Kansei Division - Digital Fashion - 3D Fonts - East West Hong Kong - Luxury and Racial Repercussions

We’re in that time of the year again, with the whirlwind of fashion weeks in London, Paris, Milan etc. But rather than scroll through the usual array of pretty runway clothes this year on Style.com, I’ve taken to selectively ignoring a large part of the shows. I’m fatigued to the point where I no longer feel a sense of excitement or discovery when I see new designs for the first time. I cannot imagine the hectic schedules fashion editors have to attend to during these times. Which leads me to my first lovelink for the day…

• The Business of Fashion, which is one of my daily bibles, recently did a comprehensive introduction and profile on digitalfashionshows.com. Obviously aimed towards editors and industry professionals who need to prepare for upcoming trends, the website comes as a suitable (though never irreplaceable) method in which editors can view the world of designers.
• As 3-D movies are now starting to gain popularity along with 3-D printers, we should not be surprised to learn about 3-D fonts. The idea gives a whole new dimension to typography and the written word, and how we give meaning and shapes to tangible objects around us. 
• I’ve always been a big fan of the South China Morning Post, and religiously buy the SCMP Magazine as well (on the days I do not forget)! The eye candy from this photo-shoot was taken by Baldovina Barani. That eclectic hodge-podge of east and west aesthetics, along with the everyday environment against high fashion is evident here. Nothing groundbreaking, but interesting nonetheless.
• I had a chance two weeks ago to attend a talk by co-founder of Farmboy Fine Arts, Todd Towers. The man is a prominent figure in Vancouver, and was recently named as one of the city’s Top 40 under 40. The company itself evaluates, buys, collects and curates fine art collections for the biggest hotel chains in the world. Think W Hotel, Le Meridien, MGM, Marriott, Hilton, Four Seasons etc. Very impressive indeed. Here’s a profile of the man by local magazine, Montecristo Magazine.
• Last, but certainly not least, here is a really fantastic and illuminating article on the Chinese Luxury consumer. Their seemingly infinite source for luxury goods comes as a source of relief and racial chagrin to many foreigners alike. The article takes on a holistic perspective, looking not only at western attitudes towards these consumers, but also addresses the fears of a shifting economic balance from west to east. 

Image Source: SCMP Magazine via Trendland.net