7. Natalie Kiryk ~ MIES VAN DER ROHE

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, 1886 – August 17, 1969, was a German architect.He was self-educated and a pioneer of modernism in his time. Whilst highly regarded in the architect world he also designed modern furniture. Most famous for the Barcelona chair and table, the Brno chair and the Tugendhat chair. At the time these were new industrial technologies that have now become popular classics around the world.

The Barcelona chair was designed for the German Pavilion, that country's entry for the International Exposition of 1929, which was hosted by Barcelona, Spain. An icon of modernism, the chair's design was inspired by the campaign and folding chairs of ancient times. By transposing an ancient and regal design into a modern setting, the designers enjoyed instant acclaim, by royals and many others.

Mies furniture is known for fine craftsmanship, a mix of traditional luxurious fabrics like leather combined with modern chrome frames, and a distinct separation of the supporting structure and the supported surfaces, often employing cantilevers to enhance the feeling of lightness created by delicate structural frames.

The Barcelona chair was manufactured in the US and Europe in limited production from the 1930s to the 1950s. In 1953 Mies sold the rights to Knoll, knowing that his design patents were expired. This collaboration then renewed popularity in the design and is still seen today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tugendhat_chair

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brno_chair

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcelona_chair

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_furniture

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_Mies_van_der_Rohe

Heather Ross

Heather Ross

Heather Ross is an illustrator and designer who separates her time between the California coast and the hills of Vermont where her childhood home and much of the inspiration behind her art can both be found. Heather learned to sew and to knit before she turned six, and has been designing patterns and clothing since she was ten.

Heather traveled to San Miguel De Allende, Mexico to pursue a graduate degree in Fine Arts, with a specialization in Folk Art and Textiles. Returning to California in 1994, Heather studied fabric printing in Mendocino with Lolli Jabobsen, and fell in love with the medium of silk-screening.

Heather first became noticed notoriety as the creator behind the much famous children's apparel brand Munki Munki, known for its quirky prints and styling. Heather's conversational prints often celebrated the themes and images from her own childhood spent in the dilapidated farmhouses, swimming holes, and thick woods that defined a "back to the land" Vermont childhood in the 1970's.

In 2003, Heather introduced a women's pajama line under the Munki Munki label. In 2004, Heather was approached by an established manufacturer and eventually partnered with them to offer the Munki Munki PJ line, happily turning over the manufacturing, and distribution of her fast-growing company, freeing her to focus on other creative opportunities while continuing to create new designs and fabrics for the Munki Munki brand.

http://heatherross.squarespace.com/

http://www.freespiritfabric.com/core-pages/designer_detail.php?des_id=24

http://heatherross.squarespace.com/journal/

http://www.reprodepot.com/heatherross.html

http://www.earthgirlfabrics.com.au/collections/heather-ross

Hiroshi Tanabe Fashion Illustrator

Hiroshi Tanabe is a Japanese Fashion Illustrator based in New York.' He specializes in illustrations that resemble traditional Japanese woodcuts shown in a unique and vibrant light.

Coming from a Graphic design background Tanabe furthered his understanding of art through study of art and sculpture. This matched with his degree in design gave a modern take on these traditional designs.As his career has progressed so has his style, becoming more refined and layered. In order to show case his work Tanabe has published two books each contributing to his desired result; An avenue to establish his “own personal work without having to deal with theme, concept and category...works that are not related to (his) career but still express 100% of (himself).”

The first was called ‘Blue Mode’ and the second ‘#2.’ His unique take illustration and design attracted Gold Awards for from the New York Art Directors Club.

His book "#2" was published after he returned to Japan for several of exhibitions of his work, which were shown within the book.

Since then Hiroshi has exhibited his illustrations internationally and has continued with commissions from clients including Anna Sui, Shiseido, The New York Times, The New Yorker, Lloyd & Co., etc.

hiroshitanabe.com

http://www.vogue.co.uk/biographies/100806-hiroshi-tanabe-biography.aspx

http://forums.thefashionspot.com/f81/hiroshi-tanabe-illustrator-46497.html

http://bumbumbum.me/2010/12/30/hiroshi-tanabe-%C2%A0illustrator/

http://trendland.net/2011/01/12/hiroshi-tanabe-illustrations/

6. Natalie Kiryk ~ MARIMEKKO

Marimekko, established and founded in 1951 by Armi Ratia and her husband Viljo, is a Finnish textile and clothing design company renowned for its original prints and colours. The company designs and manufactures high-quality, interior decoration textiles, bags and other accessories. Known for their bold, effusive textiles and ready-made products, Marimekko has become a respected name in the design world. Marimekko is synonymous with all that is modern, chic and sophisticated.

