Equals cool, clever and Copenhagen…

(source: http://www.norseprojects.com)
Friday we took a break from the runway shows during CPHFW (photos soon!) to meet up with Mr. Blond and drop in on the Norse Projects shop for the launch of their collaboration with PRO-Keds. With the slight, yet super clever, design changes Norse made, these usually ordinary sneakers suddenly became quite desirable. Lucky enough to get the inspiration scoop from Norse’s creative director, the color palette and design changes were 100% inspired by Copenhagen’s harbor, sea, and fishing industry. Making the usual PRO-Keds side stripes more minimal, adding a new cork inner sole inspired by cork fishing bobbers, and creating a simple 3 tone color palette inspired by different elements of Denmark’s surrounding seas…rock, ice, brick…makes this shoe quite unique and very much apart of the Copenhagen culture.
I will definitely be wearing the orange brick color with girly spring dresses all summer…just need to make sure Mr. Blond’s not wearing his too!

Also check out Norse’s continued collaboration with Ally Cappellino…fantastic and available here.

(source: http://www.norseprojects.com)

Since Lin has been here I’ve had some nice days taking her around town to my favorite spots in Copenhagen. Being the lovers that we are of fashion’s past, I had to take her to my favorite vintage boutique, Décor. It is a wonderland of vintage finds from hat pins, bow ties, beaded bags to furs and designer digs. I believe the owner was close friends with Danish design legend Margit Brandt so you will find proto styles that never went into production from the Brandt house dating back to the 60’s and 70’s along with other beloved names of fashion history. Capes, trench coats, silk blouses, brooches, gloves and luggage are just a few reasonably priced treasures you will find at Décor. If you are ever in CPH, I urge you to stop in…you will definitely leave with a much more decorated wardrobe.

This weekend I went with my girl Mathilde (AKA Chill) to Finders Keepers, a fashion market in Nørrebro (a district of Copenhagen that is comparable to the Mission in SF). It was a fashion fete of young designers, vintage dealers and fashionistas selling their barely used designer threads. There were exhibitors ranging from crafters and design students to indie labels and showroom reps with more established brands. All in all, it was a nice little Saturday hobnobbing with some local talent. Here’s some bits on a few keepers I found…
EMDAL Colorknit

We jumped with joy when we stumbled into the whimsical world of Emdal Colorknit. Signe Emdal established her name sake brand in 2007 after working under Henrik Vibskov. She is a textile designer and artist “who works in the “greyzone” of fine arts and [fashion]”. Her factory runs with one German Industrial digital knitting machine from 1984 locally producing collections, textiles and collaborations with fashion and interior designers, but all for a purpose. She even states it on her website “Textiles must only be made for a specific reason.” Her main focus is ” Nature versus Digital “ and a deep respect of the world’s textile-heritage. I would love a chance to collaborate with this one…

Collaboration with DANSK

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JRSmith
Local CPH goldsmith/jewelry designer, Josefine Rønsholt Smith (JRSmith), caught our eye with her quirky jewelry collection of venetian mask charms and tongue-in-cheek baubles. I love her play on “words”…she can actually make a ring set in any word you like! Though nothing says attitude more than having “WORD” spelled out across your knuckles. Word, JRS…I want every piece!

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b.s bergner schmidt
Represented by Showroom at LEAP in Berlin, the label b.s. bergner schmidt by Lily Bergner and Elisabeth Schmidt calls the collection ‘baustoff’ (building material) with concrete as their medium for this surprisingly wearable collection. Their experimental accessories combine purist and constructive expression with subtle femininity.

b.s presentation at Finders Keepers

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BIRDIE BIRDY
Birdie Birdy is handmade by Alberte Laursen Rothenborg a student at The Royal Danish Academy of Design. She makes each diamond-like piece from plexiglass and waxed cotton string. The chunkier statement pieces are divine!

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ruby baby
I fell for another DKDS student collection ruby baby designed by Nynne Riis Clausen…True to Scandinavian aesthetic ruby baby is simple and clean, yet you find yourself completely enchanted.

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GD13 Grafik
It’s quite common these days to see “skater>street artists turned graphic designer>screen printer” with products that usually appeal to only that specific group..this does not apply to GD13 Grafik. Their graphics are light and airy with just enough street to still be urban, but with a hint of prettiness to allure any daring darling. There is a sense of humor and emotion in their graphics that tug at your heart strings and make you fall a bit in love with each piece…

“in bag & in sack”

dear captain
Dear Captain is a menswear collection by nomadic Danish couple, Anker Bak and Julie Sørensen, locally made (where ever they are at the time..intriguing business model) with an artisan focus of partly organic and all “heart-made” threads. Striving for “see-through production and fair treatment of people and nature” their debut collection was inspired by Chinese workers and appropriately named ‘WORKERS’. With a good start on color and textiles and a few classic pieces, I’m interested to see where they “take” this collection.