Yo guy, fashion fans. This is MoVernie! How’s it going yo? Did you enjoy my first ever fashion video blog with designer Meghan Erin? If you like what you are seeing, keep on following. This week, we are showcasing our second episode of our fashion video blog with designer/singer-songwriter, Jay Manara and along with his crew at the Ryerson Fashion Show.

During the show, Jay got to get up the stage to share his stories to his success as a designer/singer, sharing his experiences with other up and coming designers who are chasing their dreams and goals. It was a very inspirational and motivational speech. He placed emphasis on being creative, continue to believe and chasing the dreams but at the same time, being able and willing to listen to feedback and constructive criticism to get better with the work and be able to listen and improve on the collection. Being able to balance the financial budget while carrying the passion for designing clothes are key. Designing is an important element but also being able to run the business with profit and being able to bring food to the table are also important in a day-to-day operation.

During the show, Jay also showcased his collection. In his collection, you will see a heavy influence of tattoo art and rock music culture. The brand is owned, operated and run by people who have lived and breathed the tattoo and rock music lifestyle for many years.
Rock Parlor believes in the individuality of people and design, and strives to deliver unique pieces that will make you want to rock (and I truly believe his collection is definitely make you rock!)

Until next time, MoVernie is outta here! Stay tuned for more fashion video blogs and be sure to check out FashionStyleBlog.com often.

Founded by Paul Budnitz in 2002, Kidrobot has quickly become the most sought after and well recognized designer of vinyl designer toys and apparel. Aside from having an easy to navigate online store, they have retail locations across New York, San Fransisco, Los Angeles, Miami Beach, and even a bar/lounge at Circa nightclub in Toronto.

By time he reached high school Paul Budnitz was already coding safety analysis software for nuclear power plants. On the side, he was creating video games for the Commodore 64. He later enrolled in Yale for photography, film, and sculpture. While still in college, he started his first business venture creating clothing for museums which eventually evolved to modifying Levi’s vintage clothing and popular sneakers.

Fast forward to 1997, he caught on to the latest technology at the time which were the MiniDiscs by Sony. He would hack MD players and sell them through his website Minidisco.com which was coded by himself and would eventually sell for $7 million in 2001.

With his new found wealth and perhaps sheer coincidence, he stumbled upon the art of edgy vinyl toys that were originating from Japan and China. He was able to identify these toys as a form of popular art and included the passions he enjoyed in life: music, fine arts, fashion, cartoons, and graffiti. By integrating all the elements that he loved in life, this became the framework for Kidrobot.

The most appealing aspect of Kidrobot’s toys have to do with the plethora of unique artists that they collaborate with. Artists from all walks of life have collaborated with Kidrobot. Here are some that stands out:

Huck Gee – Meet Shiro Kidninja the 7″ assassin

David Flores x Disney: Probably my favourite piece its Thumper from Bambi

Burton – A collection of ski jacket, pants, and snowboard

Amanda Visell – One of the most detailed pieces the Wooden Donkey Dunny

eBoy

Colette

Krink

Frank Kozik

Tarina Tarantino – Jewelery collection

Takashi Murakami – Prolific contemporary Japanese artist

Tado – Famed UK duo

Lacoste – An exclusive set of 3 shoes that is paired with a Kidrobot toy

Playboy – Miss November 1978

When you read up on Paul Budnitz’s accomplishments and his philosphy in the way he conducts business, you will be inspired by his words of wisdom. One of my favourite quotes is:

“The other secret is not to be afraid of doing something stupid because, if it wasn’t stupid, everyone would be doing it. Kidrobot is without a doubt the stupidest, riskiest thing I’ve ever done, which means it’ll probably be the most successful and most exciting.”

Paul’s willingness to take risk has paid off as Kidrobot has quickly become one of the most internationally recognized brand. Coined as the father of designer toys, Paul Budnitz has been able to launch his own apparel line with Swizz Beatz along with being inducted in the Museum of Modern Arts. No easy feat considering Kidrobot has only been around for 8 years. Kidrobot continues to push the envelope, refusing to settle with the status quo. They are able to create edgy designs with this mantra:

“Limited edition, for me, has to do with how big a risk we can take with a design. The riskier the design, the smaller the edition because then we have to please fewer people to sell the toy. What an awesome concept!”

I finally got a chance to meet the founders of one of labels I really admire. If you know anything about street culture in Canada you know Dom Rebel. These guys are the talk on the streets. Justin Svatina the Lead Designer for Dom Rebel of Montreal is a pure artist.

Dom Rebel’s success is different from the other brands who seem to make it because they copy what’s hot or have a celebrity friend put on the shirt. Dom Rebel’s success is based on artistic talent. In talking with Justin he’s in his own world not too concern about what’s out there or what others are doing. That is the true epiphany of a great artist that sets the trends not follow it.

Justin said he draws skulls just because he likes it. His skulls are not mad or angry like others. It’s just is. His skulls are poetic. It’s not a copy of the typical angry skull that you find on many (too many) shirts.

One thing you will also notice with the Dom Rebel collection is that all the shirts are consistent. One of the reason I started JUZD was that it is common for a collection to consist of different styles different designs with no coherent theme. The philosophy of clothing labels seems to be make as many designs as cheaply as you can and hope the consumers will bite on a few. Dom Rebel even goes a step further.

Each season is a different theme and different concept says Justin. And the designs are different for each season. He does not reuse any designs so once the season’s over you can’t get that shirt anymore. This season is “Fire in the Disco”, it is like the Devil’s playground says Justin. You will notice that the colours of the shirts are bright and fruity, contrast with the rebellious and aggressive designs, creates a very unique feel to the shirts.

The reason that Dom Rebel is so hot and why they would stay hot is that it’s truly about the art. Justin is a pure artist. In following Dom Rebel for over a year now and personally going through the same path as Justin I am very impressed at the amount of artistry in his designs especially being freshly introduced to silk screening only in 2003.

Justin Svatina (Head designer Dom Rebel), Jing Liu (Co-designer JUZD) – Terence Chung (Co-designer JUZD), Don Nguyen (Sales Marketing Dom Rebel)

Some of the shirts take 5 to 8 hours of labor (of love) to make. Yes! That’s on just one shirt. Even Don Nguyen, marketing and sales said he still sees it as doing something they love.

Each shirt is truly a piece of art. That’s why this label is on fire with stores carrying it all over the world. Check out the Dom Rebel Collection.