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Shop For Design - SouSou footwear - (via www.sousounetshop.jp)

 

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June 2009, - We were sent the SouSou url from Japan! Having known about the traditional Japanese construction boot, we were pleasantly suprised to find the same style applied to contemporary footwear. So if you're sporting a pair of these and someone asks you about them, just say they're "SOuSOu". see the shoes...

May 2009, - Climbing Abandoned Silos - (via Gizmodo)

May 2009, - NYC Design Week 2009 http://sousounetshop.jp/?mode=cate&cbid=122459&csid=5

Shop For Design - NYC Design Week 2009 - Designer's Tour (via www.designws.com)

April 2009, - Salone del Mobile 2009

Shop For Design - Salone del Mobile, Milano 2009 - Designer's Tour (via Monocle)

Shop For Design - Salone del Mobile, Milano 2008 - Designer's Tour (PHOTOS & STORY BY JHT)

April 2008, - Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world, lots of exhibitions, new designs, late nights and early mornings. On the first day we finished work at midday and spent the next 14 hours going to as many events as possible, taking advantage of the free hybrid car service which no one had yet realized existed. You just wind up in the most random places as everyone throw open their doors....from japanese hi-tech products to a belgian guitar/piano hybrids...at one point we found ourselves at an exclusive presentations of luxury tap fittings in the velvet lined subterranian passages of the Bulgari Hotel and then later to fighting our way through the cloisters of an overcrowded 14th century university and its eco/green exhibition, to eating Hamburgers served by a sweating Napoletano who has a way with knives, before finding our way to the famous Bar Basso where thousand of people go every night. Normally it is a grandiose but empty bar which had its heyday in the 1960s, but during salone it is absolutely overrun...people spilling over the road and beyond. We eventually made our way to the designersblock party in the middle of a giant empty swimming pool. see Designboom's gallery

May 2007, - Salone Internazionale del mobile, 2007- the world's biggest design fair. Featuring over 2,578 exhibitors and a host of young designers at the sattelite, this year's salone proved, once again that, design attracts! About 250,000 visitors attended the event.

Despite an over abundunce of the world's best furniture and design accessories - many found comfort not from a designer chair or sofa - rather from the lush greens, lawns and trees that grew in oasis like courtyards, scattered within the steel and glass net of the Fiera.

Some of our Shop For Design designers, were involved in exhibitions, amongst a variety of events throughout Milan's city centre. Cappelllini, Yves Behar, Front Design and other designers such as Ingo Maurer, were just some of the people we met and saw at different events.

April 2007, - David Suzuki presented the "challenge of sustainability" at the Centennial Vancouver Theatre in Canada. The small auditorium was filled with a variety of local politicians, environmentalists, students and overall a diverse range of individuals and groups. Shop For Design attended the event,

"The best human tradition," amongst a host of others, was likely the most significant statement of the evening. Mr. Suzuki reminded the audience that our ability to foresee or to create the idea of a future - is one of, if not, the primary reason for our success as a species on earth. However, this very ability is what we seem to have neglected, when it comes to the environment.

Mr. Suzuki gave the analogy of a single layer of seran wrap around basketball. In terms of proportion, this represents the biosphere around earth - a few kiometers up and a few kilometers down; it is only within this layer, that any form of life on earth exists. This space and all of its resources is a fixed entity. There is no means of expansion or enrichment - this thin layer of life is all we are. Despite this, perhaps startling realization, we as human beings continually strive for further growth, development, mass expansion and consumption, thus filling the biosphere with greater quantities of the human invention: waste. "There is no such thing as waste in nature." According to David Suzuki, it is not possible to have continual growth in such circumstances - yet despite this fact - economics tend to be the driving force behind all of our decisions and actions. In fact, so much so that, up until 1962, "the environment did not exist." 1962 was the year that the author Rachel Carson, released her book, "Silent Spring." For Mr. Suzuki, this was a significant point in his career and for the world, a becoming aware of our surroundings, how we affect the environment and its resulting effect on life.

However, since that time, and an environmental peak in the 80's, we have mostly gone on with our continuous growth - so much so that several genarations have passed, resulting in younger generations, not even knowing what beauty and abundance of life, existed before. Some children of 2007 do not even know the real source of milk, water and food.

According to Mr. Suzuki, it may even be too late to deal with our environmental situation. The earth's state, always in constant flux, may already have too much momentum in the direction of warming, glacial melt and increase in carbon dioxide.

However, despite even the World's best scientists and environmental specialists; repeatedly warning us and providing guidance - our own attitudes, learnt lifestyles and heavy influence from economic growth and the structure of society seem to be blocking our path to a healthier environment. "Healthier in this case" refers not simply to a better one - the only one.

When asked, how designers can play a role in changing our ways towards the environment, Mr. Suzuki said that there is lot's of potential for designers, and it is up to them to do so. It is up to the designer on how to steer through the many economic, social and physical obstacles that are between the human species and the environment. www.davidsuzuki.org

March 2007, - Shop For Design oversees prototyping of their "kitchen tools" collection.

February 2007, - Design Indaba 2007, Cape Town South Africa - The 10th International Design Indaba Expo & Conference, just kicked off on the 21st of this month. Graphic Designers, architects, trend specialists and South Africa's best, home grown artists and designers are just a taste of SA's finest talent. Situated in the centre of Cape Town, the Design Indaba involves over 2000 delgates and is a must for designers, consumers shoppers and people that seek a once in a lifetime, infusion of sea, mountains, culture and design. www.designindaba.com

December 2006, - On behalf of Shop For Design; we wish you all the best for 2007.

