Cozy 3

Introducing multi talented recording artist, designer and free thinker Cozy 3 and his clothing line Cozy Cosmic.

Some people escape reality by using drugs and alcohol, some use technology and entertainment.

Cozy 3 has created an alternate reality where he can be 'free' to express himself. 

He is unique and human in this world of music, visuals and fashion.

The influences of the avant-garde (science fiction, abstract expressionism, surrealism, afro-futurism, color field, free jazz, Steve Reich, Zappa, Beefheart, Philip K Dick.) have helped him create this world.

Not just content with creating his musical project, Cozy 3 is also an abstract artist who is the creative mind and designer behind the fast rising clothing line Cozy Cosmic . Featuring a range of t-shirts, polos and sweaters, the brand offers a unique visual element to the world of Cozy.

The Champions Club

Launched just last month, independent UK lifestyle clothing brand The Champions Club is dedicated to the real dream chasers.
Heavily inspired by Londons street culture, their ethos is all about driving and striving to reach a goal in life:
"We say real dream chasers because these are the people we represent, the heads who are actively working hard at making their dreams a reality"
With a heavy emphasis on graphic design, their 1st Spring/Summer 2012 release The ICMD Collection features 3 T-Shirt designs, polo shirts and snapbacks all in a variety of colours.
All about positivity, The Champions Club plan to do more than just design clothes and will be actively interacting  with their communities, musicians, artists, actors and business people to bring you the kind of news and content that you would actually want to see.
With their fun and creative designs The Champions Club are set to make their mark on the fashion scene.
"Keep chasing that dream...ICMD"

Special  behind the scenes footage of The Champions Club new collections photoshoot:
For more info on The Champions Club:
www.twitter.com/championsclubuk  
www.facebook.com/Thechampionsclub1
www.Championsclubuk.tumblr.com
www.YouTube.com/ChampionsClub2011


>Jade wrote this<
@writing_queen

Question

FU interviewed Nicholas from Question Apparel:

How long have you been designing?
I’ve been designing all my life.  I’ve been into graphic design and fashion from a young age


How did you get your start?
I was doing a project during the summer holidays from University and after a lot of extra research and designing I managed to start Question.


How would you describe your clothes?

Unique, colourful, inspirational and iconic.

Everyone (and their mum) seems to be designing t-shirts etc at the moment, what makes your designs so unique?
LOL, The reason my designs are you unique is because it not simply a design or graphics. I like to tell a story through my brand. 


Do you think now that a lot of celebrities are bringing out their own lines it makes it a lot more difficult for real designers like yourself to break through?
Yeah there is a lot celebrities bringing out their own lines, but I don’t think it makes it difficult if you step your game up within your market.


What's next for you?
I’m just focusing on getting my new stuff out and also finishing off my next project which should be ready for winter. I have also been blogging a few sneak peeks of the next collection...

For more info on Question:
www.twitter.com/questionclothin
www.questionapparel.com

NosViesNYC

Growing up in the Bronx, Gerry Vies and Ralphy Vies have always taken fashion seriously.

Creating NosViesNYC in 2010 they wanted their clothing line to be all about individuality.

Taking their name from a French meaning which translates to ‘Our Lives’  NosViesNYC are clothing pieces that symbolise art. Using their creativity to express their thoughts, moods and experiences, NosVies isn’t simply clothes it’s actually a way of life.

With artists such as Cam’ron, Keri Hilson and Coco & Breezy showing an interest in their stuff and dreams of colloborating with Chris Brown and his upcoming line Mechanical Dummy and Theophilus London and his line RSVP, these two artistic 20 year olds are well on their way to success.


