TECH TALK: THE DEZER COLLECTION

SUPER CAR ROOM UNVEILED AT THE DEZER COLLECTION

As a certified car lover, I always enjoy the opportunity of spending time with cars and with people who enjoy them as much as I do. Luckily, I was able to do that this past Saturday at the Dezer Collection on 146th Street in North Miami. I was there for the unveiling of the brand new Super Car Room, which was hosted by Michael Dezer, an Israeli-Born, New York real estate developer and founder of Dezer Properties.

The night started off with a brief meet-and-greet in the entrance room where the Mahindra Formula E Racing Team of India and special guests waited in anticipation.

  

As we roamed the museum, it was a match made in heaven. The event was a merge of fashion, tech, design and art. There was a huge “Super Car Room” mural made by the awesome London native INSA, a graffiti artist who created the Gif-iti app. With the use of his app, you can point your phone towards one of his murals and see it move! You can even view one of his murals from space when using the app. That is innovation at its best!

 

INSA Space Gif-iti:

After about an hour of roaming the museum, we were invited to have dinner in preparation for the unveil. Dezer and others said a few words and then the curtains were pulled.

From a Lamborghini Diablo to a Porsche Carrera GT, the collection was impressive. Yet the vehicles that caught everyone's eyes was first, the 650hp Mercedes-Benz Mclaren SLR 722 Edition. The Benz is a more hardcore version to the original SLR. You add 33 more horses and a stiffer suspension and you'll create the perfect car for the weekend drive to the racetrack. A little fun fact is that the 722 nameplate is derived from the victory race won by the legendary Sterling Moss in the Mille Miglia in 1955. The car was a Mercedes 300 SLR with the starting number 722 (indicating he started the race at 7:22 a.m.). 

The next car is non-other than the $2 million dollar, 1000BHP Bugatti Veyron. This car is different from just about every other car I have ever seen in the sense of presence it gives off.  

It was a perfect evening for the car-enthusiast. To see more of the iconic cars from the event, such as the Batmobile, the Aston Martin DB5 from 007 or the supercars like the Bugatti Veyron, visit the Dezer Collection.

By: Oliver R. Pernt

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GEEK CHIC: HOLOLENS

Transform your world with holograms

Microsoft is making moves. Great moves. Moves that have this Apple lover pretty excited. I guess that in itself could be considered a victory for Microsoft, but let me explain why. Last Wednesday Microsoft unveiled a number of software updates as well as a giant 4K display tablet PC that you mount on your wall, which is all fine but what i'm excited about is this:

Called the "HoloLens", it is the worlds first holographic computer AND YOU WEAR IT ON YOUR FACE. How #CertifiedCOOL is that??

No wonder Google stopped development of its Glass project because this is on a whole other level... Just look at some of its capabilities:

From checking to-do lists, the weather, looking up recipes, or playing a game; to planning your next trip, or calling for help on DIY projects, the sky is the limit for what you can do on the HoloLens. Even more impressive is this:

You're given the capability of exploring other planets!

Watch and be amazed:

HoloLens is currently just a prototype but Microsoft plans on releasing it to developers this Spring.

Well played, Microsoft. HoloLens is definitely #CertifiedCOOL.

By: Oliver Pernt

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FASHION FEATURE: Creative Convo with Demestiks New York's, Ruben Reuel

Impeccable styling. Inspirational designs.

Reuben Reuel of Demestiks NewYork is the center of this month's #CertifiedCOOL Creative Convo. The setting was Cecconi's Miami Beach, one day after presenting his collection at the Guinness World Record Breaking 24 Hour Cotton Fashion Show. COOL Creative Curator and Creative Director, Johanne Wilson, had a creative conversation with Reuben Reuel over Sunday brunch. She learned more about the designer's background, design philosophy and business operation.  

The humble Bedstuy, Brooklyn based designer cuts his pieces made to order from his  gorgeous New York basement studio and ships them all over the world. Although a small operation, with only 3 seamstresses and a production assistant, Reuel's pieces are coveted by some of the most influential celebrities, bloggers and fashion editors across the globe. Beyonce recently posted pics of herself wearing Reuel’s clothing line, Demestiks New York, on her Instagram feed. “I’m still Reuben” responds Reuel when asked about the exposure from Beyonce.