The company’s CEO, Armi Ratia, was responsible for making the avant garde designs of female artists like Maija Isola a part of the Marimekko identity. In the 1960s, bold prints and boxy fashions became the height of fashion in Finland and abroad, launching Marimekko into the international arena.

Marimekko was first introduced to the United States by the architect Benjamin C. Thompson, who featured them heavily in his Design Research stores. They were made famous in the United States by Jacqueline Kennedy, who bought eight Marimekko dresses which she wore throughout the 1960 US Presidential campaign.

Today Marimekko is producing fabrics and ready-made items for stores all over the world. Their designs can be seen in places as varied as Crate and Barrel, H&M and Converse. And worn by Sarah-Jessica Parker on Sex and the City.

Marimekko

Yhdessa art fabric

Wikipedia

History of Marimekko - Finnish Design

Maija Isola

Josef Frank (1885-1967) was an architect, industrial and interior designer noted for the contrast between the functionality of his forms and the extreme colour and free flowing nature of his textile designs.

In regard to objects that have a utility and a purpose such as furniture his designs are relatively austere preferring function to ornamentation. Materials commonly used are wood, leather and textile. Interestingly cheap industrial materials such as plastic and steel are rarely featured preferring a naturalistic approach. It has been said Frank represents a humane modernism. Reference to nature is explored more fully in the imagery of his textile prints.

Textiles, which comparatively serve a limited function, are kaleidoscopic free flowing arrangements that employ multiple bright colours and are often made up of highly illustrative compositions of flora and fauna. Frank has stated his departure from the refinement and rigidity of his other work owes to the necessity of beauty in the human living space. Interpreted amongst his body of work it could be said to serve aesthetic function. Patterns are repeated over a large area distinguishing themselves from smaller geometric repetitious grid like patterns.

He interprets the work of Expressionist artists that would have been his contemporaries such as Matisse, Kandinksky, Klee and Gauguin which he appropriates into textile prints. Frank’s prints still prove popular today as a source of inspiration for designers and many are still available for purchase through the design house Scandinavian Design.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Frank_(architect)

http://www.scandinaviandesign.com/josefFrank/index.htm

http://www.architonic.com/pmpro/josef-frank/8101097/2/2/1

www.bonluxat.com/d/josef-frank.html

http://www.belovedlinens.net/textdesign/josef_frank.html

Tessuti Fabrics - Blog 2 Brett Page

Tessuti fabrics was established in 1992, and is now recognised as one of Australia’s leading retailers of quality and designer fabrics.

Tessuti fabrics purchase from some of the most celebrated local, interstate and international designers including Josh Goot, Marnie Skillings, Cue, Veronika Maine, Arthur Galan, Ksubi, Chanel, Missoni, Etro and many, many more. Tessuti fabrics have three retail stores in Sydney, one in Melbourne and an online shop and has become the destination for dressmakers, fashion students and all lovers of sewing.

Tessuti specialize in predominantly natural fibres and is renowned for an extensive range that includes pure Italian wools, linens, Japanese cottons, and silks. In addition to our stunning range of fabrics, we also carry a selection of patterns (including Japanese pattern books). Tessuti take great pride is sourcing fabrics that give their customers a unique and stylish range offering quality stock and designer ends.

Their aim is creating unique, quality garments at an affordable price. Rapid business and the sourcing of designer ends means that Tessuti is constantly changing and expanding its product range with regular in-store deliveries and frequent online updates.

Tessuti also has an annual awards night that has started last year in 2010 bringing fashion designers around australia to compete for a trip to New York.

http://www.tessuti.com.au/resources

http://www.tessuti.com.au/about

http://tessuti.blogspot.com/

http://www.flickr.com/groups/tessuti/pool/

http://www.tessutiawards.com.au/

David LaChapelle

DAVID

LACHAPELLE

David LaChapelle is a very extravagant and very well known fashion photographer, his first photo was of his single mother at the age of 6, from then on he became obsessed with photograpyh. LaChapelle first attended North Carolina School of the Arts and also School of visual Arts in New York City. Andy Warhol offered him his first job as a photographer after meeting him at studio 54 where LaChapelle was working at the time.

Throughout his life LaChapelle has has been a fashion photographer for Rolling Stone, Vogue, GQ, Photo,Vanity Fair and various others. LaChapelle tends to create his own made up world, rather than reproduce what’s visible in the world.

