// Still no see thru…

Posted on | July 5, 2010 | 1 Comment

I’ve been lusting after Whyred and Alexander Wang lucite heels — but right now I feel that they are relatively easily forgotten. Thanks to Susie. She recently introduced these beautiful, clean lined acrylic Otto jewelry and Helen Furber’s amazing BA work — alas, no news in this blog. And to be honest I don’t have much to add — except that these both designers really hit my nerve of aesthetics. I also feel that those lightweight but mighty in size handmade acrylic jewelry would be exactly what the doctor prescribed to my current jewelry rejection syndrome.

I also have to chime Susie in this — sustainable fashion feels often a pass to sell some sloppy design. But Helen’s work is nothing but brilliant — and I absolutely respect the fact that the sustainability concept runs through the whole manufacturing process — and the shoe can be easily disassembled and the pieces recycled.

The question is — who would like to recycle those beauties? I would treasure them for my lifetime and testament them with strict advise how to keep them for generations to come.

Posted on | July 5, 2010 | 1 Comment

// Showing it out

Posted on | April 28, 2010 | 7 Comments

I had a very welcome opportunity to see Kaksi-Två’s first fashion show at Kaapelitehdas today. I have been a fan of their great legwear and awesome leather accessories for a while, so I was very eager to see how far they had pushed their designs for a whole show and collection.

There indeed were some very familiar elements, leggings with marble & zebra prints and couple of new prints. The leathers had expanded from great soft bags to vests and accessories plus one striking cape / poncho that was paired to marbled catsuit. I also loved the combination of black sheer layers with printed lycra — and there were also couple of quite wearable jumpsuits on the show. I’m not actually a hooded sweater girl, but textured vests made simple sweater outfits definitely interesting. A brilliant idea was to co-operate with Saara Kivimäki for the show — her whimsical shoe creations fitted perfectly to Kaksi-Två’s clean lined, easygoing and playful designs. One thing though… …I did not quite get the sauna theme behind the show — the whole vibe of the collection was more urban street than countryside lounging.

I’m quite ready to add some Kaksi-Två leather and maybe one pair of awesome Saara Kivimäki boots to my wardrobe… …and now it is possible. They will be available from Monday at Helsinki 10 and Beamhill.

Sorry, the images are not too good… …I forgot to ask if I may use the flash so I did not. Unfortunately the lighting was very steep and kind of ended before the runway, so some models end up posing in dark spot…

Squishy leather by Kaksi-Två and Saara Kivimäki. Those ruffled boots were stunning.

How delicious is this?

My favorite styling from the show were these textured mesh pants over leggings looks. I think I could use some of that mesh, especially the dropped crotch pair just calls my name… The makeup was actually pretty rad, but unfortunately the upper image of these is the only one that gives some sort of idea of it.

Great texture here!

Happy designer duo Marjo Kuusinen and Piia Keto presenting their first show.

Posted on | April 28, 2010 | 7 Comments

// Today I wish

Posted on | April 19, 2010 | 6 Comments

Today I wish that my fairy goodmother would drop this Saara Lepokorpi dress to my doorstep while I’m working. Giant pumpkins and white horses optional.

Posted on | April 19, 2010 | 6 Comments

// Discovering Camilla Mikama

Posted on | April 17, 2010 | No Comments

One of the good finds from Helsinki Fashion Stock Sales was Camilla Mikama. She studied fashion design at Lahti University of Applied Sciences and in Barcelona Escola Superior de Disseny — and actually has had her own collection since 2008. Curiously I had not heard about her before, there indeed is lot to discover in this little country alone!

The images are from her autumn / winter collection 2010. I especially love her cutout dresses and tops in easy to wear shapes and the beautiful, sculptural ruched jackets. I had an opportunity to browse through her earlier pieces, and the materials are superior, lots of silk in deliciously different forms. Seeing her pieces in real life makes me really wonder how slowly the Finnish retailers take in the young designers collections.

Her pieces are at sale in Goodis (I will get back to that shop pretty soon, my little collaboration project is also connected to there via Vietto) and Lux-shop in Helsinki.

Posted on | April 17, 2010 | No Comments

// Tropical teaser

Posted on | April 11, 2010 | 4 Comments

For today a little project was scheduled… …it involved my hands, some black Man Glaze, my camera, some tropic and mediterranean flora… …and most importantly beautiful creations of local artisan. Back to that later!

Ah, how my eye rests in all that greenness!

Posted on | April 11, 2010 | 4 Comments

// Creased in use

Posted on | April 5, 2010 | 2 Comments

Conceptual minimalism is quite important for me stylewise — although I can’t make a commitment to… …you know… …stay in just those quarters. But when single items are put on the line, my eye is often drawn to beautiful architectonic shapes, black and white, items that tend to have something new in them (the other eyecatcher for me is all crafty elaborateness… …let’s not talk about that right now).

But yep, I just ran into these Tyvek bags by Saskia Diez. Saskia has actually background in jewelry design — and her jewelry collection is definitely worth a look, too.

In these bags it really strikes me how the industrial material changes in use. I have a tendency to love things more when they are not brand new and perfect, but show some wear and have formed by their user. The concept of this bag underlines this process beautifully. An item like this would really justify wearing those easy all black basics for simple backdrop to this clever design on an extremely lazy outfit day.

