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Hello Kitty Goes Couture: The Pudgy Cat Models Galliano



Hello Kitty, the popular cat character from Sanrio in Japan, is set for a designer makeover in the June issue of Japanese Vogue, which went on sale yesterday (april 26, 2008).

The fashion spread will show Kitty modeling the latest autumn and winter designs by John Galliano for the Dior brand, posing with the designer and enjoying a shopping spree in Paris.

"Of course this is the first time the historic fashion house of Dior has had a cartoon character model their entire collection," said an official at Conde Nast Japan, publishers of Vogue Nippon www.vogue.co.jp/issues/

But the famous feline already has a following among the fashion crowd, she added.

"Japanese animation and characters have been a strong influence on the fashion world in the last few seasons, but Kitty is special," the official said. "Fashion people all know her name and face and always say they love her. That's why we at Vogue wanted to do something involving her."

The editorial spread will see the cartoon cat enjoying a shopping spree in Paris.

The spread will appear in the June issue of Vogue Nippon, on sale April 26 with Stella Tennant on the cover (wearing Comme des Garcon). Also, as a bonus, the above little Hello Kitty charm will be included in the issue for subscribers.

As soon as I can locate any pictures from the issue, I promise to share them with you.


Fine Jewelry Goes To the Dogs - And Cats: Jari Limited





We know that nowadays people don't seem to be sparing any expense when it comes to spoiling their furry friends. And Jari Limited in the UK, is no exception.

They create exceptional fine jewellery (or jewelry) for cats and dogs. And not just gem studded and embedded collars but necklaces, anklets and yes.. even cuffs! They will create matching sets for pet and owner as well.



Beautiful, made to order collections for both you and your pet using precious metals and precious and semi-precious stones, all ethically sourced.




All of their items are made to order, allowing you to alter the type and colour of precious stones used and choose the quality of the metals used, 9ct, 18ct yellow or white gold, or platinum.



Each piece is hallmarked with the unique Jari stamp and is engraved with the collection and edition number. This also allows you to have your own unique message or security information added to the piece at the same time, if you wish. They are all produced to the highest quality, in the UK with magnetic safety fastenings. Even the Jari collar tags are available in all forms of gold.



Jari is not only a creative and original company, it's a socially responsible one.

Above: Kim and Lou of Jari limited


Before you dismiss Jari as a silly expensive indulgence, let me remind you that they only use ethically sourced diamonds, metals and precious stones, the company donates a percentage of their profits to Dogs Trust, they promote photographer Clare-Louise, (who took many of the wonderful pet portraits shown above) and they support artists by having competitions.

Above: The Dogs Trust, previously known as the National Canine Defence League, is the UK's largest dog welfare charity and cares for over 16,000 dogs each year at their 17 rehoming centers across the country.

Want your Furry friend to be a star? Check out their present competition
Jariis scouting the cat baskets and kennels of Great Britian to find the perfect whiskered face to launch its exclusive range of bespoke high fashion jewellery. The winner will receive a 12 month modelling contract worth up to a 4 figure sum plus portraits of their shoots for their modelling portfolio. Closing date is 31st May 2008 competition@jari.co.uk Details here.



Jari Limited, 20 Market Hill, Southam, Warwickshire CV47 0HF 01926 480107

12 Terrific Finds: Birdhouse Clock to Monotracer

If It's Hip,It's Here.

Twelve terrific new finds, shown above.

Clockwise from upper left: Pascal Taraby's Birdhouse Clock, Mlle Lilli's beautiful lamps, Feek furniture's Rocker C, Puma's glow in the dark bicycle, ibride's Sultan dog stool, MagBag metal magazine holder, the Monotracer, Orina's Arista case for macbook air, Bird On A Wire wall hooks, Verv Designs midcentury modern knobs, Hannsmilano Tv Purse, and MeS prima table 3.

Just click on each pic to be taken to the place of purchase.

If you like these, you'll love my lists of art, accessories, and appliances that celebrate design, functionality and art. Items to appreciate and admire.

See more of my If It's Hip,It's Here. list at ThisNext.

Funky Find Of The Week: "Milk Gone Bad" Lamps




Milk Gone Bad:
Two different artistic experiences come together in this project. Anatomic factory’s objects meet Bombo’s illustrations, giving us food for thought on the ambiguity of products that often have a hidden second nature.

“Milk Gone Bad” is a collection of eight lamps somewhere between toys and furnishing complements. Made like milk cartons, each piece is one of a series. The light turns on to show the product’s real contents, a startling imaginary world of mold.






Each Milk Gone Bad lamp above is available for purchase here.

The Best of Milan's 2008 Furniture Fair Coverage: Links and Photos


So many great journalists and bloggers covered the Milan Furniture Fair /the Milan Salone Mobili / Milan's Salone Internazionale del Mobile/ Milan Design Week or whatever you prefer to call it. It would be redundant and pointless for me to do the same, so here are links to some of the round-ups, slide shows, video diaries, Flickr albums and more.

