Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Taz Arnold Interview in YRB mag
Taz Manian Rebel
by Regine Zamor
Photography by Jeff Forney
His mama and Kanye share the same birthday, he’s the father to two young boys and a Cancer who couldn’t give a shit about fashion. “My job is to destroy people with creativity and style, which actually doesn’t destroy but inspires them. That’s my job.” One third of the music collective Sa-Ra Creative Partners, Taz Arnold has been unfashionable for some time now. “It’s not that deep,” the South Central LA native casually emits with a cool West Coast tone. “I’m into style and art. I’m a creative person, and I’m into the science of what creativity is.”
So, who is Taz Arnold? “One of the most famous ‘boosters’ of Polo since the ‘80s, since I was a kid in high school. I’m known in New York, Detroit, Florida, Dallas, and I’m known from ‘boosting’ clothes for my collection. That’s how people know me. I was always beyond being interested in fashion.”
And then there’s a kind of honesty about him that you can relate to - the other side of Taz. “I was given half a tab of LSD when I was 3-years-old, but I grew up my whole life never drinking alcohol or doing drugs until like three years ago. I think that’s the reason: to start my life with an open mind.”
Whether he’s rocking black wings, leopard pants, cowboy boots or eight Gucci belts, Taz Arnold has had an open mind since way back. That open mind has manifested into Sa-Ra Creative Partners and, more recently, into his clothing line TISA Vision. Digesting a new level of creativity with the TISA brand, Arnold now has a platform where he is part designer and part consultant, sharing his philosophy and art with the likes of MCM, Pastelle (Kanye West’s upcoming line) and others.
It wouldn’t be just to label Taz as a fashion head. In fact, it would be the biggest lie we could tell you and a misrepresentation of the man. Instead, swallow the fact that Taz is a seeker, maybe even a seer, who was raised with pyramids and rainbows in his home, five minutes away from the beach. Among the infamous gang wars in South Central, Arnold grew up in the belly of LA’s style wars. “The majority of the people who lived in LA while I was a kid growing up dressed how I dress right now. That’s a part of LA’s culture that has never been exposed.” Taz continues in his style battles with a new angle: he’s claiming the rainbow and “officially taking it back.”
“A rainbow and color is natural and has nothing to do with someone’s sexual preference. It’s fucking ridiculous. The rainbow is for gay people, straight people, people who don’t have sex, kids, animals, everything.” If you’ve seen photos of Taz, you know that anything goes, and lack of color is not an option. “A guy won’t wear shorts above his knees because he’s scared of what people think. Like who the fuck dresses for other people? Why are you spending all this money so that you can look like somebody else?” Puzzled and passionate, Arnold settles for a minute to regain his composure and then softly stakes his claim. “The main thing is this - I’m taking the rainbow back.”
A look at his collection and it’s clear that Taz is serious. Rihanna and other celebrities have been sporting the colorful molded plastic knuckle rings, so by way of TISA, Hollywood chicks are now wearing “Love” across their fingers. An idea that sat in his mind for five years, the brand has allowed Arnold to introduce a range of products.
“I’m a person who will be bringing new things in the form of products; it’s not just clothes and apparel.” With TISA, like Taz, it’s more of a concept - one that equates to freedom and simply not giving a damn. “I don’t care about this fashion shit. I dress how I dress because that’s what I do. If you need my advice, or if you want to hire me to consult or utilize the TISA platform than let’s do business.” And fashion heads have been quick to tap into Arnold’s creative eye, including Phenomenon, (a brand that’s just starting to catch on that Arnold describes as “very dope”), another collection with MCM coming out for spring and summer and, as mentioned before, the much anticipated Pastelle line.
For More On This Feature Purchase Issue #92
Monday, June 29, 2009
Kanye West x Louis Vuitton Interview
As the Kanye West x Louis Vuitton footwear release date approaches, insights into various facets of Kanye West’s life are revealed. Topics include actual work designing the sneakers to his own personal thoughts on fashion, music and his personal life. The whole interview can be seen here but a selection of the most interesting answers can be seen below.
LV COLLABORATION
How did your collaboration with Louis Vuitton come about?
I already knew and looked up to Marc Jacobs. Then Louis Vuitton called me and said they had this idea for me to do shoes. I was really excited about the opportunity. I don’t know if they quite knew what they were getting into asking me to help create something!