Beyonce posted herself in Demestiks on instagram

The Virginia beach native began his fashion studies at Virginia Beach Tech Center where he learned the majority of his fashion and design skills. Reuel continued studying at Norfolk State University and then transferred to New York Institute of Fashion and Technology to further his education. Reuel moved on to work for a bedding company prior to starting his own line, Demestiks New York. After being fired, business took off. Bloggers and fashionistas have widely sought out his Ankara wax African print clothing through his e-commerce shop on etsy.

Ruben is very hands on with his business, traveling to Holland to understand the prints and fabric used in his line of classic silhouettes. His design philosophy is not to reinvent the wheel in his designs. Using stock styles and simply changing the fabric works well for him. “I know the basics so I build my designs from that”, he says.

Reuel’s early influences come from church. “God is a major influence”, says Reuel, “the bible is simple, design and fashion is simple to me, I’m simple”. Ruben grew up in the church. Both of his parents were children of pastors.  He would later pull from that influence when he began to freelance and make church clothes for women.  

"My collection is like a puzzle.”

He figured out that his pattern book from his training days had all the puzzle pieces for his designs.  He just had to mix, match and reconfigure the basic parts to make his own creation. He believes that clothes are for going to and from work, church and going out. Clothes should be interchangeable. 

The consistent message of “live to create and create to live” can be seen throughout his work ethic and production methods. He works hard because he knows what it is to not work. Freelancing became his salvation. Reuel’s sentimental connection with his work makes his pieces all the more desirable. He has no interest in producing wholesale garments.

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“I like that people get something directly from me, I don’t want to water it down, I like oneness with the designer, it’s a gift from me to you”

Although known widely for his African prints which he describes as African style elevated, we can look forward to more unisex designs using color schemes from NYC with black, white, neutral and army green palettes. He describes the future as the way it looks today, and how the future is now. Designing and sewing American made garments are important for Reuel.  He strongly supports Domestic commerce and the NYC garment district. 

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Reuben concluded the conversation with a cool thought.

"If people are mad at you for doing what you do that's their problem.”

Reuben’s pieces can be found on his online store. 
Tag us on Instagram at @CoolCreativeinc with you in your Demestiks New York pieces.
We look forward to his new work set to release some time next year.

By: Steven Francois

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FASHION FILES: COOL COTTON STYLE

CELEBRATING COTTON 24 HOUR FASHION SHOW 2014
with guest  stylist Bianca Shelbe. 

Love her cotton style? Get it here:
Balman Destroyed stretch biker jeans
Maje DeGriffe Oversized Cotton flannel
Zara flat ankle boot 
Movado watch 
Givenchy ridged Leather bag
Round frame acetate

TREND TALK: HELLO AFRICA!

A NEW COOL IS RISING OUT OF AFRICA

Africa’s influence in fashion, business and innovation is growing. According to trending watch.com “…Africans are expecting brands to champion, support and cater to the identities they create for themselves.”  The new Guinness ad highlights a society of “elegant” people in the Congo known as the Sapeurs. The video follows these trendsetters who believe in ‘putting more in, to get more out.’ What shapes their identity is not economic status, but creativity and respect expressed through fashion.

Beyoncé on the cover of L' Officiel Magazine

Singer Elle Varner rocks an african teacup dress on-set of video shoot

Solange in African inspired outfit on the cover of Complex magazine

Rihanna accessorizes with African bangles during her 2010 AMA performance 

African Design Makes Waves:

As African-inspired prints & patterns are becoming more popular with fashion bloggers, trend-setting celebrities (like Beyonce & Rhianna), top stylists and designers; Africa is continues to make big waves in fashion and design. African Batik fabrics such as Dutch Wax prints (also known as Wax Hollandais), Ghanaian Kente cloth and Ankara, Kanga (a fabric from East Africa) have been worn down the runways of New York, London, Milan and Paris. The Balenciaga collection for spring 2013 featured African fashion influenced by Dutch wax prints and Ankara. H&M included African elements in their 2012 collection developed by the designers of the Italian fashion label Marni.

Recently Project Makowla launched an innovative new service that allows vendors to sell their African-inspired pieces and reach their consumers all over the world in a more direct manner. Now, people can have custom pieces based created with authentic African fabrics. The process is simple. Customers send photos of their favorite design, measurements and their choice of African fabric. A seamstress from West Africa or Ghana will then create the custom piece and ship it directly to the customer.  

