Exhibiting at Graduate Fashion Week

My Final Major Project has been selected to be exhibited at this year's Graduate Fashion Week. I will be showcasing a short film and photo book that document the Sketchbook Pop-Up Shop, a concept I coordinated as a live collaboration for my final major project (as you probably already know).

Graduate Fashion Week

Earls Court 2

London

6th - 10th June 2010 

www.gfw.org.uk

Day of deadline

Monday was the big day - handing in my Final Major Project and putting the finishing touches to my exhibition space for assessment. 3.5 hours sleep on Sunday and not much more the night before but I was finally finished at 11.45 (deadline midday).

Here's a sneak preview of my space - better pics to come from tomorrow night's private view..

And here's a bunch of us - exhausted, relieved, hungry.. Not looking our best! 

This picture was followed by a well deserved trip to the pub.

1 more week to go until my second deadline and it'll all be over!

Happy times at the pop-up shop

Last night it sunk in that today really is the last day of the Sketchbook pop-up shop. I had a bit of an emotional outburst in my living room  because I really want to be there for the next few days, at Susie Bubble's talk, at the closing event and even to paint it all back and hand over the keys. Gutted that I'm stuck in Epsom doing all my uni work (deadline Monday) and that I can't escape to say goodbye...

I've decided to make a happy post, showing a lot of the good times I had at the shop... At least all the ones caught on camera! 

Launch Party

Blogs & Brands Panel Discussion

John-Paul Thurlow Private View

Lee Lapthorne Lecture

Photography: Sarolta Marton / Nedim Nazerali and various people on my camera..

The Live Issue Launch Night

On Wednesday night I went to the launch of The Live Issue both to support my friends Susie and Katie and to host the Sketchbook live blogging area.

The Live Issue concept was the brainchild of Katie Burkes and Susie O'Brien, two final year students at University for the Creative Arts, Epsom. The pair, both on my course, studying Fashion Promotion & Imaging, decided to collaborate with eachother, in order to put their skills in photography, marketing and PR to the test. They decided to take the idea of a traditional magazine and turn it on its head, creating a live installation, ‘The Live Issue’. Rather than turning the pages of a printed magazine or clicking the next button on an e-zine, guests were invited to step into The Future Gallery and physically walk through the issue.

Sketchbook was there holding live interviews with the participants and other guests we met, with illustrator Gabriela Mot working on quick sketches of the interviewees and photographer Sarolta Marton documenting the night on her camera. All in all, we had a great time and met some really interesting people, we were really chuffed to be involved.

A pre-recorded interview by editors Katie and Susie with unsung hero Pam Hogg was screened in its own room, which had been transformed into an intimate space with a boutique vibe. Live models represented a live and moving fashion photograph. Pam was there inviting people in and chatting to them whilst they looked around.

The night also launched Bitching and Junkfood’s debut collection, with a fashion film in collaboration with Gabriel Gettman. Princess Julia, i-D’s music editor hit the decks and Izzy Electric also played a live set, showcasing a sound installation in collaboration with designer Rachel Friere, who’s collection, displayed on mannequins in the event area was a big hit.

Advertising was even key, with a photocopier available for people to take pictures of themselves, their items, in the style of an unseen Commes Des Garcons ad. Illustrator Nikki  Farquharson and print designer Marie Hill were creating live art. Also on display was a Don't Panic illustration exhibition, with the work of Luke Embden, the winner of the competition, taking pride of place. With the drinks flowing and the music pumping, the night was a success, with bouncers keeping people waiting outside because the place was so crowded. 

The girls should be very pleased with themselves and I look forward to the launch of the second Live Issue in the future.

www.theliveissue.co.uk 

Photography by Sarolta Marton

Annie Driscoll's Private View at the pop-up shop

Last Sunday at the Sketchbook pop-up we held the Private View of Annie Driscoll's first solo exhibition. Her work will be displayed until the shop closes (for real this time) on 14th May. 

A live performance by Dervla O'Shea and Nils O'Hara showed us that you don't need a big band to make good music. Nils was strumming the guitar, blowing into the harmonica, tapping the tambourine and knocking on his guitar (as if it were a drum). Dervla, complete with ripped tights and chipped nails (on purpose I think), sang covers of some of her favourite songs, including MGMT's Electric Feel and Priscilla by Bat for Lashes. I enjoyed watching the guests tapping their feet along to the music (unaware). 

