Graniph T-shirts in Sydney

I first came across Graniph during a visit to Tokyo last year. Graniph collaborates with artists from around the world to create designs for t-shirts, bags, caps etc. This stuff is usually only available for the Japanese market in Graniph shops and online.
Graniph have decided to trial a small outpost in Sydney, at Via Alley in Darlinghurst, from 08 dec 2006 to 31 mar 2007. Theres a range of designs, at $39 a t-shirt. Via Alley is at: Shop 2, 289 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst.

Graniph www.graniph.com
Via Alley www.viaalley.com

Making Time with the Watchmakers

Rolex are underwriting a free school for watchmaking, in Pennsylvania. The school, started in 2001, is Rolex's effort to combat the falling numbers of skilled horologists in the US. Go to Businessweek for the full article.

Hanae Mori Style (edited by Yasuko Suita)

Hanae Mori is a legendary Japanese fashion design icon, considered the 'Grand Dame' of Japanese fashion design. She presented her first collection in New York in 1965 to great acclaim, and has since grown her business into a multi-million dollar empire, expanding to menswear and perfumes. She is the first Asian to join the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, of France. She has a famous love of butterflies, so of course their imagery has become a vibrant and beautiful signature of many of her pieces over the years.

"Hanae Mori Style" is a retrospective of her work from 1965 to 2001, with images especially selected by her. There are 2 introductions, one from Hidekazu Yoshida and one from Suzy Menkes. I think its true that Hanae Mori's style is an amazing fusion, incorporating Japanese fashion influences like the striking patterns and colours of kiminos, shaped in Western forms, while incorporating the delicate and beautiful imagery of butterflies and nature.