I came across this photo on Facebook the other day and had to post it. Will has definitely aged a lot better than DJ Jazzy Jeff but its pretty remarkable that they’re still friends.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCwm5TcwxOs

Download “Growing Apart” here

]]> http://www.dapperlifestyle.com/2012/01/azad-right-growing-apart-ft-ahe-jhene-aiko/feed/ 0 http://www.dapperlifestyle.com/2012/01/bucketfeet/ http://www.dapperlifestyle.com/2012/01/bucketfeet/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:13:38 +0000 djmddsc http://www.dapperlifestyle.com/?p=11119

“While a senior at the University of Oregon in 2007, Aaron Firestein began drawing on shoes and posting the pictures to Facebook. He viewed white, canvas sneakers as a medium to showcase his art and spent hours expressing himself through this unordinary platform. Aaron’s “wearable art” became an instant hit with his peers and he started selling the shoes out of his apartment as a hobby.”

Fast forward to 2012, Bucketfeet is exploding and gaining an impressive following around the globe. By focusing on quality, individuality, artistic expression and supporting a good cause (5% of every pair sold gets donated to charity), Bucketfeet is set to make some major waves in the world of footwear.

Aaron and the Bucketfeet team have been busy. Working with new artists all the time and constantly designing new collections, the Bucketfeet team is in expansion mode; word has it that Bucketfeet just got picked up by a major Canadian chain.

Aaron recently took some time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions for us about his starting his company, going good and where the name “Bucketfeet” actually came from.

D&D: Hey Aaron! Thanks for taking the time to chat with us. You get into the history of Bucketfeet a bit on your site, do you care to tell us the story of how Bucketfeet was formed?

AF: BucketFeet was started as sort of an accident. I was a senior in college in 2007 and I decided to draw on some white Vans. Next thing I knew, people were asking me where I got them and the idea popped into my head that I could be selling them. BucketFeet now is a bit different because I’m not hand-designing every single pair, but rather putting together designs to then be printed and mass-produced. 

“The Design Process”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=peVCCM3VM6g

D&D: The name “Bucketfeet” is totally original. It brings to mind a person literally wearing buckets on their feet. How did you come up with the name? Does it have any special meaning for you?

AF: I wish there was a better story but there isn’t. I was given the nickname “Bucket” my first year of college (which I hated) but I embraced it and now it’s the name of a full-fledged brand!

How many artists are you currently working with?

We are releasing shoes designed by 6 artists in the coming weeks but are working with about 30 others on upcoming releases. 

Carioca Style (teaser)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kke2MLdQWY

D&D: How did you pick which charities you wanted to donate to?

AF: I met my business partner volunteering with kids in the villas (slums) of Buenos Aires so we wanted to pay tribute to that by teaming up with awesome children’s organizations. It was a tough job picking them because there are so many great groups out there but after doing our due diligence, we settled on our favorites. 

D:D How long does it take to move from initial concept to finished product?

AF: Tough question. I’d ballpark it and say 4-5 months. 

D&D: Have you had any major setbacks along your journey?

AF: Not really to be honest. It’s been an amazing trip and one that has been filled with nothing but positive responses to the product, not to mention the fact that we’ve met some incredible people along the way. One of those situations where we’re kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop (which hopefully won’t come). 

D&D: I get like this once in a while, but do you ever have days where you think: “This is insane. How did I get here?”

AF: Oh definitely. I mean, I was studying political science and now I help run a footwear brand, one that allows me to incorporate my love for travel at that. It’s a dream come true. 

D&D: What can we expect next from  Bucketfeet?

AF: We’re going to leave this up in the air. I guess you’ll have to keep an eye on www.bucketfeet.com to see what’s coming next. 

***

Check Bucketfeet out on:

facebook

twitter

Karmaloop

Frank Ocean released a short snippet of a new track titled “Voodoo” via his tumblr account over the weekend. Nothing is confirmed yet but look out for this track to be included on the new Frank Ocean LP sometime this year. He also to released a few lyrics to go along with the snippet which you can read below. Listen to the snippet by clicking HERE.

“

“darker times

they’re telling boulder heavy lies

looks like all we’ve got is each other 

the truth is obsolete

remember when all i had was my mother 

she didn’t compromise

she could recognize 

voodoo 

our daughters and our sons 

are just candles in the sun

voodoo

don’t let him see divide 

don’t you let her see divide

voodoo

she’s got the whole wide world in her juicy fruit 

he’s got the whole wide world in his pants

he wrapped the whole wide world in a wedding band 

then put the whole wide world on her hands

she’s got the whole wide world in her hands 

he’s got the whole wide world in his hands.”

It’s hard to believe its been 2 years of posting photos week after week but here we are. NASA recently released what they call the ‘most amazing high definition image of earth’ which is hard to argue. The photo was released via their Flickr stream and is the latest of their series titled “Blue Marble”. To see more of the incredible satellite images visit The National Post.

With the new semester comes…dope, new classes.  This semester I’m taking another print media class, this time specializing in books and multiples.

This includes printing (using any medium — screen print, lithography, relief, intaglio or digital) and hand binding (with linen thread, and a needle) an artist book.  I honestly haven’t had an idea that I’ve been this passionate about in a LONG time.  Inspiration comes at the weirdest times and can be about the weirdest things.  I don’t want to get too much into what I’m going to do this semester but it includes two of my favourite things in the world, people and patterns.

I’m not sure when I first became attracted to patterns, but I know I’ve always been attracted to people, in the sense that the people in my life hold a lot of meaning to them.  The females in my life right now are more incredible than they ever have been.  They are rocks in my life and regardless if they realize this — that’s exactly what I’m using.  These women hold serious weight in my life and who I am.  Regardless of how they came into my life or when they came into my life — these women are unreal.

In the past couple years, I’ve been working heavily with patterns in my work — especially my prints.  The repetition in such an aesthetically-pleasing formation attracts me.  The systematic way a pattern is created, the little idiosyncrasies that come from a hand made pattern are extremely attractive to me.  Patterns remind me of times, places, and feelings.

Previously in my work, I’ve hand made patterns and carved them in a relief medium…that’s going to change.  I’ve also mostly combined my patterning with traditional style portraiture, the subject’s bust.  That’s going to change.

I’m nervous about this coming into fruition, considering I’m going to attempt to print 3 or 4 books, using screen print and digital medium.  I’m worried about printing digitally on rag (print making) paper and the juxtaposition of screen printing with that.  I’m worried about incorporating my photography into this, I’m nervous about using patterns and a portrait in a different way.

But I’m excited as hell.

“If it’s not fun, I’m not doing it.”

An excellent documentary has recently surfaced folling creative visionary and influential fashion designer Tom Ford. The documentary follows Tom while working on his Tom Ford brand in London. The 40 minute long film was directed by Michael Bonfiglio. Watch the film at Visionaries: Inside The Creative Mind.

John Kilar is a  25-year-old, self-taught photographer and artist based in Venice, California. “Metropolis” is a photo collection that John took with a Yashica T4 (compact, 35mm point-and-shoot) during “Burning Man”. John’s work is just further proof that you don’t need a 5000 dollar DSLR to create amazing images. Check out more of John’s work at JohnKilar.com

***

My favourite up-and-coming rapper, Azad Right, has just released a brand new track “Better Days”. Produced by Jonathan Marquez (who produced a fair amount of Right’s last album, The Time is Right), the track is nothing short of excellent. Azad nails is (as per usual) with silky-smooth flow and an intelligent narrative. If you’re not already following this kid from Cali, go check out his page on Facebook

www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2StZ2-q7UA