May 02, 2008
CUT /// COPY
Cut Copy is an Australian based electro/new wave indie band… and they’re pretty cool.Getting straight to the point: if you’re into The Presents, Hot Chip, Junior Boys or Van She you will love Cut Copy.
Cut Copy’s latest album - In Ghost Colours has some of the most upbeat and well produced tracks that Cut Copy has to offer (in my opinion). Here’s a list of my favorite Cut Copy tracks:
From The Album: Bright Like Neon Love
These tracks remind me of mellow house music:
- That Was Just A Dream
- Future
- Time Stands Still
From The Album: In Ghost Colours
More upbeat dancey stuff.
May 01, 2008
After a looooonnnng break, IndieKool is back and will be updating the blog frequently with music, fashion, art & design, culture and anything else indie news!
May 01, 2008
PrettyRaccoon Clothing
An interview with Andrea Winkler, the owner of the Toronto based clothing line PrettyRaccoon
www.andreawinkler.com
I love your designs, they’re so indie! Your designs are definitely something special, nice to see something fresh rather than those copy & paste styles we see everywhere in the malls these days.Anyways, how did you come up with your clothing line’s name? I actually came up with it by accident. I was trying to choose an eBay user name and was putting together many different combos of words (animals/colors/places) that I liked. After about trying about 30 different things I finally typed in “PrettyRaccoon”, but I spelled raccoon wrong so eBay game me that user name. Eventually they let me change it to the proper spelling! How long have you been designing these DIY clothing?
I’ve been sewing for myself for many many years (probably at least 6 or 7 years), I started selling DIY clothing as my job about two years ago. What inspires you to design your pieces?
I love thrift shopping and finding great vintage fabrics and designs. I’m always inspired by that!
Do you also come up with the graphic design prints on your clothing? If so, how?
Most of the prints that I use on my tops I find in vintage books or magazines. I try to change them a bit from the originals, but I love the quality of old line drawings and prints.
Would you ever consider designing mens DIY clothing?
I would maybe make some basic t-shirts for men, but I think I will keep the DIY tops just for the ladies! Maybe I could partner up with a boy who can take care of the male side of things.
So you use American Apparel eh? Any particular reason why?
I like using a worldwide brand that people can trust. If you are really concerned about a certain style most people can pop into an American Apparel store and try something on. More importantly they have great business practice; they treat their employees fairly and are beginning to introduce more organic/sustainable options.
I’m curious about how you managed to market your business! Did your success come from word of mouth?
I think my success comes from a combination of word of mouth, my website and eBay. I have a lot of repeat customers that are hopefully spreading the word! Also selling on eBay gives me a customer base that I wouldn’t get if I just sold off of my own website. Having a website allows me to exchange links with other great DIY businesses. I also have a Livejournal and Myspace page for my clothing to keep people updated and interested!
If you were offered to have your pieces duplicated and mass produced (rather than keeping it all DIY & unique) would you?
I would mass produce my tops (to sell in other stores), but I would always keep creating new one-of-a-kind pieces to sell on my site.
I love the fact that you’re from Canada because I’m from Toronto too! Are there any shops, small boutiques in Toronto that sell your clothing line?
Right now I sell everything myself, but there are lots of great places to buy unique clothing in Toronto!
One last thing, what other places do you recommend people to shop if they’re looking for the very mod, scenester, indie chic look? Any specific stores in Toronto?
I love the one-of-a-kind show and sale that happens a couple times a year in Toronto. Fresh Collective and Lilith (both on Queen Street) sell lots of indie designers – they always have something unique to buy!
May 01, 2008
Waffo Designs
An interview with Tully, the owner of an independent clothing line based in San Diego.
www.waffo.com
What gave you the idea to start this label?
I mainly started this label because i was having a bitch of a time finding a super soft quality blank out there with a nice vintage cut to print t-shirts on and sell them on ebay. American Apparel was out there but i didn’t want to use them. Everybody was using them and also i felt their cut was still a little too conservative and their fabric was pretty much crap.How long has this clothing line been alive?
Although i have been in this business almost 5 years this company is just over 2 years old. The first 3 years was actually devoted to making the perfect t-shirt i guess and learning the biz. trial and error sort of thing.Your site gaurentees that the shirt is 100% super soft. I have to agree because I washed my Karma Police t-shirt that I ordered a while back and its softer than when I first got it after so many washes! How did you discover this oh so secret cotton tee?
Well i can’t tell you too much otherwise it’s not a secret then, right? we have a special method of doing a double silicone enzyme wash and we use a cellulose based polyester similar to rayon. that’s what keeps it soft, and gets it softer. 100% regular combed cotton will eventually become harsh and loose it softness once all the silicone is washed away from it. We try and make a t-shirt in which you’ll keep wearing it and that’s pretty much all you’ll wear. we’ve created a few addicts out there who now can’t wear anything else. it’s the only thing i wear and i even sleep in one so do a lot of our customers because they tell us. why they tell us i don’t know.
Who designs your graphics? They look awesome, especially the Karma Police one.
We have a funky bunch who all contribute designs. i do a lot of them but i can’t even draw a straight line. some are collages. there are a lot of tattoo artists in san diego so i’m kind of lucky.
And finally, What is your favorite band?
I really dislike what’s going on musically lately. it’s like we’re digressing. while the visual art movement is moving into the future with artists like mark ryden and john john jesse pop music is in the toilet but i still like some of the bands in the underground. right now i guess autolux from los angeles or maybe hotchip from great britain.
cheers!
