Blog

Missibaba Trunk Sale

Missibaba (the fantastic leather goods brand) is having a trunk sale in JHB on Friday the 19th and Saturday the 20th of June.
Sound exciting…especially because all you Joburgers are the first that get to see and by the new Gaucho bag (which I haven’t seen yet, but I’m sure is beautiful!)

FLANCE

A week or so ago, I was invited to a fashion event, at an unknown address in Bo-kaap, from an organisation / agency / group called Flance and to tell you the truth I was a little skeptical. It all seemed a little vague…I didn’t know whether to expect a fashion show, an exhibition or a really cool concept thingy that no one understands but you’re certain is very hip.

To say I was mistaken in my judgments is an understatement.

New from Liam Mooney - the little desk that could

The little desk that could is a new piece I’ve added to my collection, manufactured in black powder coated Mild Steel and stained FSC approved SA Pine.

CAMERON FODEN - the samson syndrome

A couple of weeks ago we showcased a solo collection of menswear by Capetonian designer Cameron Foden.

WHERE TO FROM HERE - THUR 7 MAY 18h00

Where to from here, is an exhibition of menswear as designed by emerging fashion designers; Blasoen by Willem Jacques Minnaar, Christopher Strong, Åugus, Timothy Wang and Cameron Foden.

House and Leisure Stand at Design Indaba ‘09

This year House and Leisure chose the / Design Studio to design their stand at the Design Indaba Expo.
It was their small spaces issue, so we designed a shelving unit that fits under a stair case. Try this at home folks.

cameron foden - the samson syndrome - 30th Apr ‘09 18h00

This collection, the first solo for the self-taught designer, entitled the Samson Syndrome, takes inspiration from exploitation, manipulation and hypocrisy, with a specific interest in Israeli and US foreign policy ‘67 to present.

Destination Glaceau - popup

The Destination Glaceau popup stores we did for Vitamin Water are all finished now, and I have some pictures to share with you of the Cape Town space…

VITAMIN WATER

I’m in JHB again this weekend to finalise one of the two pop up stores (the other being on Loop Street in Cpt) that the design studio has been commissioned to create for the American brand GLACEAU VITAMIN WATER. Its a really cool brand and we’ve had a lot of fun with the amount of freedom we’ve been afforded. The stores open later this week, so if you get a chance come and have a look.

ADRIAAN HUGO - PUBLIC SCULPTURE

Unless you’ve been down to the Ellis park train station in JHB lately, you might have missed the public sculpture that Adriaan Hugo was commissioned to do on the sides of the ticket booth. Well now you’re in luck, Katy has emailed me some images of the work, at different stages of completion. Its really beautiful, and might encourage more people to take train rides, maybe…

PRESIES curated by Dirk de Waal

Here are some images of PREsies, curated by Dirk de Waal, which opened last week.
The online catalogue will be out soon, should you wish to buy the whole lot ;)

cheers
 Liam

THE grand Daddy - Trailer Park

Towards the end of 2008, WITW / Design Studio did the creative direction for the trailer park on the roof of the new Grand Daddy hotel on Long Str.

PRESIES - THEMBISILE MAZIBUKO

LIVED MOST OF MY LIFE IN SOWETO, AND STILL LIVE THERE.
RAISED BY SINGLE PARENT,MY MOM
STUDIED FASHION DESIGN AT LISOF FOR THREE YEARS:
SHOWCASED A RANGE AT AJFW: MARCH 2008 (PART OF THE NEW GENERATIOS SHOW)
SHOWCASED A RANGE AT CFW: AUGUST 2008 (PART OF THE CFW FINALE SHOW)
SHOWCASED A RANGE AT AJFW: JANUARY 2009

LOVE PROBLEM SOLVING, ART AND WORKING WITH MY HANDS. I BELIEVE THAT FASHION DESIGN ALLOWS ME TO EXPLORE THESE THINGS.

PRESIES - PIETER HEYNEKE

Hailing from Sasolburg I went to study graphic design in Pretoria at Open Window School of Visual Communication. Completed my studies there and started working here and there in advertising. Got bored of it and went into an animation/broadcast design direction. Started at a production company, Seventh Wave, were I was trained and helped on commercial accounts for Fanta, Nedbank, Nissan, Audi to name but a few. Left them to become head broadcast designer at Mindset Network, which I’m still at at present. As with all designers, I have a few projects on the side. I’m doing my Honours in Multimedia at UJ. I have done some work with the fashion designer, Ella Buter for Supperella. Been part of the band Plasticoma and currently working on my own, yet unnamed, band, which I style, brand and create the look & feel.

PRESIES - ALWIJN BURGER

As a young boy I never dreamt of becoming a florist. I am still not one.

The gardens of my hometown and the markets of Europe made flowers my medium of choice.
Today I am the co-owner and creative director of the intimate, yet well established, “Floral Firm” OKASIE in Stellenbosch.

PRESIES - JOE PAINE

Studied Industrial Design at WITS Tech. Worked in manufacturing before recently going on his lonesome designing and making furniture and products under his own name. He currently sees plants as being integral to our built environments and is questioning why they are not.”

PRESIES - SAREL PETRUS

Sarel Petrus holds a Fine Art degree from Tswane University of Technology. He learnt bronze casting through apprenticeship at the Vignali Artistic Bronze Foundry in Pretoria North, and in the bronze studio of Guy du Toit. He exhibits regularly in Gauteng and Paarl, had a solo show in Graskop in 2008 and will be exhibiting in Cape Town in 2009.

PRESIES - ELLA BUTER

studied at lisof
started superella in 2003 - did elle new talent the same year
did my first show in 2004 at sa fashionweek
won the nederburg rare finds in 2006
did design indaba in 2005 and 2007
showed again at sa fashionweek in 2007 summer and 2008 winter
in 2009 i will be showing my summer 2009/10 at sa fashionweek in april

superella is about comfort - the avantgarde of simplicity- real clothes for real people

PRESIES - DIRK DE WAAL

Leading up to the opening of PREsies next week Tuesday, I’m going to be introducing some of the participating designers. Each of the designers have written a short bio on themselves, as well as answered 3 questions: What is important? What is exciting? What if the world…?
Dirk de Waal has been involved in over 400 stage shows and events across 3 continents over the past 5 years as project manager and show director. At the moment he does creative direction and concept development for deconstruction.be (a multifaceted media company), creative consulting to fashion designers and musicians as well as his involvement with WITW/DS events.

presies - curated by Dirk de Waal - Tue 24 Feb, 18h00

PRESIES, curated by Dirk de Waal is the first exhibtion for our programme for 2009. Opening night is Tuesday the 24th of February at 18h00.

2009!

2009, is going to be an exciting year for WITW / Design Studio.

XOXO XMAS

Christmas . Night Shopping

THE END

Biblioteq, Whatiftheworld / Design Studio & Vida e Cafe present…

XK 2008 Collection

2008 has been (and still is) a busy year for Xandre Kriel. He’s imposed his indelible style on a variety of pieces, ranging from bar stools to shelving systems, and with great success I think.