Sy Design Ramblings

I'm dreaming of a white one, hope you are too!

2011-12-16T10:46:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Bolivia

2011-06-28T15:12:00.000-07:00

During my recent three week road trip, we spent one night sharing our camp with a couple of rock climbers from France. They raved over dinner about their recent travels to Bolivia and highly recommended it as a place to visit. They talked about how kind the people were, and that the sights were simply amazing. This of course made me curious to learn more, see more, and well... maybe visit there too! Take a look at a small sampling of the beauty that is Bolivia.

The World’s Largest Salt Flat is located in Salar de’Uyuni, Bolivia. During the rainy season, the water turns into the world’s largest mirror. The reflection of the sky creates a sense of infinity, like you’re walking among the clouds. It’s called the Border between Heaven and Earth.

Above photos courtesy of Carlos Diaz

As if that weren't already enough to convince anyone of a visit to Bolivia there's more, the Death Road...alternatively known as Grove's Road, Coroico Road, Camino de las Yungas, El Camino de la Muerte, or Road of Death. It is legendary for its extreme danger, one estimate is that 200 to 300 travellers are killed yearly along the road. It seems only logical that the best way to enjoy it is via bike of course.

It is one of the few routes that connects the Amazon rainforest region of northern Bolivia, or Yungas, to its capital city. One of the local road rules specifies that the downhill driver never has the right of way and must move to the outer edge of the road. This forces fast vehicles to stop so that passing can be negotiated safely. Also, vehicles drive on the left, as opposed to the right like the rest of Bolivia. This gives a left hand drive vehicle's driver a better view over his outside wheel, making passing safer. - Wikipedia

I'm fairly certain I'd love to bike this, but also certain I'd never want to do it via car or bus.

Camino de las Yungas (DeathRoad) from keksas on Vimeo.

Adventure Hiatus

2011-05-17T08:02:00.000-07:00

One of the best parts of working for yourself in the outdoor industry is having more time and freedom for adventure. In that spirit, SY Design will be closed May 27 - June 19 for some serious outside play time. I'll be taking my four year old daughter, Bernese Mountain dog, and backpacking gear for a three week long adventure based out of our car. We don't have a set plan in place of where/when just a plan to be outside playing everyday biking, hiking, fishing, swimming, climbing and whatever else comes our way.

You can follow us along in our adventures or misadventures at Meandering Mama our travel blog. See you soon!

Did you do Railroad Revival?

2011-05-10T15:59:00.000-07:00

If you missed it, too late now, but if you didn't, oh what an experience the Railroad Revival Tour was. I read about it first on Twitter, and then tickets were bought before I even knew if I could get to the event, I wanted to be there and was pretty certain I would find a way.

I think there were many things that made this event stand out: all the band members of Old Crow Medicine Show, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, as well as Mumford & Sons + friends traveling via vintage railcars from venue to venue, the sweet unique tickets, and artist poster, serious artist collaboration on stage, equal billing, an event that spanned all ages and types of people, something cultural & different from everything else currently happening. For me as a designer it was very inspiring so I thought I would share some of the images with you culled from the RRT facebook page, and from the Flickr page with fan photos from the event. Looking forward to seeing what might happen next after the success of this event.

Tips for Living with Creative People

2011-03-23T17:36:00.000-07:00

I read this last year on Brian Andreas' twitter feed, stumbled onto it again and had to share, he speaks the truth.

Tip #1: Don't ever think you can go behind their backs. It will backfire in VERY creative ways. Because they're smart & creative. Duh.

Tip #2: quit whining about why they're with you in the 1st place. They CHOSE you. So, get over your neuroses. Or at least shut up about them.

Tip #3: don't expect them to think what you do is interesting. If it was interesting, they'd be doing it. Just be sure it interests you. ( Note: If it's not interesting to you, don't tell them how it's driving you crazy. Because they'll ask Why the hell are you doing it then?)

Tip #4: DO NOT try & bend a smart & creative person to your will. It will go badly. It may take awhile, but IT'LL GO BADLY. Trust me on this.

Tip #5: Smart, creative people like presents (not always stuff) that intrigue them & say you thought about ways to make deeper conversation ( Note : If all you're doing is starting up a conversation by telling them the details of your day, you are killing them slowly)

**Tell them about the man you met who is trying to teach his canary to whistle opera. Or the lady who offered you 2 for 1 alien ray protectors.

Tip #6: Pay attention in your life. A smart & creative person is not there to entertain you. They are there to play with you. Big difference.

Tip #7. Chocolate & wine. Apply liberally. Be willing to laugh & dance & open more wine. This is the most useful tip

Tip #8: Be flexible & self-sustaining. Smart,creative people have an impetuous relationship with life, so their attention is not always on you

Tip #10: managing a smart, creative person is different than living with one... (Note that creative people don’t always follow the rule, hence no #9) You may THINK you can manage them. This is a delusion. The best you can do is lay it all out & ask what they want to do about it.... AND If you MUST manage smart, creative people, tell them about it up front & promise treats when they deliver. They work like demons for treats.

Back from the wild Wallowa's with Big City Mountaineers

2010-09-02T22:57:00.000-07:00

It's already been almost a week since I returned from the Wallowa backcountry with the rest of the Backpacking Betty's, (our team's name while on the trail)

It was an amazing time, and for all of you Summit For Someone climbers and BCM supporters out there, you can know that all that hard work fundraising and climbing really does make a difference, these trips are worth it.

It was my first youth trip with BCM and the four teenage girls from Portland's YEI, a big adventure for four city girls who had never backpacked before. Their trail names where Karma, Bobcat, Branch, and Clover, these girls carried the weight of the world on their backs during our 15-16 mile, five day trip in the Wallowa's. Through highs and lows they experienced many first's like: peeing in the woods (eeeew!), digging cat holes (we're gonna hold it all week long!), learning about respect for nature and in return respect for others too, they built their first campfire (even tried using Tapatio hot sauce to start it!), skipped rocks for the first time (at Aneroid Lake), slept out under the stars (and much to their disbelief were not attacked by bugs), laughed and squealed at the sight of bats, celebrated a 15th birthday in the wild (memory of lifetime), learned to navigate the trails on their own, enjoyed the splendor of watching the moon come up and then following it's path all night (hadn't noticed that it moved before that night), and delighted in the sight of shooting stars. It was an eye-opening trip, with some amazing memories for sure. These types of transformative outdoor experiences can only be made possible with the generous support of others like yourselves. With each trip that Big City Mountaineers is able to send out there are new hopes and dreams that are realized, strengths that were only imagined, and experiences like never before.

I'd like to finish up this journey by raising $2000 to help BCM, with the generous support of so many people already I have reached about $1850 thanks to everyone for your support, and if you have any change to spare, please give this a click for a secure donation.

Hugs from the trail, and thanks for your support.

Introducing the Backpacking Betty's.... with photos highlighting, camp life, our summit hike to Jewett lake, hiking out of our "frozen toes" campsite, building their first campfire ever on their own, learning the fine art of skipping rocks for the first time, the value of good nature wipe, smiles for miles at the lake, and a team shot en route to Jewett lake.

Inspiration, Vintage Camping Trailers and Caravans

2010-07-28T14:55:00.000-07:00

My first memories of camping started in this Prowler trailer, I remember how excited I was each time we made a journey down the road with my dad's Jeep Landcruiser charging the way. I remember the smell of the wood paneling inside, and waking to the smell of my dad percolating coffee on the stove in the morning. I remember the kind of camping that was simple, without TV's and dishwashers, generators, and air conditioners, with simple scenes like the one below taken near Jenny Lake in Wyoming.

I am very inspired by trailers and caravans from days gone by, so I thought it was fitting to share some with you that I have recently found. If you too are inspired by vintage caravans then I would also encourage you to visit the Belgian Oldtimer Caravan Club where you'll find a treasure trove of vintage material.

Leave it to German ingenuity to have come up with this Chateau Mobile by Brüderchen

Westfalia

Shasta-Exterior

Shasta-Interior

KIP Krielkip - 1965

Volkswagen Dormobile - 1971

Mostard Yvonne 304 HD - 1965

I have a particular love of red, navy, creamy colors, and khaki like colors right now too, making the colors of these trailers as inspirational as the trailers themselves.

Sprite Cadet - 1969 (sweeet!)

QEK Junior - 1965 and spec sheet below

Otten Speurder LS - 1968

I just love that little guy in the above photo, great colors, style lines, inspirational for pack and bag design too! Happy trails, hope you are finding time to get outside this summer, and maybe even some time to camp too.

Gulmarg is...As Good as it Gets

2010-07-22T10:57:00.000-07:00

I only learned about Gulmarg in the last couple year's but now that I know of it, I want to go.

Originally called ‘Gaurimarg’ by shepherds, its present name was given in the 16th century by Sultan Yusuf Shah, who was inspired by the sight of its grassy slopes emblazoned with wild flowers. Gulmarg was a favourite haunt of Emperor Jehangir who once collected 21 different varieties of flowers from here. Today Gulmarg is not merely a mountain resort of exceptional beauty- it also has the highest green golf course in the world, at an altitude of 2,650 m, and is the country’s premier ski resort in the winter.

photo courtesy of David Marchi - Globallines

With views and skiing that looks like this combined with an incredible cultural experience how can you go wrong?
Wondering how you might get there? Here is just one idea for you... Extremely Canadian owned by Peter Smart and Jill Dunnigan whose home mountain is Whistler, offers guided skiing world tours and will be in Gulmarg Feb. 5-12 of 2011. Speaking from experience having skiied with them many times, they are really good guys/gals who are top notch and offer amazing experiences.

photo courtesy of Extremely Canadian

You can also learn a little more about Gulmarg via B4Apres through their cultural documentary as seen through the eyes of skiers. They traveled into the mountains surrounding the Gulmarg Ski Resort in order to capture the aesthetic beauty of the landscape and the livelihoods of a people eager to dispel the stigma that Kashmir is a dangerous place to travel.

photo courtesy of David Marchi - Globallines

If you get lucky enough to go to Gulmarg let me know, in the meantime it's on my list of places to go in the next few year's.

An Excuse for New Gear

2010-07-20T22:32:00.000-07:00

We spent this past weekend at Eight Mile Crossing up on Mt. Hood, the views are bountiful, the camping is amazing, and this area has some of the best mountain biking you'll find. I realized just before skipping town that my most favorite biking shorts were nowhere to be found so it gave me an excellent excuse to head over to Bike Gallery to see if I could find something to replace them. I found a pair of sweet Townie Bike Shorts from Fox that I couldn't resist. The fixed waist fit amazingly well (I was skeptical of this) during my entire single track ride they stayed in place without me feeling like my drawers were drooping. Serious love for the yarn dye pattern, thanks for something that looks more fun and less like another pair of black riding shorts. So what if they get bike grease on them, it only gives them more character. I also liked that the inner chamois short was separate because these shorts actually look good and fit well when worn alone without the diaper look of the chamois underneath (added bonus for sure) Looking forward to giving them many rides and seeing how they hold up over time.

I couldn't think of a jersey in my closet that was going to be the perfect match up to these new shorts so I was delighted to find the Dakine Antic Short Sleeve to pair with my shorts. This picture doesn't do it justice by the slight gathering at the chest area and the subtle graphics are a nice touch, and I appreciated the use of Aegis anti-microbial finish to cut down on the stink factor too.

Perfect gear for a great ride on the 8 mile loop conveniently located 2 minutes from our camp. If you check out this ride try riding it backwards, or according to the sign the "easier" route. I've done it both ways, and much prefer the both the climbing and the downhill when rode according to the "easier" route. Otherwise you climb up for 900' in very low gears for about an hour straight, that part was a lot more fun to come down.

What's Old is New

2010-07-08T13:37:00.000-07:00

It's been coming on for the last 2 years if not longer, blame it on the recession if you like, but popularity of vintage Americana, blue-collar working class life, bringing things back home again, and farm to table eating, continues to grow in interest. I like it.

Tennis - South Carolina from woodsman man on Vimeo.

This was posted by a friend on Facebook today and it personifies this "trend" with the Burlesque girls, the vocals, and the way the video was put together, it almost looks like watching an old vintage reel film.

With this new found love of the old, canning, farmer's market shopping, gardening, baking, knitting, sewing, and crafting are heading towards mainstream, instead of making you seem like some geeky outcast lost in another time. Sites like Canning Across America have new found popularity, and I can't help noticing that every store from Target to Whole Foods is now carrying canning supplies.