November 2006, - Shop For Design is developing kitchen tools

October 2006, - Shop For Design attended the Vancouver Film Festival 2006. One film in particular; we thought, very worthwhile: "Manufactured Landscapes" by Canadian photographer, Edward Burtynsky. Every cell phone, hot dog and probably most of our lives have affected what this documentary, captures so well. From armies of production, through the tangles of electricity and waste piles of the world - Burtynsky reveals the facts of our day to day day-dreams. A country that recycles the world's waste, produces the world's future waste and rapidly reassembles itself for more - is presented up close. Education for the now and perhaps a little caution for our next few steps. www.edwardburtynsky.com

September 2006, - Interni Magazine, Sept 2006 issue; features the Shop For Design, Furn-a-wear shirt, in its Sustainability pages. On behalf of the Shop For Design Team; we thank Interni and the "Sostenibile" department for their interest in our products - we are honoured to have featured in such a fantastic publication. Grazie!

August 2006, - Shop For Design launches sub-division brand.

July 2006, - (photo above - courtesy of Shop For Design team) Recently, Shop For Design stumbled across the "Tables & Chairs Cafe." Well, at least that's what we call it. Nestled into one of Kyoto's chill zones, this little cafe is a prime example of what Japan's consumers, now take for granted. In great contrast to the traditional temples and typical Japanese beauty of Kyoto; this great little cafe; launches platforms of contemporary design, into, arguably, one the most historic areas of Japan.

July 2006, - Congratulations to Italy - BRAVO! Good effort by France in a close one! Go to the Fifa World Cup 2006, official site

May 2006, - Play for today and tomorrow - Play Pumps in South Africa Design chair number 100202300....... OR put a spin on things! South Africans Trevor Field and Ronnie Stuiver, teamed up and launched the PLAY PUMP. Originally designed by Mr. Stuiver; the PLAY PUMP brings life to rural South Africa. While children play, the "water carrying" women are saved an entire day of manual pumping and heavy load carrying. What was once strenuous survival work, is now play, and here's why: The Play wheel has for a long time, been a popular and fun attraction in parks and playgrounds throughout South Africa. However, never before has this giant wheel, been hooked up to a water pump. Now children in over 700 communities accross South Africa are able to play and save the day. To see how this inspirational project works - check out www.playpumps.org

April 2006, - In contrast to the glamour of the Fiera, the Salone satellite '06 spanned across an entire car park. Despite its location, the Salone satellite proved to be one of the most exciting attractions at the Salone. A massive marquee of white fabric and aluminium framing, provided a "solid like" canopy against the rain and wind. It was the only structure, in which the occupants were in touch with the weather outside.
The Shop For Design team was impressed with the rich mix of designers this year. Aside from the many different nationalities; we were pleasantly surprised to meet ex-designers of studios such as Karim Rashid and the like. Our team enjoyed meeting with designers from the previous years too, such as Kaichiro Yamada Design. For an in-depth view of the designers and their work, we recommend checking out the following:http://www.designboom.com/snapshots/satellite06.html Be sure to look for group of three designers that transformed everyday knives into bottle openers - apparently they were a big hit at the show! Some of our team managed to meet with them briefly, however their booth was busier than a fish market; hence no interview. Another very popular event was a design school from Chicago with their promotion of re-using glass/PET bottles, through the design of a portable funnel come bottle cap.

April 2006, - Shop For Design recently attended the Salone Internazionale del mobile, 2006. The brand new Fiera was overwhelming in terms of size and space! Two walk ways, one sky bound and the other a "ground hound", span the entire length of the Fiera. Literally dissecting the exhibition spaces, restaurants and shops. The new Alessi store as are the other featured structures; is dressed in a glass curtain, and rises from the ground walk way through to the top bridge. Probably the most stunning feature in the new structure, is the expanse of white mesh that forms the semi-exterior overhead cover. This metal frame, undulates through and over the public spaces and courtyards, "cart wheeling" and dancing its triangles accross the Fierra. The architecture, was certainly an attraction for photographers, designers and anything in between! In fact, many were so overwhelmed by the new evironment, that the design exhibitions were, for some, quite blurred! The Shop For Design Team was quite impressed by the floors. Despite rain on the opening day, the tile / brick flooring proved to be very acceptable. A clear urethane coating ensured a non-slip surface. However, this did not stop the crowd from enjoying the Shop For Design wet floor signs. In fact they liked them so much, that three of our wet floor Slippy signs, placed throughout the Fiera's walk ways, were quitely picked up and never seen again!

Amongst a host of activites, cocktail events and galleries, our team; dressed for the occasion, was pleasantly surprised to find that our Furn-a-wear shirts are quite poplular - so much in fact; that we have decided to release a limited edition of the Sustainability line. (due for release before the end of April)

Zona Tortona was fantastic! In addition to the amazing Super Studio, the entire area was filled with a thorough mix of great exhibitions, such as the Sensitive Space System, a collabaration between 3M, Crea International and IO. As one walks through via tortona, past chairs chained to poles and masses of stickers, flyers and arrays of strange objects; there is a real sense of bewilderment regarding the vast differences between what design is to the glossy champaign of "Fiera fury" and the stickered, painted streets of Tortona.

To summarize, the Shop For Design crew, thoroughly enjoyed the Design week in Milano. We met stimulating people, and very much appreciated the wonderful support and interest shown towards our products. Thank you Milano!

June 2006, - One of our Shop For Design team designers is awarded the Systems design award in the "2006 Sustainable Design Competition - Closing The Loop." read more here... via dexigner.com

March 2006, - Shop For Design Sponsors "Shelter In A Cart" competition on Designboom!