Mirror Mirror Costume Design-Eiko Ishioka

I felt so passionate about this next post however extremely saddened by the news that I now have to share with you. I experienced magic today in the cinema that I have not experienced since my love for “Memoirs of a Gesiha” costume design. I knew instantly that I had to blog about the costume design in Mirror Mirror. I am now sadden however to tell you that upon researching the esteemed costume designer Eiko Ishioka I discovered that she passed away in January of this year. The costume designer before her death from pancreatic cancer has had a prolific and fascinating career.

On further research I learnt that Ishioka has a wide range of work from costume design to music videos, and her costumes have inspired many of our favourite fashion designers, including Alexander McQueen and Viktor and Rolf. Eiko Ishioka won a Grammy award, two Tony awards, and an Oscar. Her clothes have appeared in museums, on stage for both Broadway musicals such as Cirque du Soleil and operas, Grace Jone’s 2009 “Hurricane” tour and at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Late last year Ishioka also did the costumes for the film "Immortals".
Mirror Mirror is dedicated to Ishioka’s memory and would be reason enough to see it. Ishioka’s final work on the film I can guarantee will leave a lasting impression on all the viewers young and old. It has been said that the great designer knew she only had one more film left in her, so she put her all into it, and through it her legacy and knowledge of elaborate costuming shall live on!

Furniture Designer Patricia Urquiola

Patricia Urquiola was born in Oviedo (Spain) and lives and works in Milan for more than 20 years. Urquilola is a Spanish architect and designer. She attended the School of Architecture of Madrid Polytechnic and Milan Politechnic where she graduated in 1989 with Achille Castiglioni. 

In 1991 she started working for the furniture company de padova in milan, heading the product development office, where she also designed her first furniture items (together with vico magistretti) between 1993 and 1996 she opened an associated studio with two friends, and was engaged in architectural design, showrooms, restaurants and franchising. In 1996 she became head of the Lissoni Associati design group. Skip forward a few years in 2001 she opens her own office in Milan, working on product design, architecture, installations and concept creation. Some of her products are permanently exposed at the MoMA in New York, as well as other museums.

In recent years, she has received numerous awards including A&W Designer of the Year and Design Prize Cologne, she received the Red Dot Award and the Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Awards. Personal exhibitions on her work have been shown all over the world. She is currently conducting her professional activity in her own studio in Milan in the field of design, exhibitions, art direction, and architecture. 

Amongst her last projects: the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Barcelona, the W Resort & Spa in Vieques (Puerto Rico), the boutiques of Gianvito Rossi, the showroom of Flos and Moroso in London and the interiors of the fashion fair Pitti Uomo 2010 (Spadolini Pavillon) in Florence. 

CLIP BED 2003

LAXZY SEAT 2003

FLO CHAIR 2004

PAVO REAL OUTDOOR ARMCHAIR

BIKNIT EASY CHAIR

FRILLY STOOL 

CRINOLINE COLLECTION

CRINOLINE COLLECTION

Getting Green with Soneva Kiri.. LITERALLY!!

Remote but accessible aptly describes the Thai island of Kood, on which Soneva Kiri is set amidst the lush tropical rainforest, off the south-east coast of the Gulf of Siam. From the air, the beauty of untouched Thailand and Koh Kood, with its white sandy beaches is immediately evident. Soneva Kiri is comprised of 42 resort villas and 21 spectacular private residences that sit on 150 acres of lush tropical rainforest and beaches. In addition to being absolutely gorgeous, the resort prides itself on its environmentally conscious practices. Strategies like passive cooling, day lighting, recycling rainwater catchment and natural filtration and green roofs help the resort achieve its green goals, Guests are also offered the option to ride in electric carts and bicycles on their way to the beaches instead of in cars.

Real Madrid to build a $1 billion holiday resort in the United Arab Emirates

Nine-times European champions Real Madrid have unveiled plans to build a $1 billion holiday resort in the United Arab Emirates that is due to open in January 2015.

'Real Madrid Resort Island' and to ensure a truly unique location, the sports company plans to construct an archipelago of artificial islands upon which it will be located. Plans will include two high-rise hotels, luxury villas, sports facilities, a marina, an amusement park, a hi-tech museum devoted to the history of the Team and a futuristic 10,000-seat stadium with one side open to the sea. The 430,000-square metre facility project was designed by J+H BOIFFILS and will be constructed in partnership with the UAE government, and they hope to open by 2015.

Real said the artificial island's location put it equidistant between Europe and the Far East, adding that more than half of their estimated 300 million followers were based in Asia.

"It is a decisive and strategic step that will strengthen our institution in the Middle East and Asia," said Real president Florentino Perez he also hopes the UAE resort will attract a staggering one million faithful fans in its first year