behind my concept ~ shadow ~

shadow

have you ever notice the existence of your shadow ?

i can't remember how and why i came across it but i'm just so glad that i did.

it was during my second year.
we were given the freedom to choose-your-own theme/concept for your collection.
i was really struggling.

 
but i can't remember how and why i came across it but i'm just so glad that i did.

i could recall myself

wandering in the street trying to take like, hundreds shots of people's shadows;

standing in the sun trying to trace the movement of my own shadow;

straying myself in the library looking for and reading philosophy-theory books


those were the days .


☆☆☆ ☆☆☆ ☆

have you heard of a classical story Peter Schlemihl, the man who lost his shadow?



if you like reading classical stories you might have read this.


here is the story if you haven't heard so.

Peter Schlemihl

(( One day, Peter, a poor boy is approached by a ‘grey man’ who makes a proposition with him. In exchanging a magic purse which will always be full of gold, Peter has to trade in his own shadow. Suddenly becoming wealthy, Peter also becomes unhappy. People are repulsed by him because he has deprived his shadow. Peter then had a chance to retrieve his shadow when the ‘grey man’ proposes another deal by having Peter’s soul on his death. Resists to do so, Peter then throws the magic purse away. He has saved his soul but lost his shadow. From that moment on, he lives in isolation.  ))





 
behind my concept
 
what is apparent to extract from this story is that the purpose of basing the representation on the shadow; turning its transition from unimportance to valuable. 

the shadow is an irremovable ‘prototype’ but undetectable for us. from this perspective, I looked into the concept of personal shadow of consciousness.  

the attitude and relationship between the shadow and its owner is significant. it is through the shadow that we could find and define our identity and embrace our body.  

shadow gives us weight and three dimensionality.

without shadow, we would become insubstantial. shadow is a stranger to us; but also a representation of our soul and the imperfections within us.

humans are not structural and available without shadow.

to discover individuation and what is important to us, i had applied shadow as a vital object that we are incapable to lose. 

attaching and suspending on our body to protect it, my garment is a very straightforward symbolization and expression of my thoughts and how we should tried to keep and hold on still to our shadows, not wanting to lose it ...


→ → → → → → →→→
 
i had also exploited this story, applying it into my first original shadow concept 

- suspend -

suspending dress

i had create a dress itself as an implement for shadow.


 

suspending dress

... you are wearing your shadow, 

... you do not want to lose it.




 









the front hem was elongated, falling and laying like a shadow.
 
indeed,
this long piece of fabric was intended to play the role of your
shadow ; then suspended (hanged) onto your body.


fun fact - it could actually work as a scarf couldn't it ?
 

moving in !

maintaining more than one blog is just quite troublesome and hassling sometimes. i am just too lazy.

i have been neglecting my old blog for months and i feel so bad.
since i had put my time writing.

so,
i decided to move and focus on this blog.


i'm going to start moving !
for the next few posts,
you'll get to see my previous works and collections during school-year based on my favourite concept - shadow ...



i have been applying this concept to my collection to day.

~ like ~ JumpFromPaper™

just a blink and august's here !

what have i been doing  ?


i tend to get so-not-motivated when winter's here and i just can't wait for spring to visit.

i found these totally amazing, out-of-the-ordinary bags that i wished i had one.


 now, for your peek-a-boo ♥

Explorer collection ~ Play Harder ~

what's your first impression? ʕु•̫͡•ʔुʔ•̫͡•ཻʕʕु•̫͡•ʔ


just the amalgamation of illustration + photography right?
 

i really thought so but i was wrong (´・ω・｀)

and yes, i have to convince myself that they are actually REAL.








this is just so cool ――――(ﾟ∀ﾟ)――――

the idea behind these handbags came from two Taiwanese girls who at first; imagining a two-dimensional hand-drawn illustration coming to life as a real handbag, then; explored and turn impossibility into possibility !

 JumpFromPaper™ collections

 



these bags have bold outlines along with bright funky colors; they appeared to be something you could draw easily using copic markers.

 ☆☆☆

what i also love about them is the labels they created for the bags.

with three collections currently in-store, each bags have their own individual names with messages/wordings along.
  

Charmer collection ~ Ready to fall for my charm? ~

Bonjour!

I’d like a piece of sunshine and a cup of daydreams for breakfast.

Explorer collection ~ I am ready to meet the unimaginable and discover the unknown ~

Tank

Those days we fought for her heart.

Bowling

Break away from boredom and routine!

Roamer collection ~ Wander around the world at my pace ~

Cheese!

I decide how I see the world.

and this limited edition travel bag !