Urban Chicken farming is becoming as common as having a garden for some, if you are handy you can build them yourself, but if not never fear there are places like Bake's Binster all over America that come right to you and get you all set up and ready to raise chickens.

In June I attended the Show of Awesome at the Doug Fir and found a space filled to capacity with hipster crafters, these aren't your typical craft shows and not the typical attendees either. While there I found finely crafted smoked almond butter toffee from Rose City Sweets. (sinfully delicious, and I loved the old candy dishes she uses here with tea towels)

Also of note was that the creator of these lovely treats was dressed in a 1950's era little dress, had a beautiful curvy figure and reminded me instantly of a pin-up girl... and that smoked flavor in her toffee, a signature new twist on a classic.

I've been reading about brands like Levi's, Pendleton, Woolrich (America's oldest apparel company), Filson, etc enjoying a new found popularity amongst a younger crowd. In fact I took on a big design project for Woolrich this winter overhauling their entire outerwear collection and working with them to restore vintage branding a labeling for 2011. I was thrilled to spend hours combing through their archives and getting my hands on vintage woolen jackets from the early 1900's.

vintage Woolrich

I find myself constantly in search of old "finds", some of my most recent scores were in Walla Walla, Washington at the Shady Lawn Creamery vintage store. Where I picked up this vintage Mt. Hood postcard, I paid $7.50 for it, youch! But...it's a beauty.

I also had some serious love for these too.

It's good see this happening and I look forward to seeing how it evolves.

Faves of an Outdoor Girl

2010-07-07T14:44:00.000-07:00

Being an outdoor apparel designer sometimes makes things a little tricky when buying performance clothing and gear, each time I venture into "outdoor" stores more often than not I'm a little disappointed in the end. First of all, if my street wear would perform the way I needed I probably wouldn't even buy outdoor gear, because for the most part I find it terribly conservative, unflattering, and not playful enough. But alas that whole performance thing is important so..... I go with the goal of getting a bunch of gear all at once, but there is never enough stuff that looks good, functions, and fits good too. If all of those things are in magically in alignment I try not to worry about the price because I know I'll wear it to death. Here are just a few of my fave's that have been living in my closet and getting tons of use.

Lululemon may not be an outdoor brand by design, but these Wunder Under Crop pants rock, I wear them to the gym, for yoga, hiking because I love how smoothly they rest under my hip belt, for short bike commutes, camping, and under my fishing waders too. They are hard enough wearing to hold up well to outdoor living, and it doesn't hurt that they fit amazing too. The $68 spent on these is worth every penny.

I'm a huge fan of merino wool because it's natural and it's the only base layer that I can wear and sweat in heavily for multiple days without it stinking. I recently started wearing the Women's Balance Bralette from Ibex and....I LOVE it. In fact I have it on right now. This piece fits great, is super comfy with straps that aren't binding or painful, and they adjust (very important). Looking forward to wearing this on my long backpacking trip in August and seeing how it holds up. At $42.00 it's not cheap, but it's merino and will last forever.

Keeping with the wool theme, my Tech Top from Icebreaker is one of the best fitting and most comfortable cool weather layering pieces that I have ever owned. I find myself wearing it for shoulder season hiking and biking, underneath my shells on the mountain in the winter and everything in between. I picked it up in NYC at Paragon Sports at just over $100, but I've had it for I think 4 winters now and it's still going strong in the love line of my outdoor gear, though I'm craving a new color. I love that they are one of the few outdoor brands who has the whole length thing right on tops. (We like them long now, hint hint to all the other brands.) I have a lonely hearts club in my closet of tops that are too short, I often wonder how they got there, and because the collection has grown it's something that I really pay attention to now. I have tops from Mountain Hardwear, Columbia, Patagonia, Arcteryx, Ibex, Carve, Cloudveil all too short and never get worn, and there are countless ones that I put back on the rack instantly because they look short and boxy.

In the category of non traditional, during one of my many visits to Target I happened on their Women's Seamless Fashion Cami by Champion, the rule for me when buying something besides the household items from Target is that it has to work without trying it on. For $12.00 it was a pretty low risk to pick up a size small and take it for a test drive. I was surprised at how well they fit, and how comfy they were, I have about 6 of them now. I even wore one of them when I climbed Mt. Shasta last summer as my underlayer that I wore for 3 days straight while climbing. They come in loads of colors and a couple of other styles as well. They don't offer heavy support but good for lighter active tasks that aren't high impact.

I'm also doing some wear testing for Cocona's Xcelerator technology, this spring they shipped out a new 2.5 layer lightweight shell for me to test. I loved the design of the jacket, simple, nice fit, and details that worked without being too tricky. Since we had the longest ever winter+spring that never ended in the northwest I was able to test this jacket much more than usual. I wore it mountain biking, trail running, and trekking in the snow at 8,000 ft. on Mt. Shasta. In one of my notes to them I wrote, "Thought I would test this piece aerobically in a different way than my prior test, weather is very damp and cool, underneath the jacket I wore a mid-weight merino base layer and hiked vigorously for about 1 hour 15 minutes with a 20 pound pack, and....never had to take off my Xcelerator layer. My wool layer was pretty damp underneath, but it would have been even without the jacket on, I was working pretty hard aerobically. I was impressed with the comfort level and my lack of feeling clammy too." This piece has been my go to outerlayer all spring.

I crave more risk taking from outdoor brands, better fit, and more current looks that could be worn as both street wear and for outdoor use without looking instantly like "I'm from Oregon" or hearing the words, "you look so granola today." Because in the end, "girls just want to have fun."

A Little Help Goes a Long Way

2010-07-01T14:20:00.000-07:00

(This post will go on record as my longest, but if you read it when you have five minutes to focus it's worth the time)
On August 21st I'll be heading to the Wallowa mountains in eastern Oregon with a group of Big City Mountaineers volunteers and 6 teenage girls chosen from Portland's Caldera Arts program to go on their first transformative outdoor experience. These teenage girls will be leaving behind many of the things that they value most, cell phones, music, TV, makeup, boys, and in most cases their valued peers to go on an outdoor experience geared to give them growth in ways that they likely couldn't imagine. They take a giant leap of faith, traveling into the unknown outdoor world with strangers to learn about things like bear bagging, cat hole digging (and filling), water purification, and leave no trace practices, but more importantly they'll learn about themselves.

I get asked all the time, "why do you do it?" "...how can you volunteer another whole week of your time?" Here's my humble attempt at an answer:

How can I not? I volunteered my time as a camp counselor each high school summer that I was in 4-H, after that I was hooked. When I was 29 and up to my eyeballs in my corporate job I decided to volunteer a week of my time (I had 3 weeks of vacation a year) and teach fly fishing at the same summer camp that I attended as a kid. (I think my co-workers thought I was crazy.) I showed up with 12 donated fly rods, special hand tied flies from a friend, a little candy, hula hoops, donated T-shirts, and tons of energy. I didn't really know what to expect, but I knew that if I made it fun the rest would just fall into place.

At my first class I had kids from the 4th grade up to 8th grade plus high school counselors to engage. They looked at me with skepticism, I could sense their thoughts... fly fishing? a girl? no way, this is gonna be a dumb class. But....then I started talking about the critters under the water, the various stages that they go through prior to hatching (eeewws and yucks filled the air) and then I'd pass around the tied flies having them guess what kind of bug they thought it might be. They were curious, I moved quickly to the next step. Fly rods... I taught them the proper way to put them together, that they were called "rods" not "poles", I showed them how to thread the line through the eyes on the rod properly to prevent it from sliding all the way out if you happened to let go as you threaded from one to the other. And then....I took a deep breath and passed out the rods for them to assemble in teams and I watched. I watched team work, excitement, laughing, mentoring, etc. it only took 30 minutes into my first volunteer experience and I was the one who was hooked. By the end of their first class I had all the kids out on the lawn casting with little yarn flies on the end of their line, learning how to use finesse instead of power, learning to feel the rod and listen to the line. I started to break down their barriers because the girls in the class assumed that I was some she-man and that fly fishing was the dumbest thing they'd ever seen, and the boys assumed that I was a girl so what did I know about fishing and especially fly fishing?

I'm an outdoor apparel/gear designer, but I love fashion too, so once I ditched the fishing garb after class suddenly the girls realized that I was more like them then they had imagined, soon they were asking to borrow my clothes to wear to the camp dances at night, they all wondered about being a "designer" and asked a million questions, and after classes each day when I offered free-time fishing there were always girls there too. It made me smile. The boys on the other hand would challenge me to cast at targets to see if I could hit them, and when I did it time and time again they started to be amazed and to trust me.

During the 2nd class all the kids learned to cast at the lake, with the bushes and trees around them. (I have never in my life untied so many knots and impossible snarls as during that week.) I learned quickly that they love to compete with each other even in friendly ways, competition was something that spurred them on, so I created two lines, tossed two hula hoops out into the lake and they would race against each other to see who could cast into their yarn fly into the hoop first for a candy prize. I sat back and watched camaraderie, laughter, and most of all wonder. (they were amazed at what they could do, and how much fun it was)

During the 3rd class we went to a stocked lake and fished for the first time with real flies and hooks. People thought I was crazy, how could I do that with 20 kids at a time? But I had to trust and empower them to use the tools I had given them. It was amazing, no one got "hooked" and you could hear the squeals and hollers all around the whole lake whenever anyone got a bite or a small fish on their line. The smiles that would light up their faces were priceless, and their excitement was contagious.

Each day during free time fishing, (there was no obligation to come to this) I took the kids that showed up on the river fishing. They would wade in with their socks if needed. I taught them how to maneuver the rocks, where to look for the fish and... they caught fish!!! Each day the kids who went would tell the ones who didn't go and the next day there would be more kids. I was run ragged during those 4 days, but loved every minute of it.

By the last day of camp the boys were pals with me and asking me, "So what other kinds of cool things do you do?" and the girls were thanking me for making a class that they were sure would be boring fun, they said, "We didn't know that girls could do this," and they giggled whenever I told them that boys dig girls who can fish.

I listened proudly to boys tell their fathers about a new kind of fishing that they learned about and ask them if they could get a fly rod too. I listened when one boy thanked me for all that I had taught him and the time that I had spent with him. I took a few kids "under my wing," that I could sense needed the extra encouragement and I gave them my "all" knowing how much it might help them in ways totally unrelated to fishing. The biggest lesson in my volunteer experience was that fishing wasn't really what they learned, it was about so many other things, but the fishing was just a tool to allow those other transformative things to happen.

As I now prepare to embark on another volunteer journey with Big City Mountaineers, I look forward to what I might learn from a week with 6 teenage girls in the wild, and I'm certain it will be about much more than bear bagging, backpacking, and adventure. I hope that you might take a minute and visit my fundraising site for Big City Mountaineers and consider supporting me in whatever way you can as I strive to reach my goal of raising $1500 to help support getting more kids outside.

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2010-04-27T22:23:00.001-07:00

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It's just around the corner....

2010-04-08T22:24:00.000-07:00

I've been buried in work these past few months with little time for blogging, but...I'm just a couple weeks away from wrapping up my projects, and coming back to life again.

As I patiently wait for the weather to change here in Portland the Dandelions are a constant reminder that warmer days are coming soon. With a toddler in my house I have recently come to admire their whimsy and splendor once again. They even recently became part of a surface design project that I did for gDiapers too, inspiration is everywhere just keep your eyes open and you'll find it.

An Inspirational Journey to the Summit of Mt. Shasta

2010-02-11T12:46:00.001-08:00

Please join me on Wednesday, FEB 24Th, 6:30-7:30pm, at THE CLEANERS AT ACE HOTEL PORTLAND, for a CLIMB AGAINST THE ODDS MT. SHASTA slide show and story about teamwork, passion, healing, struggle, and triumph. One mother candidly shares her story about climbing to the top of Mt. Shasta alongside cancer survivors on the 2009 CLIMB AGAINST THE ODDS team. Her goal is to inspire other's to join this great cause and to become part of this year's CLIMB AGAINST THE ODDS team, guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience of a lifetime. You don't have to be a mountain climber to be a part of this team, so please come and learn more about this amazing journey.

