I HATE COLORS but I'm a fan of lame jokes !

I HATE COLORS - SET 1 : Monochromatic Towers

TREND ALERT : Fair Isle Pattern

A recent market research trip in Tokyo sees fair isle pattern as one of the dominant trend in men's knitwear. Besides the traditional knitting method, this motif is incorporated into new printing and embroidery techniques in vivid color combination. Variety of casual t-shirts in heather color experiment with different placement & scale.

1. Street shot 2. Rageblue 3. Rageblue 4. Parco Shibuya 5. UT Store 6. Right-on

7. Daryl for g.u. FW11

CITY SNAP : Tokyo

Below are a few memorable shots of different location in myrecent Tokyo trip . . .

sunset while arrived - on the way from Narita Airport to the hotel

close up of a restaurant decor in Roppongi

a view of the city from Midtown Tower

a shot in Uniqlo Head Office

chill-axing at hotel bar in Hakozaki after a long day

walking down the stairs in A&F Ginza

More from ar(t)ees

The Making of ar(t)ees

By,Daryl Yip, II&M, 3rd November 2010

II&M spoke to the creatives behind ar(t)ees, who talked about the brand's concept, collections and upcoming projects.

The label's appreciation for handmade crafts and artisanal techniques is obvious in their meticulous attention to detail, use of upcycling materials and the execution of exquisite finishes. Mainly focusing on t-shirts, the latest collection is full of reconsidered classics that act as new basics.

Currently setting up in Hong Kong, the brand appeals to a wide range of age groups, from late 20s to 40s. The first collection is scheduled to be launched next summer in 2011. For a start, it is going to be sold exclusively through an online design website which will be announced later. For more information, stay tuned with II&M, as we will be featuring the design & development process of ar(t)ees SS11 soon !

Vintage Graphic Artist : Ricardo Velasquez

by Daryl Yip ,II&M, 30th October 2010

Prints are very obvious if they are wrong, and sales of print tees are really high at the moment so they have to get it right. So, what kind of print style can't go wrong ??

According to Ricardo the founder of Apparel Studio, based in Colombia : Vintage-styles artwork seem to be an all-time popular request while there are certain prints that are asked for every season. "Clients always need a faded, washed-out effect, especially the authentic American labels" says Ricardo, "also tonal or black-and-white print, regardless of the trend."

The II&M graphics directory is excited to kick off a new partnership with Apparel Studio by Ricardo Velasquez, where we will be showcasing designs from its archive from time to time. Here, we present his first collection entitled 'Motorsport'. For more information of art work/designer featured, kindly email apparelstudio@hotmail.com