ANNTIAN Autumn/Winter 2011 “Crystal Inside”

“Crystal Inside” carries away from cold, icy winter days outside with crystal clear air and gives in the longing for coziness and comfort -for being inside.

The Interior of one’s home is in focus now—there are all these things that make you feel at home and comfortable that allows you to contemplate.

Objects you’ve come across over the years and that happened to be beloved ones. Things of no real value, just full of “meaning”, thoughts and memories of your own... Pillows, books, rugs and blankets, plants, stoles, tea & pastries...

On this basis graphic elements of the collection are inspired by ornaments, patterns of rugs, crystals, geometric arrangements to be found in “still lifes”.

Colors are earthy, brown tones, black and white, plus strong highlights like red and pale neon green, accompanied by a fresh pale blue.

Patterns are based on the approach of “involving” blankets and scarves in garments and silhouettes - patterns developed out of “wrapped” blankets.

The composition: series of wool coats, jackets and trousers…some printed jerseys, and an ensemble of knit, being important in the line.

Alongside the clothing line the collection includes pillows, blankets, rugs, printed porcelain dishes & tea sets, plus the crystal-porcelain jewelry line and the winter boot.

See the whole collection here.

Photos & text Copyright ANNTIAN.

van Laack—130 Years of Tailor-Made Excellence

The van Laack label was established in 1881 by Heinrich van Laack and two partners who had a vision to produce luxury shirts.

By the 1920’s van Laack shirts had already forged the way to a reputation of “the royal shirt.”

Since that time the company has been acquire by Heinrich Hoffman in 1953 and Christian von Daniels in 2002.

Now, van Laack is sold in over 50 countries!

Have a look at more images here.

Photos Copyright van Laack.

SIKI IM Autumn/Winter 2011

Siki Im was born and raised in Cologne, Germany. After completing his Baccalaureate, he was drawn to architecture, and relocated to Great Britain, where he graduated with First Class Honors from the Oxford School of Architecture.

Having worked as an architect in various cities around the world, Siki Im moved to New York City in 2001 where he worked for the progressive architecture firm, Architectonics. Numerous projects later he decided to take a break from architecture, and move onto fashion design.

Siki Im was the Senior Designer for Karl Lagerfeld, and Helmut Lang. After years of designing for fashion houses, he thought that it was a good time to utilize his knowledge, as well as experiences in architecture, furniture, graphics, art, and music, manifesting it all into fabrics and shapes.

Brand Statement
“The work of an intellectual is not to mould the political will of others; it is, through the analyses that he does in his own field, to re-examine evidence and assumptions, to shake up habitual ways of working and thinking, to dissipate conventional familiarities, to re-evaluate rules and institutions and to participate in the formation of a political will (where he has his role as citizen to play).” - Michel Foucault

There are certain statements and sentences of poems that we come across during our younger years while studying, that may leave a deep impression on us, and that may influence our actions at a later moment in our lives, be it in a conscious or unconscious manner.

Siki Im feels this way about the meaning of this above cited anthropological statement of Michel Foucault, which he seems to bring to life in his design process:

Exploring the boundaries of institutional and conventional fashion and craftsmanship, he strives to reevaluate the existing landscape of high-end men’s wear. Hand-tailored blazers are at the core of his collection, surrounded by men’s wear pieces across all categories of tops, bottoms and outerwear.

The brand is indeed an exercise of exploration of traditional tailoring techniques and a “mise en oeuvre” of unique shapes, creating ergonomic volumes and unusual proportions within a sculptural approach.

Siki Im also draws his inspiration from artists like Gordon Matta Clark, Tatiana Trouve and Agnes Martin, to name a few. Their conceptual, visual and tactile influence can be felt in those carefully hand-tailored, artisan suits - employing the highest levels of craftsmanship and using the highest quality fabrics that embody the minimalist and refined aesthetic that will be the signature of the brand.

See the look book here.

Photos & text Copyright SIKI IM, Courtesy Nouveau-PR.

Tom Rebl Autumn/Winter 2011

For autumn/winter 2011, Italy-based German designer Tom Rebl has prepared a collection that reflects his first collection, “Shocking Radiance,” which he debuted in 2007.

