Bélier Bourgeois

Poses

I've started teaching life drawing and it gave me an opportunity to pick up a charcoal myself and start sketching again. These drawings are a couple of weeks old and my first ones since my studies (!).  I don't know about their quality, but getting back to doing something relaxing and enjoyable always feels good and I hope I will be able to do more.

Unwanted attention

This afternoon, as usual, I got on the metro to make those few stops that separate my two work places: school and studio. As I stood there, wearing my highly fashionable A-ligned coat bought at Zara a couple of seasons ago (hmmm...there seems to be a contradiction or two in this sentence...), a polite gentleman at his fifties offered me his seat. Facing a completely new and unexpected situation, it took a me while to understand what was happening: he thought I was pregnant! (I HOPE he didn't take me for a granny even though my face is dropping drastically fast now that I'm working too much and almost thirty, he still could've been my dad ;P) Completely puzzled and shocked and disappointed after having painfully slowly lost six kilos sort of lately, I reached the studio ready to begin a transformation to become more like Victoria Beckham -which shouldn't be THAT difficult since we have similar noses and I've recently bought enormous spectacles- and quickly removed the hideous coat. And that's when I saw the enormous bulk of keys that was hanging, as usual, around my neck. There are home keys, studio keys, school keys, cupboard keys, a whistle (for disciplinary purposes, a very useful tool with 13 year old boys) and sometimes a mobile phone, plus some lucky charms. The size of the whole thing must be pretty much like that of a six months old foetus. Nevertheless, this experience traumatised me and I wanted to get it out of my head before going to sleep after a long day of labour that involved lots of door opening with numerous keys. Thanks for reading,

Yours Truly

Sketches

Completely forgot these in my "drawer". Now that the collection is out, so should the skectches:

Uniqlo

No comment, pictures say it all don't they?

Oh, I HAVE to comment; what's wrong with these people?! (What's wrong with me going even near Opera on a Saturday...?) They are Parisians, at least some of them, you'd think they've seen clothes before! And yet they're queueing up as only seen in times when revolutionnary political theories fucked up and left everybody hungry.

Well, at the time of global communications and cheap cashmere sweaters, here's my testimony of this historical moment (actually, and this only makes it worse: AFTER the moment, since the shop has been open for a week already):

They DO have lots of basics in cheerful colours but when I briefly visited the London store quite a while ago(now doesn't that make me hype!), I found the cuts a bit outdated, the quality doubtable and none of the colours wearable on their own.... After this hard critique, a little sparkle of patriotism : there was Finnish design just next door!

Autumn -winter showroom and sale

NEW COLLECTION ONLINE

We did this shooting in July in a flat where an old woman had lived on her own without changing a thing. Or cleaning :). She had a cat but no bathroom... It's all souvenirs now, the place has been refurbished and these are the only photos remaining of the Cat Woman's remainings. I think that should become collection's name: "Cat Woman".

So I remade my website and am working on a web boutique. Another showroom sale is coming soon and a little creative project I'm VERY excited about. Doing good! http://www.so-kans.com

Yes, that's what they sell...

I'd like to know how, when and why fabric merchands and prostitutes started coexisting in the heart of Paris, this is the first time I seem them collaborating though ;).

Summer Holiday in Helsinki

Backstage Shots

From Thursday's shooting.

Thank you so much Mel, Nick, Elo and Yuko (and the dead lady who used to live in this flat with her cat without changing anything for decades...)!

How very appropriate

Sometimes -not often enough :(- things just seem to happen exactly like they should. Like, I have this friend who's got a gorgeous flat, still empty this week. I've got this another friend who's got a gorgeous...no, I'm not supposed to say that...who's got this very talented photographer boyfriend, and another friend who's got a gorgeous model friend who is just now coming to prospect in Paris-and guess who might have some gorgeous new pieces of clothing?! And a desperate need of a flat, a photographer and a model. I don't really believe in destiny, but there's a lot of gorgeousness and friends going on there, let's hope it will all work out friendly and gorgeously. I'll show the results a bit later...

I'm a fan!

I've created a "fan page" on Facebook, please join! It's an easy way to get updates on sales etc. And here's one, by the way: I'm coming to Finland if someone's interested. Since these hypothetical people are most likely to be Finns I should perhaps say this in another language...

Olen siis Helsingissä 23.-24.7. ja uudestaan 8.-10.8. ja Itä-Suomessa siinä välissä, nyt olisi oiva tilaisuus nähda vaatteita livenä, sovittaa ja näin. Kesämallistosta on hajakappaleita jäljellä, hinnat 60-90 euroa topeille ja mekoille, 35-40 euroa vöille.

The new collecton is well on its way, we are shooting it this Thursday, youpi!

Oh, and I tried out a new logo on Facebook page, it'll soon be here too.

Inside joke

Yes, this Parisian boutique sells shoes.

Why is the Swedish Institute in Paris is sooooo much cooler than the Finnish one?

Because they have this lovely courtyard cafe in the middle of Marais shopping district: you can just pop in, have a coffee and a look at the design exhibition at the same time.

