Treated Crew x Stüssy x Saint Alfred: "Treated Tribe"
Treated Crew, a collective based in Chicago, has joined forces with both Stüssy and Saint Alfred to collaborate on a project involving a new selection of apparel and a mixtape. The collection and the mixtape are both referred to as Treated Tribe. The apparel is modeled by Pusha T (with photos by Jesse Lirola), and is heavy in print, text, and graphics.
The “Treated Tribe” clothing collection mainly consists of black and white colors with a paisley print that is reminiscent of the crew’s logo, Treated Crew’s artwork for their album TreaTed, and Stüssy’s own signature branding. The simple arrangement of black and white statement pieces appropriately captures a vital essence of each party involved in the collaboration, a fundamental vibe that can be described as straightforward and versatile.
The artwork done for the album Treated Tribe reflects some of the predominant patterns used in the collection of apparel. Contributors to the mixtape include Mic Terror, Mano, Hollywood Holt, Gzus Piece, Jon James, Saint Millie, He Say/Say She, Sulaiman, Max Wonders, A.K., Nick Junior, HighLife, Lee Majorz & PST Saint.
The clothing collection dropped at Saint Alfred’s on Saturday, May 31st. Although the local boutique has already sold out, the Treated Tribe collection hit Stüssy’s online shop on June 2nd and is still available there for purchase. Check out some of the Treated Tribe apparel below and download Treated Tribe on iTunes now.
Photo Timeline of Olsen Twins from Full House to CFDA Awards
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have taken off their invisible cloaks once again at the Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards on June 2nd, taking home the award for Accessories Designer of the Year for their luxury brand The Row. With this award, they have beaten out designers including Alexander Wang, Lazaro Hernandez, and Jack McCollough.
The Olsen twins have come a long way since being hired to star in Full House at the age of nine months, long before they could even utter Michelle’s signature saying, “You got it dude.” While many fraternal twins eventually decide to take their careers in separate directions, the Olsen twins have instead taken advantage of their marketable twin-status. From 1992-2004, they were hot in the world of PG/PG-13 VHS tapes and have additionally dabbled in the big screen. After the 2004 production of New York Minute, the twins have increasingly engaged in separate film projects, with Mary-Kate Olsen most recently starring as Kendra in Beastly in 2011 and Ashley Olsen in The Jerk Theory as Kissing Girl #3 in 2009. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Olsen, known to some as the "third Olsen twin," has been making her name in Hollywood, starring in films such as Martha Marcy May Marlene, Godzilla, and the upcoming Avengers: Age of Ultron.
The Row, established by the tastemakers in 2006, brought Mary-Kate and Ashley back to the public eye in a composed way that’s highlighted by their older age, reserved demeanor, and commitment to the arts. Their brand compliments their maturity as both individuals and designers, consisting of high-end manufacturing, ready-to-wear clothing, eyewear, and handbags. As someone who has grown up learning English to the tune of their juvenile Dualstar Entertainment projects, I find comfort knowing some of America’s most-loved twins have found their niche by Switching Goals and establishing their name in the world of design. Check out the timeline of the twins' growth as fashion icons from their time at Full House to the present below.
[Video] Lili K. and Peter CottonTale: "One Mo' Time" Live at Truth Studios
Lili K. and Peter CottonTale linked up in Truth Studios in LA earlier this year to shoot a live performance of “One Mo’ Time” for Acoustic Sessions. Peter’s skills on the keys, best demonstrated while touring for Chance the Rapper’s Social Experiment Tour, combined with Lili K’s smooth, jazzy voice come through with a tune perfect for a rainy day.
The live performance is sultry and surprising. Lili K’s modest apparel masks the sensuality that takes over right as she begins to sing. The innocent affection the song introduces calms similarly to a lullaby, but as “One Mo’ Time” resumes, the desire Lili croons about takes a bolder curve. The synthesis of her vocals with Peter’s keyboard playing quickly transitions the vibe from chaste and playful to stimulating passionate sexy-eyes. This is a performance where Peter’s rabbit ears are off, so we know the song means business.
"One Mo' Time" is the first official song off of Lili K. and Peter CottonTale's next project expected to be released later this year. The live showing of “One Mo’ Time” is a feel-good session, extending the tranquility it provokes far beyond LA and Truth Studios. Give “One Mo’ Time” your time and check it out in the video down below.
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[Review] The Next Black
The Next Black introduces us to the Brave New World of fashion, placing the garment industry in a futuristic context that most of us growing up with stores like H&M or Zara never thought would be possible. The documentary comes at the viewer in a minimalist, straight-forward and tsunami-like manner, similarly to the clothing industry itself, which holds promises of one day wearing the surface of computers- washable tech, soft tech, and silky tech - on our bodies.