The 2011 autumn/winter collection is true to his name—surrealistic and appealing to the subconscious, so that menswear becomes an extension of the personality.

Detailing, high quality fabrics, unique treatment and finishing are all signature items of Tom Rebl collections.

True, Tom Rebl collections may strike you as rebelliously shocking; at the same time, you must admit—they radiate with creativity and keen eye on the most recent trends on runways around the world.

Revel in more shots of the rebel here.

Photos Copyright Tom Rebl.

Punk Chic Accessories—Gnonga Negro

The mood of Gnonga Negro is an international perspective and travel. The line of accessories was conceived in 2009 by the young designer Peter Logan Koch Santos—son of a Dominican mother and German father, who was a shoemaker in Le Marche.

The minimalist style is one of punk chic, which was borrowed from suburbian culture and refined for those who wand glamour without excess.

Metals are aged and oxidized for an aggressive look.

Have a look a some more images here.

Photos Copyright Gnonga Negro, Courtesy S2B.

Happy 10th Kilian Kerner at Meredes-Benz Berlin!

This year Kilian Kerner celebrates his 10th collection—a small milestone for a great talent!

At the recent Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Berlin, Kilian showed for the sixth consecutive time with an emotional 2011 autumn/winter collection.

Retro in feel yet mod in look, the collection leans somewhat futuristic. Colors are limited but in number only and not in intensity!

Congratulations Kilian—you have become a pillar in German men’s fashion!

See more images on the runway here.

Photos Copyright Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin.

Tom Rebl Fashion Rebls!

What do you get when you mix a little ethnic style like Native American Indian, kurta pants, and kilts with male bustiers, leggings,a touch of S&M, and some good ole’ fashion jockstrap kink?

You got it—Tom Rebl Fashion Rebls! But not everything is rebellious and shocking as a first glance at the 2011 spring/summer collection may appear.

As you flip through the images, you will find much that the collection does not rebel totally against the current trend in modern menswear, including classic styling.

Born in Germany, Tom Rebl studied Fashion at the Dt. Meisterschule für Mode and the celebrated St. Martins College in London, going on to work for Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen.

See the whole radiant collection here.

Photos Copyright Tom Rebl.

Human Scale by Tiedeken

The new collection Human Scale from Tiedeken was inspired by statements of economist Fritz Schumacher.

He claimed a comeback to human scale, a come back to small clear units which could often solve large, unmanageable problems a lot better than complex and complicated constructs.

Schumacher’s ideas, which he compiled in his book ‘Small is beautiful’ in the mid 70s, are not only inspiration for the Berliner designers’ current collection. They even influence their working methodology, life philosophy and general mindset. Just like in their first collection, where the tetrahedron was their icon and leitmotiv,

Human Scale is built on elaborate cuts and patterns, reaching a great effect with little input.

By the way, the shape of the tetrahedron appears again in the new collection.

See the entire 2011 spring/summer look book here.

Photos & text, Copyright Tiedeken, Courtesy Temporary Showroom.

Tetrahedron by Tiedeken

Tiedeken—the new Berli- based fashion label presents its first collection called TETRAHEDRON.

Tetrahedron, a volume made of four equilateral triangles, is the most stable unit one can imagine—at the same time it is simple as well as functional, minimal as well as aesthetic.

It is more than a geometric figure for designers, Regina Tiedeken and Tom Keller, who run the label Tiedeken since the beginning of the year.

It is an ideal, a symbol for what Richard Buckminster Fuller stated in the sentence “Doing the most with the least.”

The tetrahedron, the fashion designers’ symbolized leitmotiv, therefore turns into the main theme of their first winter collection 2010/11 named Tetrahedron.

The geometrical figure shapes patterns, which have partly been developed out of triangles. It also functions as a graphic element, e.g. a multi colored rapport made of the flat projection of the tetrahedron.

Regina Tiedeken was part of the label “vonwedel & tiedeken,” whose CI und grafik design was significantly shaped by Tom Keller. The former Westwood assistant and the product designer now also offer male fashion as part of their collection.

Tiedeken is not only a fashion label though. They also aim to position themselves in their previous design fields graphic, multimedia and costume design.

See the entire look book here.

