December update

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Happy December people. Here’s a Soju (Korean beer) Christmas tree to kick off this festive month. Actually, I saw this the beginning of November so my festivities had already started. We all can’t believe it’s already December, everyone around me including myself can’t stop saying “S*** it’s December already?!” Guys, stop it, you’re making me panic for no reason! I swear the busier things get the faster time goes. If I could slow down time, I really would. It’s one way to define my brief hiatus from blogging in November and overall, a mere absence this second half of 2016. Without getting too detailed, here are a few photos and words that almost concisely captures my life these past few months. Not all that entertaining but read on if you insist.

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1. I mentioned my work with Malala Coffee and it is currently supporting the Coffee Exchange regime. While this is all in the pursuit of social change, it’s leaning more towards the business aspect of coffee. Coffee Exchange is an online market place  directly connecting farmers to cafes, restaurants and other companies in hospitality.

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2. I’ve finally got my hands on these Pantone swatches. This thing saves your life when it comes to printing on all sorts of materials. I’ve managed to survive without one all these freelancing years but it wasn’t until I was at Jin & Co. when this grabbed my attention on a branding project. Of course, I was introduced to it at uni and my time working with Jack London but we had the handy Adobe Illustrator digital  colorbook  swatch to rely on – not always great given that colors on screen are never accurate. My main purpose for making a move on this is not for freelancing, but for fashion.

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3. I’ve been featured in my 3rd publication for the year, STELL magazine. You’ll find my interview and alongside a portrait of G-Dragon staring into your soul in the Dusk & Dawn  Issue VII.

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4.  Around September this year I was introduced to the idea of an upcoming bite-sized game. Scheduled for release early next year we hope it’ll be as much fun to play as it was building this along the way.

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5.  One of my highlights this year was working closely with all levels of  government. I was then connected to these awesome bunch of people from the City of Melbourne as my clients for freelancing. Campaign work is all about hustle – I’ve never met a group of people who I had conversations with at 2am on a weekend to ensure the production of work is perfect. Even staying up all night laughing non-stop was part of the unforgettable memory. Big shoutout to the Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, Cr Kevin Louey, Cr Tessa Sullivan,  Craig Bosworth, Da, Cherry and Patricia for being patient and bringing out the best in me under pressure. I’m no stranger to late night design work – I once got home at 4am from work and went back at 9am the same day. Luckily that was still when I was living in the city!

 

photo-28-10-16-8-11-28-pmFinally a shot I took straight after I filled my petrol at Costco. No I didn’t walk out of my car to get this, but I did grind to a halt at the exit before turning onto the road. Can’t ignore the gradient #DecemberVibes.

Another week of fashion

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Melbourne is celebrating  another week of fashion this Spring! Following the success of  Virgin Australia’s Melbourne Fashion Festival  earlier this year, Creative Victoria is back at it again with the  Melbourne Spring Fashion Week. The Creative Collection exhibition at Town Hall is one of the first few showcases that contributed to the launch of this one-week event. Here, you’ll witness a body of work by rising Victorian designers and artists who bring in their own unique practices to create statement clothing, footwear, films, graphics and Avant Garde millinery.

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I advise people when attending any kind of fashion exhibition or runway to study   a specific part of the garment carefully. Usually in haute couture shows  the clothing worn by models down the runway are highly unpractical and there’s a reason for that. It’s obviously not intended to be worn in public but it’s made to inspire viewers with their   different techniques and how their techniques could be applied to improving the future of fashion. It’s always that one aspect on the garment that is inventive ie. the way zips are used, the placement of buttons, the way a fabric drapes etc. This is what the Creative Collection exhibition offers with a large mix of bold and minimalist designs.

There are plenty of events scheduled throughout the week including workshops, premium runways and seminars. This week’s the week for you to get a dose of inspiration even if you’re strolling by Swanston st. The big white tent known as the ‘Hub’ is home to a Mecca mini popup shop, free Messina ice creams, T2 samples, Vespas, Movish digital specialists, live entertainment and a lineup of designer runways.

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No I didn’t hashtag this on instagram but yep that’s me and my first time on a Vespa hah!

Zenith

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In Melbourne, street fashion is growing faster than ever. Bomber and puffer jackets have dominated clothing racks in retailers and oversized sweaters paired with tights and sneakers have been the go-to winter outfit for many youngsters. Celebrities collaborating with designers such as Jeremy Scott and Raf Simons and of course the likes of my favorite girl band 2NE1 are endorsers of  this street style.

With this kind of influence, it’s no question why we’ve seen the birth of Giuseppe Zanotti in David Jones and Raf Simmons with Adidas in selected boutique sneaker shops. New retail stores like Sneakerboy   and  Republic Boutique  are the few street fashion hubs across  Melbourne and Sydney.

A store selling luxury street fashion does not yet exist in this city….until July 9th that is. Zenith is a new shop situated in the heart of the Melbourne CBD. It’s a condensed version of Collins St all under the one roof and I had the privilege of  getting  my first look at the opening.

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It’s a small space and from what I’ve observed, most of the items they stock are sweaters, t-shirts, bags and bag charms. I also wouldn’t have been able to find this gem if it wasn’t for my dear friend, June Chen, who was working with the Zenith team to create a  series of hand sculptures for a wall installation. June is a fellow artist who I connected with from a uni friend and  although I love street clothing, I was mainly at the opening  to see her work. The street clothing is of course a bonus!

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I thought the hands looked very realistic and were executed perfectly. They are moulds taken from real hands! She told me her  models had to sit in a chair for half an hour, in order for the hands to set before they could get taken off. It goes to show you how much patience and energy any sculpture requires. The worst thing is knowing that there’s a high possibility of breaking them as they are incredibly  fragile especially after they’ve dried, they’re prone to cracking if not moistened enough. From my past  experiences creating sculptures in my art classes and external projects, every  sculpture I ever made had cracks and annoying fingerprints. Only with the right skills, tools and bucket loads of patience will you have the ability  to deliver at a high standard. 

Whether you’re into funky luxurious streetwear or an art or interior design enthusiast, Zenith is always open for you to see. Go have a look and don’t touch the hands! 

Design had evolved naturally, as a passion and a lifestyle beginning at an early age when I made trips back to the motherland, Indonesia, I experienced the surroundings and the lifestyle that was vastly different from what I was used to. I found myself passing by villages where children made their own toys with whatever was left around them; scrap metal, bits of cloth, banana leaves, and even cigarette butts. Despite this, the children were happy and proud with anything they created.

This image struck me and forever inspires me to contribute my skills to places that need it the most. Design helps me make decisions, while art helps me take risks. Both areas reward me with opportunities to create something impactful and everlasting!