Online Column 2:
3LACK 3H0W, dot COMME, graduate work and Music
3lack sh0w
What happens in the depth of the shadows? What Exists between lit spaces?
Where fashion brands look to undergraduate designers for inspiration, students look to their peers, and nothing encapsulated this more than the ‘3LACK SH0W’ hosted by LCF & UAL Fashion students to highlight the budding young talent on display right here in London and give a platform to not only the designers but also a range of make-up artists, photographers, stylists and many more who all helped make the show a reality.
The show took place in the famous tunnels underneath Waterloo train station, nestled in the catacombs, lurking in the darkness. This helped greatly to accentuate the show’s theme; Only using the colour black.
40 looks were presented by a slew of clothing, footwear and jewellery designers, collaborating to create a slick and moody runway, complete with black paint spread on the floor, a thumping backing track and an accompanying pulsating visual display behind the models.
Photography by Hayley Jay
dot COMME interview
Esteemed Australian archival fashion store, dot COMME, stands as a must visit in Melbourne. We spoke with store manager Sean David McCallum (@seanserror) about the backstory of the shop and what their role is in the store.
Alex:
To start off, what’s your name and what do you do at dot COMME?
Sean:
My name is Sean, I am the store manager here and the creative director, I also manage the social media for the business too. It’s a small business so I do a lot for it, but we have help from others too.
A:
How would you describe dot COMME to someone who has never heard of it?
S:
Well, dot COMME is a vintage and archival fashion store based in Melbourne Austrailia, that focuses mainly on 4 Japanese designers, Junya Watanabe, Rei Kawakubo at Comme des Garçons, Yohji Yamamoto and Issey Miyake. We also have 1 token Belgian designer, Walter Van Beirendonck. The owner of the store, Octavius, has a big love for him, Walter was his first fashion obsession.
A:
How long has the store been around?
S:
We have been going for a while now, it started out as an online store on eBay and we have had the store for 10 years, the owner started the business when he was 21.
A:
Wow! It’s really blossomed into something, I love the direction the store is going and the design behind it, it really lets the pieces breath and speak for themselves.
S:
Yeah, the owner of the store is very obsessed with collecting, that’s the main intention of the store is to fund the large archive that he has of clothing. He also loves post-modern Italian furniture too which can be seen in the store.
A:
I definitely noticed that about the store, the furniture and décor is something that sticks out to you when you walk in.
A:
In your role, what are some projects you have really enjoyed recently?
S:
Well, I myself am a designers and stylist, I work within fashion, so I am always inspired by the brands around me in the store, and through the years working here I have learned the design nuances of each of the brands we hold as well as the history behind them. In terms of recent projects, I recently did the creative direction for a ‘chess night’ with a large chess board, and helped curate a number of monochromatic looks to display at the event.
A:
Finally, is there anything you think people who would come to dot COMME should know?
S:
I would say, it’s a great environment to be in, we are all friends here and there is so much room to express yourself!
Interview and Images by
Alex Josep Castellarnau Feitoza
Transcript, writing and editing by
Special thanks to
Sean David McCallum, dot COMME, Octavius La Rosa
Four of wands sound system
<
BlackPepper’s very own resident DJs provide 2 essential listening mixes*
>
Tune in and absorb.
Graduate Work:
With many students coming to the end of their time at university, we take a look at some of the incredible work by our BlackPepper residents who have recently graduated themselves.
endangered species by Alicia Harrod
Illustrations of animals on the IUCN’s Redlist juxtaposed with luxury fashion garments