Photos & text, Copyright Tiedeken, Courtesy Temporary Showroom.

ANNTIAN Spring/Summer 2011 “Ocean View”

Picturing one dreamily look on the ocean, the collection plays with the variety of thoughts and feelings evoked within.

Tropical fruits, their taste and inherent beauty, plants and the unique diversity of rich colors, surfaces and haptics they offer—natural luxury.

Murmuring and flowing water, waves and plants, wind, structures of rocks and haptics of sand, shapes of mussels and corals - and all the multiple scents and smells. Contemplation, emotional and sensual experiences constitute the line.

Behind this is our wish to touch on the subject of how important the relation and behaviour towards nature, food and “living together” is.

Colours like sky, ocean blue, coconut white, reed and kiwi green, coral and watermelon red, orange, citron yellow go along with natural, soft , fluent and transparent, so as pure , rigid and clear materials.

The Shapes show movement and waves combined with contrasting straight and clear forms.


See the whole view here.

Photos by Johanna Ruebel, CopyrightANNTIAN.
Hair/make-up: Mo Oturak
Models: Julia & Richard

Raphael Hauber: Stepping It Up in Spring/Summer 2011

The spring summer collection 2011 is inspired by empty and anonymous stairways, symmetrical stairways that are arranged around a center and which can often be found in big public buildings like old opera houses. A special focus in the collection is a strict symmetry and kaleidoscope effect.

Pictures of a late 70ies stair-rail in an apartment building have been modified and used as all over print for sheer silk cotton shirts and jeans. Another print of a stairway kaleidoscope picture with a male and female model face mirrors the symmetry or asymmetry of a human face.

The pattern exists of symmetrically arranged inserts taken from the stair-rails. A bright apricot nylon block insert is used in ecru linen as well as in denim jackets and shorts and reminds of escape routes. The main fabrics are bleached and blue leight weight denim, blue denim, cotton silk chiffon, cotton jersey, linen and nylon.

Take a walk up each step of the collection here.

Photos Copyright Raphael Hauber.

BLESS N°40 Whatwasitagain

The workoutcomputer
The workoutcomputer is Bless ultimate dream tool for every day office work, facing finally the problem of balancing mental and physical tiredness equally, means after along office day you risk muscle aching the next day, or you are in such a good working shape that you get addicted....

More seriously, we think it as a good test to touch new ground in combining work and measure time in a use and playful way. Indeed, who haven't dreamt to step on a dot, to hammer an explanation mark and to kick a question mark into an e-mail?

The collection
BLESS N°40 Whatwasitagain reflects, as the title says already, the carelessness of the clothing within so many other exciting things that go on—may it be the arrival of anew bless child, or the enthusiastic work on current or upcoming collaborations such as for Volkswagen, Linda Farrow, Weekday, Yoshida Kaban/porter, the Graz exhibition, the St. Etienne design biennial, etc.

However, the collection can be classified as a real cozy winter wear solution with a particular large variety of jackets.

Typical bless products is i.e. the two trench, a trench coat made of 2 single parts that form together one coat and that can be stored in boxing gloves, if desired; a cape jacket, that contains in its lining a rain cape that can be pulled out, a jacket which collar looks like a draped scarf, a shawl that contains shoulder pads, etc.

As in every winter collection you'll also find hand knit, this time in a black & white and red & white salt & pepper optic, where the classic eram shoes come along with it in this new color range.

See more images here.

Showvideo from Sebastien Jamain on Vimeo.
Photos Copyright Bless, Courtesy Agency V.

Hannibal—On the Streets of Munich

Simon Hannibal Fischer was born 1981 near Munich, graduating from the Walddorfschule, after which time he worked for Flip—a store in Munich.

He then pursued his studies in fashion at the Academy Fashion & Design in Munich.

Have a look at the Hannibal 2011 spring/summer collection here!

Photos Copyright Hannibal.

Hannibal & German Menswear

Hannibal is an emerging brand from Munich, Germany, and named after the designer Simon Hannibal Fischer, who founded the label in 2008.

The first collection, whether willingly or not, follows the ways of the ancient Phoenicians, who were seafarers. The 2010 spring/summer collection was entitled “On the High Seas.” Coincidence?