THE CLIMB AGAINST THE ODDS is a benefit for the BREAST CANCER FUND, the BREAST CANCER FUND identifies-and advocates for elimination of - the environmental and other preventable causes of the disease.

No Host Bar and light snacks provided, this event is FREE so please spread the word to anyone you think might be interested in an inspirational journey of a lifetime.

Please feel free to call me if you have any questions. kim - 503.913.0069

Many thanks to THE CLEANERS AT ACE HOTEL for their generous donation of space for this event.

Cocona Xcelerator, is it really better?

2010-02-10T13:59:00.000-08:00

While walking the aisles at Outdoor Retailer I walked into the Cocona booth to learn a little about their newest technology Xcelerator™ that I read about before attending the show. Excelerator™ is a new form of Cocona technology that allows them to apply their technology to WPB laminates and 3-Layer fabrications further expanding where they are able to use their technology that offers these key features:

1) Coconut Activated Carbon - is a recycled sustainable material
2) It rapidly pulls moisture away from the skin
3) It spreads moisture across the surface to increase evaporation and drying
4) It attracts and traps odors that are released when it is washed
5) Washing and drying are good for it, refreshing it's abilities.

In a nutshell (or coconut shell) it makes you feel better, and makes you less stinky when you are working hard. And because it manages moisture so well, if you sweat like I do, it helps you stay warmer too by effectively managing the excess moisture, not to mention the stink.

I'm always skeptical about new technologies, can you really tell the difference, is there really a benefit? How will the customer/consumer understand it? So they gave me a sample to try it out, and for the first time ever a sample from a fabric/technology vendor was actually nice looking and fitting too! They also gave me a glove to try that has their laminate, insulation, and fleece inside a trifecta of Cocona!

All set for testing, but winter isn't cooperating as well as I'd like in the Pacific Northwest, but I'm hoping to get it on the mountain maybe tomorrow. In the meantime I've been maxing it out on the aerobic end to see if the stink part really works. I've even been putting it on at the gym after a big sweaty workout to wear around until I cool down. (My other jackets tend to stink to high heaven from this) So far, I can't smell any odor at all on the interior of the fabric, but the YKK pitzip is not holding up as well, there is an obvious stink on the zipper tape that does not exist on the fabric near by. Hmmmm. Stay Tuned, and if you want to test too head to their site and tell them why you'd be a great tester.

The Life & Love of Trees

2010-01-08T10:06:00.000-08:00

During my recent trip to San Francisco I weighed myself down with one book find after another. My MOST favorite of the loot is The Life & Love of Trees, with text by Lewis Blackwell.

Lewis Blackwell is recognized as a leader in creative and photographic practice. For almost a decade he led the creative development of the world’s largest photo agency, Getty Images, and previously he was widely regarded as a trend watcher and innovator with his work as editor/publisher of the prestigious title Creative Review. He is a visiting professor at the School of Creative Leadership at Steinbeis University, Berlin.

His books are considered some of the most critically acclaimed and bestselling in the creative field worldwide, and include The End of Print, Soon: The Future Culture of Brands, and Twentieth-Century Type.

I've always been inspired by nature, and besides the fact that this is mostly a "picture" book (designer's love them) the photo's are both inspirational and memorable at the same time. I found as I turned the pages that these photos invoked memories for me. For $50.00, you can't go wrong with adding this book to your coffee table or design library.

DoG - Get the code

2009-12-01T10:51:00.000-08:00

Full price is dead. You'll never have to choose between gear and groceries again

You gotta be crafty and sleuth your way in to Department of Goods, another new store from the team at Backcountry.com, selling the latest outdoor, surf, skate, bike, and mountain equipment from more than 400 pinnacle brands. Once discovered you might have just stumbled upon the promised land of premium gear. Boasting up to 70% off of tons of ski gear, up to 50% off everything bike, and up to 70% off of everything for riding too, how can you possibly go wrong?

Not convinced yet? Check out this snapshot of the array of products you'll find from DoG:

What's in that bottle?

2009-11-03T15:52:00.001-08:00

I've been looking at this bottle sitting in our bathroom for a couple of year's now, mind you it's more than a couple of year's old...a bottle of Spohn's Compound, a bottle that I inherited from my dad who is ditching his vintage bottle collection. A bottle that is inspiring to me, almost every time I look at it. A bottle worth sharing with friends, of a "Stimulating Expectorant for HORSES, MULES, DOGS, RABBITS, apparently one of those wonders of the early 1900's. A bottle that would tuck nicely inside of a LaMerde jacket for the occasion that a gentleman might need it.

When I say Airblaster what comes to mind?

2009-11-03T14:35:00.000-08:00

Spending some time hitting the streets in PDX this week and yesterday's travels had me at the US Outdoor Store, where making a purchase choice can cause a veritable quandary, there is surely enough outdoor gear to meet any single person on the planet's need for gear. Since the last time I truly looked in every nook and cranny of the store things have changed. First of all, the amount of gear in the store this time of year is overwhelming, the assortment for the square footage is enough to wear you out just pushing back one style to see another. (This is more true on the main floor than upstairs where it is refreshingly open in comparison.) Secondly, I didn't realize there was a bargain/sale annex upstairs...maybe it's a sign of the times, but it could have also been there before.

I have to admit I didn't spend too much time on the first floor except to confirm my suspicions that outdoor still remains well, you know, the same. It was great to see Armada's new outerwear collection front and center though on the half of the store that isn't dominated by The North Face. So I rather quickly ended up upstairs this trip. I immediately found two brands that I didn't see at SIA, of course they could have been there, but I didn't see them.

That brings me to Airblaster, a brand that touts themselves as being a small company from Portland, Bend OR, Lake Tahoe CA, and San Fran CA and a sketchy RV somewhere in the great USA. Just one look at the line I was able to admire their irreverence, this is what I believe is missing in the outdoor industry where everyone takes themselves way too seriously for irreverence. (I heard one of the store employees asking another if they "had" to go to Outdoor Retailer, and when the other said no and how boring the show was, the girl who will be going lamented the same.) US Outdoor had a pretty decent size assortment of this new partially local brand, always great to see local support.

The SUMO SUIT had me laughing right away, there is something a little phallic about it, luv it!

The line is sort of a fun mix of bold 80's colorblocking with crazy bright colors, as well as a nod to classic ski styling of the late 60's and 70's. You can easily see that in the aptly named BIG SKY jacket here

Another fun style is the COLORING BOOK jacket and pant, where you can customize panels with your own fantastic creations for a a truly one of a kind look.

If I say 80's you say Airblaster....

There is not as large of an assortment for the girlies, but you gotta love the DONNA jacket and STRETCH bib, think how dry your back will stay, these babies got you covered, and I gotta say it, wish there were more brights for the chica's we like color too.

I've yet to try them on or hear anything on fit/performance, but if I do will be sure to share. Keep thinking about snow, and stay tuned for more soon!

Portland Fashion Week Ready to Roll, benefitting Oregon Manifest

2009-10-19T15:34:00.000-07:00

On October 10th a different kind of fashion show happened celebrating the bike friendly spirit of PDX. Ready to Roll showcased new designs via a runway show highlighting both bikes and fashion together from Apres Velo, Cestelli, Hell Yes, Icebreaker, Keen, Nau, Patagonia, Simple Shoes, and Showers Pass to name a few. Thought I'd share a few photos that found inspiring from this event.

Fun Design Project for Filson

2009-10-13T22:12:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about having a freelance design studio is the variety of work and projects that you get to work on. Last Spring I worked together with the Filson team up in Seattle to create some new outerwear pieces for their collection. Filson is one of the few classic American heritage brands that has been in business for a very long time, since 1897.

1897 Klondike gold seekers come to C.C. Filson for rugged outfits to survive -50 cold.
1902 Loggers line up for Filson's new clothing line for loggers.
1914 Patent is granted for Filson Cruiser coat, still made and sold today.
1927 Filson Cruiser becomes copied extensively when patent expires.
1941 Filson expands its line of boots.
1945 U.S. Forest Service commissions new water repellent garments, dyed Forestry Green.
1985 Factory moves to Seattle's historic Pioneer Square, 5 blocks from original 1897 store.
1991 Luggage line is re-introduced, made of Rugged Twill and Bridle Leather.
1996 Fly fishing vests are introduced after 10 years of research and development.
1998 New lodge-like store opens in historic building 10 blocks from original location.
2003 Original Wool Shirt made of 100% virgin Merino wool is introduced.
2005 New Recoil Pad Technology introduced in our Super Shooting Shirts and in several of Shooting and Hunting Outerwear products. New, easier to use website introduced.

The office location is near to the flagship store in Seattle, and they are one of the few brands that still has a factory right there making oilcloth and leather clothing, bags, and goods right there. It is a beautiful thing to see the craftsmanship that goes into the pieces that they make. Here are a few of the pieces that were created for Filson by SY Design that you can now find on their website. It doesn't take long to realize that they take their slogan "Might As Well Have The Best," very seriously.

Classic Down never goes out of style, these pieces utilize a unique polyester/wool blend fabric with a special down proof construction. The fabric really gives these style a unique outdoor twist for Filson.

The Wingshooting Jacket is Filson's first lighter weight WPB hunting jacket. This was a fun style to create because it uses many of the latest technologies, and has integrated inside pocketing to accommodate a recoil pad for either left or right handed shooters.

The North Fork Wading Jacket for $325.00 is a beautiful classic fly fishing WPB jacket, that has been lightened up a little from what the traditional Filson look would normally be.

I'm back! Outside magazine, Gear of the Year Award 2010!!

2009-10-06T11:16:00.000-07:00

I know... I've fallen off the face of the earth with my blogging since mid-summer. What's a girl to do? Twitter has been growing like mad and I've been spending more time doing updates more often there. You can always check them out here for almost daily tweets about the outdoors, adventure, fashion, green living, music, etc.

But, I'm promising to get back at it again and start getting some blog posts going on a more regular basis too. Besides it's time to post some thoughts on all the new Fall/Winter product out there right now.

I was really excited to hear that the FirsTurn softshell jacket that I designed for Cloudveil recently won Outside magazine's Gear of the Year award for winter 2010! Yipee, it's not every day that it happens so when it does it's time to celebrate. Thought I would share some photos of the creation and final product here for you.

Here it was way back in March of 2008 when I created it...

Tons of details to call out for the factory to make sure it ends up being just right

and finally the finished product, voila`!

At What Price, a sustainable movie in the making.

2009-07-10T11:23:00.000-07:00

Change is all around us, and I was excited to read about this short film, "At What Price", that is currently filming and attempting to be as environmentally responsible as possible. Are we finally coming to the end of our oh so wasteful and multi-million dollar movie set days? Probably not yet, but this is at least a start.

Giving Back to the Community
The local community - in this case East Hollywood - was important to Enci's internal green dialogue. Catering for the film production will be serviced by local restaurants and produce vendors. The crew will be asked to bring in their own coffee mugs while washable utensils and plates will be provided with meals. The location of the shoot in East Hollywood is readily accessible by public transit and the crew is encouraged to avail themselves of L.A.'s public transit system to help minimize parking issues with local citizens and thereby shrink the production's environmental footprint further. Enci is also partnering with a local organization to plant trees in the neighborhood as a testament to her willingness to ensure a green film with a lasting benefit to the community.
First time director Enci intent to make film green.
Enci's pre-production checklist includes facilitating most decisions online where possible. Casting calls were via electronic submissions and all paperwork relating to the film is done online as At What Price? is a SAG production. This simple procedure mitigates paper waste. Production meetings are held in locations that are convenient to and accessible by all modes of public transport. "Up to this point," says Enci "the 'green' journey has been somewhat conceptual with a bit of drama thrown in as we grapple with shade-grown versus free-trade coffee choices for our production meetings."

With shooting of At What Price? set to commence in July, Enci has looked into sustainable lighting, set design and film options. If necessary, her outfit, Rebel Without a Car Productions, has even looked into the availability of a solar-powered generator.

The Green Machine
"My husband and I are getting a team together that is quite a mix," she says with regards to the crew that will see her film dream come to life. "Some are already 'green', carfree, vegetarian, and some are not even close to being green. We don't just want to preach to the choir, we want to inspire those who are not thinking about their carbon footprint or the future of the planet.

