BRAND BUZZ : LOUIS VUITTON AND THE ICONOCLASTS

The Louis Vuitton brand and its LV monogram are among the world's most valuable of its kind. In fact, it is the world's 29th most recognized and valuable brand. It's no wonder that the brand carries instant status power for those who wear it. Perhaps that helps explain why it is one of the most counterfeited brands in the world. Ironically, the signature monogram design was actually created to prevent counterfeit. (References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Vuitton#cite_)

As a part of their 160th anniversary celebration the house of LV has launched a brilliant collection and campaign enlisting some of the world's most skilled designers including: Karl Lagerfeld, Frank Gehry, Marc Newson, Rei Kawakubo, Cindy Sherman and Christian Louboutin. The ICONOCLASTS were asked to create original interpretations utilizing the iconic Louis Vuitton monogram design. The campaign includes behind-the-scenes videos showing the designers at work and a series of photo stories of their final pieces interpreted by 6 photographers. 

The Iconoclasts

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN FOR LOUIS VUITTON 

Legendary French shoe designer that created the iconic "red bottom" concept.

KARL LAGERFELD FOR LOUIS VUITTON

German fashion designer and iconic artist

most commonly known as the head creative director of Chanel.

CINDY SHERMAN FOR LOUIS VUITTON

Cindy Sherman is an American photographer and film maker who 

is known for selling the most expensive photograph ever.

FRANK GEHRY FOR LOUIS VUITTON

Canadian-American architect known for creating some of the most

important modern architectural works of all time.

MARC NEWSON FOR LOUIS VUITTON

Legendary industrial designer 

REI KAWAKUBO FOR LOUIS VUITTON

Japanese fashion designer, founder of Comme des Garçons.

We recently spotted the collection at Bal Harbour Shoppes in Miami. Limited styles and quantities will be available throughout the world for the same price of a down-payment for a mid-sized home. If that's too rich for your blood, you can humor yourself by getting a glimpse of them (and perhaps even touch) at a local luxury department store (like Neimans, Saks or a flagship LV store) as if you were going to a museum… its worth the effort.  #CertifiedCOOL

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SHOP THE EDIT: LOUIS VUITTON

FASHION FILES : LOVED ONES

Credit: NIKE

Credit: NIKE

Credit: NIKE

Credit: NIKE

Credit: NIKE

Credit: NIKE

Credit: NIKE

Terrance is a collector of Jordan 1's so its only right that we feature one the coolest Jordan releases this year. Jordan Brand has officially unveiled the New 2013 YOTS collection. The "Year of the Snake" pack is scheduled to hit stores on February 2nd. Check here for availability on Feb 2.

NIKE description: In celebration of 2013 as the Year of the Snake on the Chinese lunar calendar, the Jordan Brand will introduce the YOTS collection that will be available at retail on February 2. The pack includes both a MELO M9 and an Air Jordan 1 High for an SRP of $280.

Drawing inspirational cues from a snake's sixth sense-like ability to detect body temperature and environmental changes in its prey, the YOTS collection brings that heat sensory story to life through rich colors and materials. The Air Jordan 1 High YOTS uses a gradient outsole and upper featuring both suede and patent leather with distinct colors to symbolize the effects of temperature change.

Both shoes share rich color palettes that include Blacken Blue/Bright Citrus/Hyper Red/Raspberry Red/Deep Royal Blue and Volt.

Terrance's Collection

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COOL PEEPS : THE KING

Martin Luther King was and still is one of the coolest people to live. Anyone confident enough to put themselves out there to promote virtues will always get cool points in our book. So here are some of the great MLK's most essential words of wisdom to marinate on.

WORK: All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.

LEADERSHIP: A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.

ETHICS: Means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek. The time is always right to do what is right.

SERVICE: Life’s most persistent and urgent question is:  “What are you doing for others?”

JUSTICE: Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

VALUES: If we are to go forward, we must go back and rediscover those precious values – that all reality hinges on moral foundations and that all reality has spiritual control.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION: Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love. Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.

THE END OF DISCRIMINATION: I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

VISION & PERSEVERANCE: I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go to the mountain. And I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the promised land! I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land. (From Dr. King’s final speech the night before his assassination).

BIG SHOUT:
Thanks to Mark Toth for pulling these great words of wisdom from MLK.
Thanks to H.Q. Roosevelt for the amazing photos!

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