Capital-L

Capital-L is a beloved fashion boutique located at 333 South Dowling St, in Darlinghurst. They stock a huge range of Australasian labels including:

Akira, Andysoma, Arabella Ramsey, Cohen et Sabine, Deborah Sweeney, Fleur Wood, Gwendolynne, Kirby Purrs, Love is a Battlefield, Madam Mooi, Nicola Finetti, Paper Denim & Cloth, Quid Pro Quo, Rebecca Dawson, Sarina Suriano, The White Label, and Willow.

Capital-L has been going for about 6 years and launched their website in 2003, themed as Capital-L-Land(see above). On the site, you can have a look at some of their latest gear, play dressup, download a free t-shirt design, or even have a look at some of their art(window art or art collaborations with Gallery Wren). Have a look at Capital-L-Land, or give them a visit at South Dowling Street.

Capital-L http://www.capital-l.com/

Dena Pezzano - Ray Gun Winter '07

Dena Pezzano was born into a family of artists(her father is a sculptor and painter, her mother is a textile artist) so it seems natural to think she was destined to explore her own creativity. In her professional background she has worked in costume design for the Australian Opera Company, as well as in theatre, television and film. Pezzano started her own label in 2003, initially with the intention of making one-off pieces . Her Ray Gun Winter '07 collection is a reflection of her confidence in creating bold, characterful feminine forms, refined and colourful, themed with playful retro sci-fi styling. The Dena Pezzano site has more on her Ray Gun Winter '07 and other collections.

Sydney Saturday In Design '07

This year, Sydney Saturday In Design has been extended to a 2 day event (Friday 27 and Saturday 28 July) with over 40 design showrooms participating. Some will be ready to make arrangements for private presentations on the Friday, and all showrooms will be ready on Saturday to receive visitors throughout the day. As always, complimentary shuttle buses will be taking you around all the different locations. Pecha Kucha Sydney will hold a slideshow night as part of festivities; Special guest Tom Dixon will be in Australia attending Saturday in Design. Visit the Saturday in Design site to for more information, including how to pre-register before 2 July.

Karen Millen

The Karen Millen label was founded by Karen Millen and Kevin Stanford in 1981 with a £100 investment in 100M of white cotton to make shirts to sell to friends. The 'Party Plan' sales network was successful enough to establish their first store in Maidstone, Kent in 1983. These days Karen Millen focuses on contemporary womenswear, influenced by classic lines and elegant feminine prints. Karen Millen currently operates across 110 countries in Europe, The Middle East and USA. Karen Millen has 3 stores in Australia - two in Melbourne(ground floor at GPO on Bourke St, and 555a Chapel St) and one in Sydney(Westfield Bondi Junction). Karen Millen has also launched eyewear and cosmetic ranges. Visit the Karen Millen site for more on Karen Millen's collections.

EN ROUTE - Call for Submissions Sydney Design 07

EN ROUTE is an artist run initiative to exhibit the work of 20 up and coming designers from across NSW. EN ROUTE is calling for submissions from Object, Fashion/Textiles, Graphics and Spatial designers, who are either recently graduated, post grad or in their final year of study. The exhibitors work will be photographed for print on large scale posters to be posted around Sydney. For more information email ENROUTE: info@sydneyenroute.org, or visit their site at Sydney EN ROUTE.

Jacqui Alexander, 18yrs old, fashion designer

At 18, Jacqui Alexander will become the youngest fashion designer to be stocked by Harvey Nichols (starting in their Dubai store). She designed her first two collections while finishing year 12 at Bialik College in East Hawthorn in 2006. Alexander says her father, Sasha, taught her everything she knows. He spent 10 years as a costume designer for Russian Ballet before migrating to Australia in the 80's, starting as a manufacturer of labels like Saba and Scanlon & Theodore and later launching their own womenswear label, Master and Margarita. Go to The Age site to read more about Jacqui Alexander.

The Bedizen District

The Bedizen District is another example of the concept of renting out racks and space to designers to sell their merchandise(See Design a Space in a previous blog entry). The Bedizen District setup, started by Vincent Miller and Lisa Harris, is a 1400 sq M warehouse in Thomas Place (near Chapel St) in Pahran. It houses over 50 individual boutiques, and also includes the New Designers Cooperative upstairs. Visit The Bedizen District online, or go to The Age to read more about The Bedizen District and Design a Space.

Design a Space Retail Gallery

Rebecca Paranthoiene and partner Chris Lutz started Design a Space Retail Gallery to "provide a retail platform for designers to showcase their work in a stylish, creative space". The concept: designers rent the space in the gallery to sell their merchandise, and retail staff take care of the store. A range of designers offer a mix of clothing, jewelry, accessories and art. Labels include Jaakan, Jessie Tucker, Mayson, Amar, Luminessence, Nude Rabbit, Angi Mac, Rocouture, Nomad Designs and Katarzynkha. Design a Space is located at 142 Chapel Street, Windsor, open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 6pm and Sunday and Monday 12pm to 4pm. Visit Design a Space site for more info.

Bulgari launches twin stores in Sydney

Bulgari has launched its new twin stores concept at 64-68 Castlereagh Street, on the ground floor of the heritage listed former Ushers Metropolitan Hotel building. The gala launch included a display of vintage Bulgari jewellery, including a necklace made for the Shah of Persia in 1967, worn by Keira Knightly for the 2006 Academy Awards.

The twin store setup was designed by Bulgari's in-house architects, as a way to showcase Bulgari accessories while maintaining a jewellery/watches salon. The same design team was also responsible for the via della Spiga in Milan and the recent makeover of Bulgari's flagship NY store.

First Magazine

First magazine is the instore magazine of Hype DC, who have the aim of offering 'edgier street wear' footwear styles for 'fashion initiators'. Each issue features information on the models and brands available instore, and even something on the designers too. The Autumn/Winter 07 edition features Yashiro Mihara, a Tokyo based streetwear and footwear designer who has designed some 'Miharas' for Puma, Kill Pixie, graffiti artist, and French based artist Fafi, who has customised some Adidas gear with her signature sexy 'girly art'. You can pick up a First Magazine at Hype DC stores, or view the current First magazine online.

Hope Street Markets

Hope Street Markets is a young designers collaborative market, featuring clothing, accessories, jewellery, object design and art. It will be launched on Friday 8th June at 182 Campbell Street, Surry Hills in Sydney, continuing on Saturday 9th June 12pm-6pm and finishing on Sunday 10th June 12pm-4pm.
Hope Street is a non-profit organisation that will be donating money from the markets to support Hope Street - Urban Compassion. For more information on the market, or if you would like to be part of the market next season, go to the Hope Street Markets site.

Streetstyle x 2

Stockholm Streetstyle is a streetstyle blog that captures the stylishly dressed on the streets of Stockholm. The site also covers sections on fashion, accessories and beauty - all in Swedish.

Another notable streetstyle blog is The Sartorialist, by Scott Schuman. The Sartorialist is Schuman's way of capturing his take on streetlevel fashion inspiration. His site was selected by Time Magazine as one of the top 100 design influencers. He also got the attention of both Style.com and GQ, and now writes for both publications. Schuman was recently interviewed by Fashion Television (interview below)