Bread & Butter Winter 2009 Top Four by High Snobiety and Selectism

by CH Contributor

For this year's Bread & Butter Winter 2009 extravaganza we called upon our good friends at Titel Media who publish sites like High Snobiety, Selectism and Rad Collector among others, to get their opinions on some favorite items from the show. Read their thoughts on the recent show below.

By Titel Media Staff

Europe's largest fashion tradeshow, Bread & Butter returned to its Berlin roots for this year's Winter 2009 show, taking residence inside the massive Tempelhof Airport. Although moving to a more more centralized European location after a stint in Barcelona Spain, the number of brands and labels that attended last week may not have fully measured up to previous years—another result of this global recession. However, as always, there were miles of booths filled with independent brands. Below is a quick roundup of some of our favorite looks from the show.

Britian's Nigel Cabourn produced what the Selectism editors consider to be their favorite jacket of the tradeshow. The Cotton Beeswax Jacket for Spring/Summer 2010 will be available in two lengths and finished in either off-white or yellow. The shorter of the pair includes a nice hoodie making it a perfect Spring jacket for those raining affairs. Mr. Cabourn's collection is sure to take the lead in the classic heritage movement which is still pushing through the fashion world.

N.D.C.'s collection for Spring 2010 has some charmers. We've seen plenty of high-tops incorporating design touches that usually show up in boat shoes, but we haven't seen boat shoes with the high top heel cushion. It's a thoughtful move that'll make the shoe a lot more comfortable and enjoyable to wear.

Italian brand Camo already impressed us at the last Bread & Butter tradeshow but did again on our pass through this year. The line is growing and continues to attract eyes with smart details and twists on their clothing. The Spring/Summer 2010 Collection consists of nice knitwear pieces, shorts, ties, pants, t-shirts and more. We see similarities with favorite brands like Wood Wood and Vibskov. The collection is made in Italy and thus high quality in production. The only thing is that we hope to see them picked up by more stores to make it more accessible.

Another interesting project revealed at Bread & Butter was collaboration with Uslu Airlines. The Berlin-based nail polish brand previously worked with Nike on the Air Force 1 as part of the 1World project. Now with Reebok they worked on two high top sneakers for Spring/Summer 2010 and the least one can say is that they got creative. In fact, the sneaker pictured above right glows in the dark.

A special thanks to the whole High Snob crew for lending their opinions of Bread & Butter this year. All images by Robert Wunsch and Jeff Carvalho.

Eris Planetary Sphere Watch

by Karen Day

Designed by students from l’Ecole d’Arts Appliqués Genèva, the Eris spherical watch from Pierre Junod is an homage to the solar system's dwarf planet of the same name.

The Swiss watch—with its white hour hand, orange minute hand and laser engraved figures— both functions as a timekeeper and as an attractive accessory for any desk or person. In fact, the watch comes with a strap and is ready to hang—the best way to show off the time floating around the equator of the the sphere.

The watch is available for purchase from Watchismo for $450.

Steven Guarnaccia: The Three Little Pigs

by Karen Day

Illustrator and former New York Times Op-Ed art director Steven Guarnaccia reinvents a childhood classic with his recent architecture-inspired version of "The Three Little Pigs."

This time around the three pigs are Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright and Frank Gehry, fighting to keep the big bad wolf from blowing down houses made of glass, stone, mortar and brick designed by great architects of the 20th century.

The children's tale is an entertaining introduction to the world of architecture and design for any tyke. In addition, the book serves as a simple reference point, thanks to its glossary of the story's renowned design objects listed on the book's jacket.

Guarnaccia's edition of "The Three Little Pigs" is available in Italian and English, from contemporary art book publisher Corraini. A follow-up to his version of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," in which Goldilocks finds contentment in Baby Bear's 1946 LCW chair by Charles and Ray Eames, makes clear Guarnaccia has a talent for conflating art with the art of storytelling.

The 36-page book is available for purchase from Corraini for 16€ or from Unica Home for $29.