How did you work with the teams from Louis Vuitton?
We’d fly out there. They’d have ideas. I’d have ideas and I’d start sketching. I just sketched every idea in my head, women’s, men’s, everything. In the end Louis Vuitton had to narrow it down because I had SO many ideas that I wanted to get out.
What was your image of Louis Vuitton before you became so closely involved with the company, and have your impressions evolved in any way as a result of the collaboration?
They’ve always been my favourite aspirational brand from the day I bought my first wallet. Actually I used to dream of being able to buy their trunks and put them round my house.
Why sneakers? (I know you are supposed to own at least 400 pairs)
Because they’re a great entry point for people who can’t afford the trunk, you know. Also, sneakers, I think, are a way of displaying where you are mentally.
What was your inspiration for this collection?
I was inspired a lot by the movie Dune—remember those big padded collars they wore? Well I did that padded look as a flap at the back.….
And what socks would you wear with those?
Well, that’s interesting. I wanted to make a tube sock with an LV patch on the side to go with them.
STYLE AND FASHION
Who is an exception to that rule?
The singer, Rihanna, who is 21. She’s kind of like a genius because regardless of how many stylists she has, I know she does it on her own. That’s an innate talent, having style like that. It’s kind of like the way people play sport, some people just hit the shoots into the net better. Yeah. Fashion is a sport in a way.
Are you a fashion genius?
I don’t think I’ve reached genius level yet. It’s good. But its not good enough for me. I want to be better.
Who are your fashion icons?
Michael Jackson is the best dressed person of all time. Not today, I can’t say that, but in his hey day. When he was wearing all those jackets covered in Swarovski crystals. And then all those leather jackets and Mickey Mouse t-shirts and those tailored pants and penny loafers. Michael Jackson, he was for real.
What is your favourite item in your wardrobe?
My vintage Levi’s jeans jacket. It’s the perfect, perfect jacket. Someone told me it was really, really good because it’s got the big ‘E’ on the label, which means it’s from a certain year.
What do you think is different about French and American attitudes to fashion?
Well, I notice if you’re in the ‘hood’ in Paris, you dress in a hoodie like they do back home. I love that, that the look is straight out of America. Because it wasn’t always thatway.
MUSIC
How do you find the ideas for your music?
I get inspired by concepts, theories, philosophies.
Give me an example.
The saying ‘What Does Not Kill Me Makes Me Stronger’ was an inspiration for the song
Stronger.
If you hadn’t been a successful Music artist, what would you have liked to be?
An author, maybe. Although I have already written a book.
Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
Me! Meaning my mistakes, I’ve learnt so much from them!
PERSONAL
How would you describe the experience of Paris / France?
Y’know, when I first went to Paris I used to HATE it. Now it’s one of my favourite cities in the world. I compare Paris to a girl that you meet at a bar who is very rude to you, who you end up falling in love with.
What do you like most about the city?
I like the heritage, the attitude. The vibe I get from Parisiens is highly educated, highly cultured and very impatient. And I’m into that. Paris forces you to step up your game. It forces you NOT to be ignorant about things.
How do you take criticism? There are plenty of people, I notice, who like to criticize you on your blog, kanyewestunivercity.com.
Well, you have to figure out why people say those things. Like, were they having a bad day or something? Actually, I think it’s kind of fabulous, people saying stuff like Kanye, you’re a faggot, or Kanye, he doesn’t take himself too seriously. That’s a great blog comment! Because of course I’m taking myself WAY too seriously.
Still. What’s it like being such a fashion icon? Kids of eleven want to dress like you…
Well, you do have this ability, when you are famous, to set trends just by being photographed and that’s really not fair. I shouldn’t get any more credit than the next person for, say, bringing back those Linda Farrow flying shades, I just happened to be wearing the aviators that to me were the most ‘normal’. That doesn’t make me a fashion icon though. People who have TERRIBLE style have the ability to set trends.
How do you deal with your fame?
I deal with it by realizing I’m kind of confined in my walking TV show. Sometimes I feel like I’m an animal at the zoo, with everybody the other side of the glass wanting to see the monkey overreact. It’s a little like being in a cell, but what’s good about living in a cell is I have cellmates. Jay-Z, he’s definitely in my cellblock.