"All these people are very excited about helping and being part of this production. I also hope to inspire the 'non-green' people in our production to be more sustainable, to drive less, to bring their own mugs and to order their drinks in glass or china when they sit down in a coffee shop. I would also like to encourage them to buy locally grown fruits and vegetables or grow some produce themselves."

"Living sustainably has been always close to my heart," states Enci as she explains that her environmental concerns predate this film project. "I came to the U.S. almost 13 years ago and I love it here in America but I always found it shocking how much is wasted. Food, disposables, idling cars, a/c running with doors and windows open, etcetera. Through all my years of living here I have tried to recycle - even when it was difficult because recycling bins were not always readily available. I've always used canvas bags when I shop and I started riding a bike when my husband, not only encouraged me, but also rode along with me everywhere, until I felt comfortable enough to ride on my own," she says before adding proudly, "Now we're both car-free!"

Are Bolo Ties the Next Big Trend?

2009-04-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure I can bite off on this, but thought it was interesting that Refinery 29 said today:

"We Predict Bolo Ties Will be the Next Crazy Thing the Cool Kids Wear."

"In theory it's just a simple piece of neck wear, but there's something kind of rebellious about a bolo tie, like a little metallic trimmed f-you to the man and his pricey silk cravats. Pre-Madoff, we might have scorned the Rock-a-billy throwback, but after seeing a few rough-and-tumble trend setters tying one one, we've started to develop a definite string thing. Could it be that like Swine Flu (more on that later!), we've allowed this southwestern staple (and official tie of New Mexico) to invade our borders? After all, it's probably just the natural progression from this bow tie trend that's snuck away from its Upper East Side predecessors to the downtown kids, don't you think?"

And just in case you were wondering what is a Bolo? The bolo, or bola,was created in the late 1940s, when a silversmith named Victor Cedarstaff went riding with friends in the Bradshaw Mountains outside Wickenburg, Arizona. When the wind blew his hat off, Cedarstaff removed the hatband, which had a silver buckle he did not want to lose, and put it around his neck. When his friends complemented him on the new apparel, Cedarstaff returned home, and wove a leather string. He added silver balls to the ends and ran it through a turquoise buckle. Cedarstaff later patented the new neckwear, which was called the bolo because it resembled the lengths of rope used by Argentine gauchos to catch game or cattle. Now you know more than you'll ever need to know about a trend that may never happen! Giddy-up!

Globe-Trotter, hand made luggage

2009-04-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a new hat and bag project, and in my research I came across Globe-Trotter, and even though I can't fathom how much these babies must cost, they surely are a work of art, offering visual stimulation for sure. Keep your hands on your desk and take a look.

The one above is my fave, I'm not the girl to pick an outfit to go with my luggage, but these pieces conjure up images in my head of a girl in a crisp cotton dress, with a white linen dude hat, vintage shoes, and some sweet shades, waiting patiently at a tiny train station in Italia, all the while catching the eye of every guy near her. You know those stations right, tiny boardwalk surrounding the old station, cute flowers outside, and an old sign hanging from above denoting the station name. Usually there is a cigarette machine somewhere in the vicinity and a couple of sturdy wooden benches that could tell a million stories if they could talk. Who knew luggage could conjure up such thoughts?!?!

Ciao Bella!

The Cobrasnake

2009-04-07T11:16:00.000-07:00

You know you aren't just the average human when you are defined in Wikipedia:

Mark Hunter (photographer)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mark Hunter (born 1986, Los Angeles, California), best known by his pseudonym The Cobrasnake, is an American photographer based out of the Los Angeles area. He maintains a photoblog, The Cobrasnake (formerly known as Polaroid Scene), which predominantly chronicles Los Angeles hipster and underground party culture as well as documenting the high fashion world. The blog has risen to popularity as an internet phenomenon, and has since been featured in The Los Angeles Times , The New York Times, Nylon Magazine, the LA Weekly and a number of other arts, culture, and fashion publications.

So next time you need a little divine inspiration, here's another great place to get it, a gratis!

Inspired by Polaroid

2009-03-16T17:56:00.000-07:00

Read today about Elizabeth Soule Photography here in PDX, and then while looking around her site, I stumbled on this photo of hers of a Polaroid camera. There is something about the Polaroid that everyone has a fondness for. So I thought I would share these vintage Polaroid camera images, the colors are great and the images could inspire some great design.

I remember my parents having a flash like this on our camera as a kid, each time they took a picture a bulb would burn out until you had to change the whole thing. We've come a long way since then, but you just can't replace the Polaroid.

F'09 Trends at Retail - Outdoor Chic?

2009-03-09T13:53:00.000-07:00

Just read this on California Apparel News today

Fall '09: Hooked On Classics
Buyers were shopping for unique items and the best values during the recent trade shows in Las Vegas and San Diego. And the news from the trade show floor is that classics have returned. The look varied from outdoors-inspired chic to tailored-menswear silhouettes, and there was a rebirth of vintage à la "Mad Men."
Key looks such as the leather moto jacket were updated, the boyfriend jean continued and the plaid shirt made a huge statement on its own...

Start Tweeting!

2009-03-06T13:05:00.001-08:00

In the spirit of writing about everything and anything that's relevant to SY Design, here's something to consider if you haven't already, Twitter. Are you "tweeting" yet? Just RT(read this, in Tweet terms) at Fast Company about how fast, the free social messaging utility for staying connected in real time, is growing. I too am tweeting now, once you get on board you can follow my tweets too! But, keep it brief, no more than 140 characters per post!

And.....once you have an understanding for how the "game is played", you might appreciate the below parody.

"Twitter is down again, Mein Fuhrer", I apologize in advance if this offends anyone, please keep in mind it is a parody...

Tweet, tweet!

Send a Kid to Camp!

2009-03-03T16:31:00.000-08:00

This is something I am truly passionate about, anything and everything that contributes to getting kids outside. So here's a cool promotion from our friends at Mountain Hardwear. Go to this link everyday between now and April 15th, and each click you make will donate $1 towards Send a Kid to Camp. You can return to the site everyday to donate, and by all means help spread the word, they will donate up to $35,000 towards 10 different camps that have been selected for this promotion.

WHY OUTDOOR ORIENTED CAMPS FOR KIDS?

- Outdoor activities make kids healthier both mentally and physically
- Most adults who enjoy outdoor activities started as kids
- We loved our own camp experiences and want to share similar experiences with kids today

MTV's newest reality TV series

2009-02-23T10:38:00.000-08:00

Nitro Circus Big Wheel Back Flip - More bloopers are a click away

If you are on your last buck stuck at home watching TV dreaming about the adrenaline adventures you used to have money for... don't get rid of cable just yet, and check out MTV's newest reality TV show Nitro Circus. It revolves around the world's greatest freestyle motocross rider Travis Pastrana and his crew of top action sport athlete buddies and enablers. It's a little bit Jackass, Evel Knievel, Duke's of Hazard, and every stunt related thing you've ever dreamed up since you were a kid all insanely mixed together for a great escape from the reality of life right now.

Chino's and Khaki's Oh My!

2009-02-20T10:39:00.002-08:00

I guess it is inevitable, in fashion everything repeats itself, but we seem to be on a fast track to the early nineties, yesterday I was shopping at Lizard Lounge and was talking with the girl there who buys for them about my crazy cute suspender jeans from Stitch's, and we ended up on the subject of khaki's. She mentioned that she is dying to get some into the store, and that the ones she has seen so far...are different from those of the 90's...with the washes that they can apply to them now, etc. This all makes so much sense too, after all the bold brights from the late 80's hitting us as we crashed into a huge recession now things are starting to get a little more somber and realistic, less bling for sure and less flash. She mentioned that she really wants to get in some Pendleton shirts for Fall as well, I think this goes hand in hand with a return to things that are more local too as we all work to climb out of this recession we have to think about supporting things closer to home.

Taking Snowboarding to a New Level...

2009-02-09T11:52:00.000-08:00

I first heard about MTNOPS while talking with Paul Maravetz co-founder of Rome SDS, he mentioned that a lot of the guys around the office at Rome have been talking about them and were excited about their launch at SIA. They have a great online community with their "Riding Journal" users. One the first products that they launched was their weather proof riding journal. A collaboration with Rite in the Rain, the ALL-WEATHER RIDING JOURNAL is inspired by aviation and divers log books, to track the days you ride during the season. Everything from weather, to who you ride with, conditions, location and highlights are covered. In addition, the book features a "to work on section' to track your personal progression. And now with the use of iPhones and crackberry's, they also have a digital version of the journal so you can upload your day as it happens. Depending on how old you are and your level of "in the know", you might be wondering what the hell? But, you should check it out.

At SIA they were also launching their first products, 3 snowboards, down jackets, hoodies, knit hats...all MADE IN THE USA, another key point of differentiation for these guys. We all talk about getting more "local", and these guys are making it happen.

MTNOPS, Live Snowboarding every time you log in.

Top 7 Green Ski Resorts in US

2009-02-05T12:01:00.000-08:00

I was glad to see this article from Treehugger today showcasing the top 7 Greenest Ski Destinations in the US, and even more happy that our own backyard playground Mt. Bachelor made the list!

1. The Aspen Skiing Company, Aspen, Colorado
2. Smugglers’ Notch Family Resort, Smugglers' Notch, Vermont
3. Park City Mountain Resort, Park City, Utah
4. Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, Bend, Oregon
5. Sundance Resort, Sundance, Utah
6. Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, Hancock, Massachusetts
7. Alta Ski Area, Alta, Utah

Feeling Grungy? Me too.

2009-02-04T11:44:00.001-08:00

I found these shots from the ASR show that just happened last week in Cali, I felt it coming and now it's looking to be true, we're heading away from pure eighties into early nineties grunge, but there are new twists, and note all the high top sneakers, if you don't have any yet, put some on your list.

"Hot apparel trends for Fall ’09 were showcased in a nothing short of bold action-sports tradition during the Jan. 22–24 run of the show. Inspired by the edgy looks of the London Underground scene, the show combined plaids, stripes and checks with a mash-up of vibrant colors, textured fabrics and shiny glam fabrics. The look was reminiscent of the 1990s with a nod to the Kurt Cobain era of grunge. And there were plenty of T-shirts and denim to cover all fashion bases." - California Apparel News

Stylesightings, it's Free!

2009-01-17T20:16:00.000-08:00

It seems like everything in the "trend service" arena has a cost attached to it, that's one of the reasons that I love Stylesightings, it's free, and it's actually good! They have a trend service that you can subscribe to, but if you just want a taste of some great fashion when you are out there surfing around for trends then be sure to give them a try, I think you'll like it....

I'm off to the Outdoor Retailer show and then SIA soon after so stay tuned for more postings soon!
Love this bag...

Winter is finally here!

2008-12-17T10:39:00.000-08:00

SY Design, resident office dog and total slacker, Jasper

We've all been on pins and needles wondering if this winter was going to happen, waiting patiently, putting of that new jacket purchase until the last minute, but now it looks like it has finally arrived nearly everywhere with a vengeance. My top wishes for this season: a trip to Mt. Baker, and some time at Whistler with my friends from Extremely Canadian. If you have some extra cash and want to get the very most out of your trip to Whistler, check them out, they have the best freeskiers and riders on the mountain who know where all the best stashes are and take you there and beyond, and the apres' at Merlin's is one you won't forget with neverending beer and nachos mounded as high as you can see. Below are some shots of stuff, good stuff, you should take a minute and check it out, and then make plans to get outside, winter is here!

Priscilla Levac's snowboarding part from Ride Rats from Ride Snowboards on Vimeo.

Rome SDS rider LNP, love the colors in this shot. Below is a shot of just the sweet bus.

A recent shot from Mt. Baker, courtesy of Dog Lotion, oh how I long to be there.

Laura Hadar opened up her new boutique store FICE in Salt Lake City. A men's and women's snow, skate, street culture store, and art gallery, featuring apparel from companies such as WESC, ALIFE, Upper Playground, Insight, Nikita, Keep, Creative Recreation, Supra, Super, KR3W, MOB, Hellz Bellz, and more.

Sweet Nikita Down Jacket, the color and style are great.

I have to confess I've been thinking about this jacket since I saw it at ISPO last year, Burton's Women's AK 3L STATIC JACKET. I love it's simplicity, performance, and great style. I was very excited when I noticed today on the Burton site that it was on sale, just enough to reel me in, can't wait to try it out!

