Raf Simons finale

All images in this post from Style.com.

The audience stood and cheered for Raf Simons as he took his final bow at Jil Sander today. Then they continued to stand and cheer until the designer, overwhelmed by emotion, reappeared on the catwalk. An ovation and an encore: That is the very definition of a hard fashion act to follow. -Tim Blanks

Vintage Marimekko trunk show this Summer at AP Shop.

First two photos from the 2009 Marimekko Exhibit at Design Research in Cambridge.

Color block.

So Modern.

Vuokko Nurmesniemi designed the classic unisex Jokapoika-shirt in 1956. The fabric design used for the shirt, Piccolo, was designed in 1953. The “Tasaraita” (even stripe) design was created by Annika Rimala in 1968.

Armi Ratia saw Marimekko not just as a company, but also as a philosophy. In her own words, the company “looked for solutions to people’s problems [and] represented the endless struggle of an individual’s soul and spirit” . Especially important in Marimekko’s philosophy was the idea of the “Mari girl” and its view of independent, intelligent women as Marimekko’s clients. As Armi told the magazine American Fabrics in 1963, she didn’t sell clothes, but a way of living; her products were designs, not fashions.

Marimekko started out in 1951, during the bare and gray post-war period. At that time new, cheerfully-colored clothes were welcomed. Seems so appropriate for today.

Working on the catalog, roughs.

A very rough draft of the catalog for the shop, based on our trip to Mexico City, such beauty there. We brought back  handicrafts , both vintage and new, much more to come.

First photo, vintage hand woven Rebosa from Mexico City, following close-ups, city scene, and shoes for next season.

Our own leather bracelets, tough dog in Mexico City with striped sweater, hand made leather wallets from Mexico, and vintage striped tops, again from Mexico City.

For Fourth of July weekend, our Liberty of London trunk show- new scarves from London with vintage Liberty pieces from Hermes, Cacharel, to YSL & our favorite Saipua soaps from Brooklyn.

A selection of our jewelry for the shop, made with vintage stones, glass, and semi and precious stones.

Recycled records, hand carved Ethiopian silver plate discs, ancient Egyptian crystal necklace, painting at Frida Kahlos home, and our own leather color block necklace with African bronze pendant.

The shop, with details.

Indigo

Don't know what it is, I just love indigo.

Matt Dick, indigo expert, and owner of Small Trade Company in San Francisco, from Remodelista.

From Sri threads blog.

Love this Farrow and ball lotus wallpaper, in indigo!

Mint tea in Marrakech, Atlas Mountains.

Beautiful silver service, with fresh mint.

The ceremony made it all the more delicious.

Anndra Neen, beautiful jewelry by sisters out of Mexico City.

Sisters Pheobe and Annette Stephens wearing Matthew Ames shirt and caftans.

Their two tone ring.

A faceted bangle.

Cage choker.

Conch bangle.

Sisters Phoebe and Annette Stephens grew up in a family of artists; their grandmother Annette Nancarrow—a painter, sculptor, and jewelry designer in 1930s Mexico—worked alongside artists such as Diego Rivera and José Clemente Orozco, and her pieces were worn by Frida Kahlo, Peggy Guggenheim, and Helena Rubinstein. With this impossibly elegant history in mind, the Stephenses launched Anndra Neen.

Saipua, love at first sight.

When I first saw the blog, I was hooked.

Honestly,  as someone who works in design, loves flowers, and still entertains ideas about having a flower shop, I was humbled.

Again

And again.

Then I realized, when I opened my tiny seasonal shop, I could have a little piece of Saipua.

Soap and candles at the shop, new products this summer- Thanks Saipua! for sharing your beauty.
All images courtesy of Saipua Blog.

Boro, indigo, and denim, from Sri in Brooklyn, and Kapital in Japan.

A beautiful piece from Sri.

Again, from Sri.

Boro denim from Kapital, Japan.

More from Kapital, Japan; from Sea Gypsies catalog.

The colors, and that pieced T-shirt, worn shorts, modern recycling.

Again here, vintage fabrics given a new life beautifully.

Indigo, and Boro.

beautiful, great proportions.

colors.

Madras, two toned and elongated necklace.

Patchwork, recycled and gorgeous.

quilted blouse, and pantaloons.

indigo, natural dyes and Boro.