Issey Miyake and Reality Lab  just won the  best design in the category of fashion at the Design Museum’s fifth annual Designs of the Year Awards 2012 for these amazing garments  created from computer algorithms.

132 5. is a unique fashion project developed by Issey Miyake and his in-house team of scientists from Reality Lab. The process by which the clothing is made is groundbreaking, using a mathematical algorithm: first, a variety of three-dimensional shapes are conceived in collaboration with a computer scientist; then, these shapes are folded into two dimensional forms with pre-set cutting lines that determine their finished shape; and finally, they are heat-pressed, to yield folded shirts, skirts, dresses etc. These clothes are significant not only for the process by which they were made but because they are also made using recycled PET products, sometimes in combination with other recycled fibers.

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Miyake’s Fall Winter 12-13 Paris runway show  started out with a mise-en-scene of  assistants steaming fabric lengths hanging on racks. As the audience watched, the garments took shape – stretching and shrinking, creating pleats that were pulled inwards with steam; while unresponsive areas puffed out into sleeves and cowl necklines. The end result- Genius!

via The Clothes Whisperer

Called ‘steam-stretch’, the innovative textile is ‘an instant technique’. Issey Miyake’s young womenswear designer Yoshiyuki Miyamae, said,” It’s a bit like microwave food. It’s ready straight away.”

via The Clothes Whisperer

The innovative “Steam Stretch” fabric can be programmed in advance, then to be transformed into different silhouettes with a simple “Steam finish”.  Using “steam stretch” wool and stretch yarn, woven on a curve line and shrinking to create an undulating weave, producing a trompe l’oeil ribbed knit effect. Comparing the process to the polishing of rough stones into glistening jewels, the colorful shapes obtained out of a simple piece of cloth is meant to “bathe the wearer in their own multicolored brilliance”.

Miyamae named the collection “Mineral Miracle,” because of the natural elements built into the instant “steam stretch” technique. It also refers to a selection of the outfits featuring diamond-shaped facets that break up the cloth, with different colors and fabrics. But, “Mineral Miracle” was all about fabric innovation, staying true to Issey Miyake’s legacy.

via Style.com

via Style.com

As always, the Issey Miyake show turned out to be a beautiful display of textures and colors, focusing on their unique textile technology development.

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Design Confidential just returned home from sunny and warm L.A  and the  Design Bloggers Conference and it was AWESOME! I have been to a lot of conferences and trade shows and I can honestly say it was the best one I have been to in 5 years. I credit the enthusiastic and open attendees, the well planned and executed agenda, the amazing lineup of marketers and design bloggers. This was the first time I have attended and it was all I expected and more.

Martyn Lawrence Bullard speaking at DBC

The event kicked off  with Martyn Lawrence Bullard walking through a retrospective of his work, sharing personal  stories and giving us an inside peek to the lives of the rich and famous. (Love how his  entrepreneurial  spirit sparked his design career; that man has seen it all and the world.) There was no let up with two days filled with nonstop education, networking, and epiphanies  all rolled up into one big  extraordinary experience that finished Tuesday evening with a party at Harbinger in West Hollywood  hosted by Trad Home/ Kravet and Bunny Williams. Here’s my roundup report of the conference.

Shadowboxes of Wayfair home furnishings

Wayfair Party

I loved the shadowboxes and in a room full of designers you can bet they were rearranging the furniture!

Social Media Star Sightings:

• Rhonda Carmen, All the Best
• Tobi Fairley
• Martyn Lawrence Bullard
• Bunny Williams
• Cassandra LaValle Coco + Kelley
• Leslie Carothers
• Macala Wright , FMM
• Annie Selke, Pine Cone Hill
• Stacy Kunstel, Stacy Style
• Lisa Ferguson, Décor Mentor
• Holly Hollingsworth Phillips, The English Room

This is just the tip of the iceberg. The list goes on and on….

Panel Discussion with Rhonda Carmen, Tobi Fairley and Cassandra LaValle

Best Memory: Technically my best memory wasn’t at  DBC, BUT, if I hadn’t  gone and met up with fellow designer Cheryl Draa; it would never had happened. Cheryl and I were invited to Hutton Wilkinson’s Sunday before the conference for tea . Hutton worked with the fabulously eccentric Tony Duquette. Duquette was a design giant and his over- the- top stylings are something I closely align with when it comes to design. Never for the life of me did I EVER think I would get a chance to have an invitation like that; (Heart be still…) yet alone to have a  tour of Hutton’s jewel box house and Dawnridge – Tony Duquette’s stunning home- next door. I can’t tell you how amazing it was, the colors, the textures, the contrasts  – MORE is definitely better! (More on Dawnridge, Hutton and Tony  about this later this week.)

