ALEXANDRA ROSE CAUDWELL COLLECTION

sallida | 26. September 2014 | Fashion

Fashion Designer Alexandra Rose Caudwell

Alexandra is a young designer graduate of Kingston University London; Alexandra has a keen, fresh eye for concept research and an innate understanding of trends. The designer style focuses on the original, contemporary approach whilst attaining an accessible, wearable outcome.

Experience in high-street design, alongside a creative approach to her studies, has aided a balanced understanding of both the commercial and high-end of the industry. The designer has completed internships with Peter Jensen and Emma Cook in addition to projects for a number of established design companies including; Damir Doma, Chloé and H&M.

Alexandra's debut collection was displayed at London Graduate Fashion Week, both on the catwalk and portfolio stand - showcasing an exciting, contemporary designer eager to begin her journey in the industry.

What was your inspiration for this collection?

(non-places: spaces of harness, which are neither here nor there, that are simultaneously mythic and real contestation of the space in which we live. [Michel Foucault: Of Other Spaces, Heterotopias]

Michel Foucault’s theory explores counter-sites that simultaneously represent, contest and invert ‘real’ sites within the culture. These spaces that have more layers of meaning or relationships to other places than immediately meet the eye. Although Heterotopia is initially discussed in terms of geographical space, it details many intriguing ideas that I am able to adapt in relation to design. The mirror, represented through metallic elements within my collection, is used as an exemplar to define spaces of illusion; although the reflection exists in reality, it is virtual; expanding beyond the surface and allowing you to see yourself where you are absent. I have chosen to develop the point where reality and fantasy collide through research involving the surrealist movement. In response to Foucault’s exploration of places, I reference Enric Miralles, architect; ‘Place may be seen as one of those moments when thought becomes integrated into reality… Fragments of hypothetical movement patterns generate a geometry that becomes woven into reality in such a way that it is capable of engendering new shapes.’ I have experimented with the link between space and traces of movement through Chrono photography. The abstract, linear visuals produced informed use of layered pleating within my work. ‘Of Other Spaces’ reflects a highly personal response to an abstract concept.

Which materials did you use?

Denim, Painted mohair, wool, coated linen, high-shine metallics

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

My dream is to work as part of a collective with other designers and artists, but as long as I'm healthy and being creative I'll be happy!

To whom you design?

I hope to create original, fresh designs whilst maintaining an accessible, wearable approach for the cool, high-fashion customer.

What inspires you?

My source of inspiration varies greatly with each collection; I think it's important to reference fashion in some way to keep the designs wearable. I am heavily inspired by contemporary art and architecture - the linear nature of Brutalist building design is something that always appeals and has featured in many of my past projects. The film is also a great starting point when building a collection, evoking a strong mood/era/character to work with.

Who is your ideal designer?

I'm in awe of the Antwerp Six, in particular, Ann Demeulemeester and Dries van Noten - beautiful, poetic designs with a dark, dreamy undertone.

SYED SHAHID NISAR LONDON FASHION WEEK

sallida | 26. September 2014 | Designers

Fashion Designer Syed Shahid Nisar

Syed Shahid Nisar, is a fashion designer whose collection was presented in London Fashion Week together with Kingston Fashion University, Syed Nisar has presented a great collection which reflects his origin, and reflect also his strong personality as a designer, personally I found this collection really interesting, really avant-garde and really strong.

Syed Nisar, as a designer has a strong background and experience, he works for Alexander Mc Queen where he gains knowledge of different fabric manipulation techniques, embroideries, draping on stand, fabric qualities and creative pattern cutting.

What was your inspiration for your collection?

My collection is based on the shrouds of the people who gave their lives in the name of religion. Embroidered is the sacred text which has been used out of context to radicalize people.

To which woman is this collection made?

My woman is, strong, well educated who is not scared of anybody. She has power and individuality.

What defines you as a designer?

I don’t like labeling myself as just a Designer; I am an artist first. I like to create things, beautiful things, things that can provoke a reaction, so, for me, the only word designer does not sum it all up.

To which woman you design?

As I said earlier, the woman I design for has the power of knowledge and is bold and has an opinion. She is the strongest person.

SOURCE: VOGUE UK

MACAROOM, A SWEET SIN

sallida | 21. September 2014 | Lifestyle

How Macaroom Idea start

The idea started when she was on vacation in France at the côte d'Azur. She says that there are many, many lovely macaroons shops - a thing she hadn't seen before because you wouldn't find shops like this in Vienna. At that time, my mother was still working as a graphic designer, but it had always been her dream to establish her designer label where she could realize her ideas and let her creativity flow. She decided that macaroons would be perfect for her:

- First, because there aren't many places in Vienna, where you can buy high-quality macaroons

- Second, because macaroons are such cute and stylish, colorful delicacies.

What makes you so special?

My macarons are special because they are handmade with high-quality ingredients and natural food dyes - and a lot of love and perfection. As a designer, my mother has very high standards for everything she does. The interior of her manufactory, the colors, decorations and recipes of the macaroons, the packaging, the photo shootings... Everything is carefully planned and designed. She puts a lot of time and effort into her shop " macaroon" and is constantly working on new ideas and recipes!

