Click to read and see more photos on A Pencil Full of Lead (unfortunately Paolo Nutini isn’t lurking around) as I used their Fly-Up Balloons in my window.
GOODBYE MY FRIEND
So rioting and other things aside, the project has hit some snags and delays. Including filmmaker delays – and the inability of people to respond to emails, texts and phone calls. I get read receipts when I send emails, I KNOW YOU’VE READ THEM.
Rant over. This relates to more of the past week, but it’s a pet peeve of mine.
Alas, my painful labour of love (not delivering a baby) is soon to be over. This weekend in fact on the 3rd September, the Covent Garden window has to be removed and replaced, not with a creation of mine, but back to the norm.
If you’re in the area between now and Saturday – please pop by the Rokit store and have a look – if only to marvel at the wonderful work of the collaborators who helped me with that window – Abigail Daker, Alice Gabb, Will Kay Oddkingdom, Danielle Meder and Akeela for being super awesome and helping me build the whole set. Please check out their work – cos they is AWESOME.
Covent Garden Collabs: WillKay Oddkingdom
Will is infinitely awesome, not just because he’s a black guy with a ginger streak in his hair, intensely creative and focused, went to the same school as Alexander McQueen but just because he’s just so nice.
I approached Will about the Rokit x TSoS collab way back in June, his immediate words were:
I LIKE IT.
And then he called me. His excitement was palpable. I only hoped I could live up to his dreams!
Will runs OddKingdom hosting his portfolio and demonstrating his disgustingly large range of skills. Illustration – he haz it. Graphic design – you betcha. Photography – don’t question it. Video – shut up now.
For Window 2 I envisioned a kitchen type scene (hence the vinyl on the floor) and conceptualised the ‘Bland Brand’ product. Originally going to be a pyramid of boxes (cereal in a supermarket style) I scrapped that as it was too complex to produce in such a short period (not to mention more expensive, and I’d have to cut the boxes out and construct them)
This was my visual reference to Will.
I’m down with the kids.
Will created Bland Brand, which I had printed repeating on a large format background. I wish I also had my own brand of soap flakes though.
WillKay Oddkingdom’s work can be seen at Rokit Covent Garden until September 2nd.
Covent Garden Collabs: Danielle Meder
I met Danielle Meder at a friend’s Akeela’s birthday party where she did an illustration for Akeela for a birthday gift. I was enchanted. I also went the same way home as Daniella (we did not go home together) but I coerced her into my project (cos I’m a bastard like that)
Danielle is a Canadian living in London, who is a fashion illustrator, as well as producing technical flats and paper dolls. Danielle makes a series of these paper dolls, available to purchase at hi-res to make yourself at home. If you have a PayPal account and own a pair of scissors, I say buy them. They are not only incredibly well crafted and beautiful, they’re just fun to make.
The idea sprung to mind as I thought what else could I add to Window 1 to make my life even more difficult. I purchased Fly Up Paper Balloons from A Pencil Full of Lead – which is a very cute website and outfit who specialise in reworked vintage furniture and handmade home accessories. I asked Danielle (last minute, as usual) if she could send me over a couple of her dolls.
Alas, I didn’t get a chance to get a decal made for her but keep an eye out for Danielle’s work at Rokit. Also brands, if yer reading, this is your girl. Already a hit with brands such as Bloomingdales you’d be bloomin’ mad not to snap her up.
Yes
Akeela printed them out – brought them along, and cut them out, and hung them with fishing line (along with some of their outfits) from the balloons in Window 1. The two dolls I used were Chanel Haute Couture Fall 2010 and Christian Dior Haute Couture Fall 2010.
Yes the glare on the glass sucks. I’m not good at using a camera. It’s a good excuse for you, dear reader, to go down and see it yourself.
Danielle’s dolls are available to see in the Rokit Covent Garden store until 2nd September.
Covent Garden Collabs: Alice Gabb
A good friend of mine and fellow writer and stylist, Katie Antoniou recommended Alice Gabb to me when I asked if she knew anyone who made props. Alice is a illustrator and fine stationary designer and has some great pictures of animals in monocles.
Katie also mentioned Alice when I said I wanted to get some customised notepaper made. I do enjoy sending and receiving letters. I mostly write to my NY best friend, even though we both have email, Blackberry Messenger, Twitter, Facebook… it’s just more personal that way. Also I love receiving letters, as does Diana.
Cue another frantic email to Miss Gabb asking for two props for Window 1 and Window 2 – a birdcage, and a gingerbread man.
I said:
It will be a cookie cutter – so the outline of a cutter instead of an actual gingerbread man.
Going to be annoying again – but would you be able to do a birdcage? About half a metre in height, with a handle on top.
Alice responded:
It will be cardboard covered in pale vintage pattern paper- with an
ink drawing of this image attached?
I made a hole in the top of the Birdcage and hung it from the ceiling with fishing line in Window 1.
The Gingerbread man stands by itself in Window 2 – which is meant to represent COOKIE CUTTER FASHUN.