"Don't Ever Let Anyone Tell You How To Draw Your Own Art"-NosViesNYC


For more info on NosViesNYC:
www.nosviesnyc.com 
www.twitter.com/Ralphy_Vies
www.twitter.com/Gerry_Vies




>Jade wrote this<
@writing_queen

Jelly x Cream

Originally started in 2010 clothing label Jelly x Cream have now researched, travelled and rebuilt their brand and are ready to make a name for themselves in the fashion industry.Picking their name at random as they felt it had a carefree vibe and really represented their brand, Jelly x Cream are very informal and pride themselves on staying away from stuffy corporate bullshit. You won't find them bombarding you with boring longwinded emails when you buy something from their store when a simple "Wicked, and thanks for buying our stuff" works just as well.
With a heavy emphasis on branding, Jelly x Cream handmake even the simplest things, like their swing tags and try to stay away from anything pre-made or too digital.
Using T-Shirts as their start up product,they include fun slogans that consist of everyday sayings that people can relate to.
For a brand that only relaunched this year they're already in demand and have got over 500 pieces out around the UK and more in Europe and America which is pretty impressive. Aiming to turn Jelly x Cream into a lifestyle brand they're hoping to:
"Keep the brand relevant and keep pushing onto bigger platforms"

For more info on Jelly x Cream:
www.jellyandcream.com
www.twitter.com/jellyandcreamuk

>Jade wrote this<
@writing_queen

@ Kusama event with Stooki

FU Magazine were at the Infinite Kusama event at Tate Modern, London to attend new Jewellery & Apparel label Stooki's workshops.

Stooki @_Stooki_

Presenter @Reenii_x

Camera @writing_queen

Photography @Satoutside

Music by @che_lingo

Stooki

Kusama event at Tate Modern 24th March 2012. Photos by @satoutside

> Click here for more pics! <

Stooki

On Saturday FU headed down to the Kusama-Rise event at Tate Modern to check out independent Jewellery and apparel label Stooki.
Formed by graphics and sound designer; Luke, Creative strategist; Quincey and Jewellery technologist Nadia, these 3 Stooki craft makers have already collaborated with established brands including Red Bull and MTV.
Taking their name from Quinceys childhood pet name; Stooki, they promised to "lead you through a hands on workshop, adapting Kusamas technique of pattern repetition and accumulation"
Each group had time slots where they would be guided through creating a colourful and quirky accessory using a small piece of white material and UV paints and markers.
They then moved onto the styling section, which then led onto the photo section where the group members had their picture taken against a very abstract moving projection backdrop and the UV aesthetic was then used as part of the silent disco installation.
Everyone seemed to be really enjoying themselves and all the attendees seemed to have their own unique style, we even spotted a few retro kids sporting Kid n Play style high tops.
The Stooki crew worked hard to keep the crowd engaged and were so busy it was almost impossible to get a picture of all 3 of them together, (we actually even considered doing separate pictures and doing a little cut and paste/photshop job:)
Showing total dedication to their craft, FU was very impressed with what Stooki was doing and even more impressed by their cute uniform of white shirts with with distinctive gold collar tips and their ultra cool gold customised Stooki rings.
Having only launched in May 2011 and already taking part in an event endorsed by Louis Vuitton, FU are looking forward to seeing what this young innovative collective do next and whatever that may be FU definitely wanna be there to capture it.

For more info on Stooki:
www.stooki.co.uk

>Jade wrote this<

Panicphaze

Combining a unique lyrical flow with sound effects, Berkshire MC Panicphaze has been circling the underground scene for a while. It all started in 2005 when he was spotted by London based Grime crew Special Delivery where members included Major Ace, Sniper E, Red Rum, Bashy and Terror D. But it was after a chance meeting with former Roll Deep Crew member Killa P that Panicphaze was able to get his own music out and push his track 'Far from simple' on Killa Ps popular mixtape 'Killer Instinct 2'
Already appearing on Kiss100fm and Rinse FM last year saw Panicphaze not only working on his mixtape 'Don’t Panic' but he also entered the fashion world with the launch of his clothing line, also called Don’t Panic
In addition to this Panicphaze has also found the time to study towards a degree in graphic design, now that’s dedication! So with his work ethic and talent he will definitely be one to watch this year.

