LIK + Neon open again

I was at Lik + Neon's opening for a while, took some pics, it's looking good

LEARN TO SHARE, ihtgw presentation for Blow Off Schedule, London Fashion Week February 2010

I did fashion week presentation outside, Houses of Parliament in London. If you google, what people do in Houses of Parliament, this is what comes up:

'What MPs do. The UK public elects Members of Parliament (MPs) to represent their interests and concerns in the House of Commons. ... This gives MPs further insight and context into issues they may discuss when they return to Westminster'

I don't think MP's represent my general: concerns, and interests. Thats another issue, but it did connect with my presentation. UK is well known country for colonisation, taking over people's land in other countries, and slave trade. All this originates from the problem of greed, and selfishness. When man is use to taking whatever they want, when ever they want. It doesn't matter who they have to walk all over, as long as they get what they want. That leaves us in state we are today: mass level of unfairness, and inequality. Only because we have forgotten simple human values, such as sharing and being good to people.

Below me talking about the presentation, pictures of protest boards opposite houeses of parliament and pictures of presentation.

Lik + Neon, Bricklane

Lik + Neon refurbished finally, and there's an event on 24th Feb, you can see invite above. I thought I'd take this chance to talk about Lik + Neon, at some other point I'll go into more detail. But for now I'll talk about a few brief points.

In 2002 Lik + Neon opened as a retail space on Sclater Street, just off Bricklane. At this time Brickline was still a dead end, there was some other shops, events and stuff. But it wasn't half of what it is now, and sometimes these days, when I'm in Bricklane. I can't help but think Bricklane is doomed to be the next Camden. Lets hope not, if everyone keeps their socks pulled up.

Janice who started Lik + Neon, has strong focus on showcasing work of originality, and quality. In shop, you also can find: collectables, rare 70's, 80's deadstock, sport and surfwear.

Check out Lik + Neon's event next Wednesday

Maya civilisation kept their slaves besides them, and we keep our slaves in other side of the other world.

I came across film: Apocalypto released in 2006, directed by Mel Gibson. Film is set in Mexico, during the declining period of the Maya civilisation (centuries ago). In film people are shown to be sold as slaves, and shows an example of how a cilivilisation survives on slavery. Not that different from the way we function these days. One big difference is, Maya civilisation kept their slaves besides them, and we keep our slaves in other side of the other world.

No matter how messed up: police, law and order is, without that, I think there would some people even in this time. Who also would want to use a human as a table, as they did in Maya civilisation. Humans haven't changed that much. However barbaric Maya civilisation appears, but maybe they were better people than us, as their doings were more visible, and not hidden as ours.

How many people like to imagine, that their Nike trainers were made in non slave conditions. How do you calculate it being fair, when you buy a pair of trainers for £60/ £70. A percentage of that money goes to the sales assistant, who earns a fair wage cause they are visible. Then money is spent on: shipping, rent, electricity, business rates, designer, and Nike owner (who earns the bulkiest amount). How is there, any money left for the person who made the trainer, and why not pay them nothing at all, cause no one will ever find out.

See how we probably worse than Maya civilisation.

1 of the greatest fashion designers couldn't even live with himself - that says a lot about the fashion industry

Shock news yesterday Alexander McQueen committed suicide. I'm trying to come terms with this, I've mentioned in the past that McQueen's work, was one of the first to inspire me to do fashion, and go to Central St Martins. I was most familiar with his early work, from the mid 90's, at the time not many people knew who he was, only most fashion heads knew about him. Alexander McQueen was regarded as one of best fashion designers in UK, and a well known designer around the world. Although he was going through a down period after his mothers death, earlier this month, that appears to be the main reason of his death. But there's not much mention of McQueen's, general mental state.

I watched a documentary about McQueen, that was made in the late 90's/ 2000. In this documentary McQueen talked about: the way the fashion industry runs: one side being full of high beauty and bitchy. Another contrast side, where people are not visible: struggling making garments for peanuts (slave labour). McQueen spoke about this in a: thoughtful, melancholic and resigned tone. - Fashion industry works this way, but it seemed that some part of him wished it worked in a different way, but what can you do about it.

I saw this documentary again (not youtube above) a few years ago, after I started working on: ' Say No To Fashion' project. In the past few years i've questioned luxury fashion; materialistic attitude it injects into society, and aswell it being a huge support force for celebrity culture. This lead me to pay less attention to McQueen's collections in the past few seasons. But last night there was plenty of coverage on internet and T.V, about McQueen's work. That reminded how excellent McQueen's vision, and craftsmanship was. He was unique and rare talent .

Not much has been spoken about this yet, I wonder will anyone go into detail. About the mess the fashion industry is in, and the way it runs. McQueen hanging himself says a thousand words, about him, and the fashion industry. One of the greatest fashion designer of this time, could not even live with himself! McQueen was owned by the Gucci group, that is far removed from ethical consciousnes. Gucci and LVMH are two of the most corrupt fashion groups.

Sometimes I wondered, how do people in positions such as McQueen's live with themselves. My question was answered in a disturbing way yesterday. McQueen's death is an alarm call to the fashion world. Fashion world needs to wake up! Remember that we are making clothes for people, and not creating a society full of mental complexities.

US AND UK GOVERMENT NEEDS TO BE SECTIONED ASAP!

If you watch this program, at the end of it your symptoms are: your allergy towards muslims has increased, your thinking Islam is a medieval religion that cant be applied to this time, overall your dislike for muslims has grown. Then bullseye, you've been a victim of media, the program accomplished what it set out to do, to generate more hatred towards Islam!

Copy and paste link below to watch program: 'Generation Jihad'. The name explains it all! I think, producers of programs of this category, should stop bother coming up new, imaginative names for; anti Islam programs, and just call them: 'WE HATE MUSLIMS'. This will make the central objective of program, more transparent.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qt1pm

Most insane things about all this is that; terrorist groups were originally funded by the US, and European goverments. To corrupt individuals, and yes to portray a deformed, tainted image of Islam. And now they make these programs, asking how these groups started. US AND UK GOVERMENT NEEDS TO BE SECTIONED ASAP!

LIK + NEON is closed for refurbishment, but will re-open soon

LIK + NEON is closed for refurbishment, but will re-open soon may towards fashion week?!

NO CLASS/ OVERLOAD 2010

Below images of Spring/ Summer 2010 collection. I made this collection last year, printed and hand dyed most of the fabric for this collection. It was mainly conceptual, idea of No Class, came from eradicating the class system, a step towards people being able to see each other at one. On the whole we do live in an unhealthy climate, where many people are ready to walk all over the next person to achieve 'success'.

Overload; was another concept part of this collection, that was about: too much information, too much of everything, mainly thanks to the internet.

If anyone wants to buy t shirts from this collection, you can visit my big cartel shop link below:

http://samiamalik.bigcartel.com/