Nigerian-born designer Duro Olowu is another example of the impact and cultural reach that Africa is making globally. Olowu was one of the first designers to collaborate with JCPenny and released a limited edition collection in the spring of 2013. Based in London, Olowu pulls influences from his London up-bringing as well as his Jamaican and Nigerian roots. FLOTUS, Michelle Obama, is just one of the many celebrities that have been seen in his head-turning designs. 

Duro 2013 Collection for JCPenny

Another COOL movement, Africa is Now, goes beyond fashion and includes five themes to promote innovative solutions; Africa is Sharp, Urban, Tradition Reinvented, Resourceful and Transformed. As a part of the movement, the Indaba Project has been created to feature works in design, dècor and architecture across the continent. Rebranding Rwanda is is one of the projects in the works under this project. 

Other projects include developing art exhibitions and galleries in Dakar called Dak'Art. International artists are selected from all over the world with the aim of creating a global image. There is also a kickstarter campaign called BRCK which developed the first mobile wifi device built for Africa’s most undeveloped regions.

There are so many more innovative African-influenced projects happening all over  world. To get more information on these #Certified COOL and creative projects, you can visit the official Design Indaba site. You can also get in on all the cultural vibes below with our style edit! Happy shopping and stay COOL.

THE SHOPPING BAG
#CertifiedCOOL AFRICANA FASHION FINDS 

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By: Joanne Joseph, COOL Contributor

TREND TALK : TECH MEETS THREAD

By Joanne Joseph, Contributor

It's no secret that tech is plays a huge role in fashion. We recently featured DVF's collaboration with Google Glasses. In our search for #CertifiedCOOL tech style, we discovered the work of two game-changing artists. Amy Winters and Ying Gao are among the latest fashion innovators exploring the possibilities of tech and thread. 

In her latest work, Winters uses color and pattern that reacts to sound, movement, natural light and water. The London-based artist's designs have become an interactive wearable-art experience. Her Sound Reactive Dress detects volume levels and responds by producing markings that resemble lighting. There's even a motion-sensitive morph dress that is triggered by human movements. She also invented a dress that you wouldn't mind getting caught in the rain with. The Orange Butterfly dress, changes color once it comes in contact with water. 

Winter's touch-activated, fiber-optic dress was recently on display at the Consumers

Electronics Show earlier this year. “If you feel like having purple, the dress will be purple,” she explained. “If you later feel like having red, you have red. You just look at the sleeve and

decide what color you want.” Her work has been featured in magazines including Marie Claire Spain, Stylist, XO and Travel and Leisure Southeast Asia. Her pieces have also made their way to the list of CNBC's Future Fashion list of 10 Wearable Tech Trends to Watch.

Another innovator leaving their mark in the tech meets fashion revolution is Ying Gao. The artist's work includes a piece that moves on sight called (No) where (Now) here. It is embedded with eye-tracking technology fibers that move as the eye comes in contact with the garment, expressing a relationship between the onlooker and the article of clothing.

As a fashion designer and a professor at the Université du Québec à Montréal, Ying was inspired by the architecture of Beijing and its urbanization. She researched the relationships between individuals, their cities and their environments. This influenced her 2008 project titled Living Pod, in which light sensors are installed throughout the garment, causing the dresses to react to light. Ying's interactive and unconventional pieces have been featured in Vogue, Vanity Fair, Azure and Time Magazine and continue to be on display in various museums including the Quebec Museum of Fine Arts in Canada.

Living Pod Coat

THE SHOPPING BAG

Fashion finds inspired by tech trends

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WATCH THIS : INFLUENCERS

SYNOPSIS
INFLUENCERS is a short documentary that explores what it means to be an influencer and how trends and creativity become contagious today in music, fashion and entertainment.

The film attempts to understand the essence of influence, what makes a person influential without taking a statistical or metric approach.

Written and Directed by Paul Rojanathara and Davis Johnson, the film is a Polaroid snapshot of New York influential creatives (advertising, design, fashion and entertainment) who are shaping today's pop culture.

"Influencers" belongs to the new generation of short films, webdocs, which combine the documentary style and the online experience.

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