urban cartography is now available for mobile global shopping experts. finally!. who ever said making map based apps was a no brainer? well it’s not!. after exploring endless options and variations we think we have come up with a pretty tidy mobile version of our popular PDF city superguides. first city off the rank - tokyo.
whereas our PDFs are pure old-skool print-out fold-up origami, the app version takes it completely next level. maps are all GPS driven and as much as possible we have tweaked the pins to the front doormat. even better, when you are traveling you do not need data roaming for the GPS to work. [unlike all them nasty google map apps]. we can now show stores within department stores [very handy in asian megacities], and you can filter out all the mens or womens only related stores. day and night maps make much more sense. eliminate screen flare in the sunshine, or go discreet dark and mysterious when out on the town.
with over 450 tightly edited reviews of selected establishments and the ability to create your own itineraries, this app will satisfy the needs of the most seasoned superjetsetter. if all goes according to plan [which it never does] more cities will roll out over the months ahead!
beirut is making headlines once again. the city has bounced back, ridding itself from gloomy, if not dark connotations while adding new superlatives that even inspired the new york times to declare it the top travel destination of 2009. superfuture was in town earlier this year, checking out the obvious sights and glitzy places, but also attempted to dig a little deeper and see what else is there.
this superchat with jewellery designer dalila barkache has been long overdue, but here it finally is! we first came across the beiruti creative when she collaborated with comme des garçons to open one of the brand’s iconic guerilla stores in beirut back in 2007. moroccan-born and raised in france, she decided to settle here when she fell in love with the city during a chance visit.
you introduced the comme des garçons guerilla store in lebanon. how did that venture come about?
well, i knew about the brand and the guerilla store and liked it. i simply thought it would be a great concept to introduce to beirut. i just contacted comme des garçons and they were also excited to see one of their guerilla stores open up here. ofcourse i had done a little research before and knew it would be a good initiative. i set up the shop with my business partner and fellow jewellery designer selim mouzannar.
how did local shoppers respond to the store?
it was a great success. many who came by were already familiar with the comme des garcons because a few stores, like the if boutique stocked the brand. and also, because i had worked at selim mouzannar’s jewellery boutique as a designer, a lot of his customers also came to the store. additionally, it attracted quite a few shoppers from other countries like kuwait and saudi arabia. although we featured men’s and women’s apparel, it were the accessories and perfumes that were most in demand.
what have you been doing after the guerilla store closed?
i’ve been designing jewellery but i’ve also worked as a consultant for a other jewellery business here in town. by the way, i’m about to launch my new jewellery collection. next to designing i also work as a fashion stylist and i’ve also organized dance parties in cool spots such as the usually women-only ajram beach.
what do you think of the current influx of luxury brands into beirut?
well, the lebanese are very trend-conscious. they’re a vivacious bunch who love their food, fashion and good times, and they love to spend! it’s only logical that these brands come to town, especially now that the circumstances are right.
is this city a good place to settle for a designer or artist?
yes, i think it’s the perfect city to do so as it offers a good environment. first of all, it’s very easy to set up a business here. there’s a good education system and beirut is a good place from where to organize the marketing of whatever your business or craft is. additionally, the quality of life here is simply amazing.
where do you shop or hang out in?
the bourj hammoud area is a big fav of mine. it’s an armenian neighbourhood with lots of jewellery shops. i go there for fun or for business because many of the businesses i do consulting for, are located here. as for fashion, there are a few directional stores you shouldn’t miss: plum, boutique 1, one of the if boutiques or the store of designer rabih kairouz. if you’re interested in design, you should definitely check out bokja and artisans du liban. for eating out there are many good restaurants to choose from but i usually recommend places like centrale for international cuisine or varouj for delicious and spicy armenian food.
and what about places outside beirut?
i like tripoli a lot, it’s a beautiful city in the north of lebanon. or tangiers in morocco. generally, i like smaller cities which have a human scale, where everything is within a walking distance. places with a personal atmosphere and where you can eat well!
okay, okay…the brands? well, these include some hot and rare labels: nonnative, christian peau, new power studio for men, and preen, tze goh and mawi for women. how about that? interestingly, ln-cc is also to feature a vintage high-fidelity sound system and its book section will provide specialized publications hardly found elsewhere. although the store hasn’t opened yet, you can already check it out online.
celebrating 150 years of german-japanese diplomatic relations, the you are here - berlin tokyo festival will showcase cool contemporary art + culture straight from the creative eurohub of berlin at various venues across tokyo in october 2011. heralding this massive event, the launch event takes place today [6pm-9.30pm] at vacant with a preview and a live sound performance by danish artist jacob kirkegaard. location: 3-20-13 jingumae [harajuku].
