Sep 06
New Years Eve San Franciso, 1981, photo by Steve Harlow The picture was taken at a Rat Productions’ New Year’s Eve show in 10th Street Hall, San Francisco, ringing in the new year of 1981. The bands included Johnny Genocide’s “No Alternative” who played in front of a wall-size Confederate flag. The girl with the …
Aug 22
Toronto Life decided that I’m one of the city’s twelve most stylish people. The wife still can’t believe they didn’t go with the pic of me eating tacos in my underwear. I can’t believe they actually got a usable photo. I’m pretty stiff in front of a camera and don’t like being told what to …
Aug 05
A new generation of nanotech fabrics is hitting the market. Fabrics with embedded nanoparticles to detect counterfeiting devices, explosives and dangerous chemicals or to serve as antibacterials for hospitals, law enforcement or the hospitality industry are just a few of the products that a new company, launched by two Cornell researchers, will produce. The company …
Jul 10
Catalytic Clothing is a fashion innovation that’s meant to clean the air using nanotechnology. Professor and designer Helen Storey and scientist Tony Ryan have collaborated to add a photocatalytic process to fabric. This process requires Titanium Oxide and UV Light. When these two interact, the combination aggressively breaks down volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde and ammonia, turning them into carbon dioxide …
Jul 07
With death comes the peculiar experience of seeing a person’s possessions detached from their owner. They’re like orphans. This sewing machine belonged to Nan and has now been passed down to me. She used it to mend and alter our clothes. Although it’s around a hundred years old, it’s still in working order. A video …
Jun 28
In about ten years, we’ll probably be able to house an entire computer, camera and projector in our cufflinks but, for now, we have to make due with USB sticks. The following is a selection of some of the USB cufflinks now available. Ravi Ratan These cufflinks by Ravi Ratan are engravable and available in gunmetal or gold finishes. …
Jun 19
I saw this photo essay by Simon Wheatley (before clicking – be aware of your volume – autoplaying music!) years ago, when grime was both late and current and what I was listening to. Looked for it a while back but couldn’t find it then just bumped into it today. London’s public housing projects are …
Jun 16
Black tie, blue face. Black shoes and socks, simple tie knot. It’s a funeral. The headphones are for something else. I can’t help but feel that Nan, who took great joy in dressing and color, might be distressed by the morbidity of these clothes but one has to observe the niceties.
Jun 12
Beyond the cloth and fit, I love bespoke for the participation it allows and relationships it creates. Not only with people but with objects. I have about three roles with most objects: Consumer, user and garbage creator. I buy a microwave, hit buttons until it breaks, then toss it out. I don’t understand how it …
