Wearable Art Blog

Shibori Textile Bags by Yuh Okano

I don't usually feature the work of an artist more than once. But I will break my rule by showing these bags by textile artisan Yuh Okano. I've feature Okano's scarves on the Wearable Art Blog before, but not her bags - so, here they are.

  
Yuh Okano is known for her shibori textile scarves. Now, she's taking hand made shibori fabric and making bags out of it. Shibori is a Japanese method of binding and dyeing cloth. Each of these bags is produced in small batches.

 
The polka dot bags are made of silk organza that can be ordered in a number of color combinations. The bag below has big, soft, resin dots. 

 
Okano's handsome work has been featured in galleries and museums, including the Museum of Modern Art and the Kobe Fashion Museum. I'm sure that her growing up in one of the most important Japanese textile regions has inspired and informed her work with shibori.

 

Aren't these patterns and styles fun? The quality of the craftsmanship is terrific, too.

 

You can see more of Okano's bags and scarves at the Artful Home. 

Cuffs by Dannijo

Dannijo jewelry was founded by sisters Danielle and Jodie Snyder in 2008. The self-taught artists, who began making jewelry as young girls, decided to stay with it after college, moving to New York and starting their hand-made jewelry business featuring Swarovski elements for pizzazz.
 
 
The sisters (who look like twins) create earrings, necklaces, and rings but it's their fat cuffs that make the loudest statement. The cuff below is made wtih oxidized brass plated with Swarovski stones.

 
 
Each of these pieces makes me think of ancient African tribal designs with a touch of cool modern glitz. The cuff below features a glittered resin stone in the middle. 

 

The sisters have earned great press, having been featured on the Today Show and ELLE Magazine.  They even made Inc. Magazine's "30 under 30" list.

 

 
The sisters brag that many celebs like Britney, Beyoncé, and the blogger The Man Repeller (a.k.a., Leandra Medine) wear their designs. The pieces make a statement, which is a big part of their allure for me.

  

 
 
 
Big, bold, brash. Want to see more? Go to Dannijo.

Bernhard Stimpfl-Abele

Think bread and potatoes are just for eating? Think again.

Bernhard Stimpfl-Abele specializes in “Organic Metal“, which is "about the old, the new and the ambivalence in between. I want to preserve, or possibly conserve, a snapshot of the aging process and a specific moment in the life/death of organic materials like mostly bread or bread dough."

Even though this conceptual work may not be pretty in the classical sense, it's interesting nonetheless. The brooch below is made from formed bread and copper, silver, 22 carat gold and water.

 

Abele, who has studied jewelry and metalsmsithing throughout Europe, is originally from Austria and now lives and works in Stockholm, Sweden.

The pendant, below, is made from water-formed potato and oxidized silver and orange pigment.

  

These pieces are so sculptural with rich texture and unexpected color. You'd never know that organic material lies at the heart of these pieces. I don't necessarily think that 'decay' is the right way to describe this work; maybe 'natural' or 'organic' says it better.

I realize that I showed some decay themed jewerly last week, too. It must be the end of summer or something like that.

The striking brooch, below, is made from electro-formed bread and silver.

 
The gold brooch is made from water-formed potato and copper.

 
 
 
 
Abele received a Cominelli Foundation Award in 2011 in support of contemporary jewelry. His work is now on display at the Palazzo Cominelli, in Brescia, Italy until October 2, 2011, along with the other 2011 winners.

You can see more of his work at Alternatives Gallery or at abele.com.

 

B. Felt Wearable Art

Now that the temperatures outside are slowly dropping, it's time to think warm clothing. Like felt. To make sure you build in some color with warmth, I'm pleased to show the work of a relatively new felt artist, Barbara Poole, who started B. Felt in 2009.

Poole has a background in fine art and worked as a figurative painter before starting B.Felt. Once she tried felting, she fell in love with the flexibility and creativity it offers and is now focusing her energies on building her business creating felt wearable art clothing, including hats, long gloves, coats, and wraps.

 

Poole uses a combination of felting techniques to create the wide range of textures and patterns you see here. She even uses hand stitching and beading to add even more pizzazz.
 
  

The wrap below is striking not only because of the contrast created by use of black, red, and white but also because the cut out holes reflect the textured holes in the pattern.

 

Poole also makes what she calls "Personal Item Carriers" like the sculptural bag with layers and textured straps, below.

 
 

Poole's creations are painterly, combining gorgeous colors, textures, and patterns. Her fine art background really shines through.

You can see more of Poole's wearable art at the Paridise City Arts Festival in Northampton (MA) from October 8-10 or at B.Felt.com.

 

Ruffeo Hearts Lil’ Snotty

How about some irreverent, colorful, and totally fun unisex fashion?

RHLS (which stands for ‘Ruffeo Hearts Lil’ Snotty’) is a funky, eco-friendly NYC clothing label. Founded in 2005 by Macks(well) and Sarah and based in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, RHLS creates handmade clothing with a small team of what they call 'seamsters.'

 
RHLS creates their line of clothing from 'dead stock' designer sweatshirt fleece or salvaged sweatshirts, which allows them to minimize waste and their carbon footprint.

 

RHLS specializes in colorful 'geometric inlay,' which distinguishes all the pieces you see here. The 'Press Yr Luck, Cry Yr Eyes LONG Crew' (above) is made out of brown sweatshirt fleece, inlay out of dead stock sweatshirt fleece and vintage sweatshirts. Aren't the geometric patterns terrific?

RHLS describes their fall collection as a combination of "comfort and elegance into couture sleeping bag street-fighter filthy." Matching leggings, bodysuit or quad tanks/t-shirts are made to complete all outfits for a painterly unified look.

The Quadrocepticon Poncho (below) is made from black french terry with vinyl inlays.

  

It's hard not to like this clothing that looks so incredibly comfortable and the irreverance that goes along with it.

You can see more at RHLS.com or shop online at Ruffeo Hearts Lil’ Snotty’ Etsy Shop. Or, you can visit their Brooklyn store at at 214 Frankin Street (open wed-sun 1pm-9pm).

I discovered RHLS on Not Just a Label.