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.
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
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.
It’s been extremely fun and exciting meeting and working with members of the growing pole dance community. What first started as a chance meeting with a member from Vancouver’s excellent Tantra Fitness about six months ago, has grown into a somewhat of a full love affair. Some of our product is now available at Tantra’s Gastown location and we recently hosted a super fun, private shopping event for Tantra members at our retail/showroom location – Platform in Vancouver.
A few weeks ago, I spent a couple of hours shooting with the insanely talented Jenne at Tantra. Results below.
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Model: Jenne
Photos and Post: Some Product
We just released the Glass capsule collection for Some Product Active. After doing a shoot for the site, we did a little graphic experimentation with some of our favourite images from the shoot.
The graphics for this collection created from scratch by smashing, photographing and graphically manipulating some discarded mirrors found in an alley. As always, we use the most premium technical fabric imported from Italy, and all items are produced ethically in Vancouver, Canada.
All photography and post: Some Product
Model: Lois
It made perfect sense that on a trip to Tokyo, a little quick shoot with our “Tokyo Trash” leggings was in order. After all, it is the city that gave birth to the initial idea of doing the City Trash series, as well as every item featured in the collaged print on the leggings was all found or procured on the streets of Tokyo.
I love the energy of the graphic layered directly into the frenetic, non stop pulse of the city streets at night.
The shoot also features the first appearance of the graphic tote bags we are working on.
Location: Okachimachi, Tokyo
Model: Akina
Photos: Some Product
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.
xo
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.
xo
I recently got an email with this beautiful collection of images from our last major look book campaign with the incredible team of Martina + Reem. More then just frequent collaborators, they have become our good friends. Their enthusiasm, joy and love of their subjects and the process of photography itself, can be clearly seen in all their work. This particular group of images is no different. Not merely satisfied with shooting a look book, they went back into the original shoot, found previously unseen and unused images and re worked/re imagined them into this very magical and slightly surreal collection of photos. Enjoy.
xo
Photos by Martina+Reem
Hair & Make Up by Vanessa Wong
Model Ja Pace
Styling by Dave & Cat at Some Product
All clothing provided by Some Product. Crown by Dandi Wind. Bodysuit with wings by Monika Valyi. Jewellery provided by JA LO VES and Used House of Vintage. Vintage skirt by Sonya Jang.
Helmut Newton is just one of those people whose work I have had a love affair with, practically my whole life. Really, what’s not to like? Beautiful people, photographed beautifully, in beautiful and seductive settings. His photographs are a sort of an affirmation of life. They seem to be saying – “Yes, life can be beautiful and glamorous, and that’s just how it’s supposed to be!”
La vita é bella
We lowered all of our online retail prices ( due to the strength of the Yankee $$$ )… To mark the momentous occasion, we played around made some psychedelic looking images.
These kinda make me think of Garbage Pail Kids cards. Siiiiick! xxx
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