Interview with Photographers Winkler + Noah

by CH Contributor

by Alison Zavos for Feature Shoot

For Winkler + Noah, photography was the most fitting point of arrival for an artistic itinerary that they began instinctively from childhood, exploring all forms of expression they encountered—painting, drawing and sculpture—amalgamating them and trying out blends between different media.

How did the idea of presenting children as puppets come about?
The Puppet Show came into being by chance one late summer afternoon two and a half years ago, after a day at the sea with our granddaughter, Beatrice. We had the idea of photographing her together with her mother. Among the various pictures, there was one where she was alone, leaning with her back against our wardrobe and looking into the camera with an embarrassed smile. She had all the typical features of a doll: a round head, blond curls, blue eyes, tanned skin, a flowery dress.

Almost as a joke, and with the subject’s agreement, we had the idea of turning her into a doll, to all effects. Then, during the months after taking the picture, we reflected a lot about what a photo of that kind could symbolize, and in general, about how much the media are able to manipulate children's behaviour.

From these first considerations, a sizable project came into being, to which we have now dedicated more than two years work involving another 29 little protagonists.

How did you go about choosing the children for this project? Considering the theme, was there some discussion about using models instead of "real" children?
Almost all the children were "normal" and not professional runway models. We were helped by two baby agencies but the children always dressed in their own clothing.

The proceeds from the sale of these photographs go to charity. Can you talk about what led you to make this decision and where the money will end up?
We have decided that it should have a social purpose. Helping the children of the Third World through pictures of children of the First World seemed to us a perfect way to strengthen the natural link that joins all the people of the world together. All the money collect by this exhibition will be spent by Epsilon Onlus to finance a school-project in Africa. Probably in Kenya.

Steve Powers: Philadelphia Love Letter

by CH Contributor

by Ariston Anderson

Artist Steve Powers is leaving his infamous ESPO (Exterior Surface Painting Outreach) tag behind as he returns to his native city of Philadelphia for a collaboration with the Mural Arts Program to revive the lost art of sign painting.

Setting up a temporary school in Philadelphia to teach locals the art of sign painting, the former graffitist plans to utilize their newly acquired skills on a large-scale mural project spanning across the city.

Powers recently released photos of the first two completed walls, featuring the first two lines of a love letter, eventually bridging 50 walls and roof tops in West Philadelphia. To be read by passengers on the Market-Frankford elevated train, Powers explains "The letter is meant for one with meaning for all, and in a larger sense, will be for West Philly from West Philly."

The project represents the best kind of street art, one that both involves the community and comes from a deeply personal place. Using a street marking to tell a story is a theme Powers continues to explore, both in his book on the history of graffiti, "The Art of Getting Over," and in his future personal projects.

Jing Tea

by Doug Black

As the most popular drink on earth (second only to water), tea has legions of purists. And nowhere is that more acute than in China, where the beverage originated more than a millennium ago. So it's no surprise that Jing Tea exhibits the all the hallmarks of a superior leaf. The tea's scent makes the most immediate impression, almost more distinctly than its flavor. Opening a gold foil bag of Jing tea is an olfactory explosion, each bag packing an overwhelming bouquet of scents that defy its voyage halfway around the world. The sweet aromas of their green and white teas are perfectly rendered in the prepared drink. And as we transition into full-on summer mode, we were happy to find that particularly the white teas, are just as delicious iced.

Though a British company, the tea comes from China, as well as India, Sri Lanka, Japan and Taiwan. Harvest are scrupulous witch each bag bearing the exact day of harvest. Does it taste any different knowing that my Organic Dragon Well Supreme (pictured) was hand-picked on 3 April 2009 in Zhejiang, China? Probably not, but it signifies a testament to quality that's reassuring to read.

The varieties we sampled were "pre-rain" teas, meaning they are the exceptionally tender first spring shoots. (It’s also known as Pre Qing Ming tea, after the eponymous April festival when Chinese families visit and tend to the graves of deceased family or friends as a sign of respect.)

Many respectable locations like Harrods, Gordon Ramsay restaurants, Tate Galleries, The Lanesborough, Brown's hotels and Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Lounges serve and sell Jing Tea. You can also order directly from their website.