Noble Pauper

Creepers

2010-06-10T23:39:00.002+01:00

Bumped into Craig from Bape today and he was wearing these vibrant red Creep Stas. It's a nice direction Bape is going recently, looking back into archives and re-creating the classics. True British style.

Words with EDC and Kevin Poon

2010-06-06T11:14:00.002+01:00

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to prepare a list of questions for a short interview with EDC and Kevin Poon of CLOT. The conversation will give you a closer look into the two and the nuts and bolts of CLOT. The 6th Year Anniversary Book will be out soon.

Dissected

2010-06-01T19:26:00.003+01:00

Finally able to put all three different versions together after its first released over a year ago. The quality from Medicom Toys has again slipped from its past products.....what's with the quality control nowadays?

New life

2010-05-30T10:25:00.003+01:00

Out with the old, in with the new. Uni life is over and is time to concentrate with my working life. Been absent in this blog due to the workload for the past few weeks. Things will be back to normal now.

Meeting with...

2010-04-27T20:15:00.003+01:00

For the final phrases of the feature, I've got the chance to visit Steve's and Susie's place. For those who's not familiar, they are of course Style Salvage and Style Bubble. Within a few years, both have risen to be leaders of the fashion blogging world and have brought us good knowledge and interesting picks from the ever expanding sphere. Credit to them, they have changed the elitists' dominance of the fashion world. Stay tuned...

UNKLE 77 / Haru no Torai

2010-04-25T23:46:00.002+01:00

Finally able to track down a version of UNKLE 77 after missing out the original release a few years back. Prefer this version than other "Bape" variants that were available at that time.

Also had the chance to visit the Haru no Torai exhibition at Garbstore on Friday. If you're around Notting Hill, do check it out!

Golden

2010-04-20T14:25:00.003+01:00

Bored of your egg fried rice or pasta with tomato sauce? Use this! Also check out their English friendly website for the extensive lineup and recipes.

Meeting with...

2010-04-19T23:36:00.004+01:00

Next up, photographer Neil Bedford. Spent a long afternoon talking about the good old days of streetwear. I guess we all grew out of that phrase, but don't we all miss it...

Test Drive

2010-04-18T22:20:00.003+01:00

Test driving the new GF-1. Good food, good times, good day.

Meeting with...

2010-04-15T23:49:00.001+01:00

Met up with Stephen Mann for the upcoming feature yesterday at the GIMME5 showroom. Had quite an interesting conversation about the nature of online blogs and especially talking about the magazine Monocle, which is a must read. More to follow.

untitled

2010-04-13T14:09:00.002+01:00

A lovely surprise present from Elibe, Margiela's newest scent. Beautifully packaged, the fragrance has a distinct woodiness aura about it, can't believe it took three years to make this thing.

Finally tracked down a black version of Michael Lau's Snake Square. Although the twist to the normal Square variant is an interesting take, but the quality is a major let down...

Meeting with...

2010-04-12T20:54:00.003+01:00

Yesterday I met up with renowned stylist Gemma Kane for an upcoming feature. Had a great afternoon chatting about everything from crocs bags to chatroulette...mad times. Stay tuned.

LEGO adventure continues...

2010-04-09T11:06:00.002+01:00

Due to workload...this is still work in progress...watch this space.

LEGO Weekend

2010-04-04T01:24:00.002+01:00

Went pass one of the few UK LEGO stores recently and discovered the pirates series is back after more than 10 years of long hiatus. I can still remember my first lego set was an Imperial ship back in 1992, those were the good days. After seeing the new series, me and Elibe decided to get two sets for the Easter weekend ahead...work in progress!

After trying out the HTC Hero for a few months, Sohaib kindly offered me to try out the HD2 model, which is quite similar to the widely popular iPhone. After a few days of trials, I'm still not used to the Windows base system, as I much prefer to the Hero's Android interface. However, the overall experience is great e.g. GIANT screen, amazing animation and fast internet speeds. Looking forward to the new HTC models coming out soon.

2010 F/W Press Days

2010-04-02T21:39:00.006+01:00

Went to several press days recently, popped over to anumberofnames, ok-ni, sane and of course my personal favorite, maharishi. 2010 F/W collection will see Bape return to the classic silhouette, no more distracting colors but a lot of classic simple items, definitely a good direction for the future. BBC/Ice Cream will concentrate their attention to British Heritage influences and some surprise collaborations ahead. Fast forward to maharishi, famous for their attention to details, the F/W collection is just a whole different level.

Also got a lovely present from Annoushka from anumberofnames. A nice simple Ice Cream skateboard for home decor.

