Gar&Mann:L: October 2013

2013-10-31

"Un Flic" - A 70's French Classic Brings About Graphic Tees: DIRTY MONEY

Gar&Mann:L presents to you, our production house's latest creative with Binzento X "Un Flic" - A 70's French Classic Brings About Graphic Tees: DIRTY MONEY. Original post at Binzento, all text by www.binzento.com.

DIRTY MONEY x Binzento

Creative Direction by: Binzento

Photography by: Paul Lee /Gar&Mann:L

Videography by: Jack Lee /Gar&Mann:L

Styled by: Odessa Bennett

Hair by: Michelle Lazo

Make-up by: Mallory MaGowan

Models: Robert Sainsbury, Spencer Badu, Carmen Lee

Additional pieces: Dahlia Drive

New York based Nathaniel S. collaborated with Japanese designer LKK Hara created a series of street wear for both women and men. The first collection: DIRTY MONEY is inspired by director Jean-Pierre Melville’s 70’s French film “Un Flic” (direct translation: “A Cop”; film was also known as “Dirty Money” hence the name of the label). Street wear collection which includes tees and shorts, contain bold graphics merging modern art and hip hop elements.

Binzento is thrilled to be invited first hand to shoot a creative with these pieces. The 1970’s brought a whole new era of experimenting exploitation and vigorous adventure genres in cinemas. The idea behind this creative was to combine many elements found in 70’s films. In addition to DIRTY MONEY’s 70’s French gangster smash, I was also inspired by my favorite Bruce Lee martial arts scenes and the explosion of Japanese cult classics of the same era, blended all in one. It’s a violent cultural clash, but within it there is a soft sense of agreement.

Additional amazing piece on Carmen Lee, was a multifold-wide legged trouser made with recycled curtain, all hand painted and hand crafted by Canadian artist Wendy Van Riesen (Dahlia Drive).

Original coverage at Binzento, all text by www.binzento.com.

PHOTO/VIDEOCREDIT: Paul Lee /Gar&Mann:L.& www.binzento.com.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

2013-10-30

"Maid of the Dead" - Schatzkiste, Akihabara

What's a Halloween without zombie? I want to recap this facinating event that I've came across from a friend. "Maid of the Dead" is an annual holiday event hosted by Schatzkite, a maid-cafe in Akihabara 秋葉原. The two day event was hosted by cosplay zombie maids, serving its customers speciality food and beverages. A short story/video was created together by the employees of the cafe, to allow guests to connect with the theme better and enjoy the holiday atmosphere. It is just SO cute, though it gets a bit bloody. LOVE IT. As a zombie fan, I do get those moments when I seriously think about how I will prepare myself through a zombie apocalypse. The Alice-inspired gear/outfit is the first on my list [Resident Evil all the way], what you wear do affect the efficiency of zombie slamming, dress the mood people, no heels, no pencil skirts, bite-proof jacket preferable. Machette would definitely be my kind of weapon. It really gets me when I see people ran out of bullets in movies, and definitely don't stay with the ones that you don't trust, time to sort our your facebook or friends in real life.... Maybe I should make a post on Zombie Survivalogy 101, what y'all think?

Video source; Takena @youtube

Cafe Site: Schatzkiste
Photo Source: nlab.itmedia.co.jp

2013-10-28

Binzento Vincente x Sabotage - Translation of Anti-materialism Onto Graphic Tees

Gar&Mann:L presents to you, our production house's latest creative with Binzento X Sabotage. Original post at Binzento, all text by www.binzento.com.

Sabotage x Binzento

Creative Direction by: Binzento

Photography by: Paul Lee /Gar&Mann:L

Videography by: Jack Lee /Gar&Mann:L

Styled by: Odessa Bennett

Hair by: Michelle Lazo

Make-up by: Mallory MaGowan

Models: Carmen Lee /Gar&Mann:L, Anneke Forbes, Gabriel Moodey, and Binzento

Additional pieces: EG Forge, Caitlin Power, S.P. BADU, Cat's Eye Vintage

Sabotage: A French Movement With A Hint of 90's

A Creative Editorial By Binzento In Line With Gar&Mann:L Blog

Recently a group of French artists and designers have concept a new movement in hope to antagonize heavy consumerism and the materialistic culture they see in today’s society. The group, which they named “Sabotage”, aims to perform a sarcastic act to attract awareness and to deliver their message across to people by placing “Sabotage” tapes across the renown luxury brand labels.