The documentary opens up by explaining that textiles today still cover bodies and indicate social code. However, fusing fashion and technology introduces us to a drastic transformation in textiles- to a machine that alters the way we dress, or a factory disguised as a garment. While this idea seems too cyborg-like or OD science fiction for some, wearable tech is going to make its way to the market sooner or later, and scientists collaborating with designers are ready to tackle the breakthrough. While few interviewees are featured in this documentary, each is an expert in his or her field, and effectively hits viewers with numerous facts about the quickly transforming world of fashion.
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The Next Black
Director: Phil Marthinsen
Rating: N/A
Release Date: June 3, 2014 (VOD)
The New Black brings to the table the concept of smart clothing. In Germany, Adidas has figured out how to monitor athletes’ performance using real time, equipping their clothing with heart rate sensors and working on adding respiration sensors and other features. Elite sportswear is still in the “bacteria” stage, as is most wearable tech, and is focused on developing smaller, faster, and smarter platforms. The concept of bacteria is also introduced to the viewer in a more literal and concrete way, with The New Black suggesting that innovations can take textiles to the next level by embracing nature and growing a dress in a vat of liquid using microorganisms. This process is described as being much closer to brewing beer or baking than one of fashion, but can move efficiently from the lab to the market and also reduce waste. It opens up a broad range of possibilities for what fashion will be able to do for us in the future, potentially being able to protect our skin or even provide us with nutrients.
Almost more important than introducing possibilities stemming from the fusion of science, technology, and fashion, the documentary calls out the concept of “fast fashion,” which is fashion that’s mass-produced, has a fixed price, and is standardly sized. We often blame unethical brands and polluting factories for fast fashion dominating our culture, but The Next Black stresses that the most important shift in textiles rides on the shoulders of consumers, who critically need to come to terms with their place in the garment industry. It’s important for us to be cognizant of the fact that relentless production and consumption stems from companies needing to satisfy our ever-changing desires and needs. Change derives from buying less clothing, but also from caring about the clothes we already own. By being proactive with what we wear, we become proactive with our product, and the tangible experience allows us to develop a more emotional connection with clothing, changing the future of fashion on both an intimate and a grand scale.
The Next Black gives us this sneak peak into what the future holds for fashion in a fitting minimalistic and informative manner, especially considering how dense the reality of tech innovation is for generations growing up deciphering dial-up Internet. Going from having dial-up to having potentially digital skin is not a concept that can be taken lightly, especially by an age group that is still the beta for such drastic changes. While the synthesis of textiles, innovative technology and science offers what seems to be hopeful change in the world where fashion meets futuristic function, such extreme transformations call for a large amount of unknowns. We must be on our game as consumers to avoid being passive with these shifts, in order to enter this Brave New World on alert and fully guarded.
First Wave of Lollapalooza 2014 After-Parties Revealed
Tickets for Lollapalooza 2014 after-parties, running from July 31st-August 3rd, will go on sale this Friday at 10 AM CST through Clubtix. Performances will include Shiba San (Dirtybird Records) at Primary Nightclub and Cash Cash at the MID on Thursday, Disclosure (live) at Aragon Ballroom, Glitch Mob (DJ set) at the MID, and Gramatik with heRobust, Russ Liquid, and Gibbz at Concord Music Hall on Friday. Saturday performances include Flume, Duke Dumont, and Anna Lunoe at Concord Music Hall, Martin Garrix at Aragon Ballroom and Black Butter Records Party with Rudimental (DJ set), and more at the EvilOlive, and Sunday after-parties consist of Skrillex, Gessaffelstein, and special guests at Concord Music Hall. For details, including ticket prices, times, age requirements, and more information, check the listings below.
Thursday
Friday
- Disclosure (Live) - Aragon Ballroom
- Glitch Mob (DJ Set) - the MID
- Gramatik w/ heRobust, Russ Liquid, & Gibbz - Concord Music Hall
Saturday
- Flume, Duke Dumont, & Anna Lunoe - Concord Music Hall
- Martin Garrix - Aragon Ballroom
- Black Butter Records Party w/ Rudimental (DJ Set) & More - EvilOlive
Sunday
Bricksy by Jeff Friesen is a Lego Homage to Banksy
Photographer Jeff Friesen has emerged with the “Bricksy” series, a classic American take on some of Banksy’s most iconic work that substitutes the figures in Banksy’s art with Lego pieces. The Lego spin takes the ominous colors and sense of anonymity Banksy accentuates in his work and plays with it, developing a contrasting angle to his art by means of depicting it with a lighthearted, multicolored, and childish spirit. While it’s a completely distinct way to perceive Banksy’s art, the pieces still manage to stay true to what Banksy is all about: repetition, incognition, and the manipulation of consumerism.
My first glance at Friesen’s “Bricksy” was an interpretation of a nod to pure entertainment, with Lego facial expressions and body language serving as a comedic homage to Banksy’s work. After all, even with only a limited comprehension of the Lego world, it’s difficult for me to instantly construct an association between a seemingly innocent child’s toy and negativity. A closer look at Friesen’s work reminds us that the misleading and innocent nature of the iconic, mass-produced, and homogenous toys serves as satirical commentary on postmodern consumerism, doing the exact opposite of what Banksy does in an artistic sense but still conveying the same subject matter to the masses.
