From The Book Shelf: Debut

Recently picked up a book from the local Library that showcases a behind-the-scenes look at Saint Laurent's first year (1962) as an independent designer featuring outstanding photographs by Life photographer Pierre Boulat. The book is called "Debut: Yves Saint Laurent 1962"
Here are a few of my favorite images found within the pages.

I am a big fan of behind-the-scenes. I really enjoy seeing how different folks go about doing what they do. I also quite enjoy seeing the creative process, particularly when it involves sketches.

Well back to it...
Hope your week is a good one and the weekend even better.

Cheers &
Stuff,
'MrRay'
>>>--'Keep On Crow'N--->

From The Archives: Graphics & Labels

It has been quite some time since putting words down here at REDCROW blogspot... Unfortunately  the projects as of late have been few and far between since last November but the itch is there and it is need'n to be scratched. The sketch book is full so it is high time to get  a build'n! Lot's of goods are in the works for some very near future funtimes. As always will get to a sharing as the projects begin to take shape.

As for now, I recently had the great fortune of taking time out of the regular schedule and hit up a few spots to dig and gather, something I need to do more often.

Here are a few images for your viewing pleasure. Sticking with a focus on the details, mostly graphics and inner neck labels.

Here are a few random assortment of various graphics and packageing.

Also, upon one outing I come upon this beauty of a cover-all!

Big fan of the chain stitch embroidery.

Well a time it is a waist'n so...
Back to it!

Cheers &
Stuff,
'MrRay'
>>>--'Keep On Crow'N--->

Button Options

A collections of buttons that caught my fancy a while back while digging through my collection of old buttons that have been picked up over the years...
Wood, Metal, Coconut, Shell, Plastic, and Bone.
A little self portrait in pen and ink for sum fun.

Hope your week is going in the right direction and that your projects are coming together.
Back to it...
>>>--"Keep On Crow'N--->
Cheers,
'MrRay'

People You Should Know: Denim Geek

If you have noticed I have not been doing much posting as of late as I have been up to my neck in way to much goings on, from trying to get a new brand off the ground for the 9-5 to family travels and summertime adventures. Well, I have said it before, and will more than likely say it again; this intro-net thing is pretty darn neat. Anything and everything is right at your fingertips … and instantly. But more than that is the amazing opportunity to connect with like-minded folks that are oceans way from where you currently call home…   I Recently had the opportunity take advantage of such wonders and sit down with the ‘ol wi-fi and spend a few moments over a couple of days doing a little back and forth via the Email and have a chat with the fine folks that run the show over at denimgeek.com, Andrew & Liam…. What? You are not aware of Denim Geek?.... Oh you already are a fan of their blog and shop but want to know more about the minds that power this thing, well aether way you’re in luck. Sit back and enjoy a little Q&A…. and don't forget to click on what makes blogs and the intro-net so darn awesome, all the links ;-)

..........................................................................

Who are you and what do you do?

Andrew : Liam Winn and Andrew Booth, we both run the blog and store at Denim Geek.

Where did you grow up?

Liam : We are both from Sunderland, in the North East of England.

When did you start "Geeking" out on apparel and Denim? Or better yet, why?

A:  I’ve worked in fashion since 2000 so through the years my interest and curiosity has evolved with the trends.  With such easy access I’ve always ended up spending most of my wages on clothes.
L: I’ve always had a keen interest in all forms of design including fashion.  I tend to like things that have a back story and enjoy understanding how things are made, so heritage denim brands are perfect.

What is it about denim that you love so much?

A: Denim has always appealed to me, because unlike any other item of clothing they actually get better with age and wear.

L: I guess I fell in love the moment I bought my first pair of raw denim.  The build quality, handle and atheistic all blew me away.  The individual aspect also appeals to me; two pairs of the same jeans owned by two people can look completely different after a few months of wear.

Native Inspo.

A while back I had picked up an interesting photo book from the local Library and scanned a few amazing images, unfortunately I do not remember the title of the book or who it was that shot them but I wanted to share. When you get a moment click on each image to get a bigger size and better detail. You need to take a closer look and get inspired! What am I talking about? Well first off when growing up playing with the neighborhood kids we would play "cowboys & Indians" I would always be the Native. When I got into high school I still had a great interest in Native history and culture and would spend time building native crafts or going to Pow-wows in the summertime. But what is so awesome about these images? I just love the way that the Native Americans took the White mans apparel and made it their own. I do not glorify their situation, being that these photos were taken during the early days of the reservations, but I find such inspiration in their use of what they have received, ether by trade or by supply, and infused it into their established style. 