today paul smith aficionados converge at the daelim contemporary art museum where inside paul smith opens, an elaborate photo exhibition of one britain’s iconic fashion designers. an avid snapper himself, the show features 320 of his own photographs. additionally, a range of kooky gadgets he received from a dedicated fan are put on display and in a section of the exhibition the designer’s london studio has been semi-recreated. all of this gives the viewer an intimate insight into paul smith’s creative world [on until nov 28]. location: 35-1 tongy-dong [chongro-gu].
it’s official, the house of lanvin teams up with retailer h&m. both the luxury brand’s star designers alber elbaz and lucas ossendrijver have created collections that will be presented early next month, and drop in select h&m stores across the planet on nov 23. according to lanvin, the collab men’s and women’s collection is modern and playful, and very much represents the brand with signature cut and tailoring and attention to form and details. are you ready?
after opening up shop in hometown san francisco and in new york, cult jeans store self edge returns to the golden state, launching a los angeles outlet today [official opening party next month]. this store offers the same brands, with new unreleased pieces and restocks of popular items available after the official opening. location: 144 north la brea avenue [west hollywood].
comme des garçons has landed in seoul…and how! hugely popular in korea for many years, the japanese brand opened a prestigious six-storey flagship in the korean capital last week. the new store features the brand’s complete fashion lines, and even boasts an in-store art space, the very first outside japan. location: 739-1 hannam-dong [yongsan-gu].
artist tammy rae carland’s solo show funny face, i love you opens at silverman gallery on fri - sep 10 [6pm-8pm]. on display are new photographs, mixed media works and a cast porcelain sculpture. inspired by the history of female comedians, and the artist explores questions of humor and desire, juxtaposing images of empty stages with singular figures caught mid-act. these works isolate the body, focusing less on the artifice of public personas than the sheer spectacle of performing corporealities. location: 804 sutter street [nob hill].
the architecture biennale in venice launched last week, showcasing a plethora of architectural concepts and ideas from across the planet in this scenic mediterranean town. this 12th edition is themed people meet in architecture and by focusing on the radical changes that take place in today’s society it aims to clarify new values and a new lifestyle for the present through architecture [on until nov 21]. click [here] for more info. one of the presentations that we’d like to see is 50 years after brasÃlia, an homage to the city of brasÃlia and held at the brazilian pavilion.
photo: oscar niemeyer’s palácio da alvorada in brasÃlia [the first building to be inaugurated in the city in 1958]
anyone interested in tokyo’s super-advanced fashion scene can’t miss out on tokyo! look!, a collab event organized by the asia society and new york-tokyo during new york fashion week, and held on thu - sep 9 [6.30pm-10.30pm]. after a discussion + panel with invitees, sociology professor yuniya kawamura, tokyo fashion expert dan baily and designer nicole michalek, there’ll be a party and fashion showcase by candy, one of the japanese capital’s edgiest fashion stores. location: asia society, 725 park avenue [upper east].
aaron rose knows urban art like no other. best known as a curator and film director, he will now be showcasing new works at circleculture gallery. his show trouble opens thu - sep 9 [7pm], showcasing a particular obsession of his: painting on suitcases, especially those from the 1950s-1970s which were made in mustard yellows and army greens. rose calls these works object paintings. mind you, some of them are stuffed with surprise goodies for buyers to walk away with. location: gipsstrasse 11 [mitte].
independent and savvy, the populo store has long time been a popular hang-out for jakarta hipsters. the shop relocated to homey new premises in the neighbourhood earlier this month, assuring its kebayoran baru area fanbase easy access in this traffic-clogged megalopolis. the new store measures 300 sqm. spread over two floors and features a contemporary mix of d.i.y.-chic furniture + displays, some balinese pieces and striking sculptures of local urban art hero darbotz. mind you, the store also has a sunny outdoor terrace and pool!
following last year’s stints in new york and washington d.c., experimental music and media festival sónar returns to the u.s. with an event in chicago on sep 9-11. the festival features more than 30 events, including concerts, lectures and screenings at various venues in town. participating artists include oval, faraón and jimmy edgar. click weblink for program and more info.
on thu - sep 9 an exhibition of photographer loretta lux opens at galleria carla sozzani, celebrating the gallery’s 20th anniversary. and later this year a book will released to commemmorate all bygone installations, openings and behind the scenes moments at the gallery in text and photos plus reproductions of many of the show invitations. location: corso como 10 [porta garibaldi].
crushfanzine #5, the travis lee hanson issue, is out now. and yes, you guessed it: it’s 135 pages of pure fall obsession, shared by an endless list of swooning contributors. if you’re in new york, check out the release party at highbar on wed - sep 8 [7.30pm-10pm]. rsvp [here] for access.