And last but not least there is a new snowboard shop here in PDX, Epic, 2318 NW Vaughn Street. Add them to the growing list of places to visit when you are in P-town again.

a great place for inspiration

2008-12-01T12:27:00.000-08:00

It's always fun to share great resources for inspiration and design ideas, if it's not on your list already, you should check out designboom. The site is focused on industrial design, but in a "Wallpaper" sort of way that really goes across many different categories of design and products. Below are just a few images from the "Design" segment of their site.

This bent plywood chair makes me think about new ways to use laser cutting and moulding together on garments.

This Audi concept car provides inspiration for backpacks, bags, gloves, trims, and more.

There's something about the irony in this piece that is really intriguing.

They also recently had a green earth contest, where entrants were charged with creating a 'green' graphic that illustrated environmental protection and how human beings and nature could coexist in a greener world. And incorporating 'earth' by giving the gift of a greener world at christmas.... Here are some of the winners:

You can also check out DESIGN-AEROBICS for some affordable online courses that include topics like, self promotion, sport, textiles, childhood, etc. I like the classes because they encourage you to think outside the box and expand your horizons beyond your everyday comfort zone.

I always find architecture very inspirational in apparel and product design, here are just a couple parting shots until next time...

Sweet Japanese Selvedge Denim at Jean Shop

2008-11-16T21:49:00.000-08:00

I stumbled into Jean Shop by accident one night on the way back to my hotel in the Meatpacking District while in NYC. You know the drill, it's the end of the day and your feet are throbbing, but you pass a new shop, it looks good enough to step inside...and the rest is history. These are my new most favorite jeans, the shot of Tequila that they served me while we sealed the deal was a nice touch too! GQ magazine calls Jean Shop "One of the top 100 stores in the country", and I can see why. They are very low key and under the radar but their denim is amazing.

"Jean Shop...has become an international phenomenon in authentic, vintage-quality blue jeans for men & women. With a focus on excellence in exclusive Japanese selvedge denim fabrics & superior detailed workmanship, the interactive & hand-crafted custom finishing is executed in-house by our own Jean Shop production team. In addition to the finest jeans that can be had, we offer our own line of washed & distressed leather jackets & shirts, along with a wide range of luxurious tees, plush & colorful hoodies, kick-ass belts, custom washed & tinted Filson bags, cool original jewelry, & more. Recently, a selection of exclusive, custom-treated men’s footwear has been added. Jean Shop’s innovative spirit, independent uniqueness, & unyielding commitment to quality never ends."

If you love good denim check 'em out next time you are in NYC, or if you look around you'll find them in some of the best denim boutiques as well.

NYC Inspiration

2008-11-10T11:22:00.000-08:00

Inspiration is everywhere we all see it in different ways, process it differently, and then create things that somehow are related but different, it's an amazing process. Below is a sampling of images from my trip to NYC, pardon the quality of some of them, I had to sneak some with my iPhone sometimes yielding not the best quality.

Kid Robot has a cult following amongst some of the the hippest streetwear crowd, their Soho store had some great pieces and the website is totally worth checking out, I especially liked the zipper that you can see on the backpack here (It stands out more in person), a colored coil zipper tape, with approx. #8 size Shiny Silver Coil teeth, they also had this on a down puffy jacket and it looked really sweet.

This sweatshirt had some nice details, my dressing room photo didn't really do it justice, but another notable trend was the use of many different fabrics to create a wide band around the openings of hooded sweatshirts. I say this trend everywhere, and there were some really fun different types of fabrics used, and lots of different widths of bands.

Also loved these zippers on a Burton AK women's style. Waterproof Vislon with a black sparkly tape.

Snapped this quick in ABC Carpet and Home, the colors in the artwork and the style were both inspiring to me.

Also at ABC, check out the great color and shape, and the contrast to the surroundings.

Found this amazing chair in Williamsburg, the whole thing is made with pieces of webbing in various colored that are tension set over a metal frame to create this chair. I found the idea intriguing for some of the product design that I do, and the colors are great!

This use of newsprint in a store window on 5th Avenue was inspiring too.

It also reminded me of this newsprint denim swatch that I saw at fabric vendor meeting with a Japanese supplier during the Outdoor Retailer show this summer, it looks a little "sleepy" here but the idea is intriguing if used in combination with some other techniques.

Check out this expensive chair from a sweet boutique in Williamsburg, THE FUTURE PERFECT, the duct tape use is actually a feature of the style. The this store has a lot of great pieces that are inspirational and totally worth checking out.

Still waiting for the temperatures to drop so more snow can fly here, I'm dying for a trip to Whistler for some mountain time and great people watching. Think Snow!

More From Paragon Sports

2008-11-05T07:17:00.000-08:00

In continuation from yesterday...
I also heard from Paragon that Patagonia is seeing a lot more action this season than it has for several years. She attributed it to stronger design that looked much better and was getting noticed by the customer. In NYC, and Paragon, I also believe it has a lot to do with the sales people on the floor. In my experience when the staff there gets "behind" something they sell the hell out of it. You don't have to listen in on too many conversations between the customer and the staff, to realize that a good majority of people who shop at Paragon rely very heavily on the staff to guide them in their purchases.

One of the stand out styles for me from Patagonia on their floor was the Women's Powder Bowl at $400.

The fit of this jacket is super sleek, when I put it on it was by far my favorite of all the ones that I tried on, I did find the fit much larger than most brands though so I had to size down to an X-Small for it to fit properly. The collar and hood were comfortable and very functional, A+++. I checked out more about this one on the internet and found out that it is a "green" jacket, the outershell is a stretch 2.5 Layer using a recycled 150 Denier 100% poly with their H2No Waterproof Breathable Barrier.
The jacket is then lined with a 100% recycled stretch polyester taffeta (now I know why it still felt so good even when I bent my arms and wrapped them around my shoulders) and....it is insulated with their light and compressible Thermogreen (90% recycled) insulation. This is a dreamy combination!

There were plenty of other good pieces on the floor but the final standout for me was a style from Icebreaker, the Women's Chelsea Hood 340 for $249.00, youch, that's a lot for a long sleeve wool sweater type of piece!

Part of what appealed to me was the length, so many brands in the outdoor industry are way too short in their layering for women, the trend in sportswear is long lengths, and somehow it's been slow to catch on for outdoors. (This by the way was very evident at Marmot, almost every women's layering piece looked so short, and therefore to me instantly dated them.) I was shopping with another design friend and we both agreed the Chelsea Hooded was very nice but the one deal breaker was the waistband. For some reason they designed in a waistband with partial drawcord, we couldn't see any advantage to this with all the amazing stretch in the fabric, but there was a major disadvantage, the band was very bulky and looked like they had a hard time keeping the curves in it from stretching out during production. We loved the entire style, but this one thing was enough for most women to put this style back on the rack, at $249.00 you sort of expect perfection.

After such a long time upstairs it was great to head downstairs to see the ski/snowboard stuff, and my patience for taking such tedious notes was wearing a little thin. The first thing I noticed was that the front snowboard section was a little lighter in product than I remembered in seasons past. The snowboard brands represented the most were Burton, some Bonfire, and Volcom. Down on the "ski" area of the sales floor there was a familiar sea of product and the one piece that stood out in a huge way was the Kjus Women's Val Down Jacket, there were only 2 of them left on the floor!
In fact this is one of my very favorite pieces since I first saw it as ISPO. But it has a Kjus price tag that puts it above $450.00...darn it. There's not much to say except it's amazingly cute, great style, amazing fit, and great colors, something like this for less $$$ would be fantastic!

On a distracted side note, while searching for a photo of the Val on the internet I also found this cute down style from Peak Performance, haven't seen anything more than this photo, but it looks interesting. Still more to come from NYC soon!

Paragon Sports, The East Coast Outdoor Barometer (post 1)

2008-11-04T07:29:00.000-08:00

For the outdoor industry Paragon is always a good barometer of what's going on. I haven't been to New York in a couple years and a trip to Paragon is always a couple of hours of time for me. The thing I noticed first when I climbed the stairs to the outdoor floor, is that TNF now accounts for at least 1/3 of the entire assortment if not a little more. There was rack after rack of in my eyes, very generic looking styles, that are sold largely on the name brand (my assumption). I also noticed that the outdoor outerwear section has grown to be even larger than before so the increase in TNF product is even more significant.

I also noticed that Columbia Sportswear no longer has any outerwear on this floor where they once had an entire shop, a sign of the times?

There is a lot more Isis product everywhere this Fall, and Paragon was no exception, I found about three 4-ways of Isis product, not too far from the front of the floor amidst the sea of TNF product. It's great to see some of the smaller brands seeing growth too!

I talked with one of the key sales people on the floor who has been there for 10 years and the first thing that she mentioned was that they have had a lot of interest in Scapegoat this year. There was a nice area of the floor dedicated to Scapegoat probably 10-12 styles or so of urban meets outdoor. After hearing that, I had to try a few on because they were alluring to me, a nice mix of style and function, for more casual use, though I probably wouldn't have considered these styles for anything more than apres' use on the mountain.
I really liked "The Standard Jacket" for $275.00. It featured a YKK metal zipper at the front that they call out on their website as being special, I liked the look, but on the jackets that I tried, it was a little rickety especially for the lightweight fabric the zipper kept catching in the zipper guard. But even with that I liked the look of the jacket so much. It had Primaloft Eco insulation and a great use of a rib knit trim and some Bemis adhesive throughout the group that made them unique. I tried the Medium and it fit very nice almost tempting me into buying it.

I also really liked the look of the Flux, but the horizontal stitching with the lightweight fabric must have been hard for the factory to make because the front of the jackets were sort of "wonky" and uneven and this style did not fit as nicely when I tried it on. A, for the idea, but execution needs improvement to support that $275.00 price tag.

Overall, the Scapegoat line was refreshing because they have done a decent job of using some muted soft colors that are very street friendly but fresh feeling. And the subtle differences with the unique use of Bemis adhesive and their sumptuous rib trim make it stand out from the sea of sameness out there.

Since this posting is already larger than I thought, I'll have to do another posting about the rest of what I saw and heard at Paragon.....soon! Be sure to get out and vote today!

Re-Shirt, used T-Shirts with a History...

2008-11-03T07:50:00.000-08:00

I was planning to post some trends today but then a friend sent me this last night and I thought you might want to check it out too. Re-Shirt is a simple concept,

re-search
every Re-Shirt tells a unique story about its owner:
e.g. career step, a journey, an unforgettable concert. we collect those shirts with a story and give them a new life with a registered Re-Shirt label.
re-use
if you become a Re-Shirt user, type in your shirt code and keep on writing the story. the longer your shirt is in use the more it helps to keep existing cotton resources in circulation.
re-think
10,000 liters of water are needed to produce a new cotton shirt. Re-Shirts save resources in a completely new way. every Re-Shirt story makes a difference.

I visited their site and found T-shirts from around the world, each with a story from the user, and each priced at 25 Euros. (You can purchase on-line from anywhere in the world with a paypal account) Below is an example of just one of the shirt stories:

This T-shirt is from the legendary xxx parties. You got a phone number you had to call and then you got the info where the party would take place the same night. In 1991 I moved to Vienna and I heard about this parties. I had to be there. Today I am married with one of the organizers of the xxx events and this T-shirt is the souvenier I keep for all those years.
men/large/white
shirt story provided by Bea, Austria

More trends tomorrow!

new york, new york!

2008-10-30T13:59:00.000-07:00

Just back in PDX from a sweet, week long trip to NYC, where it's more obvious than ever that the economy is suffering, but still there is shopping to be done and people on the streets doing what they do best. Thought I'd start out with this teaser so that I'm committed to the rest of the details sooner rather than later.

It's no secret that the late 70's and mid-late 80's are a key influence for trends out there right now, but I don't think it has reached it's peak just yet. In Saks there was just one rack of neon bright jeans, but lots of other influences that are so 80's!

Another thing that reminded me of this was this neighborhood showing of ghostbusters in a park in the Hell's Kitchen area of the city that I went to with my friend who lives in the city.

While watching this for the first time in it's entirety, I was reminded of how much time has gone by since this was filmed, the fact that both of the other times I went to see it were at drive-in theaters, and the classic gentleman's look that is often seen on Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray in this film are another one of the key trends out there in the market right now.

One of my client's is Filson, and I can't tell you how many times I saw their bags in some of the hippest boutiques, a guy at Jean Shop in Soho told me that were excited about a new collection from Filson that includes wool bags too.