Where we can find your Macarooms?

Macroom's macarons can be bought at various markets and events - the locations are always announced on the Facebook Fanpage. Aside from that, you can always order in advance! Starting from September 20th, you can buy the macaroons directly every Saturday at her manufactory in the Keilgasse 7, 1030 Vienna.

ALJA SLEMENSEK FASHION DESIGNER

sallida | 18. September 2014 | Designers

Fashion Designer Alja Slemensek

Alja is a fashion designer, graduated in Fashion and Textile Design from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering at the University of Ljubljana. In the same year of her graduation, she did an internship in Kaufman Franco in New York. Alja was one of the 6th finalists for the Ramazzotti Runway Award in 2010 at Berlin Fashion Week, she was also selected to showcase at Bitola FW in Macedonia in 2011 and in the fall also at A La Mode 2011. She has consolidated her career as a fashion designer in Europe, she has presented her collection in Austria, Germany, Macedonia, London and of course Slovenia and we have the opportunity to make her a little interview, to know a little bit more about her last collection FresDeco.

What was your inspiration for this collection?

My collection name is FresDeco. So already the name tells you where I was looking for my inspiration. I love the details, and I am not talking about decoration on clothing, but more like special shapes or unique a bit different patterns that are still simple and kind at the same time.

To whom you design?

Alja Slemensek design for all women, mostly, but of course I am always open to any other wishes or ideas. My designs were bought by quite a different crowd such as young and older women and even men because besides clothing, I must mention I also design and make these unique, handmade and very useful Fox scarves, which were very well accepted.

What inspires you?

Hmm, it so much. I don’t want to sound corny, but life in general and people also just fashion itself, details. I love details also in other things too. I love to design in general.

Photo Credits:

Alja Slemensek

COFFEE PIRATES BEST COFFEE IN VIENNA

sallida | 10. September 2014 | Lifestyle

Best Coffee in Town

I had the opportunity to do a little interview with Evelyn Priesch, owner of Kaffee Piraten Vienna, and discover why this coffee shop is in the top 8 of the world's great coffee cities, in the CNN list Best Coffee Cities. But this was more than a simple interview, we got to try the coffee from Ethiopia, which is very special and we also see the roasting process that makes this coffee so special and my favorite in Vienna.

How the idea of Pirate coffee starts?

Kaffee Piraten started 2 years ago after a trip around the world, for 1 year and they travel around coffee countries where they have the opportunity to visit coffee plantations in Ecuador, Colombia and New Zeeland and they saw the rich coffee culture of this country, and the idea to start a coffee in Wien start developing.

What makes your coffee special?

We know the coffee chain really from the growers, so we know all our plantations, we really know from where our coffee comes from, we buy green beans, and we roast the coffee ourselves, we know the whole chain of the coffee and we can also influence the whole process, and that’s really an advantage because we know from where the coffee comes, and how is produced. Our espresso machine is also something really special, is the only one in Austria, is a Dutch machine, is a really high-level machine you can really high the quality of temperature. We also roast the coffee really slow, is really handmade roasted, we have a smooth roasting process, so you can taste the entire aroma in the coffee. Our coffee is really fruity and really light, you can drink it without milk or sugar because it doesn’t have this bitter taste at the end.

We have coffee from Ethiopia, which is really fruity, very orange and lime taste, the coffee from Colombia, which is more chocolate-like and makes the body of the coffee to make it stronger but is still very smooth. The coffee we have is from Panama, Colombia, Brazil, Ethiopia, and Indonesia.

Also, where we buy the coffee, it is hand-picked, it is really hard work but of course, the quality is better than the huge plantations.

When you travel around the world, where did you drink the best coffee?

That’s really difficult, New Zealand has a very nice coffee culture, they have a lot of coffee shops, and they all roasts inside the coffee shops, so they really have a high-quality coffee and they really care about the coffee, and that’s being the start of the idea of pirate coffee. We also have the opportunity in Colombia when we were in la Zona Cafetera, the coffee grows really pure, without technologies at all, and we were roasting the coffee in pawn directly in the fire, and we ground the coffee ourselves in a really basic way, and we brew the coffee on the fire, it was a really basic way of preparation, but we really like it, it was a very special experience to be directly in the plantation and also the preparation was really different and very special.

What is the secret of the roasting?

It’s a very smooth roasting profile, not too high temperature as well, we have a different roasting profile for every single coffee we have, when we get new coffee first we test it to find the perfect profile, we also roast longer than normal, normally the big roaster companies roast the coffee for 3-4 min and we roast depending on the coffee about 11-14 min, is a really long roast and it is all handmade, and we stay at the roaster and we check the temperatures, every roast is special, and we check that the profile is really perfect.

Which is your favorite coffee?

I like Ethiopia very much, it's very sweet because it is a natural and organic production process, where the coffee cherries are dry in the sun, and the coffee has a really blueberry flavor.