Black Moomin

2010-03-29T17:41:00.005+01:00

Been collecting all black plush toys for awhile now. Shown here is a black moomin which you don't see everyday, a present from Elibe. Need more room now....

Mesh/Dieci

2010-03-27T00:09:00.008Z

After missing out on the "Tokyo" Superstars a few years back, I finally managed to get hold of a black colorway of the iconic model. In a collaboration with Kazuki and CLOT, a clever tweak is made for the summer months, where the whole upper structure is made out of mesh making the shoes "breathable".
Thanks to Annoushka, I got a chance to try out some Gourmet shoes. Known for making interesting hybrids between smart and sport shoes, this Dieci model is definitely that. Looking forward to the A/W collection.

Nike Sportswear Presents: “Cadência” Film Premiere and Exhibition

2010-03-25T00:09:00.002Z

What a manic week, dealing with 5 projects at one go is not an easy task, but still hanging in there. Last night I had a great opportunity to attend the premier of the film "Cadência", which was on the subject of Brazil's football, carnivals and the moving subject of Kites. This is certainly a good direction Nike is heading, where they aren't bombarding their audience on products, but rather giving something back to the community. More companies should do similar stuff in the future!

Test Drive: Nike Mercurial Vapor V

2010-03-15T12:36:00.003Z

As the Sunday football season is slowing coming along, I've decided to purchase one of these boots for it. After seeing the unveiling of the Superfly II at the Nike Summit a few weeks ago, it got me really interested in the technology of their football boots. Although I have been all 'Adidas' in my junior days, I finally pulled myself to the Nike side, and beginning try out some of their stuff. I have to say these are one of the best boots I've played in, as factors like weight, control and traction are second to none. Looking forward to the games ahead!

Shooting ECILA

2010-03-11T18:32:00.003Z

Shot some of the first scenes for ECILA last weekend. Not too happy with the result, therefore really need to nail this medium, which is still very new to me. But need to say a huge Thank You to Sharon for bracing the cold to shoot this video!

The Last Lecture

2010-03-09T18:38:00.003Z

Candy recently recommended me this book, titled 'The Last Lecture'. Randy Pausch looked into the simple subject of 'Living' and talks about the importance of overcoming obstacles, making dreams come true and most of all, living life to the fullest. Sadly he passed away due to terminal cancer, but his attitude to life is something we should all have.

'Time is all you have... and you may find one day that you have less than you think.'

King Ken

2010-03-05T01:39:00.002Z

The King Ken cushion has finally arrived after 3 weeks of pre-ordering stage, sometimes I wish the guys at Amos can do a better job at processing orders...and really need to stop buying cushions now, the sofa is running out of space.

First time working full time in my life this week, is sure hectic, but well worth the effort. At least I'm doing something that I love. Also need to brush up my grammar skills, this book sure helps!

Warhol

2010-02-23T15:41:00.003Z

Missed this release 7 years ago, and really regret not getting it then. However, managed to get hold of this 1000% Warhol Kubrick at a very good price after a rather long wait. Good things are well worth waiting..........

Timeless

2010-02-22T17:57:00.003Z

Never ending time, everlasting.

Happy Belated Valentines Day

2010-02-21T19:26:00.002Z

To you and only...

Haiti Charity Tee featured on http://00o00.blogspot.com/

2010-02-19T22:58:00.004Z

I have to say a massive thank you to 00o00 for putting up my Haiti Charity Tee on his wonderful blog. Been following his page for a few months now, and I'm so appreciated that my tee is featured on it. There have been quite a few orders today, some from Berlin, Singapore and even Kuala Lumpar. Few busy days ahead to achieve the new batch! For the full story, please visit his page here.

Rolleiflex/Rolleicords

2010-02-17T15:44:00.003Z

First of all, I only own one of these, just to make it clear. Most of them are my good friends Penny and Leo's collection. This is such a mad line up of history....and yes they are mad.......haha.

R.I.P. Alexander Mcqueen

2010-02-11T16:23:00.000Z

One of the greats. Your spirit lives on...

Haiti Charity Tee ON SALE!

2010-02-09T00:30:00.002Z

The Haiti Charity Tee I created for the Red Cross Earthquake Appeal is now on sale at Wholesome and no-one around the Shoreditch area. Please support! Address and info are below:

Wholesome

47 Rivington Street

Shoreditch

London

EC2A 3QB

T: 02077292899

no-one

1 Kingsland Road

London

E2 8AA

Acne/All Gone

2010-02-03T00:47:00.005Z

Went to the Acne's Autumn/Winter 2010 Presentation this evening in an old factory around Shoreditch. It has to be one of the most well thought out shows I've been to, where models walked towards the front in midst of smoke, then proceed to the audience passing a curtain and horizontal red laser beams. It is not surprising that the collection named as 'Black Snow' was inspired by Star Wars: The Clone Wars with dark, strong and floaty silhouettes. At the end of the show, the guests were given a bottle of fragrance, which was used in the presentation.