Best Quotes: The audience was all a twitter with these quotes:

“The 70’s Vibe is the new black.”    Martyn Lawrence Bullard

“Commenting isn’t necessarily a bad thing; you can only say so much about pretty pictures. “ Adam  Japko, Design Sherpa

“ Money is a good lubricant. ”   Kimberly Seldon, Dabble

“There is a lot of value in your F—ups.” Brian Patrick Flynn, Décor Demon

Surprise!

Adam Japko, Design Sherpa and wine aficionado  surprised us all with a fabulous  morning  toast  of Pierre Gimonnet Champagne. Now that’s a  ”coffee” break.

Blogging: The new marketing and PR channel panel- Liza Weiner, Becher Associates; Kristine Kennedy, Wayfair; Stacy Kunstel, Stacy Style

Top  takeaways:

• Be your authentic self and don’t over think it. Your brand should have an authentic voice, authentic look and authentic content.
• Find your niche and blow it up.
• “Every brand has a story- What is yours? Make your story available to everyone, everywhere and you’ll be part of the conversation. Amplify your voice. Be seen, Be heard, Be Shared and Be remembered and you’ll be invited in to the tent.”  Tami McCarthy

Sites I HAVE to check out: Each speaker or panelist shared their favorite resources. These are my must dos.

• Design Sherpa
• Appify- already on it!
• Discovered
• Instrgr.am
• Stipple
• Chimein
• The Fancy

DBC Buzz words

• Curated Content
• Authentic
• Subject Matter Expert
• Point of View as in “What is your point of view?”
• Relevancy
• Passion
• Tenacity
• Stories – authentic stories, tell a story, craft your brand story
• Elevate
• Focus

Lessons Learned

• Find your inspiration and lend a perspective to it to “pay it forward”. Bring inspiration in context with content.
• Promote yourself; no one else will. Something I think designers have issues with. Entrepreneurs often struggle with little self esteem .
• Collaborate with people who complement your strengths

I have already marked my calendar for next year’s event and there is even a possibility that there will be a European version. WooHoo!

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Walking the aisles and showrooms in Paris for Maison & Objet and Paris Deco Off, I couldn’t help but note several colors that kept popping up everywhere! Put these on your must have list for 2012.

Fool’s Gold

Schumacher's Ripple Effect

This bold citron gold hue with brassy green undertones was all over the place. This is a color that’s hard to put your finger on. I find myself drawn to it and recently when deciding to paint my living room this color, I had a heck of a time getting it just right? This hue definitely evokes emotion- shifting from in-your-face to  moody  and sultry.  We’ve seen it before, but this time it was the center of attention and not an accent; showing up on different surfaces on new product categories, was interesting finishes to almost in some cases looking lit from within. Plus, it was mixed and matched with new colors creating unusual fresh schemes.

Miss Print fabrics and wallpapers

M&O Scenes d' Interieur

Pamplemousse M&O

JD Staron Ikat Rug

Perse Velvet from Karin Sajo

If you love this fabric, call me I am carrying this collection.

Nobilis Window Vignette

Artketing Trend Presentation- M&O

Lelievre

Nobilis Spring 2012 Collection

Maison & Objet

It’s been a couple of weeks since coming home for M&O and Deco Off. I jumped right into business as usual and just now have had some time to reflect, organize and my thoughts about the show. So this week, check out my series of posts of what trends and themes I see coming from the shows as well as my favorites and picks for the coming season.

Next Post: Hot Pink and Red are back.

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I am not one for practical jokes, but as a designer I do love  a good visual trick or two.  That’s what I am seeing lately -trompe l’oeil (French for “deceive the eye”)  looks from fashion to decor that marries whimsy and humor with style and design.

I’m seeing trompe l’oeil looks in :

Walls

Piet Hein Eek’s wallpaper  makes scrap wood gorgeous!

Koziel’s antique shutter wallpaper doubles your fun.This paper gives you pause- is there or isn’t there a window there?

What can a say?- Christain LaCroix for Designers Guild. LOVE.LOVE. LOVE

Need architectural detail? Berard has it.

Doors

Shelving

Deborah Bowness is a Genius with fool the eye looks

Everyone loves books Right?

Textiles

Windows

I ♥ Bauke Knottnerus’ trompe l’oeil curtains, they can be on a window in a doorway fooling the eye into believing there’s more space thanks to the perspective.

Koziel’s Decorative film provides the view and the ornate ironwork.

Fashion

See More

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