What are your goals, then?
If it’s the last thing I do, I want to drop all the bravado that most urban rap artists carry. I want to make new good stuff and not brag about it. Just to do it. One of the other things I’m going to do is to take my next fee—I charge at least $100,000 a verse—and donate it to my charity (the Dr Donda West foundation he started up with his late mother to combat high school drop out rates).
In what aspect do you consider yourself Number One?
Actually, I don’t think I’m number one at anything…except for learning.
So the ability to learn is excellence for you?
I think so. You can never stop learning. Like my grandfather who is 90 and just took a painting class.
Kanye West x Louis Vuitton 2009 Spring/Summer Collection Photoshoot by La MJC
One of Paris’ most well-known cultural drivers, La MJC recently put together a stellar photo and styling shoot involving all the models of Kanye West’s upcoming sneaker collection with Louis Vuitton. The imagery goes a long way in terms of presenting the sneakers in the proper context as well as giving us real-world looks at the models which include The Don, The Jasper, The Mr Hudson. Many more pics can also be seen at La MJC’s Cool Cats blog.
Photography : Amaury Choay pour La MJC
Production: La MJC
Thanks: Yannick, Simon, Nordine, Nicolas, Juliana.
Picasso: Drawing With Light
Back in 1949, LIFE magazine photographer Gjon Mili visited artist Picasso. Having shown one of the greatest talents of all-time the art of light painting and drawing, this immediately piqued the interest of the artist who subsequently did his own little rendition.
Yonehara Yasumasa Tokyo Armour Exhibition
Japanese photographer Yonehara Yasumasa recently continued on with his trademark photographic style as he invaded Taiwan’s Greyone Arsenal. On hand were a series of small-scale candid photographs each assembled in order and displayed via plastic casings. Having become well-known in Japan, Yone has quickly developed himself in various parts of Asia as he sees few rivals in his approach to sexuality and execution.
Yonehara Yasumasa Tokyo Armour Exhibition
Greyone Arsenal
1F, #9, Alley 35
Lane 181, Chung Hsiao East Road, Section 4
Taipei, Taiwan
Photography: IVEET
Bearnie Madoffgets 150 years
FILE - In this March 10, 2009 file photo, Bernard Madoff exits Manhattan federal court in New York. Madoff will get one last creature comfort before he is sentenced Monday,June 29, 2009 probably to serve out the rest of his days in prison. The judge has given him permission to don his own clothes for the hearing, rather than a jail uniform. (AP Photo/Louis Lanzano, File)
NEW YORK — Bernard Madoff has apologized to his family and to the victims of his multibillion-dollar fraud scheme.
The 71-year-old financier said Monday at his sentencing that he "will live with this pain, this torment, for the rest of my life."
Madoff says that he dug himself "deeper into a hole" as the scheme progressed.
Attorney Ira Sorkin says the 150 years in prison recommended by prosecutors or the 50 years recommended by the federal probation department are excessive.
Victims who lost millions of dollars earlier urged a stiff sentence for the former Nasdaq stock market chairman.
Madoff has pleaded guilty to securities fraud and other charges in March and has been jailed ever since.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
NEW YORK (AP) _ Bernard Madoff has apologized to his family and to the victims of his multibillion-dollar fraud scheme.
The 71-year-old financier said Monday at his sentencing that he "will live with this pain, this torment, for the rest of my life."
Attorney Ira Sorkin says the 150 years in prison recommended by prosecutors or the 50 years recommended by the federal probation department are excessive.
Victims who lost millions of dollars earlier urged a stiff sentence for the former Nasdaq stock market chairman.
Madoff has pleaded guilty to securities fraud and other charges in March and has been jailed ever since.
J5
Michael Jackson with The Jackson 5 on Soul Train "I Want You Back"
Jackson Five - ABC
BEN
DAncin machine
ive seen a couple videos of this song being performed but this shit is dope
This is dope its just vids of mike doin the robot
CAn you feel it can you feel it. this shit is dope
Jackson Five - ABC
BEN
DAncin machine
ive seen a couple videos of this song being performed but this shit is dope
This is dope its just vids of mike doin the robot
CAn you feel it can you feel it. this shit is dope
.jpg)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