Travel Fever

I don't know where I'm going, but I'm on my way!








these bags (large, slim and with limited interior space) might not be as practical as a normal bag (large and roomy) where you could just throw anything into it ...

Explorer collection ~ Travel Bag ~

well, actually...                  
you can still chuck quite a lot

→→→→→→→






nevertheless,
i still think they totally rock ♪♪

Afternoon Tea

Bonjour

do you ?


if you would love to own one, you can grab them online easily or visit one of their stores around multiple countries.


hope you enjoy  (･ｘ･)


(images courtesy from JumpFromPaper™)

~ like ~ Jun Takahashi and his Graces

Jun Takahashi is the talented creative japanese designer behind the cult label undercover.

undercover

was founded back in 1988 (a brand originated with his friend);

later established as a company/fashion house (not until six years later in 1994)

never have i came across to this label, not until the year when i watched one of his earlier collection in class (around the same time when i watch Alice). i have vague memory about which collection it was, nevertheless it was one of those remarkable show i had ever seen.

his approach to designing are very much influenced by music (very much !)

his works is indeed artistic, unique and self expressive.

his version of deconstruction/reconstruction is somehow anarchy - taking his cue from the punk (he was a lead singer from a punk band himself) ;as well as inspired by life's dark side.

but yet they come along well and are still so beautiful, sending message out through his collection.

anyway,

just want to introduce his Graces if you haven't know so.

Graces

Grace is the name he gave to his dolls. 

 

doll-making in process

They are actually stuffed animal made by him and his teams (yes, doll-making is his hobby).

 

playful stuffed animal but yet quite haunting and surrealism - filled with his imagination and creativity.

they are large-scale creatures constructed from multiple cut-out parts of teddy bears, pearls, lace, light bulbs, wires ...

 

as unique or monstrous as they could be - Graces have multiple arms emerging out from body part and light bulbs supplanting onto their head; and 

as romantic or feminine as they could be - wearing vintage lace gowns and pearls.

Graces have indeed become an iconic symbol for him, prominently since his spring/summer 2009 collection.

spring summer 2009

Grace photo exhibiton in Dec 2008

doll-making performance in the Giardino di Boboli

an interview regarding his performance in the Giardino di Boboli

furthermore, he extended his experiment by travelling across japan; performing the doll-making with his team - taking its shape in front of the crowds; together with live soundtrack of electronic loud music or band on the background.

The Sound and The Fury performance across Japan

two limited edition fragrances was released in 2010 called Holygrace and Holygrapie.

perfume (( holygrace and holygrapie ))

here are videos from his doll-making performances

  

 

if you're interested in viewing more, visit his unofficial website

"The Graces spontaneously come out of me, genuinely, while making clothes is something more calculated, an entire process that requires teamwork. But doing both allows me to keep a balance in my creativity. Therefore, it makes sense to me to have everything linked." Jun Takahashi

(images courtesy from Jun Takahashi's blog)

t.a.t.t.o.o + t.i.g.h.t.s = ?

when you mentioned getting a tattoo, usually it means getting inked right? ouch !; and into your skin. 

if you're only looking for temporary tattoos; 

you've got the choice to get it painted or airbrushed onto your skin.

otherwise, 

you could go for that fun-sticker tattoo.

the reason i mentioned tattoo is because it's such a huge trends between young girls in japan recently ( *｀ω´) and i believe the trend is spreading everywhere at the moment.

but no, not getting inked, but getting a pair of tights, percisely; a tattoo tight ( ･∀･)!

i embrace tattoo as an art myself and even had a slight study on it many years ago.

right now; this self-expression art had been transformed into a fashion trend.

i know they are people who either love it or hate it.

i personally don't hate this trend. 

but i was really surprised when i first saw it. 

never would i thought of this coming out.

first ; plain tight → color tights → patterned tights ...

and now → tattoo tight

i should have realized that anything is possible nowadays (ｏ・ω・)ノ))

tattoo tights are mostly sheer in color, thickness could go as low as 15 denier i believe; in other words, they are quite fragile and delicate.

 

you could find them either in simple monochrome color;

the illustrations or words do really look surreal in a quick glance.

 

or if you are more interested in these intricate colorful ones. 

i actually found one (with no much pattern choices) while browsing around in target last month and yes, i bought it! (//∇//)”

though i haven't notice people wearing them here (cause it's freaking cold now)♪( ´▽｀) but they are everywhere in japanese blogs and magazines.

tokyo street snaps from tokyo fashion

have a look-out for them now ;
try them on ? (´･_･`)”


what do you think of them?