Take a close look at the bead work on the man's blanket!!

Great Plaids!

What out there gets you excited about style, art, or life? What about when you were a kid? Has it changed? Why?......

"Keep on keep'n on"
Cheers.

R/Co. Archive: German Military Jacket.

I got my hands on this jacket and shot it, oh wow, must have been over 6 months ago... So I am a little slow on things sometimes.... Anyway I do not know much about it since it is German Swiss. A few things I know is that it was picked up in Germany at a surplus shop it is a heavy wool outer with twill pocketing and lining. Oh and that it is a really, really, awesome piece. Below I have provided a nice collection of images that I shot of all of the details. Enjoy.

If anyone knows anything about this jacket please let us know in the comments. Thanks.
*Update*
Thanks to all of you who send in comments about the jacket and gave me more insight into it and it's origins.   

"Keep 'Em Flying"
Cheers.

R/Co. Project: Piston Tee.

 Huh, summer sure did come and go...
Been super super busy with all sorts of projects and recent travels including a quick jot down south to the 'ol home town of LA. ( more on that later) So needles to say I am way behind on sharing all the goods that have been built over the last few months. Such as this here tee...

At the beginning of summer built this graphic tee. All hand cut from stencils and hand sprayed to apply the ol' grafx.... Fun times.

A little detail of the back graphic.

If anyone out there is interested in one hit me up and I will pass it along.

So what have you been up to?

Cheers!

R/Co. Finds: NAVY Garb

A few months back hit up the local surplus joint and came away with some navy shirting...
Interestingly enough this shirt has a really good fit.

For some reason I have been super stoked on this shirt. 

Not sure how to exactly pull it off for daily wear by not looking to "costume" like... I guess you just rock with confidence and that is that.

Not really sure where this shirt ended up, still unpacking boxes and trying to find things..... So back to it.

Cheers.

R/Co. Project: Wood Block Printing

 Time is fast approaching for the runway show so instead of packing snuck in a late night fabric printing test run with the compleated wood block.

The collection of goods that I am planning to send down the runway involves headwear that is built from a nice washed out navy canvas so I want the print to match back to that color. I do not have navy ink so did it the old fashioned way and just mix it up by hand.

 Got out some fabric screen printing ink that I have been meaning to use, eye balled it and went for it. A little blue, a dollop of black, a touch of red, some more blue and a touch more black and.... looks good to me (for some reason color theory dose not click in my head but if I just mess with it for a bit it somehow works out)

The hardest part about block printing fabric is getting a nice transfer onto the fabric. Smaller blocks seam to do better but that is not what we are going for here so...

Laid out some ink onto a large plate glass and rolled the brayer through it and gave the block a nice good coat of ink.

R/Co. Project: Shawl Fleece.

 In most of this good 'ol USA it is rost'n and toast'n so a cold weather piece is not something on the mind, but the cold will be upon us again soon so a short while back decided to built a poly cotton jersey fleece shawl neck with a chest pocket and two side seam pockets (can't stand when fleece does not have hand pockets) for when that chill comes creeping back. Also used some hand carved wooden toggle and button that I built out of a wood dowel that was laying around. The Fit turned out a little slimmer than I would like but for a first go I think it's not to shabby. Helped REDCROW be one of winners of this years Seattle Magazine's  Seamless in Seattle design competition.

 More details when you...

R/Co Project: Trouser Bag.

When I finally get around to building things, plan on put'n the ol' trousers in a nice bag for folks.

R/Co. Project: Littlecrow for Thaw

Been invited to participate with the littlecrow collection in the thaw collective indie kids fashion show on july 10th.... Have not spent a lot of time working on Littlecrow since moving to the P.N.W. so it is really exciting to be getting back into exploring what fun things can be built for the 'lil ones.
It is so much fun seeing how random ideas slowly, or in this case... quickly, fall together to form a cohesive collection and looks.

Been staying up way to late building new patterns for the collection. Can't wait to see how much I can put together for the show.
If your in town on July 10th spend a little $, get a ticket for you and your family drop in for some fun and support a great cause, HDSA.

Back to the chop chop...

Cheers.