Film and Images courtesy of the very talented Sarolta Marton

Hibernating and photo book preview

I'm currently spending my days hibernating in the library working to my final major project deadline. Today I finally sent off my photobook to be printed in time for hand in - Can't wait to see it! I worked on the book together with Kayleigh Moulds, using photographs taken throughout the pop-up shop period to document the event. 

Here's a sneaky peak at some of the images in the book. It features the work of a number of photographers but the shots below are by the very talented Sarolta Marton. I wish I was as good as her with my camera!

I'll do a proper post next week once I've received the book!

P.S: I know I've been neglecting this poor blog recently but my (June's version of) new years resolution is to get back on track once uni is finished (not long now) and post regularly like I did back in 2009, when apart from writing my dissertation, there were no worries in the world about job hunting, graduating, putting on a pop-up shop! 

To view more of Sarolta's work, visit her blog: saciii.blogspot.com.

ADvintaged, Wimbledon Village

As promised in my last post (http://rachelmenashy.blogspot.com/2010/05/1940s-vintage-evening-bag.html) where I showed off my new 1940s evening bag, I said I'd tell you more about my trip to Wimbledon Village. 

I'm not sure if it's naive of me to presume that everything can be found online nowadays (here's me sounding like I'm 65) but I am extremely disappointed to learn that the very lovely vintage store I wanted to tell you about doesn't have a website. I dragged my poor boyfriend into loads of little shops and after spending a good 15 minutes "oohing" and "aahing" over the shop's contents, I felt bad and rushed off, taking 2 quick reference snapshots on my phone (thinking I could look it up later). 

Had I known there would be no website I would've spent more time taking some decent photographs (I'm never sure whether this is allowed/appropriate in a shop like this) and talking to the owner (who was helping a customer) in order to have a better story to tell. You'll just try to have to imagine it..

The beautiful window display and girly pink exterior of 'ADvantaged' called out to me from across the street so I went inside for a better look.

As I opened the door, I realised I had found a gem. The walls were adorned with shelves made of fashion books, each with a small display of delicate bags, scarves, gloves and hats. The rails carried an array of vintage dresses, each as elegant as the next and clearly handpicked by the buyer (who I wish I'd spoken to!). Underneath the first rail were a row of hat boxes - which I wanted more than I wanted any of the hats - obviously belonging to the range of hats on the next shelf. 

The shop was very well set out, with casual dresses on one rail, evening dresses on another (the most beautiful and expensive in plastic zip bags) suits (skirt and jacket) on another, cardigans and knitwear on another. The cash desk was home to cabinets full of vintage jewellery and leather gloves, as well as headpieces that I wish I could wear but don't think I could pull off.

This is a destination shop that you'd visit for a special dress - the prices are high but you know you'd be the only one wearing it. 

My favourite piece was a cream leather handbag with a telephone dial and handset on it. Very Lady Gaga. I could also very easily have bought a number of silk scarves, leather gloves and pretty cardigans if I had the money to spend. 

Next time you're in Wimbledon Village make sure you stop by for a visit. Please take pictures and send them to me!!!

ADvintaged, 15 High Street, Wimbledon Village, SW19 5DX.

1940s vintage evening bag

After 3 years living in Epsom, I finally got round to visiting Wimbledon Village to have some lunch and a mooch around the independent boutiques and vintage shops. 

after walking into Traders Antiques, I quickly spotted this 1940s evening bag and decided I had to have it. At the time I was trying to be sensible and thought to myself "it's the same colour as the shoes I bought for the Sketchbook launch party which I've been struggling to find a bag to wear with ever since". Obviously every tan shade is different and no, it's not the same but I love it all the same and will wear it with pride!

I also found a really beautiful vintage boutique which I will tell you more about later. Right now I've got to dash, I'm on my way to the Sketchbook pop-up shop to catch the Private view of Annie Driscoll's illustration exhibition (3-6pm, 10 Newburgh St, Carnaby).