Category Archives: Inspiration

December 4, 2016

Roman Polanski film posters

Bitter Moon – France

Polish born film maker Roman Polanski has been one of my very favourite directors ever since seeing “The Tenant” at the age of 14. That movie profoundly shaped my world view and its’ emotional impact was undeniable. As with most of Polanski’s films, it is the pure emotion of them that really stays with you long after the film is over. That is all one can really ask of an artist.

A few years ago, I was in Krakow, Poland and stumbled upon and exhibit of Polanski’s film posters from around the world. Not only are the films great, but these posters also capture the golden age of film poster design from around the world.

Knife in The Water – W. Germany

Fearless Vampire Killers – Italy

Cul-de-Sac – Finland

What? – Norway

Repulsion – Japan

Rosemary’s Baby – Poland

Chinatown – W. Germany

polanski-poster

November 12, 2016

The transgressive art of Pierre Molinier

French born artist Pierre Molinier holds a special place in my heart. He was fully charting his own unique course and vision with plenty of wit, humour, beauty and total and utter commitment. Using photography and collage he redefined self representation and explored his fantasies. Read more about his life and practice.

November 11, 2016

Leonard Cohen

leonard-cohen-w-flowers

Leonard Cohen, the great Canadian poet, singer, and raconteur passed away this week. There have been so many beautifully written and poignant tributes pouring in from so many of his fans. Like so many others, I was a huge admirer of his work and was lucky enough to see him during his “The Future” tour. The gig was incredible, he was at once charming, eloquent and vulnerable as a performer. However, my most vivid memory of that gig was, as we were leaving the auditorium, there were people standing at each exit and handing out fresh red roses to every woman in the audience as they exited. I always thought that was the coolest and classiest thing I have ever seen. No one else could even attempt to do that. It just wouldn’t work.

October 28, 2016

Masks by Phyllis Galembo + Halloween

Since Halloween is just around the corner, we thought it would be the perfect time to share some incredible photographs by Phyllis Galembo. Her book Maske is a stunning collection of photographs, in which she documents ceremonial and ritual masks of the Makishi people of Zambia.

Masks and the rituals of dressing up are an integral part of Halloween celebrations. We can only dream to infuse this much whimsy and creativity into our own costumes and lives.

Happy Halloween xo

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Inspired by African masks we did our own slightly psychedelic take on subject with our Neon Voodoo collection of leggings and tank tops. Both are currently on sale and limited quantities are available.

wan-w-background

September 27, 2016

Pater Sato

Pater Sato (real name – Yoshinori Sato) was a Japanese artist and illustrator specializing in airbrush technique in the 1970’s and 80’s. This style was very popular at the time, especially in Japanese commercial art. His elegant style and the pure sexiness of his images really sets him apart from his contemporaries. From the very first time I saw these images, I was hooked.

This particular series – SatoMasochism (1980) is absolutely some of his best work. I have no idea where this was actually published (my guess would be Penthouse?). Absolutely love the illustrations juxtapozed with bits of saucy literature!

June 30, 2016

Tadanori Yooko = LOVE

Tadanori Yooko is a genius master of graphic art that seamlessly blends Japanese sensibilities with western pop art and design. His work is absolutely unique, visionary and an absolute inspiration for myself as a designer.

There is just so many ideas literally bursting out of every one of his images. You can read many articles about him and there are many images all over the internet readily available.

This post is about a particular body of work from 1968 called “XSex”. On a recent trip to Tokyo, I visited the famed Gallery 360 in Harajuku. While talking with the owner, I expressed my love for Tadanori Yooko’s work. As soon as we finished our conversation, he briefly disappeared into an adjoining room and emerged holding a large hardbound portfolio. He laid it out on the table and basically said – What I am about to show you is very rare and very few people have seen this full collection of prints in real life. As he slowly opened the case and started pulling out these bright, acid coloured silkscreens, I was literally washed over in waves of joy and excitement. I can sort of compare it to seeing that glowing suitcase from Pulp Fiction and actually being shown the contents. These prints are really something.

I managed to snap a few pictures with my phone. Barely.

March 1, 2016

The Grace Jones spell

Last September I got a chance to see Grace Jones in LA at The Hollywood Bowl. The show and her on stage presence was easily one of the really great performances I have ever witnessed. Well in her 60’s at this point, Grace Jones was as dynamic and mind blowing as ever. Wearing nothing more then bikini bottoms, some incredible head pieces and white body paint, she was a true force of nature. No need for giant video backdrops or armies of dancers. It was just about as captivating a performance as I have ever seen.

