"Artistic w/ Retail Aspect"- RSVP Gallery

The RSVP Gallery located in Chicago, Illinois opened its highly anticipated gallery to an excited crowd of consumers and art connoisseurs. The gallery is composed of a luxury boutique and art gallery that carries some of the most exclusive brands and artists’ work from around the world. The actual term RSVP means Résponde si vous plez (or please respond) which is a great metaphor for the store considering it gives the opportunity for customers to technically attend the place and be introduced to the world of art and fashion intermingled into one.

The design of the boutique/gallery features highlights of green neon lights against a black painted ceiling with limited pieces of art from the private collections of some of today’s biggest names that line the walls of the space. The concept of RSVP was to pair pop art with luxury. 

"We want the store to elicit a response of emotion and ideas - in both the artistic and retail aspect," says two of the three partners of RSVP, Marc Moran and Virgil Abloh.

Artwork from Mark Newson, Stephen Sprouse, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami, KAWS, NoPattern, etc is shown throughout the gallery. In addition, RSVP Gallery is carrying some of the top apparel and footwear brands from around the world including KaiKai KiKi, Ambush, Dee & Ricky, Super, Rizzoli, OriginalFake, Casio G-Shock, Incase, Kdia, Head Porter, MEDICOM TOY CO., CLOT, Lupe Fiasco’s Trilly & Truly, Vane NYC, and Boxed Water. Catch the Comme des Garçons PLAY collection this winter.

The full interview with two of the three partners of RSVP, Marc Moran and Virgil Abloh can be found via freshnessmag. You can view the website as a whole at rsvpgallery.com.

RSVP Gallery
1753 North Damen | Map
Chicago, IL

Alert! Nike and Cole Haan To Eliminate Use of Exotic Skins

I ran upon this article on Sneakerobsession and the subject definitely caught my attention. First and foremost, both brands are widely known for everything that their shoes provide such as its use for function providing comfort and the look of the shoe itself, providing the fashion. Just recently Nike and their affiliate, Cole Haan, whom they bought in 1988, decided to stop selling products made from exotic skins after PETA presented Nike with video footage from an undercover sting in Asia exposing the horrific suffering caused by the exotic-skins industry. Upon reviewing the footage, the company decided to never use exotic skins again, starting with their Fall/Winter 2010 collection....and rightfully so. Nike’s revised company policy says, “Animal Skins must not be any species considered to be exotic. Examples include, but are not limited to alligator, crocodile, lizard, snake, ostrich, fish, marine mammals, etc.”

There is a partial video as to what was actually seen by Nike that you can view. After seeing the video, myself, I could not fathom what happened to those animals. The treatment is unbearable cruelty and there is no wonder as to why Nike chose to stop selling their shoes with exotic skin. I will say watch at your own risk. The footage is pretty graphic, but this is the true reality of how people can manage to have the luxury through certain animal skins.

Puma Mixes It Up w/ Sagem To Create the Puma Phone

Puma is making its way into competition with major brands such as the iPhone and Blackberry. Didn't think I was referring to the brand as a phone? Well, Puma has produced a phone created by Sagem all about fun and entertainment. Info on the phone launched a couple of days ago drawing large crowds to the phone. The phone contains specialized apps and silly graphics such as a puma pet named Dylan who shows up on the screen after a while of the phone not being tended to and a turntable that you can actually scratch on...unheard of huh? The phone is also set with sports related applications such as an analogue stopwatch, GPS run tracker, GPS bike speedo, a pedometer and even a yachting compass while still maintaining the social apps we all know and love such as facebook and twitter.