Stay tuned over the next few days for news from Paragon, the Burton Store, Williamsburg, and the streets of Soho. Happy Halloween!

the Designers Accord

2008-10-15T20:49:00.000-07:00

As a designer and creator of "stuff" I have become acutely aware of the "things" that I am creating and what they exponentially become long after leaving my desk as a crude pencil sketch. In the last year I find myself asking how I can make a difference as a designer to help affect change for my clients. For every project that take I try to make at least one suggestion to help reduce, recycle, reuse, or suggest a material that might have less impact. I was excited when I recently read an article in Fast Company magazine about the Designers Accord

The Designers Accord is a global coalition of designers, educators, researchers, engineers, and corporate leaders, working together to create positive environmental and social impact.
The Designers Accord is made up of over 100,000 members of the creative community, representing 100 countries, and each design discipline.

the Designers Accord was created by Valerie Casey, of Ideo, she originally dubbed it the "Kyoto treaty" of design. If you'd like to learn more about Valerie and the Designers Accord, read the article from Fast Company, and in the meantime think about ways that you too can make a change to benefit the future of design.

Below is one of mine, the Retread Doggy for a client in the pet industry. Dog toys are most literally throw away items, their life span often isn't all that long, so I came up with Retread toys, they utilize recycled poly fleece, recycled stuffing, and excess leftover overstock prints from the open market or local factories that would likely eventually be discarded. Every dog has his own unique sweater no two are alike. I also suggested using a PLA(corn fiber) squeaker inside instead of the traditional plastic ones, and each toy comes complete with the retread toys label.

Change comes little by little and if we all pledge to be part of the solution the end result will be huge.

New York Times Article, "Fall Picks From Those Who've Seen It All"

2008-09-23T12:32:00.000-07:00

Found this today on Design Public's blog "Hatch", it's a short article from the 'Times, listing some of the best design blogs, there were even a few that were new to me, definitely worth checking out for some "divine inspiration"! And speaking of great design blog's be sure to check out Hatch too!

Wordle

2008-09-11T22:10:00.000-07:00

You can file this under random things that waste time but are seemingly addictive to try out anyway. I read about Wordle and before I knew it I had created my own, give it a try it's fun to see what you get. MIne was randomly generated from my blog content, sort of funny that Horny got separated from Toad, I guess nothing works exactly as you plan. Have a great weekend!

All in a Days Work

2008-09-03T16:19:00.001-07:00

This past week had me thinking about just how much fun I have with SY Design, there aren't many jobs where all in one week you can work on Earth Day graphics for gDiapers

the hippest stuff you can come up with for Orage's Fall/Winter 2010 collection

really fun print and pattern design for Outward Hound pet products, and next wave of fly fishing gear for Cloudveil's Spring 2010 line.

What even makes it better was capping it all off with a tax deductible "R&D" trip to Jackson, Wyoming... self employment does have it's perks.

Hope you all are just as happy doing whatever it is that brought here to read this. Get outside and enjoy the last of summer while you still can, there was snow in the mountains in Jackson this past weekend, and it's been raining a ton back home in PDX, looks like winter might come early! Fall/Winter trend updates coming soon... in the meantime check out this prehistoric looking creature that we found on the way to Crystal Creek in Jackson... keep in mind that he is sitting on top of a horse turd, so you know that he is giant in size, can you imagine having him fly into you on the trail?

Cool Stuff Cheap

2008-08-05T21:57:00.000-07:00

If you are a fan of good design then get on the list at undrgrnd.com, it's an online store from San Francisco, with no frills customer service, but steep deals on cool design. One deal event every weekday.....

Doing it 80's Style

2008-07-14T11:17:00.000-07:00

You know you aren't as young as you once used to be when something you wore in High School is now considered trendy with the "hipster" crowd in vintage stores, yikes, it's happening to me! Today, I stumbled upon Nasty Gal, for the discerning fashionista, and was sent back in time when I saw these sweet vintage styles, certainly inspirational and fun to look at too!

Doing it 80's Style

2008-07-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

This ski jacket from Ossi, is selling for $64.00, probably the same or more than it cost in the 80's, look at that piecey chopped up color blocking, and what about those colors!

A few years ago I too had a leather jacket just like this....

Great color inspiration for boarding, or maybe a more adventurous outdoor brand?

First Thursday, and P Town Outdoor Style

2008-07-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

I have to admit it has been awhile since I've made it out to a first Thursday, but today (forgot to finish posting this until just now) was a perfect one, 75 degrees with a nice breeze blowing, and people everywhere. I had a little monkey on my back, (my daughter) but still managed to get around the Pearl to see what was happening tonight.

If you haven't been to Portland recently, it's become quite the great place for outdoor inspiration, we've got just about everything you need to see to get a good "left" coast outdoor vibe, with big guys like The North Face, Patagonia, Columbia, and Mountain Hardwear all with freestanding flagship stores here, and a good mix of smaller brands including Lucy, Lululemon, Title Nine, Ice Breaker, and Nau. Not to mention some great specialty stores too, U.S. Outdoor Store, REI, and The Mountain Shop.

In addition to these, there are some other great newer places that are must sees as well. One of them is Lizard Lounge, by Horny Toad, this is a hip "lounge" where streetwear and outdoor come together blended with random Horny Toad styles throughout to create a great mix.

Another place worth visiting any time of year is Signal Sports not far from REI in the Pearl District. This is an outdoor specialty store entirely focused on women. Skiing, snowboarding, streetwear, and outdoor lifestyle. If you are in town it's definitely worth checking out, they carry tons of great brands, have great customer service, and it is always fun to see what product assortment they have.

Bright!!

2008-05-20T21:47:00.000-07:00

Continuing on the theme of color, here are a few mountain shots showcasing the importance of brights, dare I say Neon colors.

Photos courtesy of SheJumps

"SheJumps is a community dedicated to acknowledging, inspiring, and supporting women to reach their potential. By creating an online magazine, challenging events, and financial support, SheJumps is bringing those of us together who are willing to take a risk to reach our potential. We as individuals are committed to challenging, encouraging and supporting the community to reach places it has never imagined. There literally is no mountain too large and we’re proving it."

Get Inspired on flickr

2008-05-20T21:12:00.000-07:00

Just in case you are tired of getting your color trends spoon fed to you from those expensive color trend services, or...maybe you don't want to fork over the dough for those services (we agree) take a look at flickr and I'll promise that with a little patience you'll get inspired. Just head to their site and start typing in random search words, my only warning is to keep track of time because before you know it, an hour or even more has gone by. But, there are some incredible FREE finds. Here are just a few to get you started:

Eyewash Design

The 10 Cent Designer

Walkabout Wolf

Happy Hunting!

Progress Progress!

2008-05-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

We're at day 3 now on the new studio space and amazingly enough by the end of the day tomorrow it should be complete! At the end of day 1, the foundation was complete and ready for floor and walls to go up.

During Day 2 a lot of progress is made with all walls up by the end of the day.

On Day 3 more details on the roof are completed, all pre-wiring is done, and AC unit is installed.

Stay tuned for the final shots soon!

New digs for SY Design

2008-05-16T10:42:00.000-07:00

Greetings from a sweltering hot PDX, with the temps pushing into the 90's today it looks like summer may be finally on it's way! Some of you visited our old office in the North Coast Seed Building...

It was great raw industrial space with 30 foot ceilings, but the time has come for a few changes at SY Design. First of all, in order to have more flexibility I'm working independently, and... SY Design is moving to a new studio space that is currently in the process of being built as of today!

Modern Shed is a local "left" coast company from Seattle who makes a wide range of modern pre-fab buildings.

"Modern Shed is simply about storage, fun, space, architecture and your back yard. It gives you the chance to have an office away from home, a small art studio, or free up room in the garage. Stop paying offsite storage and increase the value of your home. Available in 5 styles. All parts are pre-finished and panelized." They also utilize a lot of green building options including: Denim Insulation, FSC certified lumbar, cork flooring, and Trex decking to name a few. Stay tuned for photos showing the building process from start to finish. The new SY Design studio will be complete in as few as 5 days!

Box Doodle

2008-05-08T10:25:00.000-07:00

Here in PDX we seem to be having a never ending winter, it's May and we're still wearing down coats! If you too are looking for something to chase away the grey, Box Doodle might be your answer, "the rules are quite simple: rearrange a box to make any kind of figure or object. make the most of least." Something fun to do on another one of those rainy days, and inspirational graphic art too!

ISPO Trend Report

2008-02-11T09:45:00.001-08:00

The winter 2008 ISPO was a great show...there was so much to see! The show is absolutely massive, with many different trends popping up in the various display halls. The look from the ski area to the snowboard varied widely, with some brands focusing on performance, and others pulling out all the stops to be the trendiest.

One trend that seemed to gap the ski/snowboard boundry was the use of bright and neon 'pop' colors. One thing we saw everywhere was the use of these bright tones as accents on jackets (zippers, pulls, linings, drawcords.) Or as accesories like hats and goggle being paired with a neutral jacket.

It was fun to see some retro styles making a comeback on the ski side. We noticed that Patagonia was offing more retro pieces, harkening back to their original styles. This jacket even has the original Patagonia label.

Classic old-school brand Powderhorn looked great at the show. Our friend Teri did a lot of the designs! Their use of 70s styling and colors was fun, and they had some really nice leather accents on quite a few of their pieces. (Plus Meghan designed these hats.)

On the ski side, we saw a lot of bright, pure colors, and not many prints. Bright, contrasting waterproof zippers continues to be popular.
Colors at Arcteryx:

At Helly Hansen:

One brand that we really liked was Cross. They are a Scandinavian brand, and had a nice mix of fashion and performance.

Nike ACG displayed an interesting collaboration with Pendleton wool. Pendleton is know for their high quality wool fabrics, and classic navajo blanket patterns. Nike teamed up with fellow Oregon based Pendleton to create this custom navajo fabric, very cool.

On the snowboard side, one of our favorites was 686. They offered some great prints, has interesting trims and details, and more of their own style than the some other board brands. This digital print of x-ray images was very cool.

686 also did a nice plaid. There have been so many plaids over the last couple of seasons that all look the same, it was nice to see this fresh approach. This jacket also has cool fabric covered buttons and metal rivet details.

Burton's Analog line offered this jacket, a digital print of buffalo plaid. If you look closely, you can see that all of the pockets and trims are actually printed on! Digital printing is steadily gaining a following, and with no limit to the colors or amount of detail it can produce, it will be interesting to see what happens with this technology.

One trend that was hard to ignore... the 80s are back in a big way. Lots of neon colors, especially paired with black. We saw a lot of bold, geometric prints and patterns, and much less of the neutral tones and menswear inspired fabrics of seasons past. Get ready for next winter to be bright!
Quicksilver:

Classic gaper style from Killy:

80's inspired board graphics from Rossignol:

Beers, Brats, and Beemers

2008-02-04T10:20:00.000-08:00

Guten Tag! Well, we made it back in one piece from our big trip to Germany to see the IPSO show last week in Munich. We had a great trip, saw some cool things at the show, and soaked up a little European culture touring around Munich. We're putting together a trend report of all the new and exciting things we saw at the show, but first, some of the fun stuff!
We spend the day before the show seeing some sights, and took a trip out to the brand new BMW Welt building, part of the BMW factory. This place is pretty amazing, worth the trip for any design or architecture fan. We got to check some new car models, some concept cars and ideas, and shop in the cool design book shop.

Yeah, I'd trade my Subaru in for one of these please...

We even got to 'ride' some of the awesome BMW motorcycles on display. This one was a huge Mad Max type of road bike with lots of industrial looking boxes on it.

Off-roading, Beemer style...

Here is a view inside the BMW Welt building, pictures do not do it justice

A view of BMW headquarters across the street

Right next to the BMW factory is the Olympic park, home of the infamous 1972 Summer Olympics, where terrorists killed 11 Israeli athletes and coaches. (Check out the movie Munich about the incident.) The Olympic park was a very surreal place. It was like a ghost town, even on a nice sunny day. The glass spider-web like structures were interesting, but very dated looking. Kinda creepy!

The old ticket booths are still there!

Here is a sign telling visitors not to sled or ski down a hill right onto the Autobahn! How do you say 'Duh!' in German?

