adidas Originals S/S 2012 line has just been previewed, the collection is titled Your Story, for which adidas found partners to design shoes that represented a specific Olympic memory for each of them. Each of the shoes has a coloured eyelet on the tongue to evoke the Olympics, a clever detail that brings the collection together as a whole.

The ZX-500 X Quote which is made from the silhouette of a pretty standard running shoe, is designed by Quote, who is born in Berlin and a renowned sneaker collector. Its muted tones are supposed to represent the track at the Berlin Olympic Stadium. Although these may be the least fun to look at out of any of the shoes in the collection, it’s the little touches – such as the three colored circles on the tread or the fist tattooed on the inside of the tongue’s fabric loop – that really make the shoe stand out.

The Matchplay X J. Thompson is a another simple shoe, shown here in black with a little flourish of color on the heel. It seems to have been designed so that there were as few lines as possible on the finished product, which adds to the sleek overall feel. J. Thompson, of the Sydney-based label Three Over One, was inspired by the adidas archives of track and field shoes from the 1930’s, and has used very subtle waxed leather on most of the upper which gives it a vintage look. A matching pigskin suede toebox shows impeccable attention to detail while the lack of lining gives it a handcrafted feel and reinforces the vintage appearance.

My personal favourite from the collection, the Decade Hi X Aloe Blacc is made out of ox blood coloured premium leather, apparently to represent the African soil, while the sole is translucent gum to represent the bare feet of Abebe Bikila, LA-based soul singer/song writer Blacc’s inspiration. These are shoes that might not turn heads immediately, but they really are beautifully made, and have lots of personal touches throughout, such as the debossed Aloe Blacc signature sunglasses and bow tie that sits on the medial and the thick stitching around the base which lends it an air of toughness.

Tokyo’s entry into the collection, the Pro Shell X MURO, is another deceptively minimalist looking shoe, one that like the ZX-500 carries beauty in its details. The three black stripes on the side have a snakeskin-effect and the heel is embossed with MURO’s skull and crossbones logo. When you unfasten the Velcro, a burst of bright colours is revealed underneath.

The BC X Kate Moross, is the most garish of the five, taking a simple sneaker and covering the predominantly grey suede upper in reflective geometric triangular shapes, with touches of blue, red, green, and yellow throughout. All consistent with this London-based creative’s love of all things geometric and colourful! Despite having so much going on, the shoes still looks coherent, and ties into the Olympics in a clever way without being too obvious.

To an adidas collector these shoes are obviously must-buys. For the more casual sneaker buyer they’re still pretty irresistible thanks to the range of styles AND you’ll be able to wear your very own piece of the Olympics!

Available from:

adidas
6 Newburgh Street
London W1F 7RG
United Kingdom
T: 0207 734 9976

adidas
Torstrasse 74
101119 Berlin
Germany
T: +49 03053062513

Prices from £90 – £115

Words by Oskar Lindblom

The ZX-500 X Quote

The Pro Shell X MURO

The Matchplay X J. Thompson

The BC X Kate Moross

Despite the recession, London’s tough as anything. We don’t cower or clutch our communal heads in despair (oh, all right, we probably still do that, but only in private); lack of money, time, fresh air just makes us more creative, showing a hothouse of inspiration, talent and unusual solutions to projects.

Take the latest kid on the block, the King’s Cross Filling Station. King’s Cross has been dragged kicking and screaming from being a sort of sooty, bedraggled satanic mill of a train station, surrounded by human waifs and strays peddling themselves and any class A drug going while adrift in a roiling sea of those familiar bruiseblue cans of Tennant’s Extra Strength and White Ace extra strength cider (or anything else that combines the words ‘extra strength’ with ‘special offer’) to an area of wonder, somewhere you actually want to go to both before and after dark.