crushfanzine is available at select [book] stores across the planet, including opening ceremony [los angeles + new york], purr libros [buenos aires], colette [paris], property of… [amsterdam] and cement [tokyo]. release party location: location: 251 west 48th street [midtown].
he’s been a star snapper ever since he arrived on the scene in the early 1960s, not only shooting high-fashion for british vogue but also capturing and help creating pretty much of the swinging london of those days. we’re talking the fab david bailey, who’s show david bailey sculpture+ opens at pangolin on wed - sep 8. interestingly, it’s not only a photo show but also the first ever showcase of his sculptures.
on display is a dark and rugged collection of cast silver and bronze sculptures alongside a range of new photographs, which underline the contrast between the two mediums, and emphasize bailey’s versatility as an artist. the show very much explores the idea that image-makers should not be confined to one discipline. location: 90 york way [king's cross].
get set you movie buffs, the singapore short film festival kicks off today at the substation! obviously aiming to promote the art of short movies, this sixth edition features nearly 100 interesting titles from both singaporean and international directors in 17 different categories [on until sep 5]. location: 45 armenian street [city hall].
naomi has left town but sleepy the hague has a new big event up its sleeve. it’s the dual exhibition of dutch illustrators martyn f. overweel and gijs kast, opening at lief hertje en de grote witte reus on sat - sep 4 [7pm]. both artists work for a variety of dutch publications and are known for their raw, in-your-face style of illustrations. location: stationsweg 55 [centrum].
china is the new frontier for luxury brands and bottega veneta is right on top of the game. it has just opened its third new store in the country this year after previous launches in nanjing and chengdu, and it’s also the brand’s third shanghai flagship. located at the rather swanky ifc mall, the retail space measures a spacious 345 sqm. and is designed according to creative director tomas maier’s sleek aesthetics.
a wide range of precious natural materials such as palm wood, mohair and suede have been incorporated into a lavish interior that’s both contemporary and timeless. the new bottega veneta store carries a variety of merchandise, including women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, bags, shoes and a selection of homewares. location: 8 century avenue [lujiazui].
check out the beautifully shot video teaser that hixsept have just released for their lost equilibrium - a/w 2010 collection. we very much like the playful, poetic way this brand from lyons, france presents itself. we’re pretty sure you’ll agree.
launching at the kw institute for contemporary art [1] on fri - sep 3 [3pm] is the second edition of miss read. organized by the venue in collab with berlin-based publishers argobooks and michalis pichler, it’s an interesting showcase of artist books by a slew of international publishers and artists, including edie fake [chicago], samandal [beirut] and mediabus [seoul].
and if you’re craving for more, why not also check out unter dem motto? this related book event is simultaneously held at chert gallery [2]. location [1]: auguststrasse 69 [mitte]. location [2]: skalitzerstrasse 68 [kreuzberg].
funny, not so long ago only girls swooned over christian louboutin shoes. but no more. the pricey red-soled trophies now include men’s sneakers that are second to none. for his a/w 2010 collection the luxury cobbler crafted a series of rantus orlato hi-tops in various materials, one of them in this amazing leopard print. happy hunting, guys.
celebrating its 50th anniversary, the 3m company [probably best known across the planet for its post-it adhesion memo], launches a pop-up concept store today [11am] at a top location on bustling omotesando dori. simply dubbed 3m store, it measures a sizeable 237 sqm. spread over two floors, and is set up to showcase both the company as a modern lifestyle brand and many of its innovative products.
on the ground floor shoppers can familiarize themselves with 3m products and materials, while they also have the opportunity to use it and customize anything imaginable. one floor up however, it’s pure business, where approximately 1,000 products are creatively put on display for immediate sale. mind you, artists will regularly be invited to exhibit their work and perform live art sessions in the store. the 3m store remains operational until dec 26. location: 5-1-3 jingumae [harajuku].
love magazine #4 has finally hit newsstands across the planet. interestingly, this gorgeous issue hasn’t got one but a whopping eight different covers, each featuring a different beauty icon. the cover girls include brazilian über-model gisele bündchen, actress lauren hutton and a cult doll named buela [oh, well...], all shot by the glam-loving photo duo mert alas + marcus piggott.
berlin-based musician + dj richard cameron impulsively took up painting in 2009. his show, rather wittily called early works - painting people i know, opens at chiellerie on fri - sep 3 [5pm] features a selection of portraits of friends that he painted during the past year. location: raamgracht 58 [centrum].