Also received a copy of All Gone 2009 today. Been collecting the series from its beginning, and its a great way to look back on the development on Streetwear through the years. Completely forgot the release due to my Dissertation last week, but was lucky enough to be given a chance to have one.

HTC/Haiti

2010-01-28T00:39:00.005Z

I've always wanted to try out the new wave of touch phones in the market, but due to my current contract tying me now (never go on a 18th month contract!), therefore I'm still stuck with my Nokia E71. However, Sohaib from HTC has given me the Hero to try out. After several hours playing around with it, I have to say is one of the most user friendly phones out there. Hopefully it'll change my mind about getting an iPhone in the future.
When the Haiti disaster happened, I thought of donating straight away, but seeing a lot of brands out there are creating charity tees, I decided to take on that step. 'We shall love again' is the graphics used on the tees, which says a thousand words towards the cause. In 3 days, I've already sold out my first batch of 25 and already accepting the second round of orders, which you can get them here. Please support the charity fund raising!

Playing Cards

2010-01-25T23:21:00.000Z

Got a brief a few weeks ago from Ping, on a collaboration project to recreate a deck of playing cards. Had quite a lot of fun doing this mini task, where I was given seven cards to design. Again, as I'm interested in the history of all things, I referenced the background and meaning of the cards and came to a few surprising results. The full deck will be revealed soon, so stay tuned.

Chosen by JJJJound

2010-01-24T20:06:00.000Z

Justin Saunders' blog: JJJJound, is a site I check out regularly. I have to say its one of the most well known moodboard blogs out there at the moment. Updated weekly, he hand picks photos from the internet and order them randomly on his page. I was quite surprised when he picked my photo for Hypebeast's Streetsnaps project, is a good sign that my work is being recognized.

Pop Up Galore

2010-01-21T01:29:00.001Z

While working on the 'Disappearing City' project, I became heavily inspired by the Victorian Era and also Alice in the Wonderland. After some research, I came across Robert Sabuda's series of pop up books and quickly bought it to see what it's like. As you can see, its pretty amazing stuff where each books have around eight major pop up spreads, not counting the smaller openings in each page. While on the subject, I also picked up a Star Wars book in pop up form, although not by the same artist, but still, there's some pretty amazing stuff going on. And yes, that is a light saber which lights up when you open it.....May the force be with you.

This is Qatar

2010-01-20T01:09:00.000Z

Although not a big skateboarding myself, but this Nike SB documentary certainly provides a basic introduction to a Skateboarder's life, and more importantly the side of Qatar which we don't see. Check it out here.

Undercover F/W 95/96 & S/S 95

2010-01-18T22:53:00.001Z

Came across these while browsing through the internet, very interesting to see a shift in style and maturity from Jun Takahashi through the years. Thinking back, this was also the 'Nowhere' era. How could Jun's work and Nigo's Americana street stuff coexist in such a confine space? Maybe this is a 'Beautiful Chaos', coined by Rei Kawakubo

We Shall Love Again

2010-01-15T20:13:00.001Z

While browsing through Google Map trying to find a parking space, I came across this lovely message randomly. It's amazing how the technology allows us to see wherever and whenever we want. Would love to work on something similar in future projects.

A look into Japanese Street Fashion

2010-01-11T14:35:00.000Z

Posted up on my Twitter page a few days ago, is an article on the current climate of Japanese Street Fashion. It talks about how the government is trying to push home grown brands to the international scene. The main reason for this, is that a lot of the brands are too focused into the domestic market, without realizing their designs are influence others worldwide. Do have a read here, as it could have an avalanche effect on world fashion.

Holiday Favorites from London

2010-01-08T11:22:00.001Z

Recently worked on a small project for Hypebeast, on selected items from shops around London. It is interesting to see most shops chose similar items or theme, ie. smart, military etc. Anyway, have a look here, and discover new shops around London that you might not know.

Belated Happy New Year!

2010-01-06T12:43:00.000Z

New Years from Edward Chiu on Vimeo.

Wow...it's been more than a month since I've updated this blog. Really need to write more here. Anyway, here's a little clip from the New Years Party to start off the decade!

Rotating Kitchen

2009-12-02T01:09:00.000Z

For the opening of the exhibition: Eating the Universe, in Germany. An installation work, named 'The Rotating Kitchen' by Zeger Reyers was put into motion. It will be rotating continuously will February 28th 2010.

