Streetlab Blog

The concept was years in the making, and now boxcarorange are finally ready to launch their line of accessories that truly represents the `street’ in street wear.

Taking inspiration from Melbourne’s laneway culture – the art, the colour, the raw industrial look and the attitude of this culture – boxcarorange seek out products that are unique to this aesthetic. They are working with designers who compliment the laneway theme such as Hob with raw leather and paint; 22 Design Studio with concrete and their own designs with recycled leather.

“All of our designers have slightly different approaches,” says boxcarorange director, Alex Miller. “For Hob it’s simple – he just looks to to create what no one else does. His designs are handmade so he can work with a new shape or colour until he feels it’s ready. He also looks to his customers for feedback on new designs regularly.”

22 Designs takes inspiration from Japanese Architect Tadao Ando. Alex says they are experts at marrying the familiar with the unfamiliar with the use of concrete in jewellery.

“Once a concept has been decided upon they rely on feedback from friends who are invited to experience the jewellery,” he says. “They aim to produce an end product that maintains the emotional quality of the original design.”

Overall, boxcarorange aim to bring something new to the street scene and show how a raw approach with less conventional materials and processes can deliver the `real’ street look.

Alex took five with Streetlab Blog;

Can you tell us the story behind the name?

A business name is nothing until you give it a personality, so in a play on words we landed on ‘boxcarorange’ named after our beloved retro ’74 Kombi, which is a metallic orange and, you guessed it really is just a box on wheels.

Your designers have already seen astounding success overseas, how do you think your product will be received in Australia?

Hob already has the beginnings of a cult following from Australian tourists visiting Bangkok and he is now thrilled to be working with us in Australia to gain a larger exposure for his products. The team from 22 Designs have also had a lot of success overseas and we hope to get their incredibly unique concrete look out into the Australian market on a larger scale. We are also really excited to be bringing a recycled leather range to the Australian market as there is definitely a growing interest in the eco-fashion scene.

You are about to showcase the brand at Streetlab in August, why did you choose this event and what do you hope to gain?

Being a relatively new label we really hope to gain more exposure with retailers as we feel we have a unique range that fits the Streetlab brief perfectly.

What’s in store for the future – where do you see the brand heading?

Our aim is to stay true to our original intentions, to be a unique and truly street accessory label, and remain as exciting and ever-changing as the Melbourne laneway’s themselves. Hopefully there will be a few people who want to come along for the ride!

In 2003, a new surf wear brand entered the fold with a vision to offer something unique and interesting to a stale retail market. It all began with two friends, Neal Purchase Jr and Jamahl Grey, each drawing on their art / music and lifestyle influences to create products for a more open minded and fashion forward customer.

Nine years down the track, and Rhythm is a brand directed at giving customers something unique. With their catch cry, “The Sound of Change” Rhythm continues to offer something new to the innovator.

We caught up with Rhythm General Manager, Josh Barrett before their debut at Streetlab to get the low down on their design inspirations, staying true to their brand image, and the real story behind the name.

Where do you source your inspiration? And how do they drive you and influence your design?

Our influences come from almost everywhere and anywhere but we always have a formula that ties it all back together to ensure that we keep true to the Rhythm feel of the brand. Music is always a huge influence when designing and we are also a pretty fun bunch of people, so I really think you see that playful side of Rhythm represented throughout our collections.

How do you transfer these inspirations into design? Talk us through your design process from drawing board to in-store/online?

As noted before, we have a formula to make sure that everything stays true to our brand image. We all live the lifestyle that we are creating and we believe in our brand, so ultimately its all about making sure that everything, from concept to coat hanger as well as our marketing, all relate back to who we are as a brand. Image is key.

Can you tell us the story behind the name?

(Neal Purchase Jnr – Rhythm co-founder) “I just thought the name Rhythm was pretty cool cause it had a lot of relevance with things I was and still am interested in, like music, surfing and art etc”

You are about to showcase the brand at Streetlab in August, why did you choose this event and what do you hope to gain?