The ‘new’ shiny King’s Cross is clearly flourishing – after four years of investment in the 67-acre development it re-opened in September 2011; around a third of the 8 million sq ft has been taken through nine significant agreements. In total, the King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership project is delivering up to 2,000 new homes, 3.4m sq ft net of office space and 5000,000 sq ft of retail space. There will be 20 new streets, 10 major public spaces and 20 historic buildings and structures are being restored and refurbished across the site. Well done, guys. Spaces such as the refurbished St Pancras Station which is just wondrous; I’m sure the 5,000 staff and students of Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design who started term at King’s Cross in September 2011 are loving their new space after the cramped buildings on Charing Cross Road and Holborn, however steeped in history they were. The Great Northern Hotel (which formerly looked like the epitome of a down-on-his-luck, travelling salesman’s hang out) is reopening as a boutique hotel in early 2013… I could go on.

Having set out to create a strong identity in an area of central London that is bravely going through such great change, King’s Cross has been working with Carmody Groarke, one of London’s most exciting young architecture firms, on their latest project at the 67-acre development. The result is architecture used as means of drawing people in which has been created for the King’s Cross Filling Station, previously a disused petrol station on a part of the site adjacent to York Way and the Regent’s Canal.

A robust concept has been developed by Office of Change, Pablo Flack’s consultancy, which sees the King’s Cross Filling Station encompassing a semi-permanent structure, a restaurant and social space, and an engaging cultural arts programme, cleverly re-using the existing building and canopy forecourt. The restaurant is set to open 24 May, and the forecourt in mid-June, while the cultural arts programme will start towards the end of June.

As you can see from the images, a golden, slightly sparkling 200m long x 4m high transparent and curvaceous fibre glass enclosure screens the King’s Cross Filling Station from the busy road along York Way, where sweeping curved walls create both a warm sensuousness and a sequence of spaces leading to the canal-side. This enclosure will not just lend definition to the rooms both inside and out, the fibreglass walls will also be illuminated from behind at night, and thus create an Edward Hopper-esque, filling-station-on-the-moon quality. Wow! By day sunlight will shine through the translucent screens forming shadows that partly reveal the activity concealed behind, encouraging a sense of curiosity and desire to join in.

Viewed from all sides, the main enclosure defines a large hall-like space beneath the station canopy overlooking the canal. The design is not so much about maximising the area, rather to create spaces that are more attractive and comfortable to guests in relation to the views and in the context of the site. The existing canopy from the disused petrol station forecourt cleverly creates a covered outside space that extends the possibilities of the restaurant and planned cultural programming.

Best of all, as we humans are so notoriously fickle in our affections and inevitably, what is hot today will soon be yesterday’s news, this is a semi-permanent building. After two years, new homes will be built on the site as part of the King’s Cross development. The issue of life span has influenced the way in which Carmody Groarke have approached the build; reusing the existing canopy, shop and site services is critical to its viability. The structure for the enclosure is constructed from scaffolding and fibreglass cladding modules that can be recycled at the end of the project.

Carmody Groarke are also transforming the existing petrol station kiosk, into a new restaurant, Shrimpy’s, (run by the Bistroteque boys so yummy food assured) which will have 50 covers, and is arranged around a kitchen, and central bar and dining area. There is no doubt this project brings a new social and cultural venue to King’s Cross overlooking the Regent’s Canal.

Kevin Carmody of Carmody Groarke says of their latest project: ‘Through creative re-use and adaptation of the existing canal-side structures, we have set out to create a strong ‘sense of place’ for this part of King’s Cross, with the installation of semi-permanent architectural interventions, allowing the site to transform into a destination for cultural events and a unique dining experience.’

Another lovely opportunity to linger outdoors…how fabulous!

King’s Cross Filling Station
Adjacent to York Way and Regent’s Canal
The restaurant opens on the 24^th May 2012

Words by Anna Bang

In the engaging and complex film Even the Rain Gabriel, Garcia Bernal plays a seemingly earnest film director desperately trying to portray the injustices committed by Christopher Columbus, yet blind to the very same injustices blowing up around him and his crew in what fast becomes the now infamous Bolivian Water War of 2000.