I sometimes worry if my concepts are too abstract for anyone to get and/or care.
Alice Gabb’s props can be seen in the Rokit Covent Garden store until the 2nd September.
The Warehouse Workout
Covent Garden being the largest store, has the largest windows. To source the props took some research and savvy. To choose the clothes for the window, I entered the heart of the Rokit operation – their warehouse in Seven Sisters.
I’ve already been to their warehouse before, for the Rokit Bloggers Party where it was charmingly decorated with tea, cakes and clothes to dress up in. However since it was during normal operations, it did not resemble how I remembered it.
More clothes, more hustle, less bustle.
Kind of felt like I was in an Usher video at some points.
Skip to 0.43 to see what I’m banging on about.
Window 1 was my lone ranger, my customising soldier. What would she (as there were no male seated mannequins) wear?
I was doing a whole play on a military vibe, without being a typical camo-and-fatigues as well as drawing on the whole customisation/clashing aspect. What else to go for but 80s velcro ski pants, a Scout vest with badges, a Scout shirt topped up with an US Army helmet? The Scout shirt was an afterthought, as alas things got misplaced. However I did receive a lot of compliments on the vest from customers in the store – so not too shabby eh?
Window 2 had 3 mannequins – two female, one male. Unfortunately the pieces I got from the warehouse did not fit the mannequin. I’m glad they have dummies with a healthy body shape but after half an hour of swearing and trying to force those muscular thighs into a pair of 27″ customised jodphurs was not something I’d wish on my worst enemy. I then went on a mad dash throughout the store to pick some other pieces for my Captain of Blah. I had the hat from the store, and chose a pair of Rokit Recycled tapered trousers (£30) (32″ thankfully), a military style coat, as well as a checked shirt. As most people are aware of, I abhor those plaid monstrosities and back in 2010 I waged a street campaign against No Checked Shirts on Don’t Panic.
I chose a checked shirt because it represents no individuality in fashunz (to me at least). Some disagree, but I don’t care.
The lovely lady mannequins were slightly easier to dress, I called in from the Brick Lane store, two Rokit Recycled leather skater skirts (£40) – very Acne, and at a snip of the price. Teamed with two blouses (including a pussy bow blouse) and Rokit Recycled leather collars – I thought, how can I make these Drones all scary like? I found and purchased two pairs of futuristic looking sunnies.
All pieces available in store and/or online. See www.rokit.co.uk for more information.
How much is that Canary in the Window?
Woof Woof?
In my ah, window mock-up of Window 1 – you can see there’s a reference to a bird. A 7 foot canary to be precise. Now you may wonder, where did I get that from?
Being an avid Tweeter or Twit, as some refer to me. Back in June, I saw a tweet from Amelia Gregory of Amelia’s Magazine, offering a large canary to anyone who would give it a good home. My interest piqued, I immediately messaged her and was put in touch with Dave Tucker, of One World where we had verbal repartee of why I should be the Angelina Jolie of the avian world.
Someone else wanted it – but he snoozed, and er ‘loozed.’ Avast ye, twas mine! I sent a man with a van, who found it hard to understand that I wanted a bird brought to my house. He thought I wanted a pet bird picked up. Kind of is a pet, except I don’t have to worry about accidentally killing it.
What was the canary doing before it came to me, and became part of my installation? A slightly more noble cause, ‘Financial Fools Day’ – The Death of Canary Wharf – War on Want built a canary placed on a stretcher for the G20 protests back in April 2009.
It’s meant to be dead. Or at least, severely injured.
I underestimated how large it was. My nephew was intensely frightened of it. However my nephew is also frightened of the Aleksandr the meerkat. He is 2. It is a bit frightening.
I removed the canary (I now call him Gethin) from the stretcher using pliers (to untwist the wires) and some fabric scissors to cut away the fabric stretcher. No animals were harmed in the removal of the stretcher. Gethin is now 5 foot tall.
Gethin does not stand by himself – and Gethin’s eyes are also black and painted closed. I didn’t think a dead canary went with my theme, so I figured Gethin could stand up on a perch which I created out of a weighted box covered with fabric.
To make Gethin more … personable, a renegade canary as such, I gave Gethin a knitted eyepatch to give him a jaunty, less sinister look as well as a gun belt I found in Rokit’s warehouse. There, I kitted Gethin out with his customisation tools, a Bejeweler, paintbrushes, and two mason jars, one in the holster, one on the ‘perch’ filled with beads.
Gethin is now a canary cum pirate/arts and crafts teacher. I really wonder sometimes, how I get such unusual ideas.
Gethin will be in the Covent Garden window until the 2nd September. If anyone would like to adopt Gethin (accessories not included) please contact me here.
Covent Garden Collabs: Abigail Daker
So my cuckoo idea of Drones and Wives (which is what I’ve now decided to call it) needed props to make it come to life. I am rubbish with making magic with my hands. Well I can make things happen – but I’m no artiste. Would you say a stylist is an artist? Most wouldn’t. I’d say I’m a creative though… that mainly is because I don’t have a desk job.