Apart from the sightseeing, we made sure to take in some of the local cuisine. Meghan tried to sample every German beer possible. In Munich, beer drinking is not just a leisure activity, it is a serious sport! We saw people drinking huge mugs of beer starting first thing in the morning, with their breakfast pastry. There was plenty of places to grab traditional Bavarian fare, we tried some of the sausages, but stayed far away from the the local favorite, boiled pigs knuckles...yikes!
Not on the South Beach diet...

Another fun sight was people getting ready for upcoming Carnival week. There were plenty of costume displays in the department stores. It seemed to be more like Mardi Gras than Halloween, with lots of wacky costumes, nothing scary. This one was pretty funny, kind of a Mexican Disco Hippie, maybe it's a German thing.

The grass is always greener

2008-01-09T15:33:00.000-08:00

In today's ever changing world, where great storms and huge shifts in weather are finally bringing some attention to global warming, 2008 seems like a year of big change. We wanted to share any of the great new green things that we find along the way during our research this year.

Found this one today, inhabitat, is a weblog devoted to the future of design, tracking the innovations in technology, practices and materials that are pushing architecture and home design towards a smarter and more sustainable future.

Ever wondered what could be done with a 1,200 foot spool of rope? Designer Josh Urso answers the question with this marvelous innovation in table design: KNOOP (Dutch for “knot”) is his latest line of table designs, which uses resin-impregnated military-grade rope to deliver wonderful inspiration to often discarded materials.

These AVITA RECYCLED CASHMERE FASHION's are very inspiring with some great inspirational silhouette's.

The site has so much good information and good design, definitely worth a peek!

Dog Lotion Anyone?

2008-01-09T12:56:00.000-08:00

The revolution was a long time in brewing, long overdue. But yes, slowly but surely, skiers will take over the universe. As always before, Doglotion.com is out on a mission to keep the spirit of freeskiing alive and thrivin', to showcase the lighter side of skiing, and to entertain fellow shredders. Now as a fully interactive community, everyone can be involved. Make your own blog, update the forum, or tell us about other ski blogs that belong on the site. It'll be growing quickly, and soon enough, all things worth knowing about skiing will be chillin' in one easy to find spot.

Our friend Jamie Bond is one of the skiing forces behind Dog Lotion, check it out and get outside for a minute, even if it's only from your desk!

A Home For the Holidays

2007-12-17T16:21:00.000-08:00

We love dogs here at SY. We have had a blast designing all kinds of dog products for Outward Hound, and enjoy the company of our furry friends in the office. About a month and a half ago we added to the pack...Meghan adopted a rescue pit pull!

Meghan has had her boy dog, Iggy, for a while now... and he was jonsing for a girlfriend. Meghan found Iggy through a terrific resource for adopting animals in need, Petfinder. She found her new addition there as well. Petfinder is a huge database for animal shelters. It is simple as inputting in the type of animal you are looking for, your zip code, and you are on your way of finding your new best friend. There are thousands of great pets on Petfinder, all in need of a loving home. If you are looking for a pet to join your family, consider a rescue animal. I swear they love you twice as much for bringing them home!

Our new office addition is a spunky little lady. Her name is Motley. She is about 2 years old, with a small bulldog-like body and giant silly bat ears. You would never know that Motley has had such a rough time in her young life. Like many pit bulls, she was unloved, branded as an outcast, and abused. Pit bulls, more than any other bread, are misunderstood and feared by many. Most pit bulls that enter animal shelters never come out again. While they are indeed powerful and tenacious dogs, they are incredibly loyal and loving. Most pit bulls want nothing more than to sit on your lap and cuddle! You can learn some interesting facts about pit bulls here.

Here is Motley! She is a very smart and inquisitive girl. Likes: Snuggling, playing fetch, microwave popcorn, belly rubs. Dislikes: Squirrels, rainy days, bath time.

Soaking up the warmth on a chilly winter night:

Iggy and Motley do everything together, but Iggy still likes to hog the spotlight!

New best friends...

L.A. Fashion Report

2007-11-29T13:38:00.000-08:00

Our recent trip to L.A. was quite an adventure, and we noticed many fashion trends worth sharing. From the surf scene down at Huntington Beach to the look-of-the-moment crowd on Robertson Blvd, there was a huge mix of trends in the L.A. area.

In Huntington Beach and places like the C.A.M.P. in Costa Mesa, the look for guys was pretty down to earth. In both Jack's Garage and Huntington Surf And Sport, there was a sea of browns, tans, black and neutral shades. Plaids were everywhere! From the lumberjack look to more menswear inspired plaids, there was no escape. Stripes were big as well, as well as some fun interpretations on sweater prints.

Sweater knit prints for guys:

Buffalo Plaid reigns supreme:

More plaid styles from Quicksilver and Matix. Quilted hoodies, especially from Matix were in all of the shops at the beach. Matix seems be be gaining a strong following.

Aside from all the plaid, we saw a lot of solid color outerwear with a strong utility and military feel. There was a much larger offering of solid color jackets than colorblocked. Many jackets had large boxy pockets, and metal snaps and button were prevalent. Jacket by Penfield:

The sport shops in Huntington had a wide selection for girls, some trends were similar to men's. There were quite a few plaids, and stripes especially were everywhere. There was an onslaught of houndstooth and checkerboard prints from many brands.

Hurley Sweatshirt:

This type of long stripe top was popular:

Shopping on Melrose and Robertson Blvd was a totally different scene than the beach. Style for women especially in L.A. is very driven by celebrities. At any of the trendy shops frequented by the rich and famous, the staff is quick to point out which celebs shop there, and what they buy. The look in L.A. continues to emulate the look of the stars. We saw plenty of sparkle, rhinestones, sequins, and metallic fabrics. There were many things embellished with metallic studs and rivets. The metallic look was quite garish in most cases. Hopefully the shimmery, drapey tops and dresses will go away soon!
Metalic emblished styles:

Amid all the frothy frocks and drapey dresses, we liked seeing items with more structure and shape. There were quite a few interpretations on classic silhouettes for fall, like the pea coat and trench. The look is longer and leaner, we hardly saw any of the blazers that have been so popular in past seasons.

A fun jacket from L.A.M.B.

One trend we couldn't help notice was a return to bright, loud 80's colors. This trend has been brewing for a while, and it seems to be gaining steam. We went to streetwear store ALIFE and were overwhelmed buy super loud graphics and bright colors. They even had brigt neon denim. Reinterpreted 80's style is making it's way back, watch out! Australian brand Insight is doing a great job of bring back some of bold 80's style.

ALIFE's current line:

Some highlights from Insight:

Walkin' In L.A.

2007-11-19T09:19:00.000-08:00

November is always an exciting month at SY Design. There's the gluttony of Turkey Day to look forward to, anticipation of the first big snow on Mt. Hood, and our annual trend shopping trip! This year we decided to head down to southern California to check out the latest and greatest in west coast fashion. The past 2 years we flew out to New York, so this year was a big departure from our usual trip. We braved L.A. traffic, sweated in almost 90 degree heat, and shopped 'til we dropped. We decided to rent a Prius Hybrid for our trip, and of course it cost more than anything else at the rental lot. But as soon as we saw the car's computer showing we were getting 45 mpg in bad L.A. traffic, we were stoked!

Our first stop on our west coast adventure was to sunny Huntington Beach. A big thanks to Kyle for letting us stay at his awesome beach condo! We checked out the many cool shops on Huntington's busy Main Street. From Jack's Garage to Huntington Surf and Sport, the so-cal beach look is alive and well in Huntington.
The corner of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway:

We also took a walk to Dog Beach, about 1 mile north of the Huntington Beach main drag. This place was a pooch paradise! All other beaches are closed to dogs in the area, but local pups have their own 1 mile stretch of beach heaven at Dog Beach. We saw a group of early morning frolickers having a great time running, digging, and chasing each other.

After our brief stint in Huntington, we headed north to L.A for some serious shopping. But what is a trip to L.A. without a visit to Magic Kingdom? We made a detour to Anaheim to visit good ol' Disneyland, and discovered that just because your an adult, it doesn't make Disneyland any less fun. It was totally packed the night we went, but we braved long lines to ride Thunder Mountain Railroad, and get scared all over again by the Yeti on the Matterhorn. The coolest ride was the Haunted Mansion. The Nightmare before Christmas 'took over' the Mansion, and the whole place was transformed for the holiday season. If you are in the area the animation and special effects are a truly spectacular thing to see.

On our drive up to L.A. we stopped in Costa Mesa to visit two unique retail experiences, The C.A.M.P and the Lab. The C.A.M.P. has all kinds of gear and apparel for the outdoor sports fanatic, and is probably one of the most environmentally friendly shopping experiences in the area. The Active Ride Shop is totally worth checking out, with a huge selection of outerwear and streetwear, both of us left the store packing new winter gear from their great selection.

Adventure 16 is a first class sports outfitter, it's like a super posh version of R.E.I.

The Lab boasts itself as the 'Anti Mall' and is right across the street from the C.A.M.P. There is a mix of big names like Urban Outfitters, and little boutiques, we thought this was a bit sleepy in comparison to our experience at The C.A.M.P.

In L.A. we first headed to Venice Beach and the very cool stretch of indie stores on Abbot Kinney street. The shopping was an eclectic mix from high end boutiques to great home stores. There were some drool worthy condos on the street, and any modern design lover should check this place out.

There was a great dog shop, we were greeted by two crazy French Bulldogs at the door of this cute converted house.

We also went to Stronghold Jeans. For some serious bucks, you can get fitted into custom made American denim here. They were quick to point out the giant book of celebrity clients at Stronghold, it was quite the shop!

Next was a trip to uber-trendy Robertson Blvd. With shops like Kitson, Lisa Klein, and Intermix, we were sure we would have a star sighting, but not so! Robertson also boasts celebrity eatery The Ivy. There were TONS of paparazzi hovering around outside, just waiting for a photo op.

A trip to Melrose is a must, from the ultra hip Fred Segal, to endless junk shops, there is a little bit of everything. The Max Azria shop has an amazing facade of swirled branches. I don't know how they stay in place, but it is seriously impressive.

On our last day we headed to Fairfax Ave. to check out some streetwear. In a 2 block stretch you can find Supreme, ALIFE, The Hundreds and others. The attitude is 'too cool for school' and you are lucky if any one working in these shops will give you the time of day. These shops are known for dishing out the must have items in streetwear, from limited New Era hats to Nikes that kids camp out over night for.

Outside The Hundreds:

A highlight of the trip was an awesome vintage sunglass/eyeglass shop next to the Hundreds called Hotel de Ville. With a laundry list of celebrity and hip hop clients, this is THE place to score some killer shades. This dude, Van, was on hand to help us pick out some shades. He was quite the character, and totally decked out in Fairfax streetwear. He told us it just 'felt like a purple day.'

We had a great time on our trip to L.A. We saw tons of inspiration, ate great food, and after 5 days and lots and lots of driving, only put $20 into the Prius!! We loved driving it around, and felt better that we didn't contribute too much to the L.A. smog.

The Power of Green

2007-11-05T13:09:00.000-08:00

...has finally gone mainstream this year, but still there is so much to learn, here are a couple of things worth passing along.

"Tofu Bear”, the really cool thing about him is that he’s…
“Made from 100% SOYSILK® brand fiber, these fabulous creations are soft, cuddly, and earth-friendly. SOYSILK® brand fiber is a cutting edge fiber made from the waste produced during the manufacture of tofu. Known for its soft feel, like cashmere, SOYSILK® was first introduced in 2001 by South West Trading Company, pioneers in luxury yarns made from soy, bamboo, and other cutting edge fibers.”

Every time you look at him, think how cool it would be to use this same technology to create luscious eco-friendly cozy plush pile fabrics as lining inside of the outdoor apparel that we design. Food for thought, literally

ATV’s are everywhere, when heading outside of PDX for some mountain biking at Brown’s Camp/Roger’s camp, just pulling into the parking lot is like watching two world’s collide. One is the man-powered mountain biking crowd; the other is the ATV and off-road bike crowd, with their large trailers full of gear, gas, and loud polluting 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines.