we very much like the graphic composition of these industrial photographs. the photo series were concocted by alexander sauer with the aid of his creative partner andreana scanderbeg. the duo travelled across the planet, to places as diverse as china, germany and malaysia to shoot amazing images of industrial environments for annual reports of a variety of clients. scanderbeg sauer are represented by gunda patzke photography in frankfurt.
nagoya may be lacking the excitement of tokyo or osaka’s swagger, japan’s third largest metropolitan area is steadily bulking up, and creating a cultural buzz all its own. today sees the launch of the inaugural edition of the aichi triennale, an international arts festival that aims to convey the latest trends in contemporary arts and presented in various forms and presentations at different venues across town.
aichi triennale’s first edition is themed arts and cities and as such the event expands into the streets, parks and public squares without limiting itself to museums and theaters [on until oct 31]. click the weblink for more info and full program.
acclaimed indian photographer ketaki sheth’s exhibition twinspotting opens today at photoink. with the photos displayed at the show the photographer explored her roots within the indian diaspora, when she moved to london in 1995. when chancing upon a telephone directory listing 30,000 patels in the u.k., she set out to make portraits of patel twins that she counterparts with portraits of patel twins back in india [on until oct 16]. location: 1 faiz road [jandhewalan].
maharishi’s rather bombastically called theatre of war s/s 2011 collection is about a long range desert group-inspired collection of a wide range of hot sporty desert looks in distressed cottons and natural fibres. there’s a lot to choose from, our favs being the tribal style pants, quilted parkas and last but not least, the work blazers.
get ready for an uncompromising creativity injection at rojak session #16 on sat - aug 28 [7pm-late] at had waterloo centre. as usual a string of cool creatives share their current projects and thoughts, this time including the likes of boo junfeng, frayn yong and justin zhuang. bring drinks + friends! location: 261 waterloo street [dhoby ghaut].
after rethinking their retail concept, entrepreneurs nicholas mesiano and alistair knight kicked it up a notch, going from trendy mondo trasho to quirky-chic nicholas & alistair. the rebranded store is still a haven for a wide range of international antiques, vintage furniture and decorative objects, but now features even more exceptional pieces, all personally sourced by the knowledgeable duo. location: 387 johnston street [fitzroy].
a true singapore scoop. fifth avenue shoe repair comes to town for by the no., an exhibition of its couture-flavoured collection that opens fri - aug 27 [8.30pm-11pm] at the asylum store’s former premises [1]. this experimental collection is completely hand-crafted and serves as an inspiration source for the brand’s ready-to-wear collections. mind you, all items are available but by order only.
the very next day, on sat - aug 28 [3pm-6pm], fifth avenue shoe repair’s very first flagship store outside the stylish homeland of sweden opens its doors at the hilton shopping gallery [2], in attendance of designers lee cotter and astrid olssen. it’s a minimalist all-white retail space with a cool mathematical vibe that allows the clothes to do all the talking. the huge sol lewitt-inspired display in the center is an amazing eye-catcher that draws you right in. location [1]: 22 ann siang road [chinatown]. location [2]: hilton shopping gallery, shop 02-13/14, 581 orchard road [orchard west].
plain and monotonous are banned from the fashion vocabulary of copenhagen-based designers prisca vilsbøl and pia de arce. their label vilsbøl de arce is exemplary of avant-garde innovation, cooking up looks that are striking and fresh. the duo’s anatomy a/w 2010 collection is new proof of their evolving craftsmanship. shown below are four looks that we particularly like.
unveiled by taschen earlier this year at art basel, it’s one of the most peculiar product launches of the year. we’re talking the lunar rock edition by marc newson of norman mailer’s book moonfire. designed by the inimitable marc newson, this is a true collector’s item as only 12 copies have been released, symbolically numbered 1958 to 1969.
the design concept is inspired by the apollo 11 lm and each book is contained in an lm-inspired case which surface is an actual 3d topography of the moon, made from a single piece of aluminium [523 x 596 x 347 mm, 22kg]. amazingly, the item comes with a separately packaged piece of lunar rock and a plexiglass-framed print, signed by legendary moon man buzz aldrin. price is available upon request.
elevators are so last year…at least at the standard hollywood. following the opening of her vivid fiction show at merry karnowski gallery, japanese artist lady aiko took up a one-week residence at the hotel to transform its bland stairway into a lilac graffiti gallery full of floral designs, girlish cartoons and street + pop culture images. location: 8300 west sunset boulevard [west hollywood].
warriors of radness team up with santa monica’s gay & lesbian surf association, introducing each month one of the organization’s members on its own website. first one up is money-hungry, sun-lovin’ playboy kurt narmore. glsa-branded products are available in select stores and include t shirts, sweatshirts and boardshorts.
