Prometheus :: Tron Legacy :: the ultimate body suits

Just seen Ridley Scott´s "Prometheus". Was ok within its genre, but most inspiring part -for what I´m concerned- was the costumes. I have this thing for space bodysuits... Half a year ago, I designed a "muscle body suit" myself (as a futuristic couture outfit for the host of the Swedish Style awards). There´s something really great about those super tight bodysuits, with muscle fit linear detailing and contrast colors & materials. I love how it accentuates the strength in the body. It makes one more body conscious, more gracious and powerful. Lucky strike for me to then amongst others also be able to design the new menswear running tights for H&M (as part of the functional mens sportswear collection, which H&M will launch in shops next week!). Prometheus did well, but didn´t beat Tron Legacy, which is still leading my personal favorites, both for it´s space suits and for the fabulous Daft Punk soundtrack! What would your futuristic body suit look like?

top illustrations :: couture design by Halewijn Bulckaen

2nd & 3rd picture :: PROMETHEUS

all other pictures :: TRON LEGACY

COUNTDOWN!

only 4 days left till the big evening; "Elle Gala 2012"! This is the biggest fashion event in Sweden, where the nordic´s top fashion crowd will get awards for their outstanding work during the past year. To my delight, I won the H&M "Elle Gala dress design competition" -this for the second time in 3 years-, meaning that my design turned into reality and will be worn by the host of the award show; swedish actress and tv-personality Carina Berg. So far, it´s again been a true pleasure working on the project, and I can´t wait to see the final result on stage friday evening! Today the shoes finally arrived, just in time for the fitting at the majestic "Grand Hotel", in the Princesse Lilian Suite! Pictures from the dress will follow after the event, but here already a little teaser, and yes; as always there´s embroidery and pearls involved!

PEARL HEART

Last few months have been mostly about working on new embroidery couture pieces. But since pictures from that will have to wait for the day when the collection shall be ready, hereby meanwhile another embroidery piece which I made; the pearl heart for Josephine Bornebusch´s couture dress. The dress was called "waiting for my love", and told about a girl -in a dark nordic country- who was waiting at the edge of the dark cold sea for her long lost sailor, with nothing left but a broken heart and a memory of true love...

MR. PEARL

After 300 hours of work, I finally finished a new embroidery piece from my couture-collection-to-be. Even if it´s a very slow and time consuming process, it´s nevertheless a true joy to see how it evolves little by little. I just can´t help but love working with pearls, stones, small metal plackets, buttons,… When having a passion for something, then the time consuming process becomes part of the pleasure, because you know the result will (hopefully) become something unique, something special. Nowadays everything has to go fast and quick… but not in my world! Taking the time for creating something is an extremely rewarding activity, it´s like a journey with creativity and with yourself.

With my love for pearls and pearl embroideries, you could maybe call me Mr.Pearl, but then I´d use someone else´s name. The original Mr.Pearl is a very interesting persona; one of the last Corsetiers to the couturiers. He made some of the most exquisite creations, for couturiers like Jean-Paul Gaultier, Thierry Mugler, John Gaillano and Christian Lacroix.
On the question if it´s important to promote the longevity of traditional techniques of handcraft skills he answered; “I evolved my methods through experience rather than core craft training, and –in relation to longevity of traditional craft- it probably is like anything else - we humans are probably not supposed to become useless beings” (couturelab).

I totally agree with his point of view, even I´d also like to add that taking the time to sit down and create is one of the most positive and joyful experiences. We are so focused on time and doing as much as possible that we sometimes tend to forget what life should really be about; enjoy what you do! And for me that means creating pieces that are my dreams brought to live.

Below some pictures from the bolero embroidery which I made for the couture dress -worn by Swedish actress Josephine Bornebusch- for the Elle Style Awards 2010 in Sweden.