I digress. In Window 1 – as seen in my delicious rendering below I mentioned a poster which would tell of the “Coming of the Drones”. In essence, a propaganda poster. I wanted it to be wry, and tongue in cheek, but not offensive. I turned to Abigail Daker whom I have never met but is a Twitter friend of mine. We would have met – except she lives in Cyprus. I recommend you follow her – she always has great tweets about sun, being barefoot, swimming in the marina, gypsies lurking (I’m not jealous I swear).
She’s also an incredible illustrator and cartographer. I highly recommend her – please check out her site for her portfolio. And living in Cyprus, she draws all her London scenes from photos with an impressive amount of detail and care. Londonist have recently run a piece on her.
Being cheeky, I asked if she would like to get involved in the project. Everybody loves doing free work! (SARCASM INTENDED). But readily she accepted, cos she is the knees of a bee. She also designed the logo for my blog.
The conversation went something like this:
Me: ABI I NEED YOUR HELP ARRRGH I HAVE SO MUCH TO DO.
Abi: So chill brah. What is it you need?
Me: WILL YOU DO ME A PROPAGANDA POSTER FOR MY ROKIT PROJECT? I AM RUBBISH, I HAVE NO MONIEZ. *SOB* *WAIL*
Abi: Perfect, I’ve just been working on some pieces in a similar style acksherly (see attached) If you could give me a slogan to start with then it’ll be quite easy.
Me: YOU ARE A DIAMOND.
Some slogans:
-”Your local customisation station” above the Rokit Vintage Logo
- “If you abstain, you will be plain – a public service announcement” Rokit Vintage logo
- “Dress to Clash to have Panache” – a public service announcement” Rokit Vintage logo
no swastikas please 
AND THEN THE NEXT DAY:
Abi: Here you go – needs a little more work but I must sleep now,
Let me know what you think
(I have taken some artistic licence with our conversation. To my knowledge, no-one I know says “So chill brah” and I’m not imaging Abi’s smoking up some reefer whilst doing so. The CAPS and panicky language is very representative of me however.)
And here it is.
Inspired by ration queues and clothing vouchers during the Second World War – Abi designed a faceless crowd going to their local Rokit – which was their ‘customisation’ station – to receive their customisation ration to prevent themselves from becoming drones. A secret underground movement so to speak. The orange lady at the front has just individualised her attire. SHE HAS CUSTOMISED.
You can see Abi’s work in the Rokit Covent Garden store until the 2nd September.
Translating the Concept to a Window
When Imogen from Rokit asked for a visual representation of how I expected the windows to look, I panicked slightly. I am lucky to be blessed with an intensely creative mind, with sudden bursts of inspiration, but sometimes I find it hard to express them. Especially visually. My sketches resemble sad pandas or drunken bears, and I don’t even have Photoshop. So what to do – the answer is obvious. MS Paint to me, will always be my go-to tool. I’ve spent many a happy time in Paint. You just – can’t – go – wrong.
I know what I mean, but how can I say what I mean clearly? Put words to pictures, is what I can do.
Window 1
I know, I would have laughed at myself too.
Window 1 refers to the left side window, with the slanted front. It is going to be made up to look like a study/ibrary which is in slight disrepair with faded wallpaper. The premise of this window is that a man is watching a TV which is telling news of the coming of the drones. The poster on the wall will also be as such. The canary is 7 foot tall and stands alone. Mannequin is dressed in dressing gown, boiler suit, has mustache.
Window 2
This shows what is going on outside the world of Window 1. The set will be a stylised kitchen with generic boxes of baking ingredients labelled BLAND BRAND. Colours will be very bright and artificial. If possible, to cover the floor with black and white chequered linoleum. The invisible man (carrying on from Window 1) will be a wire framed mannequin in a hat and coat. I’m working with an illustrator who has created window sized paper dolls before so I’ll see if she can produce the same thing, if not to create a cookie cutter mould which will be max 1m tall. 3 mannequins (1 male, 2 female) will be dressed in the same style to give the appearance of uniformity.
Those were all my initial plans for the windows in Covent Garden.
Covent Garden Moodboard: Dystopian Drones
So you’ve seen my windows, and are probably wondering WTF it’s all about. My theme for this, was dystopian drones, as shown in my moodboard.
My idea was to envision a window which displayed two halves of a fashion battle as such. Fashion is becoming so regimented and boring, that we are simply accepting what is being pumped out to us – making us drones. On one half you have the originality of fashion, the other side, a representation of the bland nature of mass, fast fashion.
I took my inspiration from Blade Runner, A Clockwork Orange, and for the window I used the League of Extraordinary Gentleman and Stepford Wives as reference points.
Oh, and if you’re wondering what software I use to create my moodboards, the answer is Picasa. Best free photo editing software I’ve ever used. I highly recommend it.
