Experimental fashion designer Anouk Wipprecht—most famous for her Robotic Spider Dress from a few years ago—has now created the Proximity Dress to help with physical distancing during the pandemic. The 3D-printed electromechanical dress poofs out when triggered by proximity and thermal sensors detecting someone getting too close to the wearer. From 3D Printing Media Network:
Each dress extends itself using a robotic 3D printed hip mechanism, built into the dress, and a resin 3D printed transparent collar with integrated sensors. The dress also works as a perfect application case study for 3D printing. The hip mechanisms that are holding the servos to the mechanic hip parts are 3D printed using SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) nylon PA-11 to endure more stresses. The 3D printed transparent collar, which has a more aesthetic use, is 3D printed using an Objet Connex 500 multimaterial polyjet 3D printer and the VeroClear material from Stratasys.
“I haven’t made dresses for myself in a long time,” Anouk posted, “and I got a bit fed up with people in public not considering the current distancing suggestions, so this one I’m keeping…”
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Years ago, Philip Anderson, founder of the great Cinefile Video store in Los Angeles, and designer Bob Bianchini created a genius line of t-shirts that combined the names of auteur directors with the iconic logos of excellent bands: Herzog/Danzig, Bunuel/Bahaus, etc. Today I just noticed this fantastic Stanley Kubrick shirt that references Kraftwerk's Radio-Activity album!
See them all at Cinemetal T-Shirts. Read the rest
KFC teamed up with Crocs to make this colorful clog that has fake chicken nuggets attached to it, which are "made to resemble and smell like fried chicken," but are sadly "not for human consumption."
They'll be released in the spring.
Image: Crocs Read the rest
Los Angeles streetwear brand Pleasures celebrated the 40th anniversary of Joy Division's "Unknown Pleasures" album with a licensed line of apparel including this puffer jacket. The clothing, including hats and t-shirts, feature a plot of radio frequencies of the first pulsar discovered by scientists, a visualization that Peter Saville brilliantly borrowed for the album's cover art. (More on that in this Scientific American article.)
The reversible puffer jacket is $240 from Crusoe & Sons.
(via Uncrate) Read the rest
I first learned of Philadelphia Printworks because of a sweatshirt they designed for the Brooklyn Museum's showing of Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power 1963–1983, an absolutely essential exhibition of black artists' work at the intersection of activism, empowerment, and cultural pride. (The exhibition is currently on view at San Francisco's de Young Museum.) Philadelphia Printworks describes itself as "a social justice heritage brand and screen printing workshop."
I bought the "Soul of a Nation" crewneck and also the "People's Free Food Program hoodie" celebrating the Black Panthers' influential community program launched in 1969 that fed thousands of children every day.
"Soul of a Nation"
"Octavia Butler" by Nick James
"Freedom Trail/Freedom Summer" Read the rest
In this episode of Trenton & Heath, master cobbler Heath Potter resurrects a totally thrashed pair of Ferragamo loafers. You may think that 26 minutes is a long time to watch someone restore a pair of shoes, but just allow yourself to be enveloped by the artisinality of it all. The time will fly by and perhaps, like me, you will leave the experience deeply regretting having donated that pair of beat-up wingtips in the back of your closet.
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Julien's Auctions is running a large auction of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner's stuff, including several pairs of his pajamas, board games, a pipe, and this sharp smoking jacket. Described as "a scarlet silk damask smoking jacket with shawl collar and self-tie belt closure," the high estimate is $5,000 but I bet it goes for much more. According to Julien's, "All proceeds of the sale will benefit the Hugh M. Hefner foundation in support of organizations that advocate for and defend civil rights, with special emphasis on first amendment rights and rational sex and drug policies since 1964."
Hugh Hefner Bespoke Smoking Jacket (via Uncrate) Read the rest
In the video above, the always-fascinating Paola Antonelli, architecture and design curator at New York's Museum of Modern Art, takes us through the history of the hoodie, "a humble masterpiece," beginning in ancient Greece and Rome.
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The New York Public Library's Riverside branch invites you to check out a necktie, briefcase, or handbag suited for a "job interview, wedding, audition, graduation, prom, or other formal event." It's part of their NYPL Grow Up initiative. From the NYPL:
Adults and teens who have low fines (less than $15) or no fines on their library cards can borrow items for a one-time, three-week lending period.
We also have information sheets on job interview tips, free career resources and suggested books, and websites and organizations that can help with professional fashion advice and attire.