Marge + Margiela

2009-11-30T17:38:00.001Z

Been working hard matching deadlines for the past week, therefore meaning a lack of posts. However, managed to pick up a few items along the way. A present from Italy, my good friend Penny brought me a back a copy of Playboy with Marge Simpson as the cover girl. I can't believe my first ever Playboy mag would have a cartoon character on the front?! Anyway moving towards the sales period, I've managed to pick up a martin margiela flight jacket for a good price. A very thick garment, perfect for the winter ahead.

Twin Set: Viktor & Rolf by Blommers & Schumm

2009-11-23T23:40:00.001Z

Having seen previously the unveiling of Viktor & Rolf’s ‘Monsieur’ collection for Spring/Summer 2010. The design duo styled themselves with the photography team Blommers and Schumm in the Fall/Winter issue of GQ Style Italy. The shoot sees the designers picking up key items from the collection and mixing them with pieces by other designers. This is an interesting way to see the designers’ vision and their playful character. More can be seen here.

Dieter Rams “Less and More” Exhibition

2009-11-18T19:56:00.000Z

Opening today is the Dieter Rams 'Less And More' exhibition at the Design Museum in London. Dieter Rams was the director at the German electronics manufacturer Braun for over 30 years and is known globally for his simple and elegant aesthetics. He has created a blueprint for the designs of today and even heavily influenced an upcoming UNDERCOVER S/S Mens collection, where Jun Takahashi followed the tones and details of Dieter Rams' work and placed them in the context of fashion. The exhibition is a retrospective of Dieter Rams' career and showcasing his ground breaking designs for both Braun and Vitsoe. The event runs from today to March 7th 2010.

Jimmy Choo x H&M Release

2009-11-14T20:28:00.001Z

The new Jimmy Choo x H&M collection released today, with lines of fashionistas/resellers waited for hours outside major stores. Have to say with the explosion of 'double names' in Harajuku in the mid 1990s, this trend has affected the fashion significantly.

In menswear point of view, this has to be one of the dullest collection out of past 'high-street' collaborations. In terms of the women's collection, items just isn't up to standard, it's only the average H&M quality. This was a stark contrast to the recent Jil Sander x Uniqlo collection, where it was simple, but yet sophisticated and was a higher standard. Overall, very disappointing.

Do you want a box with that sir?

2009-11-14T20:17:00.000Z

This is a great example of viral advertising/promotion. These letters soon got passed on through the internet, which made the agency a big hit. Please take time and read them on here.

Fred Perry 09-10 Winter Collection

2009-11-12T01:46:00.001Z

Many brands have adopted the 'Gentlemen' look recently, and its seen as a growing trend. However its been Fred Perry's aesthetic from day one. This new 09-10 winter collection shows another strong collection with a heavy use of different versions of checks, while mixing it with down jackets and coats. Check more of this collection here.

Lady GaGa - Bad Romance

2009-11-10T19:28:00.000Z

Lady GaGa's newest offering: Bad Romance. The covers shot and music video is directed by Hedi Slimane himself and styling was done by Nicola Formichetti. A very heavy line up indeed.

Art of the Trench

2009-11-09T22:33:00.001Z

Having been branded a 'chav brand' few years ago, Burberry has been reinventing itself with more toned down collections recently and slowly reducing the use of its house pattern.

This new interactive site shows the history of the iconic Burberry trench coat and allows users to submit their own style/twist to it. More can be view on here.

Topman Party/Fashion Revolution

2009-11-08T22:54:00.001Z

Was invited to the Topman Party last Wednesday night, have to say it was much better than the launch party a month or two ago. This time round, they had more variety of drinks (not just beer!) and a very nice goody-bag. If you guys still haven't been, the Topman section in the flagship store is extended to two floors, with a barber shop and a branch of EAT on the top floor.

Also visited the Fashion Revolution Exhibition the next day in Somerset House. Don't expect it to be a full blown exhibition, but it definitely has a few highlights e.g. the live photo-shoot done by Nick Knight. Sure is something to catch if you're in London.

More info here.

Maurizio Anzeri

2009-11-04T12:41:00.000Z

One of my favourite techniques in art and design is Photomontage, and here's a stunning set by Maurizio Anzeri. Would love to see more, but the site is under-construction.

Westwood Madness

2009-11-03T16:31:00.001Z

I haven't posted for a few days due to workload and birthday weekend, energy level is completely drained out, nonetheless heres one of the major event this week, the Vivienne Westwood sample sale. Me and a few friends went for the so call 'preview' night where only 'friends and families' were invited, but it seems anyone is invited. When we arrived on the night, there were about 150 people queuing already, so we gave up and planned for the next morning.