We believe that our current ranges are very suited to the NSW market and we see this as the perfect opportunity to grow our business in NSW as well as nationally. Rhythm can sometimes be pigeon holed as a surf-based company and this will be a great platform to showcase our brand and put some of these rumours to bed.

What’s in store for the future – where do you see the brand heading?

We plan to keep strengthening our brand without ever losing touch with our roots and company values. There is definitely a huge opportunity for Rhythm to make inroads into the fashion market.

Jeans were always the favourite item in Jeffvik Caballero’s wardrobe; “I wear jeans everyday, since I was young.” So it’s little wonder, three years ago he started to think about launching his own denim line.

He started off buying denim brands from the Philippines and selling it in the Australian market, but when this didn’t work out, Jeffvik began the development and design of his own denim line, Andres Denim.

The results speak for themselves. We caught up with Jeffvik recently…

Where do you source your inspiration? And how do they drive you and influence your design?

I get inspiration through my friends who are very fashionable and know a lot about trends. They drive me to come up with something outstanding. I can get their thumps up, then I can certainly sell it in the Aussie market.

How do you transfer these inspirations into design? Talk us through your design process from drawing board to in-store/online?

Design is all about finding a textile/fabric that ages beautifully. Denim is well known to age beautifully. The other thing that is magnificent with age is leather. So I figured I’d use leather instead of having intricate stitching in the back pocket like most denim brands out there. This design is now the Andres Denim trademark leather pattern.

My fashionable friends love it and they have at least 4 pairs. I trade with the guys at Young Australian Designers Market pop-up Stalls. I also sell my denim at the Bondi Markets from time to time and via online sales.

Can you tell us the story behind the name?

The name Andres is pronounced as `undress’ and it’s my late grand father’s name. I named my brand after him as he was all about quality and hard work in everything he does whether it’s family, work or life.

You are about to showcase the brand at Streetlab in August, why did you choose this event and what do you hope to gain?

StreetLab is urban and for upcoming labels, its perfect for Andres Denim

What’s in store for the future – where do you see the brand heading?

I would like for Andres Denim to hit the urban store, and to be known as an `exclusive brand’ stocked in credible boutiques around Australia.

View the full collection at Streetlab on August 14 & 15 at the Australian Technology Park.
Visit their website for more images and follow Andres Denim on Facebook.

Swedish brand Dr Denim was founded by the Graah family in 2004 and has since then branched out from creating jeans to creating a lifestyle brand revolving around denim. Their design philosophy is to create contemporary interpretations of denim and timeless pieces that can be worn at any time.

In their own words, “Dr Denim is intellectually curious yet humble, treating denim as a science where development flourishes through research and creativity. Denim is addictive.”

And it seems the whole world is addicted to them too, with over 2000 stores in Europe, Asia and Australia.

Here’s a sneak peek at the S/S 12 collection titled “dissertation on hysteria” which will be on show at Streetlab on 14 & 15 at the Australian Technology Park. For more information or to register, visit streetlab.com.au

On trend fashionista’s listen up – if you haven’t heard already, Otto Mode is a new emerging label crafting fashion-forward designs for the modest yet confident girl.

Drawing on inspiration from travel, high-end designers, music and everyday life, the label exudes a beautiful confidence and unmistakable coolness.

The scale, depth and quality of each collection continues to grow with each subsequent release.

“The Otto Mode girl is an on-trend fashionista who isn’t modest and oozes with confidence she is constantly updating her wardrobe with new pieces and mixing them back with vintage staples. Otto Mode creates range’s that are perfect for layering mixing prints, chiffons and knits.”

“Our goal is to create looks that can easily turn from office ensemble into a chic look for the Friday night after work cocktails or your Saturday high tea outfit into a savvy party look.”

View their winter Night Wanderer collection below. And be sure to come along to Streetlab from 14 & 15 August at the Australian Technology Park, where Otto Mode will reveal their Spring Industrialism collection.

For more information or to register visit, streetlab.com.au

Be sure to follow their cute blog too, ottomode.blogspot.com.au