There are two models of the bag and a simple backpack that comes even in black. You can buy them here.

Posted on | April 5, 2010 | 2 Comments

// Appropriately pretty Parikka

Posted on | March 29, 2010 | No Comments

Although Minna Parikka’s burlesque inspired style is not 100% for me she seems to design every season one shoe that really appeals me. This spring it is Birdcage — I love it in black. Unfortunately the image does not show the lovely front detail of this shoe well at all. I really like how she designs laced shoes so that they actually have to be laced — there is no zipper making things easier…

Unfortunately the only colored option is bright red — which is difficult color for me — emerald green or vibrant purple would have been awesome!

Posted on | March 29, 2010 | No Comments

// For the spotless mind

Posted on | March 22, 2010 | No Comments

I got just recently mail from Minna Hepburn. She is born in Joensuu, Finland — but now living and designing clothes in UK. However much we speak about ethical fashion there are only few designers around actually contributing to sustainable production from fabrics to manufacturing. But Minna happens to be one of these pioneers. She uses both environmentally friendly and vintage materials for her creations and the clothes are made in UK.

Her style is romantic with some Scandinavian straightforwardness woven into it. The materials are nothing less but luxurious from details to lining. The light dresses and tops are beautiful as they are and can definitely be worn as standalone pieces, but somehow they are not too scene stealing to be worn as part of multitude of different outfits and styles — the lightweight materials, delicious but relatively quiet textures and billowing shapes just call them to be layered and combined. Any (or all) of these beauties would definitely get a loving home from my wardrobe.

~~There is no image material from her winter collection~~, but check the videos here and here.

You can get these clothes from Anthropologie London, Harrods and Minna webstore. And there will be pop-up store coming up in Helsinki this spring…

Ok, Minna sent me some pics of the winter collection instantly! It is very dark romantic and all about dresses. Somehow it carries me to the atmosphere of the movie The Others…

Posted on | March 22, 2010 | No Comments

// The space shoe

Posted on | March 7, 2010 | 1 Comment

Wow, the upcoming fashion seasons are truly treating my inner astronaut! Today morning I found a post in my e-mail from Christine Su. She and Elizabeth Yoon are behind a footwear brand called SuYoon. Image from Karolina Zmarlak RTW Fall 2010 collection, SuYoon footwear is used through the looks, via WWD.

This is what Christine tells about them: SuYoon is a holistic collection where fashion fuses with sportswear athleticism and classic styles become slightly provocative. Launching in Fall 2010, the collection features a mixture of traditional materials, unique hardware and a custom women’s specific last, applied with sport influences such as EVA rubber inserts, knee pads, and color-blocking executions. These details help support re-engineered silhouettes such as the “not so basic” pump, a sculpted wooden wedge, the “everyday” flat boot, and an over-the-knee boot. The main philosophy of SuYoon will be to harmonize the worlds of “laid-back” comfort and leading fashion, without succumbing to trendy fads. Both my partner and I have worked and designed for leading sportswear brands such as Nike, Puma and adidas – executing some of the best selling styles that have been on the marketplace.

SuYoon is based in New York City and entirely hand-made overseas with Italian leathers.

I’m slightly short of images (I got mostly too lo-res ones to the mail), but their hi-res promotion video for fall 2010 is online:

SUYOON FW10 PHOTOSHOOT Hi-Res from SuYoon on Vimeo.

Ok, I totally get those sport references, but those paddings, colors, rubber insets and small injections of fluorescent *LOVE* colors could be from space gear too! I especially love the open toe wedge in black and beige — it even looks like the wooden wedges were divided with rubber section to give the sole a bit of bend and thus better walkability (I love wooden wedges but they truly are the most difficult shoes to walk) — the OTK boot with knee padding is pretty rad, too — and I really like the pump with the golden gear as well. Oh dear, I would love to see these IRL!

Posted on | March 7, 2010 | 1 Comment

// Give me one… …or rather a pair!

Posted on | March 3, 2010 | 2 Comments

Oh dear! I’m not sure if I have to curse or thank my dear fellow blogger Sugar-Kane for introducing me to Saara Kivimäki. Saara is a shoemaker and DJ. Her shoe designs are love childs of sneakers, clogs and all sorts of festive trinkets — and those genes provide surprisingly sweet looking footwear. The attitude and edge of these does not come from toughness, but the contrasts — girly colors and ruffles combined to clumpy shapes and not too obvious sneaker details. They look fresh — and also very wearable, and they would complement my incoherent style perfectly. I’m totally seeing myself next summer bare legged, wearing a short tent dress or such and a pair of coral ruffle wedges… Love at the first sight!

Posted on | March 3, 2010 | 2 Comments

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About

Location: Helsinki, Finland

Contact: kamicha (a) gmail dot com

I'm especially interested in young designers creations, non-established labels and indie fashion. So if you have something interesting to show, feel free to contact!

You can find Finnish design from both specific and some outfit posts - but both are tagged.

You might be also interested in DIY posts, How-to posts, DIY ideas - or my adventures in Etsy =).

More about me and this blog.