January 30, 2008
last day!
Today is the last day to sign up for our Valentine craft swap!
January 29, 2008
shoe wall detail
We received a lot of comments about the wall of shoes behind the "twins" so I thought we'd give you a closer look. These are just old shoes from thrift shops attacked by our display team with glitter and craft supplies.
January 28, 2008
learning to love you more
Learning to Love You More is a project by artists Miranda July and Harrell Fletcher. I had heard of the project before, but never really knew what it was about until this weekend. Miranda and Harrell have created this list of assignments intended to guide people toward their own experiences. In the book version of the collections, they talked about how, as artists, your life is all about creating. These artists realized that it was precisely in the moments of letting those thoughts of creation go, that they truly had these meaningful experiences.
The other thing I like about this project, is that so many of the assignments relate to childhood. We wouldn't need these kinds of assignments as children, because we thought of this kind of stuff all the time and were just free to do it. As adults I think we forget that we have that freedom. So here are a few of my favorite assignments. Check out the website and the book, and do some of the assignments on your own.
10. Make a flier of your day.
15. Hang a windchime on a tree in a parking lot.
27. Take a picture of the sun.
33. Braid someone's hair.
39. Take a picture of your parents kissing.
January 25, 2008
twins
There were a bunch of people in the home office yesterday that were wearing very similar outfits. Everybody found their twin and posed for a little photoshoot.
bigfoot
I spotted these Valentine BigFoot pins on Tokyo Bunnie and had to share. You can buy them on etsy from PearsonMaron. Here's some of the description from their shop...
Now Bigfoot can be sighted whenever you please.
Inspired by The Patterson/Gimlin Bigfoot sighting film from 1967.
Your monsters will come packaged ready for gift giving.
I love them.
January 24, 2008
wallpaper download
Our graphic designers have put together some wallpapers you can download for your desktop. This is the first one, vintage papers, and I'll post a new one about every other week. They will all be saved in a flickr group so you can access older ones as well. (right now there is just this one)
Enjoy! Download from flickr here.
January 23, 2008
valentine craft swap!!!
It's the anniversary of our first ever Free People craft swap! Valentine craft swap 2008 starts now.
For those of you who have not swapped before, here's how it works...
You sign up to swap and are sure to give me you correct mailing address and email. I hook you up with another swapper anywhere in the world (or just in the US if you prefer). I email you all of your partner's information. You have a few weeks to make your partner absolutely anything you want based on the theme of Valentine's Day. Then you mail your gift to your partner, and they mail you one in return. And everyone has a happy Valentine's Day!
Sign up for the swap here. It will be fuuun. Sign up deadline is Wednesday January 30th.
Check out last year's photos here. You can view all of the photos if you sign in to flickr. Only a handful of them appear if you are not signed in...
January 22, 2008
exreverie
Just wanted to show some love for a local philly band and their fp lovin singer. Exreverie is playing a show on February 2nd at the Tin Angel in Philly, to celebrate the release of their new record. Check out their website and myspace...
January 18, 2008
we the free
Natalie commented on the January catalog post asking what the deal is with the We the Free product featured in the new book. We the Free knit line is an eclectic collection of tops, t-shirts, and heavy weight styles that features relaxed fits, superior fabric quality and washes, and thoughtful artwork. We the Free offers a rare combination of the newest print techniques pared with both classic and edgy graphics, applique, hand embroidery, and rugged trimmings. We hope this collection will charm you with its special details and unique sensibility.
Basically, this is a new line of high end knits with amazing fabrics, art, dye and print techniques. The aesthetic is a little bit more tough and boy inspired. So what do you think???
See all We the Free product here
January 17, 2008
dr. martens
For those of you too young to have missed any of the previous waves of popularity of Dr. Martens, I suggest you check out their website for the complete history. I find it really fascinating in terms of fashion history, tribes, expression, etc. The history as written on their website is really cool, relating the brand to all kinds of cultural references and technology, bringing us back into today and what self expression is.
In any case, it's interesting reading. Free People has the original 1460 boot in navy.
January 15, 2008
trans display
Wondering what the display looks like after the new year? Trans is the term we use for the short periods between major seasons, like a transition. So right now we are in between holiday and spring. You have to catch this display in the stores quick! It's only up for a few weeks. Don't you love the hammock??
Our creative director for the display team saw these plastic hanging cane baskets at an airport gift shop in Hong Kong and loved them. So she placed a large order to have shipped to the US. Each basket came with a little cookie inside. Free People had no use for the cookies, and it would have been a nightmare to get them through customs, so we had it arranged that the cookies be donated to an elderly folks home in Hong Kong.
January 14, 2008
january catalog
Our January catalog drops today! The collection was inspired by Spain and we shot it in Mexico. It was shot in 2 locations near merida, mexico...
The first was a restaurant owned by a lebanese man who’s lived in and ran
the same restaurant for over 40 years...the second was a hacienda refurbished by our production scout and her husband, which is out in the countryside...complete with horses, dogs, chickens, baby boars (and an unexpected tarantula)!
Check it out online and watch the behind the scenes video... The music is a song called "Rector Street" by Levy.
January 11, 2008
cardboard carpets
Discovered these beautiful printed cardboard "carpets" over on Bloesem. Designer Wendy Plomp titled them "message in a box". Here is a description from Louise Schouwenberg of Domus magazine.
Cardboard is probably the cheapest industrial packaging material available on the market. Any image that is printed onto this typically throwaway material can turn into a streetwise design object; something that can have a glorious second life if left to the street where it can be spontaneously employed in new applications.
For instance, it could be reborn as a disposable carpet that could instantly provide you with a clean space wherever you are, almost like a home.
To prolong the lifespan and usefulness of boxes, informative messages or ornate arabesque patterns reminiscent of precious carpets could be printed on the inside surfaces. An example could be the food parcels dropped in disaster areas; this unexploited space could be used to provide valuable information which, especially in those conditions, might be enormously helpful.
January 9, 2008
love stories
Camille from Kissing Knees Craft wants to invite all you creative fp girls to participate in a project she's putting together. Share you love stories. Ya gotta love something! check out her blog for the info...
new york photos
I know we never posted the photos from our newest, largest store in New York City, so here you go!
January 8, 2008
sales samples!
Today the Free People design team received the sales samples for the end of summer and fall. This is the first time the designers see their creations as they will look when you see them at the store. This is after a long process of hand made samples, drawings, fittings and revisions. Still ahead there will be meetings with even more revisions and changes to get down to the most amazing pieces for the final line. Hope you like them just as much as our designers do when they hit the stores!
January 4, 2008
folkloric tin
I spotted Melanie Tomlinson's work on designers block. She does these incredible printed tin tableaux. Check out her explanation of her work, and read more on craft2eu...
Running through my work like threads, are themes from folklore. These allow me to step into another world, to explore the world of the unfamiliar and transform its stories and symbols. The themes and messages in folktales transcend time and culture and are still relevant to our own experiences.
Some of the tableaux are automated with the movement hidden inside the piece and some are static. I like the element of surprise that happens when you discover a small handle, that when turned brings the piece to life. Many of the tableaux sit on top of a box which has a printed interior. The boxes are not obvious at first, but when discovered, can become secret hiding places for personal artefacts.
January 2, 2008
lace back cami
I was looking through what's new on freepeople.com and realized this cami reminds me of the doily chair from the last post! The idea of combining something with such history and delicacy and intricacy like this beautiful lace or a crocheted doily and combining it with something completely simple and modern, like a simple ribbed tank (or walnut chair). Check out the fp lace back cami in more colors...