The Puma Phone has a full touch screen with an exceptional 3.2 megapixel camera LED flash, considerably better than most Blackberry phone cameras. What I think is the best part about this phone is the solar panel around the back. This solar back panel enables the phone to charge without the use/need of a charger providing an eco-friendly approach. For every hour in the sun, 15 additional minutes are added on the phone and 2 hours of music playback. Amazing right? You can get more info and pics on the Puma Phone at pumaphone. Now even though the info and pics are out on the phone, it will be released in exactly 39 days (sometime in April) in Europe. If the phone does well, then a release in the US will be attainable. Lets keep our fingers crossed....I like this one. Hopefully you do too!

 

photos via engadget

Yonehara Cartridge Watch

Flud Watches collaborated with Japanese photographer Yasumasa Yonehara aka Yone to create the Yonehara Cartridge Watch. The fascinating part of the watch is the plastic wristband covered in an artwork of legs that Yone, himself, photographed to create a pattern consistent on the watch. The watches differentiate in colored faces consisting of red and white while the FLUD logo is underneath the reversed time in black and Yone's logo is on the side. The watch is packaged with a fold out of photos taken by Yone coming in a metal and plastic display case. Catch the watch via eproze.

 

  

  

  

 

Photos courtesy of freshnessmag

Futuristic.Biker.Style

Moccasin Inspired

 

Via hypebeast

Watermelon Frenzy

Check the blog out via http://dennysworld.tumblr.com/

Watermelon Vans $45 Vans.com

Lookbook Style

 

Check his blog out via http://www.flickr.com/photos/daniele268 

                             Puma Kicks

Fashion Week

Via jakandjil

Facehunter

Via facehunter

Patterned Blazer

 

Via stylescout

Stylish.Masculine.Chic

Bowtie Chic

 

Via stylescout

Neutrals Combined

Check his blog out at http://www.wretch.cc/blog/curtisczenu2

NY Fashion Wk

Via harpersbazaar

Supreme S/S 2010

Supreme has now released its upcoming Spring/Summer 2010 collection. Even though the collection is not yet available, we have a sneak peak. Being a skateboard lifestyle brand Supreme stayed with its usual and rather simple approach to its fashion, accessories, and footwear. The line up consists of t-shirts, shirts, an array of colored denim, jackets, sneakers, shorts, and different types of headwear including nice fitted caps, 5-panel hats, and camp hats. Other handy accessories in the collection consist of keychains, notebooks, wallets, belts plus many more. This collection will be available in New York and LA Thursday, March 4th and Saturday, March 6th in Japan. Not in those in areas? Shop online at Supreme starting March 11th. Check out the full collection via hypebeast.

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

  

  

Photos courtesy of highsnob; hypebeast; illcredible

A.Coba.It Studded Belts

A.Coba.It has released its newest set of accessories being the studded belt. Bright, bold colors mixed with premium aged leather w/a soft, vintage inspired feel gives a unique look providing a mix of textures and style. Hues shown thus far on the studded belts are color combos green/brown and black/white. Interested? They'

re available at Oki-Ni. Get em while they last!

 

  

  

Via highsnobiety

3sixteen Ties- Spring 2010

3sixteen has debuted three different ties all in plaid for this Spring. The three different ties come in various color assortments from a navy/red mix to a brown/red color palette. Each tie is handmade in New York consisting of  lightweight cotton. The ties have yet to be released for purchase, but stay tuned. Original price is $77 where you can buy at 3sixteen.

 

  

  

 

2010 House of Harlow 1960 (Sneak Preview)

Ladies get your feet ready for Spring! Coming in late February, Nicole Ritchie's House of Harlow 1960 2010 Footwear Collection will be hitting your nearest store. Nicole Ritchie is known for ingenius style consisting of a bohemian chic feel. The style and look of the footwear definitely plays into Ritchie's own style with flats, moccasin boots, ankle booties with geometric cutouts, and peep-toe pumps with contrasting whipstitched diamond print down the back of the heel.

 

 

 

  

  

  

via trendhunter.com ;My-Wardrobe.com

Amazing LV Kicks!

While stumbling through hypebeast, I found this street shot that ABSOLUTELY had to be seen....