(via Open Culture) Read the rest
In 1982, Michael Jackson wore a snazzy white suit by Hugo Boss on the cover of Thriller. Now, Hugo Boss has reissued the iconic suit in a limited edition of 100 pieces:
The contemporary design references the original suit’s silhouette, fabric and details throughout and is entirely designed and made in Germany. Crafted from lightweight twill, the jacket is detailed with an 80s-style three-button cuff, slim notch lapels and iconic internal workmanship. The trousers feature double pleats at the front, also in homage to the original design. Elegant mother-of-pearl buttons complete the suit.
It's $1200 and unfortunately does not include that sharp leopard pocket square.
The Thriller: Boss x Michael Jackson (via Uncrate)
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Cory gave me a pair of Native Jeffersons about five years ago, and ever since, I hardly wear any other kind. They're made of the same kind of rubber as Crocs and, in my opinion, look nicer. I never wear socks with them, but my feet don't stick like they would if I wore traditional shoes without socks. They are great for going through TSA checkpoints -- no laces, just slip them off. I have about five pairs in different colors. Once a month or so I run them all through the dishwasher to clean them. Read the rest
Sacha Lauri makes clothing and jewelry out of kombucha, more specifically the SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast) floating on the surface of the fermented tea. Her company is called
Kombucha Couture. From an interview with Lauri in MAKE:
Sasha, what’s the process of making an actual dress out of SCOBY?
It is very simple!
First of all, boil 1 gallon of water and add 6 black teabags (for phytonutrient/nitrogen source) and 1 cup of sugar (as carbohydrates fuel the fermentation and production of cellulose. When tea is cool, pour into a tub (approx 1/2″ deep), add a small 1″ “nugget” of kombucha SCOBY, and cover. Let sit for 1 week at room temperature. After 1 week, harvest the mat of cellulose that the original kombucha SCOBY has produced over the surface of the tub. At this point, lay the cellulose mat out on parchment paper and allow to dry in 75F with indirect sunlight. This takes 1-5 days depending on size. When cellulose is dry, I colour it with acid reactive dharma dye or food colouring and cut and sew it like a leather textile.
The process is very simple as I allow nature to do all of the production. The bacteria in the SCOBY is a strain of acetobacter which naturally spins cellulose to both protect itself and keep it floating so it has access to oxygen. It is related to the vinegar producing bacteria which also create cellulose SCOBYS. It is a very natural process and just requires nutrients (tea), sugar, and an ambient temperature for the SCOBY to begin spinning cellulose.
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Boxer Conor McGregor recently wore this custom pinstripe suit with a subtle "Fuck You" pinstripe. Now you can sport this handsome suit yourself! From tailor David August, the made-to-measure 3-piece wool suit is $6500, perfect for people with "fuck you" money in their bank account.
Produced in an exclusive woven Super 130's wool in navy twill, this pinstripe effect is created with explicit fighting words presented in a vertical repeat. This couture label suit features details like:
French-facing construction
Stacked 'kissing' working buttons on sleeve cuff
purple camouflage silk lining
1/16" hand-stitched detailing
two-button, side vent jacket
Vest available in single- or double-breasted (image shown with double-breasted vest)
Numbered and signed by David August Heil
Limited quantities
"Limited-Edition 'Eff You' Pinstripe 3-Piece Wool Suit Made-to-Measure" (via Uncrate)
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Back in 1989, you could purchase these fine garments at JCPenney inside their incredible Pee-wee Herman Store .
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"Slick plastic panels bare your knees for a futuristic feel in tapered and cropped high-waist jeans."
The only person I can imagine wearing these is Alex's mum in A Clockwork Orange. Read the rest
Miami-based artist Topher Cody makes T-shirts stenciled with bleach like these cool Overwatch designs. Read the rest
The Empowerment Plan is a Detroit-based organization that creates manufacturing jobs making EMPWR coats that double as sleeping bags:
Via designboom:
the empowerment plan is a detroit-based, nonprofit organization focused on permanently elevating families from the generational cycle of homelessness. it hires single parents from local shelters and provide them with training and full-time employment as seamstresses so that they can earn a stable income, find secure housing, and regain their independence. the individuals it hires manufacture a coat designed to meet the needs of those in the homeless community. the durable ‘EMPWR coat’ can transform into a sleeping bag at night or an over-the-shoulder bag when not in use. since 2012, it has provided employment to 34 homeless individuals—all of whom have now secured permanent housing for themselves and their families—and distributed over 15,000 coats to those in need across the US and canada.
• REDFworkshop.org (Vimeo / The Empowerment Plan via designboom) Read the rest