Many would say that LaChapelle’s work is surreal, grotesque, shocking and ironic. Ingrid Sischy, long-time editor of Interview magazine, has said there are three main aspects LaChapelle’s photography: a sense of humor, political and social awareness. He uses celebrities and exaggerates aspects of their personalities and personal life. He was also ranked the top ten most important people in photography in the world by America photo magazine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_LaChapelle

http://www.lachapellestudio.com/

http://www.davidlachapelle.com/

http://www.lachapellestudio.com/exhibitions/

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0479999/

Cecil Beaton - Post 4, Toni Prinsse

Sir Cecil Walter Hardy Beaton 1904 – 1980. Famous for fashion photography and society portraits was aged 11 when his Nanny taught him photography basics using a Kodak 3A camera. He used his family to practice on and once skilled he sent photo’s to magazines.

In the 1920’s Beaton studied history, art and architecture at St John’s College, Cambridge and photography at the studio of Paul Tanqueray. He got a start with Vogue when they purchased and printed portrait photos he’d taken of a Shakespearean scholar dressed in drag. He was also employed by Vanity Fair and photographed Hollywood celebrities whilst setting up his own Studio.


During the 1930’s Beaton assisted in changing the image of new Queen (Queen Elizabeth - Queen Mother) by making her look regal, romantic and pretty in photographs.

Beaton was famous for setting the scene, looking for and finding the perfect moment. Working on photographic plates to lift droopy eyelids, tighten saggy jaws and whittle down figures was the norm, a form of today’s photoshopping?

His post of photographer during the second world war encouraged the US public to push the US government who had not joined the war into assisting Britain when one of his photos of three year old Blitz victim Eileen Dunne reached the US media.
Beaton won four Tony Awards and three Academy Awards whilst designing costumes and sets on Broadway.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_Beaton

http://theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com/2009/04/18/cecil-beaton-the-randy-dandy-of-photography-fashion/

http://www.chrisbeetlesfinephotographs.com/artists/sir-cecil-beaton-cbe-1904-1980.html

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/57523/Sir-Cecil-Beaton

http://redrockfashionblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/cecil-beatoni-think-i-love-you.html

Travis Banton Post 3 Tenarra.

Travis Banton, the chief designer at Paramount Pictures, was an important Hollywood costume designer in the 1930s. Starting off as a costume designer of high societies in New York City, Banton gained his initial fame by designing the wedding dress of Mary Pickford.

He operated his own dressmaking store within the city and through his hype gained the opportunity to be involved in the costume design of the Zeigfeild Follies. Banton later moved to Hollywood to join the Paramount team in 1924 where he designed for his first film, 'The Dress maker From Paris.'

Banton went on to design for an array of stars. His attention to glamour and elegance became the fabric that styled stars such as Mae West and Carole Lombard. Trade marked by simple yet stylish designs expressed through rich fabrics and decoration materials such as feathers. This is especially shown in he films ‘The Gilded Lily’ and ‘Desire.’

After many years at Paramount Banton was forced to leave. His constant alcoholism and repeated instigation of his subordinate Edith Head had become too much and was subsequently fired. Banton created his own business and did short stints of design for Twentieth-Century Fox and Universal.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travis_Banton

www.imdb.com/name/nm0052555/

http://www.filmreference.com/Writers-and-Production-Artists-Ba-Bo/Banton-Travis.html

www.seraphicpress.com/archives/2010/04/travis_banton_a.php

www.hitchcockwiki.com/wiki/Travis_Banton

Samantha S - Jason Brooks

Brooks studied Graphic Design at Central Saint Martin's and began working regularly for British Vogue after winning the Vogue Sotheby's Cecil Beaton Award for Fashion Illustration.

While at CSM, he began traveling widely, drawing and painting colorful travel journals. Travel has been a recurrent theme in his work and his adventures continue to inspire and inform his visual collection.

Brooks landed a series of assignments drawing at the Couture shows in Paris for The Independent. He has since filed numerous visual reports from the shows in New York for Visionaries and other fashion publications.

Brooks' artwork has also provided the visual identity for record labels that have achieved sales in excess of 5 million albums featuring his artwork.

He is noted of one of the first artists to embrace and popularize computer technology in the field of fashion illustration. The glamorous and inspirational world of the imagination.

Jason Brooks’ distinctive visual images have changed the vector art world and illustration industry. As one of the pioneers of vector illustration, he set the standards of fashion drawing. His digital illustrations of the most beautiful girls against a backdrop of exotic locations or design settings are lovingly submitted with a lot of attention for details.

The richness of his vector compositions provides both a powerful visual impact and eye-catching elegance.

http://www.jason-brooks.com/portfolio/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Brooks_(illustrator)

http://www.freevector.com/news/jason-brooks/

http://www.fashionmission.nl/fashion_illustrator_jason_brooks-0006830007.dfs

http://www.vogue.co.uk/biographies/100806-jason-brooks-biography.aspx