Morning came, we arrived early but still there were a lot of people there. To add to this people went a bit mad, started to jump queue and began to push. I've never seen such chaos in any sales events. The overall sale was ok, with 98% of stock are womens, but managed to pick up a few accessories.

To sum it up, the new space is more spacious than the old address which was across the road. But there wasn't any staff or security outside to control the crowd, which went pretty mental...

Good Old Days by Carl Bengtsson

2009-10-29T01:20:00.001Z

A very beautiful set by Carl Bengtsson, shot for the fall issue of DV Man. This brings me back a set I did a few months ago, which have the same nostalgic feeling. More of this shoot can be seen here.

Wonderwall

2009-10-27T19:37:00.001Z

I'm sure most of you have been to at least one of many stores designed by Wonderwall, and amazed by the space, design and thoughts that went into them. Now Masamichi Katayama has updated the site with an amazing interface. Check it out here.

Fabio Viale

2009-10-26T21:12:00.000Z

Wood? rubber? polystyrene? No, Fabio Viale's work is all done by marble, yes indeed, 100% marble. Check out more of his magical work on his site.

Jimmy Choo for H&M

2009-10-25T23:20:00.000Z

The much talked about collection of Jimmy Choo for H&M will be in store very soon. I'm sure there will be a line full of girls in the morning of the launch. For those who are interested, you can now check the whole collection and its price list here.

Soundtrack of the week - Kings of Convenience

2009-10-24T23:51:00.000+01:00

Recently think-silly published a feature on the music duo, Kings of Convenience. If soft, acoustic music is what you're into, then I highly recommend them. If not, search them on Youtube and you won't regret it. The three studio albums have been repeating at home this week.

Jo Ratcliffe

2009-10-23T23:44:00.000+01:00

Picked up this months issue of Dazed & Confused yesterday and found the front cover very beautiful illustrated. After reading into it, the work is by Jo Ratcliffe, who is also known as JOCANDRAW. Check out more of her work on her website.

UNDERCOVER menswear SS10 backstage

2009-10-23T01:05:00.000+01:00

Although the beautifully presented SS10 show of Undercover is old news, but this footage provides a great look into the hardworking team backstage. TheCorner also conducted an interview with Jun Takahashi, which can be seen here.

STIHL Advert

2009-10-21T17:46:00.000+01:00

Another clever execution of imagery, simple yet to the point. However, this campaign have 5 versions based on the same idea. Sometimes, volume can hugely affect how well it is perceived.

'Your equipment stays as good as new.'

S/S 10 Press Day

2009-10-20T14:52:00.000+01:00

I spent the whole day traveling around London previewing S/S 10 collections. First arriving at maharishi, where Chris gave me a very detailed talk on the collections. It is a welcoming news that maharishi is back and again delivering very strong pieces with turning its attention to details.

Then went over to 'a number of names' and looked at a few brands that they manage in Europe including BBC/Ice Cream and Bathing Ape. From the sample products that I've seen I can say that the essence of these brands have become more sophisticated and toned down, this is a definite good direction the brands are taking.

Upon visiting the showroom, I came across a store call 'Present'. It carries a wide range of products, from medicom toy to Raf Simons. It's kinda a version of the french boutique, Colette, but in Shoreditch, London. Do check out the store which has a great vibe and amazing coffee.

To sum the day up, I can see that all the brands have indeed toned down and more sleek in terms of patterns and shapes. This is a welcoming trend, which I much prefer then to the loud graphics and colours last couple of seasons.

Volkswagen Used Cars Advert

2009-10-19T21:44:00.000+01:00

I believe Advertising doesn't need too much glitter and huge budget to be successful. Something simple and to the point is crucial. Here is a great example by Volkswagen.

'Time never passes for a Volkswagen.'

Maison Martin Margiela Book

2009-10-18T21:33:00.000+01:00

I'm finding it fitting as my first blog entry is about a book on one of my favorite designers, Martin Margiela. His genius way of deconstructing and reconstructing have captured the fashion world ever since his first creation. While the recent news of Martin Margiela confirmed he's not involved with his brand anymore. The newly released Maison Martin Margiela Book captures the extensive history and work which made him the 'designer's designer'. The book consists of never before seen contents behind the mysterious world of the Maison, and selected images and essays from its archive.

This book is truly a good read and a certain collector's piece.

START

2009-10-15T21:16:00.000+01:00

A Blog of my daily findings.

Fashion.

Advertising.

Design.

Culture.

And my life.