This concept attracted a collaboration of apparel label SYMBOLISM with Sabotage to release a collection of ‘banned logo’ graphic tees. Each familiar logo is decorated in delicate floral pattern. The ‘strike’ across each brand name carries a simple, yet reflective message. Launching a FB page, the team began to encourage their fans to post and share their anti-materialism moment (whether if it’s wearing the Sabotage tee or taking a photo of luxury objects with a Sabotage tape) on it.

Binzento was invited to showcase the new Sabotage graphic tees. When I was first approach, I wanted to fit with Sabotage’s theme by avoiding commercialized products. Instead, I decided to mix-and-match with vintage pieces of the 90’s as well as incorporating pieces by independent Canadian designers.

My experience of the 90’s as a teen, having to move from Asia to North America, was heavily influenced by ideas of the age of rebellion and anti-conformism, as well as the influence of people, movies and music pop-culture. Hence, focusing on that perspective in my new creative editorial for Sabotage, setting different worlds (Carmen Lee and I (90’s in Hong Kong), and Anneke Forbes and Gabriel Moody (hipsters 90’s couple of New York)). This era was about the human connection, young love, and perhaps finding roots to become someone in the future and lesser on luxury materials, self branding, social media, and of course, no iPhones. I have to admit, I did miss the simpler life.

Sincere thanks to Sabotage in France and personnels in Hong Kong for thinking of Binzento.com

Original coverage at Binzento, all text by www.binzento.com.

ALDO A-list Shopping Event

Last Sunday night, Gar&Mann:L was invited to ALDO's A-list shopping event at Chinook shopping centre. Love the night, got the ALDO style team in to help you finding that right pair of shoes. Keeping it all the way head to toe fresh this coming season, the A-list event offers guests with 15% off for all items in the store, Ladies and gentlemen rise your hands with me, and say" OH YEAH!" I'm a shoe addict. Love the feel and smell of that fresh out of the box shoes, so fresh. ALDO never fail to surprise us with hot items from each season, affordable and fashionable.
So fashionable that we did an unplanned unexpected photoshoot with the ALDO gift bag [ya people, gift bags!] items along with our purchase. Be sure to follow us and like us to check back on that. AND Gar&Mann:L's Up coming project with Willi Spitsik Sean Thomas, stay tuned people.

Photographer: Paul Lee /Gar&Mann:L

2013-10-26

Preview: Binzento Vincente - A Fashion/ Lifestyle Blog for Sabotage design in France

Gar&Mann:L Design & Productions house had the pleasure working closely with Binzento Vincente across numerous creative projects recently. Gar&Mann:L proudly showcasing: Preview: Binzento Vincente - A Fashion/ Lifestyle Blog for Sabotage design in France.

Sabotage design graphic tee by SYMBOLISM, a sarcastic act of anti-materialism. Creative directed by Binzento, mixing 90's elements and theme.

Videography and edit by Jack Lee /Gar&Mann:L.
Photography by Paul Lee /Gar&Mann:L.
Styled by Odessa Bennett.
Hair by Michelle Lazo.
Make-up by Mallory McGowan.
Also featuring Carmen Lee at Gar&Mann:L blog,
Leather artist Gabriel Moody,
and Anneke at Anneke Forbes.

Other pieces include Caitlin Power, Sp Badu, Cast Eyewear, EG Forge and vintage pieces from Cat's Eye Vintage & More.

Behind the scene promo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZJPg9f7PT0

Full blog post to come at http://Binzento.com/ Be sure to stay tuned.

2013-10-23

ARTwear 2013

"Italian Elegante" is the theme of the 11th Art Gallery of Calgary's Annual Fall fashion Show Fundraiser. The revenue of the event was held at The Art Gallery. The night's fashion show featured items by various local boutiques and designers for this coming winter. Showcase designs at the reception are by students from the Couture Alumni Class of the Fashion Institute of Olds College, a great chance for them to display their designs. Artwear 2013 featuring Ooh la la, LARA PRESBER Clothing, Co Co + Violet, Leo Boutique, Henry Singer, ETTE, Dionne Dionne on their runway. Love the leather, checker and feather. As you all know, Gar&Mann:L is local. Gar&Mann:L love how Art Gallery of Calgary brings fashion into the Gallery/Art Scene. Though fashion and art are at different grounds in some's eyes, but even Karl Lagerfeld said one could not possibly understand fashion if they dont understand art. Gar&Mann:L definitely see the two co-existing as the better side/ evolution of both worlds. Art Gallery of Calgary's effort must not go unnoticed. Gar&Mann:L love Artwear, love Art Gallery of Calgary.

Photographer: Jack Mclee /Gar&Mann:L

Edited by Paul Lee /Gar&Mann:L