Obsessive idealist Sebastián has sworn to direct a film about one of the world’s most iconic figures, Christopher Columbus. He is fiercely determined to show the truth about the hitherto accepted myth of the arrival of Western Civilization in the Americas as a force for good. He wants his film to show what Columbus set in motion: the obsession with gold, the taking of slaves, and more than anything the terrible violence unleashed on those Indians brave enough to fight back.

The actor playing Columbus has been around the block a few times and refuses to buy his apparent idealism; instead he constantly taunts the young director, accusing him of hypocrisy and cheap manipulation. As the film evolves, we realize that the relentless Sebastián isn’t all sweetness and light; in fact he’ll do just about anything to make his movie happen without any thought or concern for the cast and crew. Costa, Sebastián’s friend and producer, doesn’t give a damn either but is more upfront about it. All that matters to him is that the film comes in on time and within budget. It is Costa’s decision they should shoot in Bolivia, the cheapest and most ‘indigenous’ of Latin American countries.

While the shoot slowly progresses in and around the city of Cochabamba, it becomes increasingly hard for the film crew to ignore the simmering civil and political unrest, as the entire water supply of the city is privatized and sold to a British-American multinational. The protests and resulting violence are stepped up daily until the entire city explodes in the Bolivian Water War – a war that took place between January 1999 and April 2000. 500 years after Columbus, sticks and stones once again confront the high-tech weaponry of a modern army. The small man, determinedly fighting the apparently invincible superpower. Only this time the fight is not over gold, but the most basic of human needs after oxygen – water.

The film constantly blurs the line between fiction and reality and none of the characters are obviously only good or bad. Rather like real life they are all reassuringly human, full of conflicting emotions which make for a great film.

Even the Rain is released by Dogwoof in the UK on the 18th May 2012

Words by Anna Bang

The ongoing appearance of new and wonderful places in East London is now happening at lightning speed. I feel as if it was just a minute ago I was making my way home after a long day and night’s video shoot at the Millennium Mills, listening to the Addison Lee driver’s tales of how it used to be a pet food factory, which then went bust; they didn’t empty the giant silos inside, just locked it up and forgot about it. Obviously those turned into the world’s largest rat hoppers, which in turn produced an army of super rats. So pleased I heard that story after spending a whole day in close proximity to this abomination, not before; the main subject of conversation throughout the day was how spooky it seemed. In fact it was indeed a dog food and animal feeds factory till it closed along with the Royal Docks in 1981. Since then it has been a magnet for both Urban Explorers and video and film productions, it has featured as an impressive backdrop in Derek Jarman’s The Last of England and the TV series Ashes to Ashes amongst others.

All that is beside the point as the entire area has been revamped, nay reborn as the London Pleasure Gardens. LPG was inspired by the Pleasure Gardens that existed between the 17th and 19th centuries, where people from all walks of life converged to promenade and immerse themselves in the culture that makes London great. London Pleasure Gardens aims to bring this sense of community and cultural marvel back to the city with groundbreaking architectural structures and events.

Opening its doors for the very first time on the 30^th June, the 20 acre site is poised to host a multitude of large-scale art and culture events. Events such as the leading electronic music festival BLOC, it will obviously accommodate London 2012 Olympics tournaments too and showcase original architectural works by RIBA. This world of wonder incorporates large-scale sculptural gardens; a nature reserve; a concert space with a capacity of 27,000; an art hotel and restaurant and much, much more.

Brought to life by the team behind Glastonbury Festival’s Shangri-La and Mutate Britain with support from Newham Council, the LPG will celebrate its opening on 30th June, 2012 with a public two-day Paradise Gardens festival. The festival will be a veritable horn of plenty of global arts, entertainment and activities. Audiences can expect live music from the likes of Roots Manuva, Alabama 3, Ska Cubano and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble plus a spectacular pyrotechnic theatre from renowned performers The World Famous. There will also be off the wall street arts, a village fete, a swing dance ballroom, a vintage funfair, the best in London’s street food and a craft market.