For more info on Panicphaze:
www.panicphaze.com

Me Clothing

FU interviewed the designer behind the new line, Me Clothing. With creative colourful designs that have catchy slogans Me is much more than just a label that prints things on T-shirts. It's all about Me :-)

How did you come up with the name for your label?
I wanted to create a brand with a word that people use everyday. It was one of the first ideas that came to my mind, simple, easy to remember and effective.

How long have you been designing?
I started in February this year, So I'm very new to this kind of stuff

What made you want to start?
I wanted people to appreciate something I'd created, the same way they would maybe appreciate good music, or good dancing. I can't sing, rap or dance to a quality standard and I have always found it fascinating that an artist can have a whole stadium packed full of thousands of people singing along to their music. That must be one of the best feelings in the world, and for me, seeing people wearing my products makes me feel good.

How did you get your start?
I showed a few friends my initial designs and they seemed to like it. So I took a risk and put my earnings and effort into seeing if I could break into the fashion industry and please others

How would you describe your clothes?
Me products are individual and different; I would describe it as wearing personality

Everyone (and their mum) seem to be designing t-shirts/hoodies at the moment, what makes your designs so unique?
I agree a lot of people are designing shirts and hoodies but the difference is that my brand doesn't just consist of t-shirts and hoodies. We are a clothing brand and currently products range from varsity jackets, polo shirts to many other products. In the near future I intend to add more products to our female range, introduce children’s wear and many more. I don't want to limit my brand as a “one trick pony”, and feel I can appeal to people’s wants and needs. Also many people making clothing don't have their own company or registered brand, unlike us, from Me Clothing neck labels to the designs we stand out from the norm. I also have a team of designers who are helping to bring my ideas to life as well as well as national and international suppliers.

Do you think now that a lot of celebrities are bringing out their own lines it makes it a lot more difficult for real designers like yourself to break through?
I do believe it's more difficult. But I also believe that at the same time the celebrities do not have the same passion as they would have for their main job ie; music or football etc. I believe that real designers who have the passion and the desired work ethic will always shine through in the end.


Who would you love to dress and why?

I would love to dress the likes of Nicki Minaj and Pharell Williams. Both are high profile celebs who people look up to and follow their fashion tastes. They also both represent individuality, which is what Me Clothing is all about

What's next for you?
The next stage is to introduce new stock, expand the female wear and continue to have success with Me Clothing. I am also working towards passing my 2nd year in events management at Northampton university.

Where can people buy your clothes?
Everyone can purchase our clothes from iwearme Although in the near future I am hoping the brand will have enough success to be sold in retail outlets up and down the UK.

For more info on Me Clothing:
http://www.iwearme.co.uk/
www.twitter.com/iwearmeclothing

Flykickz

FU spoke to Dez the 23 year old New Jersey lady behind Flykickz to find out what inspires the selfconfessed 'Stilleto chick' to make such creative and intricate sneaker designs and how she feels about competing in a such a male dominated industry.

What made you decide to start customizing sneakers?
The idea of being able to create walking pieces of art always fascinated me.

What made you interested in sneakers?
The style and structure of the canvas (sneaker) and the history of the brand itself
What inspires your designs? Everything from the people that surround me to drawings and colors on a wall to general things I've learned over the years

Did you study design (or something similar at school)?
I never studied design but I've always been into being able to creatively express myself on all levels whether it is written, spoken or illustrated.

How long does it take to customize on average?
Depending on how simple or complex the design it can take anywhere from 7-25 hours.

What’s the most difficult design you’ve ever had to do?
My most difficult designs so far have been my Gold Half aMAZEn Dunk hi's because of the lines in the maze design and my Geisha girl dunks because I had to completely change the color of the sneaker and add color stitching which I painted one by one.

You normally associate sneakers with guys so is it hard to be taken seriously as a female in the game?
Nothings ever easy but a little challenge is always good.