While Banksy pushes the limits on street art himself by exploring relatable and controversial themes, Friesen takes “Bricksy” to a unique level, permeating the Banksy charm and giving his cult following something new to talk about. Check out Friesen’s “Bricksy” series below.
[via Co.CREATE]
Independent Short Film WORSEBEHAVIOUR Needs Your Help
20-year-old music video director Peter Collins Campbell is eager and artistically equipped to break into the world of film- what he needs is to go the final stretch with his crowdfunding campaign, which you can contribute to through Indiegogo, in order to financially secure the budget for his forthcoming short film, WORSEBEHAVIOUR.
Many recognize Peter as a heartbeat pumping blood into the Chicago hip-hop scene. He has directed music videos for some of Chicago’s leading artists, such as Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa, and Nico Segal (of Kids These Days), NoName Gypsy, Towkio, M&O, and others, and has made it clear that he is willing to go to extreme lengths in order to realize his dreams and give birth to WORSEBEHAVIOUR. Peter offers contributors a carefully thought-out mixed big of perks, which are described in detail on Indiegogo. The perks range from social media shout outs for those donating the minimum of $10, to having a music video, or whatever well-reasoned project the contributor has in mind, shot by Peter himself. The $1,000 deal also includes being invited and compensated for the premiere film festival screening and an invitation to the cast and crew premiere party.
Let’s just say this guy is itching to give his vision for WORSEBEHAVIOUR the TLC he deems fit. The itch is appropriate, considering that apart from the crowdfunding campaign, he’s operating out of pocket. He requires the means to compensate his cinematographer, production designer, and assistant director, in addition to location fees, production insurance, actors, and both food and transportation costs. The list of financial demands Peter faces is hefty, but keeping his artistic accomplishments and credible reputation in mind, conquering the final leg of his campaigning race anticipates the yield of some delicious fruit.
You can check out the WORSEBEHAVIOUR video pitch below.
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Came to the Balkans for the Music, Stayed for the Flooding
Photos by Aleksandra Pavlovic
I left to study abroad in Madrid on May 15th with the original intent of attending the MAD music festival in Belgrade, Serbia and visiting family before flying back home to Chicago. What I was completely unaware of was that instead of attending the music festival, I would be a first-hand witness to a natural disaster that hasn’t happened in Serbia or in Bosnia and Herzegovina since the beginning of modern record keeping. The floods in the Balkan region began on May 16th and are still destroying parts of Serbia today more than 96 hours later.
I could enumerate many of the horrid aspects of the flood straightforwardly: out of five pumps being used to try and manage the Drina, the flooding river in my small town of Bijeljina, three pumps were defective and two were working at half-capacity. The electricity in Bijeljina was shot on the 16th, long before the water had reached a height of three meters. Thousands from cities and villages nearby have had to evacuate their homes, while some of their hometowns are currently portrayed as having “disappeared” by the media.
What is much more difficult to communicate, however, is the silence that makes the entire tragedy proliferate in its apocolypticality. When an emergency situation happens in Chicago, help can be guaranteed at the most within the hour. In Bijeljina, while waters were swiftly rising, the assistance was as bleak as it could get. In my part of town, there was absolutely no form of communication available; after the batteries from our cellphones gave out, we received updates by standing on our patio and asking our neighbors questions, despite most of them knowing as little about what was going on as we did. When the flooding became heavier, I watched one canoe pass by and waited for others, only for none to come. I waited for the sounds of a helicopter to fly overhead, but didn’t hear any. My uncle laughed at me when I told him the assistance I was anticipating, because “We’re not in Chicago. This isn’t America.” After asking my aunt how we were planning on evacuating if need be, looking down from our patio she told me that once the waters swallowed our car, we would find a boat and row to the safest city. Keeping the absence of boats in mind, I translated her words as “grab a sturdy surface, jump, and hope for the best.”
I am dumbstruck at how lucky my family and I were that the Drina pulled back and that we came out of this tragedy unharmed. One villager from an affected area nearby described the moment he was loading a tractor in an attempt to rescue his cattle, saying, “I had to choose between our calves and our pigs. The pigs were standing by in dead silence, as if they were about to burst into tears.” The loss has been tragic on a monumental scale, and my hopes are that rescue efforts in areas still suffering are multiplying rapidly, saving the lives of those looking ahead at an unforeseeable future.
I managed to take the photos below in Bijeljina with my iPhone before its battery went out. They capture the Drina and public efforts to contain it in its early stages of flooding and the predominant areas where my family communicated with neighbors, searched for signs of aid and came up with options for evacuation. Considering that other towns are still awaiting their first or even next flood wave to hit, it’s safe to say that Bijeljina had it very lucky, despite the tragic and outstanding damages, both psychological and material.
