTER LAUNCHING THE LABEL. INSPIRED BY THE STRENGTHS AND ATTITUDES OF THE CONTEMPORARY FEMALE ‘URBANITE’, THE ‘LOVE FROM AFRICA’ COLLECTION... [more]
THE DOLL HOUSE JEWELLERY
HELEN TURTON HAS JUST LAUNCHED THE DOLL HOUSE, AN INDEPENDENT JEWELLERY COMPANY. EVERY PIECE IS INDIVIDUALLY DESIGNED, SOURCED AND HANDMADE USING DOLLHOUSE MINIATURES, CREATING A UNIQUE, KITSCH LOOK. ALMAZ OHENE MET HER TO CHAT ABOUT HER INSPIRATION, HER BUSINESS PLANS AND WHY SHE DIDN’T GIVE ALMAZ A PIECE FOR HER BIRTHDAY; SEE, ALMAZ AND HELEN... [more]
FROM SOMEWHERE POP UP SHOW
WHERE DO YOU GO FOR FASHION-FORWARD, ETHICAL CLOTHING? SUSTAINABLE WOMENSWEAR LABEL FROM SOMEWHERE, ON PORTOBELLO ROAD, OFFERS THE BEST GREEN FASHION GARMENTS IN LONDON. LAST MONTH, FOUNDER ORSOLA DE CASTRO, WHO IS ALSO THE BRAIN BEHIND ESTETHICA, OPENED UP HER SHOP TO SOME OF THE MOST CREATIVE AND ECO-FRIENDLY DESIGNERS OF THE MOMENT. The show... [more]
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BOY OH BOYD’S!
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