Breaking Boredom

Summer time is often referred to the "slow season". Here in the design district this statement is more than relative. We often find our selves bored to death. Our defiance to bring in a giant plasma and video games made us look to other avenues to kill our mundane downtime at the shop. I mean there is only so much pot you can smoke and websites to surf. So, we got ourselves a little flat rail. Here are some pics of Felipe Reinoso, a Culture Kings Skate Team Member.


Now , we know that everyone one and there mother has a little Skate Team but we did it for other reasons.
Felipe grew up in the neighborhood and has been down with us since almost day one. The little homie has been through a lot since we first met him and will continue to stay a part of the Culture Kings Fam.

Brandon Opalka for MAP magazine

Covering everything from local openings to foreign affairs and everything in between, MAP continues to bring forward thinking, creative content and innovative design with every issue. Officially passing the one year mark, MAP brings you "The Pleasure Issue", filled with "juicy stories on food, drink, wanderlust, and -of course- sex, along with several features on interesting artists and musicians," says publishers Ro Mesa and Michael Sheehan.

The Artwork for "The Pleasure Issue" was done by Culture Kings Family member Brandon Opalka. Brandon's take on Caesar van Everdungen's 17th century painting, "Bacchus with Two Nymphs and Cupid", seems a perfect fit for this issue's cover.

Big ups to Brandon, Jason, Matt and Omar from the MAP crew. Keep doing the damn thing!

LOUIS VUTTON X COMME DE GARCON

In an extraordinary collaboration, Louis Vuitton, the ultimate French luxury brand, and Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons, the ultimate fashion rebel, will open a joint Tokyo store in September — an ephemeral three-month space where six one-off bags, designed by Kawakubo in LV monogram pattern, can be ordered by shoppers.

Yves Carcelle, chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton, sitting front row at Kawakubos’ show on Friday, said that he was approached by Comme and considers the project a fine way to celebrate 30 years since Vuitton first opened in Tokyo.

Backstage, Kawakubo said that memory of her excitement at the arrival of Parisian luxury in Japan in 1978, resulted in this unlikely idea of the new design duo creating the store within the Comme des Garçons shop off Omotesando.

For Comme acolytes, this move will be considered either as sleeping with the enemy — or a brilliant and imaginative partnership.

Kawakubo has re-designed the entire Comme des Garçons store on Kottodori, Omotesando for the Vuitton project. Carcelle says that LV is investing in the store, and that any financial profits will be divided.

Although there have been many recent collaborations between ‘high’ and ‘low’ fashion, starting with Karl Lagerfeld’s mini collection for fast fashion store H & M, this meld is different, since it involves a beacon of individuality with a company at the heart of corporate luxury management, as part of the LVMH (Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton) group.

Carcelle said that Marc Jacobs, artistic director of Louis Vuitton, admired Comme des Garçons and was an enthusiastic supporter of the idea of a joint venture.

“It is impossible to overstate Rei Kawakubo’s influence on modern fashion,” Jacobs said in a prepared statement, ‘I find it wonderful to think that 30 years ago, this immense talent, someone who has inspired so many others, was inspired by Louis Vuitton.”

Kawakubo described her designs as ‘party’ bags, promising multi-handles or two handles morphing into one. All will use the Monogram toile, with the LV initials, and the offerings will hark back to the styles of 30 years when Vuitton made only bags and leather goods.

by Suzy Menkes for THE MOMENT

"Artistic Integrity" by WALE

DC stand up! For those who don't know, Wale has been making major waves in the Music industry. His current video; "Artistic Integrity," features Gben Akinnagbe. Akinnagbe who played "chris" in the ground breaking HBO series is also WALE's cousin. 10Deep and WALE recently put out a mixtape entitled "The Mixtape About Nothing," which was inspired by the "Seinfield" television series. DJ Nick Catchdubs mixed the project and the download is availabe through 10deep.com

Analog/Digital Opening

Here are some flicks from the opening...

It wasn't a full moon but the Wolfman was out in full effect.

Mega bits and Pieces

Thanks to Grolsch for hooking up the brew ha's!

"Tower of Babel"

Luke turned blue after one of the Wolfman's concoctions.

R.I.P. George Carlin 1937-2008

"We the Best!" New Times Best of 2008

Want to send a special thanks to the New Times for the award. Even though we don't think we are a "Hip Hop Gear" spot. "Can we get the Best Street Wear or Best Lifestyle Boutique next time?" You already know, if you don't, ask Khaled!

CAKE Summer Collection

TWELVE BAR Summer Drops

Pointer Utility Shorts (Military)

Pointer Utility Shorts (Stone)

Player Plaid Shorts (Brown)

Skywalker Selvedge Denim (Ash)

WeSC

WeSC X Brooklyn Projects


La Societe - Black Sheep


Love Eneroth - Love


La Societe Spine (front)

(back)

WeSC s/s

WeSC flock

Trademark

subjective CHARM Opening Reception

If you missed the opening reception, make sure to check out the closing reception this Saturday June 14th.