Steampunk

by Seth Brau

Like something straight out of the mind of Jules Verne or H.G. Wells, the Steampunk design culture has been around for a long time. In a recent Wired feature we see that the movement is alive and kicking. Using strongly contrasting elements such as Victorian refinement and industrial grit, imparting a distinct sense of old technology vs. new, the aesthetic is both beautiful and unique. Steam and clockworks replace silicon logic, brass and copper stand in for titanium and plastic and airships replace spaceships. Rather than simply read about and imagine this future world, today's steampunks are creating and building that beautiful aesthetic through use of modern technology mixed with industrial metals in a very classical style. See the Wired article here.

Tord Boontje Giveaway

by Ami Kealoha

Tord Boontje's beautiful new hardbound book is helping to cement his place in design history as one of the foremost designers of the era. Like our recent video on the designer, the book is a visual survey of his work and a tour of his studio in rural France. With stunning photography that's anything but white-backdrop conventional (think rings of fire and chairs dotting an open field) and delicate patterns punched into the actual pages, the edition has tactile appeal as well as being a refreshing retrospective take of a designer's career.

We have four signed copies to giveaway to four readers who can tell us what inspired the chandelier that Boontje shows us in the video. To enter, follow the contact link at the bottom of the page, select "Tord Boontje Giveaway" from the pull-down menu and let us know before Thursday, 21 June 2007, 11:59 p.m. EST. We'll choose the winners at random.

Keshwear

by Fiona Killackey

Keshwear. Remember the name; you'll be obsessed with it shortly. We chatted with the London-based designer about music, Myspace and making your imprint on the world.

"I've been making clothes since I was young," starts London stylist/designer/dj/model and magazine fashion editor, Kesh, "When I joined Myspace I would get hundreds and hundreds of messages from people all over the world asking where I got my clothes from and where they could buy them. Most of the stuff they were talking about was stuff I had made, so I started up Keshwear officially and started selling my stuff from my Myspace." Creative, eclectic and visually outrageous, Keshwear has quickly become an international hit, bringing a new style of originality and cartoon-like craziness to an otherwise muted and overtly safe fashion scene. Her pieces reflect a fusion of Trinidad, Caribbean and British culture; acting like a synapse between M.I.A-style fashion and 1980s Technotronic style beats.

Promoted, advertised and only available online, the Keshwear range has been making its way all over the globe despite the fact it always sells out. One fan lucky enough to get her hands on an exclusive Keshwear dress was Mariah Carey, who contacted Kesh after viewing her original wares online. "The biggest hurdle so far was making a dress for Mariah Carey," says Kesh, "She has had dresses made for her by some of the best designers in the world. But she loved it and wore it Christmas Day!" Despite the likes of Carey, Lupe Fiasco, Lily Allen, Big Daddy Kane and Mark Ronson donning her creations, Kesh believes it is ultimately the everyday people ordering her pieces online that fuels her motivation and, consequently, the success of Keshwear. "I believe my label is different because I didn't study fashion and I don't follow it," says Kesh, "I make what I want and, luckily, people like that!"

At just 20 years old, Kesh may well be achieving successes yearned for by designers twice her age, yet the attitude of this London anti-it girl remains undeniably down-to-earth. "I design for whoever is feeling my stuff," says Kesh genuinely, "For me the greatest compliment or reward is when one of my customers sends me pictures of them wearing my stuff. It makes me super proud!" Not afraid to take risks, Kesh creates a genre of fashion that is unable to be categorized, signaling a nod to those looking for original expression via their wardrobe. From '80s style cropped hoodies and oversized track pants to skin-tight brightly-colored club dresses and leggings featuring comic-book characters, Keshwear guarantees to demand attention whatever the occasion.

Monkey: Journey to the West

by Jacob Resneck

A fitting way to open Manchester's first-ever international festival, "Monkey: Journey to the West" is Damon Albarn's and Jamie Hewlett's (co-creators of Gorillaz) stage adaptation of an ancient Chinese legend .

Dubbed a "circus opera" complete with 45 Chinese acrobats and Shaolin monks (some strung from wires), it's very likely to be an entertaining and amusing collaboration between these British producer/artists and their Chinese counterparts. The stage production has been written by Chen Shi-zheng, classically trained in Chinese opera. He's now a New York City-based film director whose most recent film credit is "Dark Matter," which took a prize at this year's Sundance Festival.

Running from 28 June-7 July 2007 at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, England, the production is designed to help bridge cultural gaps between Oriental and Occidental cultures; local school children will be treated to workshops explaining traditional Chinese art and culture.

As we reported here the promotional overdrive for the event has gone as far as decking out a Virgin passenger train with the artwork of Hewlett.

M's System MS0801 Speaker

by Tim Yu

Housing a speaker on either end, the MS0801 is a single vibrational speaker that has the capability to fill a room in stereo. (You can get a pair if you want surround sound.) Made from wood, the cylindrical shape also enhances acoustics. No matter how loud I turned up the volume, the bass never distorted and always sounded clean without dominating the spectrum. In addition to great sound, the unusual design can adapt to tricky apartment layouts—either suspended with hooks or resting on a stand.

Made by boutique Japanese audio company M's System and worth every penny, the MS0801 can be purchased for $750 here. (They require an amplifier too.)

Maker Faire 2007: Part Two

by m ss ng p eces

In the second installment of our video covering Make Magazine's second annual Maker Faire we meet some interesting characters. Mister Jalopy shows us his urban guerrilla movie theatre. A homemade DIY portable projector, Jalopy can take the movies anywhere with his trusty tricycle. Then it's on to the battling robots. First, there's Josh Mehlman and his beer keg bot followed by Matt Maxham and his carefully thought-out fighting machine. Watch these two work up a sweat as they play with their joysticks.