About a week after, I started to sketch ideas that were very much inspired by Grace’s “body paint outfit”. These water colour sketches eventually made their way into some new graphics for our leggings. This new mini collection release features three designs in the spirit of the one and only – Grace Jones.

FREEHAND MYSTIC

SYMBOLISM

FUTURIST PATTERN

All clothing: Some Product

Photos: Some Product

Model: Lois

2016

November 30, 2015

Rotten / Bacon

rotten bacon photo

About a week ago, I went to see Public Image play, fronted by one of the truly great front men in music – John Lydon aka Johnny Rotten. Definitely past his prime by now, he still infuses so much venom, energy and personality into absolutely everything he does or has ever done.

I took some photos, mostly focusing on John’s manic, sometimes baffoonish stage presence. I wanted to elaborate on his presence by trying to capture “something unexpected”, rather then just a direct representation. While editing the photos, I decided to try and juxtapose several images I took of John Lydon with some of Francis Bacon’s self portraits.

Out of all the photos I took, these two really captured the band and especially John Lyndon’s essence for me. Much like Bacon and his paintings, Lydon’s performance is unsettling, experimental, unapologetic, and incredibly enigmatic. And yet, somehow both also have a familiarity and depth that allows the work to be readily absorbed and imprinted directly into our psyches.

We can all use a little more Rotten Bacon in our lives.

ROTTEN BACON2

October 24, 2015

Pierre et Gilles – a saccharine deception

Pierre et Gilles are French romantic and artistic partners that have been working together for close to 40 years. That alone is a reason to admire and love them. But there is more. Much more.

They create some of the most gorgeous, whimsical and provocative art in existence. The always slightly surreal and dreamlike mixture of photography and painting featuring famous and anonymous people is instantly recognizable and distinct.

The work is deeply rooted in popular culture and fuses themes of erotica, religion, sexuality, theatre and myth. Each portrait they create is infused with colour, wit and is a great reflection of the subject’s personality.

The creative process is precise and meticulously rehearsed: together the duo draft a project – first as a drawing, and then as an actual mise en scène where the use of a myriad of objects and accessories brought from their travels results in a rich theatrical spectacle, highlighted by their use of dramatic stage and lighting effects. Pierre and Gilles create their stunning costumes themselves, and they choose the make-up and hairstyle with the help of experts. Once the set is ready, Pierre photographs it and Gilles retouches the unique print with layers of paint.

At first glance, their photos have an almost kitsch, pseudo religious look to them, but once you dig deeper under the saccharine exterior, it becomes apparent that there is an enormous amount of “edge” and humour in everything they do.

The very first two professional portraits they ever did were of Andy Warhol and Iggy Pop for the very cool French magazine called Facade. That’s pretty much all you need to know. Since then, they have also worked with an absolutely amazing array of artists including, Marc Almond, Nina Hagen, Jean Paul Gaultier, Boy George and many more.

Most recently, they did a cover for one my favourite current fashion publications – “Fuuucking Young” featuring Lucky Blue Smith.

It’s difficult to even express how much of an influence their work has had on me and on Some Product as a creative entity. Having loved their work for so long, I think it’s safe to say that their approach and constant re-invention of popular culture is very much part of the ethos of what we try to do on a daily basis.

October 12, 2015

PEACE OUT – Aubrey Beardsley

One of our all time favourite leggings releases is called “Dark Sixties” featuring the artwork of the one and only – Aubrey Beardsley. The title refers more to the feel of the design which reminded us of the more dark and mysterious aspects of the “hippie” generation.

Aubrey Beardsley was a Victorian era English illustrator and along with Oscar Wilde, a leading figure in the aesthetic movement. He produced a massive body of some of the most elegant and unique artwork ever during his brief lifetime. He was only 25 years old when he died, which makes his accomplishments that much more mind blowing.

His craftsmanship and style were an obvious influence on 60’s counter culture pop and poster art. We wanted to release a legging that somehow paid tribute to that lineage. This Beardsley image perfectly encapsulates a certain late 60’s vibe of sexuality, drugs and a certain darkness seeping into the mainstream consciousness.

Images below are a selection of of Aubrey Beardsley’s work, followed by a couple of examples of psychedelic poster art from the late 60’s that clearly bear his influence.

The process of creating and designing these leggings, was fairly involved and required us to actually re create by hand, additional panels of line artwork that had to perfectly match the Aubrey Beardsley look and feel. Harder then in looks. We wanted the image to flow from one leg onto the other as a fluid drawing would.