Monthly Archives: September 2009

Introducing: The List

Posted on September 24, 2009 | Leave a comment

THE LIST

linksalamode

I love fashion. Sounds like such a common statement. But it’s true. Fashion is definitely top 3 of worldly things that I truly love and actually get moved by. I actually get chills when I see an impeccably made dress or a stunning pair of heels. As a child I would alter my clothes, cutting up my shirts and bottoms, playing dress-up with my mother & sister’s clothes and shoes (until I couldn’t fit in them anymore!), and studying and obsessing over magazines. I was in there, back when the likes of Issac Mizarhi, Versace, Valentino, Carolina Herrera and Calvin Klein ruled the fashion world…and still do! watch this

So I have always tried to keep up with different trends and realized…well…after a while it got to be really difficult to keep up. Trends, colors and materials are easy to keep up with, but these days names are coming in and out and the fashion industry has grown to mean more than just a dress and pair of pumps.

So I realized one thing I wish I had, was an extensive catalogue. A list that had names of labels that I had never heard of. And wished I had. So I decided I need to make that list. or at least start one. And add onto it as time went by. The comprehensive list I have been working on consists of labels, sites and magazines that I love and find fresh and I feel that you need to check out too.

Along the way, I studied different magazines, sites and shows and real-life people(I love seeing what people wear and how they create their looks!) and began jotting them down.

Over the course of next few months I will be building up to my extensive list. So to start off, here are the first batch:

Labels

Abirato

Addict

Aem’Kei

Andrea Crews

A.P.C.

Atleier LaDurance

Publications

Classics:

Vogue – the fashion holy book. practically collectibles.

Marie Claire – great articles on beauty, relationships and they always have social spin.In case, ya know, ya wanna save the world

Vanity Fair – great articles, signature covers

Harper’s Bazaar – extensive coverage of newest trends/styles in fashion

Elle – youthful and always covers hippest newest “it” people.

Time – stay up on the politics. interesting articles. signature covers.

Huffington Post- socio-politcal blogger’s heaven.

Reuters - stay up on world affairs…and anything else under sun. good writing & images.

Artsy:

Juxtapoz -the images alone gets you hooked. articles pretty good too.

W’AD – wow. just wow. this European urban fashion/lifestyle magazine is more like a book. crazy covers and images.

JPG -photographers heaven. and you can learn few things if you are starting out.

Arkitip – arts magazine & website. each magazine is a work of art itself. how fun.

BeingHunted – a blogger magazine. sounds odd huh? but it works.

Stay Tuned! The List will be updated every month. It will contain not only under-the-radar designers but also established fashion houses, various publications/sites and a few trend alerts.

Also, If you know of a label/line that should be included let me know!

-Selamawit

(editor.shademagazine@gmail.com)

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Posted in SIGHT, Uncategorized

Tagged Designers, FASHION, Labels, Magazine, Publications, SIGHT, THE LIST, Websites, Zines

TEZA MOVIE PREMIERE

Posted on September 14, 2009 | Leave a comment

19007_2_TEZA-Posterbild-final-copy

MOVIE PREMIERE: TEZA

Highly acclaimed Ethiopian director, Haile Gerima premieres his new feature film, Teza, this THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 at AVALON THEATER, 5612 CONNECTICUT AVE NW WASHINGTON, DC 20015.

What does Teza mean?

Teza is a word in Amharic language (national language of Ethiopia) referring to memory.

What is the film Teza about?

The film, Teza, is set in 1970s, under the militant-communist Derg regime, in Ethiopia, protagonist, Anberber, after having gone to live in Germany for several years to escape the harsh realities of living under the Derg, returns to his native home of Ethiopia. The film documents his journey from leaving to returning to his native home and coming to the harsh realization that things had undoubtedly changed for better or worse. Director, Gerima uses Anberber’s story to introduce the overarching theme of displacement, memory and morality.

Here’s the Trailer:

Make sure to check out the film premiere THIS THURSDAY!

Special wrap-party to follow at LIV Nightclub-2001 11th Street NW (@ U Street) Washington, DC 20001.

BUY TICKETS HERE

If you would like more information about the film, director, cast, and premiere, please go to their official website: www.tezathemovie.com

***For those in local DMV area, If you would like to see and know more about Haile Gerima’s work and other prominent African-American filmmakers, please stop by Sankofa Bookstore & Cafe, located on 2714 Georgia Avenue.

-Selamawit

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Posted in EVENTS, SIGHT, Uncategorized

Tagged DC Movie Premiere, Ethiopian films, EVENTS, Haile Gerima, Movie Premiere, Sankofa, SIGHT, Teza Film

AFROBEAT FRIDAYS

Posted on September 8, 2009 | 3 Comments

Fela Kuti.

I had no idea who he was or just how significant a person could be in music. Especially in the creation of a new music genre that is just so, simply put, fucking fresh.

In the late 1950s, Kuti left his native Nigeria to go study medicine in London. Instead, he ended up studying music at Trinity College of Music. During those years, he formed a band, got married and had 3 children. Over the next few decades, Fela Kuti would bounce back and forth between Nigeria, London and U.S. while working with his band and spreading the sound of Afrobeat.

Fela started not just a band, but a movement. Afro-beat is a hypnotizing concoction of West African drums, American jazz, funk, soul, and rock serving as backdrop to politics-tinged, history-mapping and love-inducing lyrics.

Surely Afrobeat has been around in the District, but it was never a prevailing or obvious sound to expect from the DMV area..not until Lunchbox Theory Productions took reign and introduced the area to this great sound.

This newly-formed production team, co-managed by Christine and Allison. Two twenty-somethingers, one hailing from The Bay and the latter from Maryland, but having lived in the District for years, they shared a common vision of introducing a plethora of different sounds, events and causes to the area.

They introduced themselves to the area for Inauguration back in January when they had The People’s Party at Selam restaurant and bar (1524 U Street, Washington , DC 20009). After some planning and organizing, the team had their first Afro-beat party in March 2009, with DJ Underdog spinning ONLY records, (no ipods/computers!), no dress-code, $1 cover, face-painting, drummers, live art, and drink specials from 10-12am.

From March up till this past August, this last-Friday-of-every-month event has developed a very strong following and managed to receive positive press and grow its attendance enough so, in sucha short number of months that there’s almost always a line outside to get in…and you definitely want to be inside for the entire duration of the party.

Selam restaurant and bar has pretty simple two-room layout. Intimate.It gets hot but in a good way. The way a party should when you are having a great time, whilst dancing to beautiful music, mingling with a friendly-chill crowd and sipping from the decently-priced drinks in your hands.

Here are the last 3 mixtapes that Lunchbox Theory Productions has come out with:

Africa Plays On Pt. I cover CLICK HERE FOR THE MIXTAPE: Africa Plays On pt. I