Almost 2 trillion ways to lace up your shoes?

Apparently, there are 1,961,990,553,600 ways to feed a shoelace through 12 eyelets...look at the formula through this link!

http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/2trillionmethods.htm

Oh yes, the website also demonstrates over 30 ways to thread your shoelaces through the eyelets for different purposes.

Here's one of them from the website:

'

Ladder Lacing
This distinctive lacing is worn on military boots by paratroopers and ceremonial guard units. The laces weave horizontally and vertically, forming a secure "ladder".'

Link up: http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/lacingmethods.htm

On the page, click on the picture for the instructions.

Perhaps different types each week?

What were they thinking: What riot American Apparel!

It is strange how desperate people are willing to get into the American Apparel sale at Brick Lane...only to just encounter a riot right outside the venue on Friday (2nd of April) morning.

The news: http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/business_money/riot+breaks+out+at+london+clothes+sale/3600657

Video on Youtube (in case it does not show in this entry): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LmIEHaD6tg

Oh yes, on that day, only 30 people managed to go in...

For once, I am glad that I slept in that morning (I had the intention of getting up early for the event) and decided to spend the day at home and to go the next day. I only found out about this news when I was checking the Facebook event when I came across the news of the fight. Anyway, I went for the sale and yes, I scored a couple of things. Honestly, if not for the sale, I would not own anything from American Apparel (look at the price list below for the sale)!

Amazingly, to make it up for their customers, American Apparel extended the sale until Monday evening and also gave out discount codes to use on their UK website (up to 40% the listed items from their category 'London Rummage Favourites'.

American Apparel apologies and the discount codes: http://www.americanapparel.net/presscenter/dailyupdate/dailyUp.asp?d=51&t=2110

Wondering what I bought? I bought their 'classic' "Le sac dress" which I would NEVER pay full price for!

Well, for those who want to head down for the sale in London, I can say that security has tightened up, it's safe to go and hey, it is organised! I didn't have to wait more than 15 minutes to get into the sale...and I thought queuing up for the 'Mac Donald's Hello Kitty' craze of 2000 in Singapore was crazy enough!

At the moment, a range of children's shoes 'Nautical Charm'

From my last entry, 'Just a little humour (children's shoe)', here is the final range done with the group project with Clarks started in January. This was one of the group project I had the most fun though at some points I was a bit tense at some points.

Here is our 'Nautical Charm' range!

Nautical Charm

Pictured: Fanny making the sole.

Too bad I don't have a picture of me making the sole. I enjoyed using the drill to make the sole as well that I came out of the classroom all white, like someone covered me with talcum powder!

My dearest prototype!

Designers and makers in the group:

Morna, Fanny, Lisa (Me), Grace, Belinda and Arathi.

At the moment, the movie, "Coco Chanel et Igor Stravinsky"

Last year, I mentioned about "Coco avant Chanel" (two links from the two underlined words).

Here is another movie called "Coco Chanel et Igor Stravinsky" which was presented as a closing film for the Cannes Film Festival 2009.

This movie was set in 1913 onwards, before the first issue of the perfume, Chanel no 5. The movie features parts of Igor Stravinsky's ballet, The Rite of Spring.

Even though it's a little late and was released last year, I thought of posting a movie trailer which I think looks a bit more impressive than "Coco avant Chanel" (which to be honest, I wasn't fond of the movie...I liked a few scenes)...but then again, like all movie trailers, it entices you watch the movie and make it seem good. Whoever has watched this movie, let me know what you think.

At the moment, 'A Decade of Faile'

Recently, while running an errand, I walked along Rathbone Place and got attracted by the window of Lazarides Rathbone gallery (picture from my iPhone (a real sneaky picture!).

There are a series of artworks created by Brooklyn-based artists, Faile (pronounced like the word "fail").

Except from the press release from Lazarides:

"Faile’s work is inspired by Cy Twombly, Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein,

Basquiat and the throwaway imagery of advertising, flyposting, comic books and

TV."

This exhibition from the gallery runs until 19th March 2010. Verdict? Go and see it!

A quick idea on Faile: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faile_(artist_collective)

Link here for the Press Release: http://www.lazinc.com/content//pdf/2010-01/failebast-deluxx-fluxx-final.pdf

More on: http://www.hookedblog.co.uk/2009/01/faile-website-update.html

More of their works: http://www.faile.net/

At the moment, the world's first 3D printed polyamid shoes...?

Two students, Naim Josefi and Souzan Youssouf, of Beckmans & Konstfack collaborated with each other at Stockholm Fashion week. Together for the collection "Melonia", they created wearable shoes, which was 3D printed in polyamid.

Excerpt of the concept by Core77:

"The shoes call for further exploration in ever-developing rapid prototyping processes. The pair envisage a world in which we could produce and recycle such objects in a closed loop."

Comment: I wonder how steady is this shoe? I must say, it looks very innovative!

Link up: Core77

Pictures from:

Naim Josefi's profile on : http://www.beckmans.se/naim-josefi/

"Sonny's" Page: http://sonnyphotos.typepad.com/sonny/2010/02/beckmans-college-of-design.html

At the moment, just a little humor (children's shoes)

Right now, I'm doing a group project designing and making children's shoe. Here is my mock up...and well, as I brought candy to school, my team members and I felt like doing this...

Note: Fangs and gummy 'Smurf' are not part of the design...and the eyes were drawn in for fun! Now I'm making the shoe in the original materials.

At the moment, I am amused by...this shop's name...

Last week, I went to Paris to visit my friends. As it was the weekend and I arrived Paris around the evening, my time to do a lot of activities was limited. However, Jenny managed to take me out to another shopping area, Marais (pronounced as ma-ray according to Jenny) in the 3rd arrondissement) which was pleasant to walk rather than the busy streets of the 1st arrondissement!
Anyway, while walking along Rue de Sévigné, I couldn't help it but to take photos of this shop, mainly the name...I find it humourous though some may not find the same kind of humour as I do...

Monsieur Poulet (literal translation: Mr. Chicken)
Original Chicken Clothes
(It's a boutique selling printed T-shirts)

Photos: From my phone.
Website for 'Monsieur Poulet' (in French and English): http://www.monsieurpoulet.com/ (the t-shirt prints are quirky and colourful).

Alexander McQueen shall be remembered

Lee Alexander McQueen (photo by Kin Ho)

While pattern cutting, one of my friends recieved a text message of McQueen. Instantly, I went to the internet and found out, the news was true.

Lee Alexander McQueen known for his lavish and exceptional runway show (and designs) passed on a few hours ago in his home in London. There are speculations that the incident was triggered by the death of his mother (a few days back).

This is the only thing I bought from McQueen, the flapper bag from his seasonal range. I know this sounds really cheesy but this will be one of the great bags I will treasure...

News of him have been popping up almost every moment since this incident...

He shall be missed.

More on: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/celebrity-obituaries/7216283/Alexander-McQueen.html

At the moment, I feel like...(as illustrated on this embroidery)

At the moment, I feel like relaxing like this person here...of course fully covered! :)

Embroidery done by a friend of mine, living in London.