i LOVE these. i saw this image on design for mankind last week and i’ve been a little obsessed with the idea every since. i want to go find a bunch of sticks and paint them and display them around my apartment. it looks easy enough to do, right??
i wanted to share some photos of a really fun project two of our interns were working on today! walker, or visual display intern, and mallie, our creative team intern, were asked to transform a part of our office to make it look like a free people store!
here is the space earlier this morning:
and now, at the end of the day, this is what it looks like:
it looks great – i can’t believe they did all that in one day! nice work ladies!!
prior to opening our new store in costa mesa, ca, a couple of our display team members who work out on the west coast made a trip to the rose bowl flea market to pick up some props for the store. one of them shared her photos from the shopping excursion and i found myself practically drooling over the blankets, accessories and various little trinkets she found. philly needs a (monthly!!) flea market like this! i would be in heaven.
read more to see lots more photos!
this new series of posts on the blog will explore the world of our interns, brought to you by our concept intern anastasiya!
Here in the office we have a fresh group of interns who, like me, are coming down from the initial flutter of beginning work in Free People. They are settled into their different departments, busy honing projects and assimilating into the working culture. To give you a more thorough glimpse into the experience that is being a Free People intern, I will introduce a talented new intern every week and have them show and tell you a little bit of what they are working on.
Let’s now take a peek into the dazzling world of the Visual Display Department – meet Walker, the Visual Summer Intern!
What led you to intern for Free People?
I have always had a love affair with Free People clothing and when a family friend that works here saw my portfolio, she thought I would be a good fit for the visual display team. In February, I came to Philadelphia for the first time to interview and got the job!
What has been your favorite part of the experience so far?
It is hard to pick a favorite part because this whole experience has been so wonderful, but I would have to say it would be making the bike wheels and bike horns for the 5th avenue store in New York. I had a lot of freedom to play around with a wide variety of materials and color palettes and got to add my own spin on the summer display. It is also pretty awesome to see something I made in a Free People store!
What do you think is the most useful piece of knowledge that you have acquired in your time here?
I have learned so much about how visual display works but the most useful piece of knowledge is that people like to see variety. For example, if someone asks you to dye a piece of fabric green, dye ten pieces of fabric all different shades of green so they will have a large assortment to choose from.
What are you currently working on?
I just finished working with the visual display team on the Holiday 2010 prototypes which look splendid! There are so many fun elements that will transform the store into a winter wonderland.
Any words of advice to future interns?
Just be very positive and willing to work hard. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions because that it how you are going to get the most out of this experience. Oh, and have fun!
The fruit of Walker’s labor?
The bicycle wheels suspended from the ceiling of the 5th Avenue store in New York were so pretty!
when we posted photos of our new costa mesa, california, store the other day, you may have noticed these beautiful fabric-covered vases sitting on some of the shelves. i loved them so i did a little digging to find out how are display team made them…
our team used large aluminum vases cast in india – but you can pick up some large inexpensive flower pots at your local gardening shop.
next you need some pretty fabric. our team used antique turbans, bridal blouses and quilts they picked up over in india. check out vintage stores and flea markets for pretty vintage fabrics that work just as well :)
now all you need is some mod podge, which you can order online or get from an arts & crafts store. use the mod podge to coat the fabric so it stays on the vases. use the fabric however you want- i think it would look cool if you cut different fabrics into strips and collaged them onto the vase for a quilted effect!
our store in costa mesa, california, is now open! let’s take a look inside…
i love how they used these antique frames as display cases for jewelry! this would be fun to do at home, too!
all you’d need to do is cut some cork board, cover it in some fabric to look prettier, and frame it- then pin your jewelry inside!
pretty vintage pin cushions :) our team went to the rose bowl flea market in california to pick up some of the props for the new store.
doesn’t it look beautiful??
we appreciate all of your comments… i truly wish i could give each and every one of you a butterfly!
congratulations to our lucky winners, who were selected at random:
meghan h. from pennsylvania
kelly p. from alabama
liz r. from virginia
i will be sending your butterflies shortly :)
our 4th winner has been contacted but i have not heard back yet – please check your email and if it is you, please send me your address so i can mail the display piece! if i do not hear back by monday, a new winner will be selected.
thank you all so very much! and stay tuned… we hope to do many more giveaways like this in the future ;)
how timely…if you’re in the area, stop by space 15 twenty in los angeles and check out their americana pop-up that runs through the 4th of july! in addition to shopping americana themed goods like the ones pictured below, you can check out one-of-a-kind customized denim jackets on display from the levi’s archives (above).
ok this was outside building 543 but too cute not to post.
one of the blue bikes available to ride around during lunch or if we need a little break…
someone got some flowers… ;)
crabby flag!
a going away party for one of our fp boys!
he’s going to maine to live in a log cabin :)
fritz doesn’t want him to go :(
and here’s a look at the space where our visual display team works!
some pics from kris chau’s art opening last night in 543…it was awesome – if i had the money i’d buy every single thing on display!
there was office style…
sam wanted to be in the photo.
we voted for our favorite photos for the august catalog…
there was a birthday celebration for one of our visual display artists…
fritz looks up from his comfy bed…
this requires some explanation. we had a sample sale today (when employees can purchase old clothing samples) and sometimes they have leftover samples that they package into “mystery boxes” that we can then buy for $5 or $10. what you’re seeing is some mystery box styling!
…and an orange flag appeared in our lobby :) go flyers!!!