The whole concept of 'Scandinavian Design' feels absurd to us Finns, after all we are the ones that have the most contributed to the essence of it -and we're not even Scandinavians! Yeah right, we'd love to think our products of superior quality but who cares about the quality of something they've never even heard of? The Swedes have it out there, the battle between Ikea and Artek does not exist because they don't compete in the same league. It's good and noble to try our best but in the meanwhile our handsome, rich neighbours have already marketed and sold tons of ideas to the world making 'Swedish' become a synonyme of so many things...like relaxing outdoor cafes...

...cool prints on the hoodies...

...and modern versions of the traditional wooden 'Dalahäst' horse.

Going on

Today was a good day at studio...I've been working crazy busy and now it starts to feel like I'm actually going somewhere. I know what I'm doing for the autumn collection and how I should get in done (getting it done is ofr course another story...), I've designed a new logo and am organising a photo shoot. Youpi, now the only thing I need is endless days and dozens of arms like a Hindu goddess and voilà, something good will come out soon. Luckily enough sunny summer nights are on my side but my existing poor arms don't seem so resistant, I'm developing a tendonitis -again.

Mmmm...is there an idea here..?

Converting buildings in Shoreditch

On the Ascension Day this particular London church was full of young people. I'm not sure that it really made priests happy though, as me, my friends and hundred of others were there to pick up bracelets for a seasons' opening rock festival. Which was held in several locations around Shoreditch, like this former shoe shop turned into a cutest little bar:

They change the interior every 6-8 weeks to exhibit a new talent. I love the idea and love the illustrations! The building below just happened to be in the same colour scheme, there's no bar (yet) but I don't think they sell feathers anymore either...

It's sunny and warm so we'll probably return to the area for some shopping this afternoon and another club in the evening -yes, this year's clubbing quota will be quickly achieved and then I can just relax and continue spending my evenings at home with www.surfthechannel.com like I used to...

PS. Now If I tell you that yesterday's club is apparently one of the hypest at the moment (The Double Club , a temporary installation in a warehosue courtyard with plastic chairs and a strict selection at the door) don't mistake me for a hype person -it's just around the corner and I was in bed by 11PM when the party just started...actually, doesn't that mean I'm so over hype that I can just snob the party and got to the extra exclusive one called 'Bedroom' or 'Home' (nothing to do with the ones in Shoreditch!) ? :)

Sales pics

Last weekend's sale was a lot of fun, thanks for coming all you great people!

I had a completely new homeware and art section, I'll try and get it on a web boutique (relatively) shortly with some accessories etc...

Art and Fashon sale Fri 15th and Sun 17th

Brand new sale with art, decorative items and unique accessories; perfect gifts.

Clothing collection has been completed as well.

15 rue Carrier Belleuse, 75015 PARIS, Metro: Cambronne/ Motte Picquet-Grenelle Door code: 25A68 Friday 15th and Sunday 17th May 4-8pm

Conseil Business

-Tu vois, j’ai une copine qui fait des trucs tous cons, elle coud des vieux foulards ensemble, elle y passe un quart d’heure et paf, elle les met chez Colette. Les minettes achètent ça à 350 euros, ça lui fait un fric fou! Non mais sérieux, c'est ce qu’il faut faire, trouver une idée simple qui marche de tonnerre. Enfin, c’est mon conseil, tu vois...

-Ah bon, merci. C'est révolutionnaire. Je m'y mets dès demain...(soupiiiire......)

BUSINESS ADVICE

-You see, I’ve got this friend who knows how to do it. She sews old scarves together, it takes her fifteen minutes and then she sells them at Colette for 350 euros. She makes a fortune! I’m telling you, that’s the way to do it: something dead simple but expensive. I mean, it’s just my opinion, it’s my advice, take it or leave it…

-Oh really. Thanks. Mindblowing. I’ll start tomorrow... (sigh)….

On the 5th Moon with Nyno

May in Paris is beyond description. Warm nights bring people in the streets (and me on my Velib) and the succession of bank holidays means a lot of great occasions to escape on a long weekend with a sweet taste of holiday. Well, I'm here, working on my fast approaching sale but but but...round of applause here... I did go clubbing yesterday! And actually liked it, so perhaps I should revise my internal politics on the subject. The reason for my extravagant behavior was an exhibition of a friend in a freshly opened concept store Boutique Pigalle and the after party that followed in Divan du Monde with a bunch of arty agitators Painochokolat.

Nyno is a art college friend of mine, he's a multitalented illustration, animation and street wear man, his commercial work includes this clip for Kid Cudi.

Browsing through other people's blogs I discovered Boutique Pigalle is supposed to be a street wear store but it didn't seem very street to me. Labels said Anne-Valerie Hash and likes, and look what was in the window: I was amazed to see this piece for real, it's just unbelievably well executed and perfect. I'd like to snob the whole 'fan' concept but I think I can't avoid being a huge fan of Manish Arora. I haven't been this thrilled since my teen years' McQueen and student years' Balenciaga phases... GO INDIA!