Are people normally shocked about your sneaker knowledge?
I must admit I don’t know all there is to know about sneakers but I’m always researching and learning new things about the culture as a whole. If anything I think people are a little surprised that females even customize sneakers.

The US normally has the best sneakers 1st so what are the top 3 sneakers we in the UK should be looking out for this summer?
I'm not always on top of the release dates but a Fly Dunk, AF1, and definitely a pair of J's are always cool.

What’s next for you, do you have any upcoming projects? The website will be up soon IamFlyKickz.com, definitely more events and of course some new kicks within the next couple of weeks.

As a female would you ever consider branching out and maybe customizing stilettos/stereotypical girly shoes?
I'm a stiletto chick myself but I love designing kickz. I want chicks to be able to feel equally as sexy in a pair of FlyKickz as they do in a pair of stilettos. To me the key to wearing a fly pair of kickz is all in the way you rock it.

I’m a really girly girl so what type of design would you do for someone like me?
It's all about your style I’ll see what you’re into fashion, art general Q&A and create from there. I’d focus on a concept more something that you'd love as a chick but something that will make the boys stop and stare...lol

For more info on FLykickz or to view work:
http://www.iamflykickz.blogspot.com/
www.myspace.com/flykickz_designs
www.twitter.com/flykickz
or Email

Perilous Kiss

Crazy, outspoken and full of sarcasm, that’s what a Perilous Kiss design is all about. With in your face slogans that aint for the faint hearted these T-shirts are bound to get you a lot of attention be it good or bad. FU spoke to Ashley, the lady behind these bold T-shirts to find out where her inspiration for her edgy slogans comes from and to find out where we could get one of her fabulous designs from.

Where did the name Perilous Kiss come from?
I really wanted a name that was both edgy and flirty, so after spending days writing combinations of words I wrote Perilous Kiss and it just clicked!

How long have you been designing?
I've been designing for about three years now.

What made you want to start?
I've always been artistic and creative, and after a couple of years of working for other companies I wanted to start my own business to see what I could do on my own.

How did you get your start?
I started out working with friends and other clothing lines, coming up with design ideas and helping any way I could.

How would you describe your designs?
I would say my clothes are full of sarcasm and attitude, just like me!

Who are your clothes aimed at?
My clothes are aimed at anyone who has an attitude or an opinion and isn't afraid to show the world.

What inspires you?
Everyone really inspires me from the things they say to the things they do.

Who would you love to dress?
I would love to dress Katy Perry - so maybe I should start designing some dresses!

There's loads of designers out there fighting to get noticed, what makes your designs so unique?
You won't see another shirt like it, you can't find something similar at the mall. You will definitely stand out wearing one.

What's next for you?
Future plans are to drop the summer line and continue designing.

Where can we buy your designs?
You can buy the shirts at:

http://perilouskiss.bigcartel.com/

For more info on Perilous Kiss:
www.myspace.com/perilouskiss

Photos: Angelic Digital Photography

www.myspace.com/angelicdigitalphotography

Faaiza

Born in East London, Designer Faaiza Shahabdin moved to Derby at the young age of 5 and quickly fell in love with both music and fashion to the point where by her teens she had decided to persue a career in both.
Currently working on her own urban clothing line Laydeez Hustlas Wardrobe and Fellaz Hustlas Wardrobe, Faaiza has been busy not only customizing clothing but making outfits from scratch. Describing her line as “Unique, Fresh 2 death and Original” her work is heavily influenced by the reggae, hip hop and rnb music that she listens to.
Not just a designer who happens to be into music, Faaiza has also been writing songs over Hip Hop beats for the past 7 years and is now working on her vocals to gain the ‘Singer/Songwriter’ status and already has over 300 songs waiting to be published.
With a clothing label and debut album; Through the eyes of a tigeress, all due out soon Faaiza is definitely one lady to keep an eye on.

For more info on Faaiza go to:

www.myspace.com/faaizahiphoprnbtigeress
www.myspace.com/fashionfyzaaaa