First of all, what is it?
The Salone Internazionale del Mobile together with the International Furnishing Accessories Exhibition, returns - from 16th to 21st this year – at the Milan Fairgrounds at Rho with a huge range of superlative exhibits. This event that is unlike any other, anywhere in the world, is not just the leading event in the home/contract furnishing sector at global level, but also a matchless occasion for an international meeting of minds – not to mention business, image and communication.

As always, there is an infinite variety of goods on offer. The Salone Internazionale del Mobile, together with the International Furnishing Accessories Exhibition is a showcase for excellence covering all types of domestic furnishing, from single pieces to coordinates, and every conceivable style, from classic to design to modern, not to mention trendsetters.

Beside the excellence of the commercial offering, the huge variety of new products, the choreographed display stands and the faultless arrangements that ensure that any visit to the exhibition complex is rendered easier and more user-friendly, I Saloni have put together an unmissable range of collateral events both at the exhibition centre and in the city.

The greatest surprise will be the event set against the backdrop of the of the Sala delle Cariatidi at Palazzo Reale, in which an internationally -renowned artist and an icon of Milan's and Italy's cultural heritage par excellence will take part, as well as one of the most famous works of art in the world.

The event's main site.


Links to great round-ups and images from the Milan

The NY Times Design Notebook slideshow

Architonic's Round Up

The David Report

Inhabitat's Milan Furniture Fair Reports


Inhabitat's Flickr photos


Metrosnapshots blog


Dezeen's Milan 08 (and they have video diaries)

Wallpaper magazine's guide.


Over 2000 images at Designboom's gallery

DesignWS report.



Be sure to see the best pieces from the 2009 Milan Furniture fair here.

Front Design Draws On Their Talents: The Shade Collection









The amazingly talented designers at Front in Stockholm have created Shade, an exhibit of home elements that include a table, a rug, 2 vases, a plate and a cup created with hand drawn sketchy shadows and textures, making them look as though they are 2D drawings, when they are actuallly 3D pieces.






Unfortunately, these are not available for purchase, but are on exhibit at SPAZIO ROSSANA ORLANDI, Spazio Rossana Orlandi | Via Matteo Bandello 14/16 20123 Milano | Tel: +39 02 46 74 47-1 | Fax: 39 02 48.00.83.87


Above: Sofia Lagerkvist, Charlotte von der Lancken, Anna Lindgren and Katja Sävström of Sweden's Front Design

Front
Tegelviksgatan 20
116 41 Stockholm

Computer Choppers Does it Again: A 24kt Gold Macbook Air & Superdrive!




If you're into Macs and luxury, chances are you already know about Computer Choppers. They're the guys behind the "wish list favorite" gold-plated macs, ipod and iphones and have now created a 24kt gold-plated Macbook Air complete with bejeweled apple in colored sapphires. They've also created a gold plated super drive to go with it:





and the gold superdrive to go with it!


Their Macbook Pros offer the following plating options:
  • Chrome
  • Black Nickel
  • 24kt Yellow Gold
  • White Gold
  • Rose Gold
  • Platinum

Each plating type comes with 3 distinct finishes:

  • Satin (brushed)
  • Crystallite (flat)
  • Polished

Their nonstandard plating like brass, bronze, copper, silver, champagne gold, and almond gold are still available by request and likely won't be listed till their new website is up and running. These options are also available for the Macbook Air, iPods, iPhones, and iMacs.

So, wanna goes luxe with your PC? or iphone? or ipod?
Then these are the guys to do it for you.


Computer Choppers.

The Art of Art Appreciation: Paintings Of People Looking At Paintings


Above: Karin Jurick's Modigliani

Ever notice how many artists paint people admiring art? So that we observe the observer? There are quite a few, as you'll soon see. So many that I felt it deserved investigation and I found that despite the commonality of the subject, there are vast and numerous differences.

USHOW update!!!!



Hi readers,
I know all you iphonophiles were very excited about ushow, the video recorder app for the iphone. And you may have scrambled to sign up for their beta registration last sunday only to find that they weren't quite ready for you.

Well, I've heard it from the horse's mouth, the poor guy (Joe Shapiro) who's been working overtime to get it to you, that they are in fact taking registration now. But beware, you must have your iphone serial number to sign up:



So, yes, you can sign up now here.

Shaming Bad Design With Visual Enforcement Kits From The Design Police




I was tickled to come across Design Police's visual enforcement kits!
Downloadable sheets of stickers that 'call out' all those horrendous design errors like bad rags, breaks, rivers, widows. too many typefaces and more.






Please donate

C'mon people, it's only a dollar.