It’s great news to hear about the pioneers at Barefoot Motors , with their pioneering new EUV, the worlds first Earth Utility Vehicle!
“We are building the first heavy duty all electric ATV. Our Model One does not pollute, it has better power and if you consider the fuel savings alone – forget about utility rebates, forget about carbon credits, forget about incentives for now – just the fuel savings, the vehicle could actually cost 50-75% of the gas equivalent over the course of its life. Now, add to that, that eliminating one gas-powered ATV because of the emissions it creates, is the equivalent to removing 4 cars off the road. And consider the impact.”

Portland Fashion Week

2007-11-05T12:07:00.000-08:00

October 19th-24th marked Fashion Week here in Portland, and some great local talent was showcased. Our fashion week is billed as one of the 'greenest' around, with an emphasis on eco-friendly designers and proceeds going to restore fish and wildlife habitat in Willamete river. Portland has a rich local fashion community with independent designers offering their wares in local boutiques or in their own small store front. On NW 23rd street alone, you can find store fronts for local designers Michelle DeCourcy, Lena Medoyeff, and Souchi

23rd is also home to Seaplane, one of the best boutique showcases of local, handmade apparel and accessories.

Just off 23rd at 2305 NW Savier, is the collaborative storefront for designers Liza Rietz and John Blasioli (John's line is called A Broken Spoke). Both of these designers were featured in Portland Fashion week, and each have wonderfully unique styles with an emphasis on quality and tailored fit. Both do custom designs, and if you are in the market for a perfectly fit men's jacket from A Broken Spoke, or a unique dress from Liza, their shop is worth the trip.

Here are a couple styles from A Broken Spoke, more at the website:

Here is a piece from Liza Rietz, more info at her website:

Another featured line at Fashion Week was Pinkham Millinery. If you know Kim, then you probably know that her Achilles Heel is buying hats! We love these fun styles, Pinkham hat are available at their shop on SW Broadawy, info at their website

Shred Like a Gentleman

2007-10-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

If you want high performance on the hill while still retaining your dapper image, then the collaboration between Burton and fancy English brand Paul Smith is right up your alley. Boasting full taped seams, and very sharp looking waterproof/breathable fabric, this jacket can be yours for the bargain price of 495 British Pounds. (yeah, that means times two for the American price.) Hey, looking better than everyone else on the mountain doesn't come cheap. Cheerio!

The collaboration appears to be limited to 3 styles at this point, they are available from the Paul Smith website.
http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/burton-snowboards-collaboration-252/category.html

Music Town, USA

2007-10-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

Here is one of the worst kept secrets in Portland: we have an amazing music scene. While the city is best known for indie outfits like the Decemberists, the truth is you can hear all kinds of great music, from underground hip hop to death metal. There is no shortage of fantastic music venues to catch a show, from the Wonder Ballroom right up the street from the SY Design office, to the intimate Doug Fir Lounge, Portland is no doubt the musical mecca for any concert goer.

Just last night, Meghan headed down to the Satyricon to check out local indie/metal outfit Made In Ruins. Even though these guys were the opening act, they clearly already have a strong local following, and fun was had by all. The Satyricon itself is worth checking out if you are in the Chinatown area. The stuff of legend, bands like Nirvana and the Flaming Lips graced the tiny stage before they made it big.

Long hair and giant amps, the axe man cometh!

Local hero of the hip hop scene is totally awesome MC/DJ/Producer, Omega Watts. Omega can be found most Thursday nights spinning at the Someday Lounge as part of 'The Fix'. The Fix features a rotating line up of local deejays and special guests, and for zero dollars at the door, it is one of the best deals in town to get your boogie on. Omega recently played the Doug Fir for the release of his new CD, a great hip hop show.

Besides the plethora of local talent, Portland is often a stopping point for big acts. Even though we are a smaller city, shows often sell out because of the huge local fanbase. French electronic duo Justice recently played the Holocene to a sold out crowd. Some of these shows turn into a fashion show as much as a concert, with local scenesters decked out in their crazy best.

Giant glowing cross + smoke machines = awesome

The Justice motherboard:

At SY Design music is an integral part of our day. We often listen to music 8-9 hours at a time, relying on our tunes to keep us happy and motivated during busy design times. Here are some of our recent musical picks for a productive day:

Jens Lekman- 'Nights Fall Over Kortedala'
Swedish troubadour does it right on his sophmore album. Good to wake up with, strong coffee a bonus.

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - '100 Days, 100 Nights'
Amy Winehouse may be getting all the press for the 'new-soul revival' sound, but Ms. Jones continues to keep it real on '100 Days, 100 Nights'. Cool vocals and funk to spare.

Simian Mobile Disco - 'Attack Decay Sustain Release'
This is to be played LOUD. A good cure for creative slumps and post-lunch sluggishness. This one will get ya movin'.

SIA 2007

2007-02-07T12:38:00.000-08:00

Vegas baby! The end of January means it's time for our annual trip to Vegas to attend the SIA tradeshow for snowsports. This year was great, lots to see, and new people to meet. The show is huge, and just about every snowsport brand makes an appearance. It is always inspiring to see what everyone in the industry is up to, what is the new hot look, and which trend has been done to death.

Burton's booth was huge and dominating of course...they had some great board graphics this year.

They were showing some serious plaids again this year. Be prepared to see a lot of lumberjacks on the mountain next fall!

And more plaid for the ladies:

We saw some cool jackets inspired by streetwear looks. Holden offers a version of the classic pea coat...

We also noticed a return to simple, clean looks. Allover prints are still around, but it was nice to see this fresh look for guys.

Walking along The Strip at night is always interesting. Elvis impersonators, drunk frat boys, grannies drinking daiquiris out of plastic yard sized cups...Here is a weird photo of the Bellagio during the big fountain show, looking more like the Bates Motel than a Vegas casino.

But what was the real highlight of the trip? IN-N-OUT BURGER! The only location outside of California happens to be right off the strip, and there is nothing like a Double Double done Animal Style after a long day at the show!!

A Dog's Life...part 2

2007-01-17T12:07:00.000-08:00

Here at SY we have been working like dogs on Outward Hound products...and we finally have some samples of the new gear! It has been a blast creating gear with our own mutts in mind, and even more fun to try it out on them. We had a doggy photo shoot with some of the new items, so we took all the dogs out on the trail, and even to the lake to snap some pics. The products are turning out great, we can't wait to see them hit the shelves!!

Sierra leads the pack on the trail, and Jackson carries his gear all by himself.

Kobe's nose knows where the treats are!

Moulder the weiner dog is all set for a swim, look out ducks!

Iggy Pup models the Urban Adventure pack, he doesn't seem to mind the girly colorway...

Here is a great before and after shot of Iggy wearing the Outward Hound rainjacket. He wasn't too sure about the old model's hood, and now he is stylin' in the new version! Check out the reflective bone print fabric, so cute!
Before:

After!:

New York! New York!

2006-11-13T15:23:00.000-08:00

We love the Fall here at SY Design. With the colder weather comes some of our favorite things... pumpkin pie, anticipation of getting up to the mountain for the first time, and our annual trip to New York for trend research! There is no place like the Big Apple to see what is the latest and greatest in fashion. We love to get out of the office and explore New York and be inspired for our upcoming projects. New momma Kim sadly had to skip this year to be with little Bella, so Meghan forged ahead solo to scope out what is new and hot in NYC.

We are still working on lots of dog products here at SY, so it was great to check out some cute dog and toy shops while in New York. Meghan got to visit Trixie and Peanut, an oh-so exclusive dog boutique just north of Union Square. This store has everything you don't need but still must have for your spoiled pooch. You can buy a leather jacket for Fido, as well as a dog bed shaped like a Ferrari.

Another must-see shop for toys is Kid Robot in Soho. They have the ultimate in collectible vinyl toys and other fun goodies.

A highlight of the trip was the grand opening on the 30,000 sq foot Uniqlo store in Soho. Meghan even witnessed mayor Bloomberg officially open the store. Uniqlo is like the Gap of Japan, there are over 700 of them in Tokyo alone! They had some nice items and offer well designed clothing at very low prices. Check out the view from the third floor, those are all cashmere sweaters on the wall.

And here is a glimpse of how many people were at the opening, this view shows about 1/2 of the first floor...and all three floors were packed!

The Burton store was great again this year. You can find everything Burton makes here, merchandised to perfection. Featured in the store this year was the iDiom line and some very swanky wool pieces made for the mountain. Their store windows rocked this year!

As you know, New York is the 'City That Never Sleeps' and there is never a shortage of things to do after the sun goes down...Meghan got to finally fulfill a personal goal, seeing a play on Broadway! Going to see Monty Python's Spamalot was a no-brainer choice, since Monty Python and the Holy Grail is one of her favorite movies. Spamalot was great, they even managed to re-create the scene from the movie when the Black Night gets all of his limbs cut off and keeps fighting declaring 'tis but a scratch wound!' Here is Meghan doing her best french soldier impression while taunting the British pig-dogs.

Without question the weirdest moment of the trip was at a little bar in the West Village. There was a guy lying under the bar ASKING for people to step on him. He had a friend who was standing on top of him drinking a beer. According to the friend him name is Kevin Carpet and is just that, a human carpet. He apparently has a fetish for being stepped on by strangers. The friend also said he has a myspace page, but we are too scared to look...Meghan bravely does a 'Captain Morgan' pose and then runs away from this nut!

Apart from the great shopping and crazy nightlife, the weather in New York was truly amazing. Here is a parting shot from Central Park...

A Dog's Life

2006-08-09T10:56:00.000-07:00

When we started SY Design close to year ago we never imagined that we'd be designing products to be sold on the shelves of Petco, Petsmart, and other dog boutiques! We're having so much fun now, in the first stages of our newest design project for "Outward Hound", that we thought you'd like to see some of our design process and "user based R & D" for a different type of "consumer", the friendly four legged kind.

Last week we began when a box of samples arrived in the office with all three of the dog's here to give them a good "looking over". It felt a little bit like romper room with squeaking toys everywhere, and dog's running back and forth like they were in heaven. Here's a shot of Iggy, the ball destroyer giving one of the toys a good testing.

One of the projects includes re-designing a rain coat for pooches, here are a couple shots of us "testing them out"

Another part of the project includes coming up with some new and improved ideas for dog life jacket's, which of course required some user testing out at Sauvie Island last week in order to better understand how to approach this "new subject".

We're feeling like we're off to a good start, and having a lot of fun with this new project, next...squeaky toys and treat bags!

We've also added some links to some of our favorite sites, check them out. Until next time, back to "work" for us.

Design Public

2006-07-27T14:00:00.000-07:00

Some sites are so good that you want to make sure all your friends know about them too. Design Public is one of them. A great resource for FRESH, NEW, DESIGN, in furniture, bedding, accessories, pets, kids, etc.

Also noteworthy is the design public blog, "Hatch", so if you are looking for some new inspiration or...just some great shopping add this site to your list.

Check it out....APAK Artshow!

2006-07-11T11:28:00.000-07:00

This past Friday, while we were out shopping the town for the latest and greatest, we found this fun artshow by APAK, at Grass Hut on 811 East Burnside, across the street from the nearly infamous Doug Fir. These pieces are fun, whimsical, and unique, definitely worth a peek. We were lucky enough to get there just before it officially opened so we were able to get the "picks of the litter" so to speak. Check out the rest of the exhibit here

Dude, I don't think we're in Portland anymore...

2006-06-28T13:38:00.000-07:00

What's the best part about working in a fun freelance design firm? Getting to spend a week "working" at a summer camp for 4-H kids for a week. We packed our bags and headed for Kim's hometown of Dayton, WA. Where is Dayton you ask? Well let's just say that it's not the end of the world, but you can see it from there. It's actually a beautiful part of Washington, lots of great hiking, camping and fly fishing.

We were charged with no small task during our foray as camp counselors...Teaching arts and crafts to 120 impatient kids on a week-long sugar high from the camp's endless supply of kool-aid and popsicles. They came in droves (okay, 35 at a time) to learn how to make hemp necklaces and bracelets, and to decorate picture frames to take home with a special camp photo inside. The kids were great, most loved arts and crafts and many stayed to make more crafty creations during free time.

Here are some kids working on their hemp string masterpieces

Some of the cute frames the kids made, the aftermath of glitter and glue at the craft area was insane!

Of course what camp would be complete without some fun and games around the campfire? This is a little taste of life at Camp Wooten...This night the kids played 'Wheel of Fortune', complete with homeade wheel and bedsheet-clad Meghan as the lovely Vanna White!