It’s going to be a very busy and amazing summer by all accounts.

London Pleasure Gardens
30th June 2012
LPG offer a variety of ways to get there – click on the link to choose your preferred option.

Words by Anna Bang

Photographer | Han Lee de Boer

Make up & Hair | Nat van Zee

Model | Kitty @select

Layout | Rebecca hawkes

6 Burlington Gardens is the perfect destination right now; first have a super healthy feast at 42RAW, the raw food restaurant that’s occupying the ground floor and the exterior steps of this beautiful building. Then take in the amazing Leather Forever, a celebration of all things Hermès that is on till the 27^th May.

Now in its 175^th year, this fashion institution with its amazing leather wares and clothing and characteristic burnt orange coloured carrier bags and glorious boxes is exhibiting its stunning past and present at the Royal Academy of Arts. Best of all, the exhibition is free and open every day.

Craftspeople from the Hermès ateliers in Paris – who train for years to be able to replicate the attention to detail the brand has maintained since its beginning in 1837 – are on-site, making bags while you watch, happily answering questions and showing what the tools do. There’s a huge display of the various skins used in the production of Hermès leather wares, which you can touch. As you can imagine, the olfactory experience alone is amazing.

For most of us, this is the closest we’ll get to a Hermès bag and seeing them up close, you realise why these bags command such respect and desire.

The exhibition is very considered; you start off admiring the skins, then move on to the room where two Hermès craftspeople are making the renowned bags. Then a display of vintage Hermès bags; do take the time to admire the detailing and exquisite stitching, the patina of the leather and incredible inventiveness in size and shapes.

There’s a wonderful room called The Spirit of the Nomad, full of sand dyed the perfect Hermès orange and with a desert-luxe feel. However, my favourite room had to be the corral, this time the sand is the colour of vanilla or bleached bone… I couldn’t resist sneaking a pinch! A tribute to this grand house’s past, it is full of horse related ephemera, even a ladies’ sidesaddle. An apt reminder that Hermès was a house of master harness making and later saddles way before the bags that we generally connect with the brand. The exhibition ends with a little theatre showing 4 very unique bags that have been created to be auctioned, with all proceeds being donated to the Royal Academy of Arts. The bags represent England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales respectively.

Hermès Leather Forever
6 Burlington Gardens
London W1S 3ET

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 10 am until 6 pm and on Fridays until 10pm.
The exhibition is free to all visitors.

Words by Anna Bang

If this is your first time at the Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair, believe me you’re in for a real treat. The hottest annual art fair – now in its 9^th year – returns to the Old Truman Brewery May 27^th with a rather fabulous roll call of more than 70 artists including Sir Peter Blake, Polly Morgan, Bob & Roberta Smith, Pam Hogg, Jessica Albarn, Pure Evil, Turps Banana, Wildcat Will and more. The event will bring together a mix of both legendary and up-and-coming artists who will offer up exclusive pieces at this topsy-turvy version of the traditional car boot sale. Just please don’t embarrass yourself by proffering 50p.

Obviously the possibility of getting one’s mitts on a valuable piece will get the crowds flocking. Last year’s event attracted around 5,000 visitors during the six hour event with some canny folk queueing from the day before leading to a line-up of 1,000 people by the time doors opened! So don’t expect to idly saunter along 30 minutes before closing time, you clearly have to put the work in. That said, this event allows artists to let their hair down and for civilians to engage with the art and the people who’ve created it in an informal way, while potentially picking up some real unusual pieces.

The spectacle of artists selling their wares from the boots of classic and vintage cars sounds very charming and eccentrically English. Considering that the artworks are prized from £10 to £1,000, with an entry fee set at a modest £3 you can hardly accuse it of being exclusive.