Have a look at the Hannibal 2010 autumn/winter collection here!

Photos Copyright Hannibal.

Starstyling—Styling for Stars!

Starstyling is a German experimental label, which was launched in 2000 by Katja Schlegel and Kai Seifried.

If you are looking for mainstream, run-of-the-mill styles, then Starstyling is not the brand for you!

Starstyling is functional yet radical styling for stars who want to be unique, individualistic, and distinctive in all aspects of dress.

For the 2011 spring/summer, Starstyling collaborated with G-SHOCK watches in a collection entitled “Anti-Avanti.”

Check out the collection here.

Photos Copyright Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

Guido Maria Kretschmer “Dancing with Myself”

Born 1965 in Munster, Germany, Guido Maria Kretschmer studied Fashion Design in France and Spain, launching his first label at the age of 22.

Since then, he has designed the outfits of internationally acclaimed film stars and musicians.

At the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Berlin, Guido decided to feature a 2011 spring/summer collection of “Dancing with Myself.”

See the entire collection on the catwalk here.

Photos Copyright Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

The Fantastic Futuristic Fun of Patrick Mohr

Normally when I write an article on a designer, I post only the menswear designs; but with Patrick Mohr’s 2011 spring/summer collection, leaving out the women’s gallery detracts from the overall look.

Patrick Mohr presented the collection the recent Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Berlin with an array of bald and bearded hipsters that blended the sexes into an androgynous silhouette of Neolithic, neo-alien style.

Oftentimes, onlookers and viewers cannot see past the radicalism (or get over the shock) in such a creative production and, thus, miss out on the trends to come.

Typical of the 2011 season are the draping, layers, asymmetry, rolled-up kurta pants, sheer fabrics, and rugged cuts.

What about the bald heads, shaved eyebrows, and straggly beards? You may just see that too!

So, enjoy here the photo gallery and film to be transported to the fantastic, futuristic and fun world of Patrick Mohr!

Photos Copyright @ Dan and Corina Lecca at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

German Garment at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

Check out this video with Killian Kerrner and actor Matthias Scheighöfer at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Berlin.

German Garment was spearheaded in 2009 by four friends: actor Matthias Schweighofer, tv presenter Joko Winterscheidt, DJ Sebastian Radlmeier (Sebrok), and designer Kilian Kerner.

The goal of German Garment is a reaction to outsourcing in the Far East and Eastern Europe by promoting Made in Germany at reasonable costs.

Video Courtesy & Copyright Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

The Music & Fashion Project by Kilian Kerner

When one mentions the German designer Kilian Kerner, there is so much to say!

Before entering the fashion business, Kilian studied drama in Cologne, which graphically graces each of his productions.

Yet when it comes down to styling, Kilian designs in such a way that the wearer is anything but acting!

Drawing inspiration from the emotional realm, Kilian’s signature consists of sleek androgyny as he allows contrasting opposites to define his look.

Attracted to the past, especially the era of Dandyism, Kilian has refused to allow time to dictate his menswear collections.

He established his eponymous label in 2004, having gained the reputation for mixing music and fashion.

His first fashion-music mix took place in 2005 with Berlin band “Bad Habbits,” followed by a performance with “Splinter X.”

Popularity led Kilian to establish a project entitled “Fashion and Music,” whereby a song is written for a specific collection.

For spring/summer 2011, longstanding friend and singer Ben Ivory wrote Flieg zum Mond und bleib hier (‘Fly to the Moon’), which was recently performed at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Berlin.

Check out the entire collection here or watch the video.



Photos Copyright Dan & Corina Lecca at Berlin Fashion Week.

Hundreds for Trikoton in Berlin

Hundreds for Trikoton at Berlin Fashion Week—Thursday, July 8, 2010 at the Roter Salon, Volksühne, in Berlin!

Trikoton—the poetic knits from Berlin—is transferring voices into clothes as it explores new ways of interactive creation and manufacturing to produce garments with a personal and poetic attitude!

For this cooperation, Hundreds created an extended version of their single “Happy Virus,” which Trikoton translated into a pattern, knitting it into a scarf!

Discover Trikoton scarves while listening to the Hundred’s track, followed by DJ Set of Remmidemmi.

Photo Copyright Trikoton.