Jussara Lee

Jussara and her team, along with photographer Victor Gutierrez, shot images on the rooftop of her boutique this week for her new men’s shirt line (collaborated with partner Oliver Harkness-www.11nyc.com) and images for her fall 2008 campaign.

(Fall 2008 campaign, Ryan & Trevor Oakes)

Jussara is still one designer who’s survived the meatpacking invasion without big corporate money. She runs her intimate boutique with grace and a sense of humor. It may be small in size, but the energy and life overflows. You’ve got to give credit to her strength and style, especially when other insititutions, like the restaurant Florent, have said good-bye after being pushed out due to high rent and mass market.

(Emily)

I caught up with them for a quick Q & A…

Starworks: What was your concept behind your campaign for fall?

Victor: Jussara and I were both reacting to an oversaturated market of images and waste. The challenge was to convey a feeling that wasn’t relying on sex or glamour. We decided to take portraits of friends she admired - young artists Jussara was inspired by.

Starworks: What was your inspiration for your RTW collection?

Jussara Lee: The conquest of happiness.

Starworks: How has your line evolved over the years? How long have you had your shop in the meatpacking district?

Jussara Lee: Evolution is me constantly trying to make the arrival a little better than the departure. It’s been seven years since I moved to the meat market.

Starworks: You’re involved with the Canary Project (www.canary-project.org) and sustainable/recycled product - your clothing is so beautifully crafted and tailored of luxury design, which is not typically what people would associate with eco-friendly wear - we’re used to the hipster, hippy look. How has your clientele responded?

Jussara Lee: The greatest people buy and order dresses because they are so desirable and deserving. I love controversy.

(Jussara’s boutique. Canary Project collabo installation - Albedo Clouds on Little West 12th)

www.jussaralee.com
www.oakesoakes.com
Photographer Victor Gutierrez
–Cheng

No…no more Mayle?

(Going Going Gone)

According to WWD today, Jane Mayle is set to close shop.

“An out-of-control fashion system was the ultimate trigger behind calling it quits on her business after 10 years. The Mayle holiday-resort collection that ships to stores this November will be her last and the boutique she operates at 242 Elizabeth Street here is slated to close in February. The expiration of her store’s lease caused Mayle to take a step back and reevaluate her options.” - WWD

(Inspirations: Mayle’s Website)

I hope this doesn’t happen to other independent designers in Nolita or Lower East Side (where property rent is skyrocketing). These shops, with their authenticity, are what gives NYC fashion an added dimension.

I love walking down Elizabeth Street and popping into Mayle. Even the scent of the store is distinct to her shop - slightly musky, a bit sandalwood… Nolita won’t be the same without her.

Look for her last collection on www.mayleonline.com
-Cheng

Waterfalls + NYC

“Water has this fantastic ability to be everything for everybody.” - Olafur Eliasson

On view until October 13th.

Not spanking brand news, but art thats worth praising in our hectic city. Causing much controversy, Olafur Eliasson’s “New York City Waterfalls” opened this last Thursday, June 26th, and is the city’s grandest pulic art commission since “The Gates” in 2005, which were displayed in Central Park.

Mayor Bloomberg called the project “a triumph of human imagination and mechanical engineering”. The project was commissioned by the Public Art Fund at $15.5 million.

Whether the cost of the project was too much, or you don’t consider it art, or you find the whole concept ludicrous - look at it first before you make a decision. I plan to ride my bike to each of the four waterfalls to decide for myself and it’ll be interesting to see if the $15.5 million project brings the economic activity of $55 million estimated by Mayor Bloomberg. Nonetheless, this is why I love NYC - whether you agree or disagree, there’s always something that causes you to find your beliefs.

The urban Waterfalls are at these spots:
• Pier 35 in Manhattan, near South and Rutgers Streets north of the Manhattan Bridge
• The Brooklyn tower of the Brooklyn Bridge
• Piers 4 and 5 in Brooklyn, west of the Brooklyn Heights Promenade
• The North Shore of Governors Island.

They will be turned on every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., except on Tuesdays and Thursdays, when they will be activated at 9 a.m. After sunset, the waterfalls will be lighted by light-emitting diodes. (See viewing information.)

The NY Times is encouraging readers to submit their own photos of the “Waterfalls” by e-mail. - The New York Times

Photos by Vincent Laforet/New York Times

Pandora Radio

I’ve got a new favorite website AND radio station.

Maybe I’ve been in a black hole and am the last to find out about this website/radio station but I’m addicted and love it. Pandora is a radio station from the MUSIC GENOME PROJECT. The MUSIC GENOME PROJECT started on January 6, 2000 by a group of musicians and music-loving technologists who came together and assembled hundreds of musical genres into a very large Music Genome. You go to the website and type in a song or artist and Pandora will create a radio station with similar music just for you. You can create several “stations” or edit your stations and you’ve just created a customized playlist.

Easy, simple, free.There is much more on the site, where you can research artists and bands, learn about upcoming music festivals, view videos and even share information with other members. Try it before signing up…Pandora.com…but I bet you get addicted too.

Ricky Powell

Last night, A Milk Gallery Project presented: ILLY FUNKSTERS by Ricky Powell, the legendary street photographer.

“Ricky is one of those rare individuals who has the uncanny ability to always find himself in the right place at the right time, and he has the pictures to prove it…Whatever function, show, party, or moment in time was occurring, Ricky would be there, camera round his neck, going for his shot in his old-school, Kevin McHale, off-balance, get-the-shot-then-bust-his-ass style.”–Mike D

“Ricky Powell is one of the best photographers of our time.”–Run of Run-D.M.C.

“Whether it was the birth of the Beastie Boys or Run-D.M.C. or Public Enemy, Ricky was there…I could go on and on, but in short, Ricky’s the bomb!”–Fab 5 Freddy

“Ricky is one of the best photographers I’ve ever worked with– and I’ve worked with a lot.”–LL Cool J

The gallery was filled with music dj’d by Stretch Armstrong and people dancing old school amongst images of Sophia Coppola, the Beastie Boys, Andy Warhol & Jean Michel-Basquiat.

The show won’t be up for long, so go check it out:

May 31-June 10th

10-6pm

Milk Studios

450 West 15th Street

A sneak peak on what you’ll find:

Andy Warhol & Ricky Powell

Run-DMC in Paris

Lisa Bonet