Besides the artists themselves, renowned painting magazine Turps Banana is also set to make a reappearance at the Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair this year following their sell-out display last year. Their limited edition prints featuring works by Damian Hirst, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Marcus Harvey and Ryan Mosely became an instant collector’s item and sold out within the first hour. This year, Turps Banana will present another exclusive edition of works from leading artists, which is destined to be another hit.

If this isn’t lively enough for you, get ready for the Handbag Disco in support of Just for Kids law charity. Visitors can release any tension left from queueing overnight while they donate to charity and get the chance to win a designer handbag! In exchange for a £10 ticket, customers will have the chance to win a sought-after handbag worth potentially thousands of pounds. A sort of musical chairs (or handbags, if you like) will see DJ’s such as Gaz Mayall (from Gaz’s Rocking Blues), musician and artist Wildcat Will, performance poet Murray McLachlan Young and others providing the soundtrack to a 70’s style disco where you can cut some rug around handbags disguised in cloth bags. A hot designer bag will be hidden amongst the bags and when the music stops, grab any bag for the chance to take home a stunner. There will be a bag for each disco-dancer so no one will be left empty handed. All the same I anticipate some eye-watering fights… All profits will be donated to the excellent and award-winning charity Just For Kids who provide support, advice and representation to disadvantaged young people who find themselves in difficult situations with the law.

Not forgetting the sponsors, Vauxhall Motors, who will showcase some of their heritage vehicles at the event including the Firenza, Victor, Viva, Chevette, Cavalier, Nova, Velux, Lightning as well as the new, award-winning Vauxhall Ampera.

Food and drink stalls include St John’s Bread & Wine and Nude Espresso. Perfection. Look out for updates at www.artcarbootfair.com on more famous artists who’ll be taking part along with details on activities and exclusive pieces to be on offer this year.

Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair
Brick Lane Yard
Corner of Brick Lane and Buxton Street
London E1

Sunday May 27th, 2012
12 – 6 PM
Tickets available on the door £3

Words by Anna Bang

Aye aye! It’s Gavin Turk

Tracy Emin signing her book

Artist Polly Morgan with a piece called Bad Breath

Photographer | Martin Zahringer

Stylist | Victoria Sekrier

Hair | Ranelle Chapman

Make up | Natalie Piacun

Photographer’s  Assistant | Colette Calli

Layout | Rebecca Hawkes

Models | Lauren Bigelow @next, Meve Zunderdorp @premier

Photographer | Kirill Kuletski

Stylist | Olya Kuryshchuk

Make up & Hair | Marina Keri

Models | Lexi @select, Natasha Belobrovik @storm, Martine Lervik @elite

Layout | Rebecca Hawkes

“8=10″ is a collaboration of students from Central St Martins that includes:

Warakorn Fleur Wan
Richard Quinn
Darren Allard
Jaime Tai
Cube Li Fang
Hana Nishioka
Ashley Kang
Larry Boakye

After two pop-up shops to test the waters (and the waters were clearly very inviting), the seriously tempting tokyobike have decided to open up a permanent store, right in the heartland of all things cool. The ultimate city bike comes in a very slick design and the kind of bold colours that brings out the greedy child in you. The tokyobike weighs just 10 kilo so not too much huffing and puffing when you carry your baby up the stairs to your lair (these guys are probably best kept safely indoors at night)… Not to mention the fact its presence will add to the appearance of even the humblest abode. Bikes start at £400 with limited edition models priced up to £1,000.

The London store aims to stock the full tokyobike collection and a vast range of tempting accessories including some niche brands such as French saddle maker Gilles Berthoud and a range of Japanese lifestyle products. There is of course also a workshop in the basement where mechanics will toil away to make sure your bike is in optimal condition.

Not convinced? Look out for the renowned tokyobike Tours during Clerkenwell Design Week 22nd – 24th May where you can test ride a tokyobike.

tokyobike
87-89 Tabernacle Street
London Ec2A 4BA

Words by Anna Bang