Stop The Water While Using Me is a young brand based in Hamburg. The idea is simple: water is a valuable resource and we should treat it with respect.
I am helping build this brand. We already made it into Colette and some other concept stores around the world.
For more information on Stop The Water While Using Me, visit their site.
For alkr®, I worked with UK-based artist Nic Tual, who painted 30 iPhone cases for us to give away through fusshop, a UK-based retailer, on Facebook.
We drove a lot of traffic to alkr.com, and also to fusshop.co.uk, by placing it on hypebeast and other blogs:
hypbeast.com
The MacBook sleeves were the first products I developed for alkr®; they have high-quality zippers and neoprene fabric in a lot of different color combinations.
To keep the line fresh I designed two new color schemes: “Blue Marlin”, a fresh blue neoprene, with white zippers and a light green contrast, and “Neon Stealth”, black neoprene with neon red contrast.
Both are available on alkr.com
In early 2008 I meet Michael Kopelman for the first time to discuss a possible Dickies X Stussy collaboration. Stussy utilizes work wear apparel references, so it was a natural fit for them to work with one of the biggest work wear companies in the world.
The result, after almost three years in development, is a line of shirts, a pant and a hoodie. There was an incredible amount of dedication invested to get this right, and the launch was highly anticipated by blogs and retailers all over the world.
After the launch of the iPhone 4, I started developing a hard case for it. Apple provided me with the exact measurements of the phone so we were able to rebuild it in 3D and design a case around it.
A few weeks later, the mold was ready and production started on cases in five different colors, available on alkr.com
Working with Michael Kopelman on a small line of products for his iconic store, “The Hideout”, was a special experience. Together with Andrew Bunney, we designed a small line available at “The Hideout”.
We spent a long time on getting everything right: the cut, the fabrics, the branding, etc. Comprised of classic Dickies staples, but in a slimmer cut, the collection blends the brand’s past efforts with a contemporary twist.
A bit more information regarding the collection can be found on the hypebeast feature.
Japanese Denim Makers are the best worldwide; to pay tribute to the manufacturing background of Dickies, I developed a salvage denim called “California”.
Regardless of fashion, the California Selvedge Jean is designed to be worn and no detail has been overlooked in the delivery of this product to the most discerning denim enthusiast. To make this Jean we use fine African cotton and expert Japanese construction to develop what we believe to be not only the most authentic denim product currently available but also the most reasonably priced.
Here is the process by which the California Selvedge Jean was created:
Zimbabwean Cotton
The quality of the cotton used to make the California Selvedge Jean is an extremely important factor in creating the best denim and also determine the value of our Jean. With this in mind, we searched the world trying to source the finest organic cotton.Zimbabwe is renowned globally amongst denim aficionados’ as the prime source of organic cotton. Zimbabwe has the ideal climate for growing strong, pure cotton and it is no coincidence we chose to use it for the production of the California Selvedge Jean.
The Selvedge Denim
After our cotton is harvested in Africa, it is shipped to Japan and woven into denim cloth. Our Selvedge denim is woven on vintage shuttle looms that are unlike the mass projectile looms commonly used around the world today. Our denim is woven in small batches with a red selvedge – the clean, bound red edge on the fabric. This process is much slower and deliberate, produces less material and more waste but the end result is that the denim is far superior in durability, texture and touch.
The first true collaboration I did for Dickies was with the guys behind Alife, who have been Dickies fans for years. The “Alife Workwear by Dickies Collection” features very clean and simple takes on the classic Eisenhower jacket, short sleeved work shirt, work shorts and of course, the 874 work pant.
The collection was released in early 2009 and sold in selected Alife stores in New York, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Tokyo, Colette in Paris and at Dover Street Market in London.
In 2008 I met Dr. Revolt, a graffiti legend, and well-known photographer Ricky Powell, who helped me with my first small collaboration for Dickies, called “NY Legends”. Ricky, known around the world as “the fourth Beastie Boy”, has photographed some of the most well-known rap and hip-hop artists of all time. I was pleased to work with Ricky and three other living legends from New York on four t-shirt designs.
The four prints are based on pictures by Ricky and three are reworked by New York’s famous graffiti artists Quik, Dr. Revolt and Zephyr.
On a visit to Los Angeles in May 2008, I realized that the staff in the Alife Store on Fairfax was wearing Dickies shorts. I started a chat with them and the idea for the ALIFE X DICKIES collaboration was born.
When I was back home, I contacted the guys at Alife HQ in New York, and they liked the idea of doing something nice together. So we met in the September 2008 in their office. Check out some impressions of the office. More »
