One of my favourite places in London is Dover Street Market (probably my No.1 favourite place to be honest). I have been going there for many years to soak up the vibe and gain immense inspiration from the store design/layout, clothing designs on display, people that go and work there and Rose bakery. The complete package makes it’s worth visiting with frequency because there is always something new to discover or gain creatively.
The DSM logo has come to represent this experience and memory I have of this place. When I look at their logo, I feel connected to my inspired self. Analysing the logo further;
The shape is a sort of primal drawing shape, representing a house. This simplicity creates a sort of open platform for the diverse selection of brands and styles within the store.
A home which represents the family, which is very suited to their store concept; a group of brands together under one roof, some united by brand origin (Comme des Garçons) some related to it and yet others invited in as new friends.
“Dover Street Market” as a form of an adres places it in a space and time, a location*. Variations of the logo add the city name underneath “Market” (NEW YORK, LONDON, GINZA).
“Market” signifies a collection of sellers/retailers and a certain temporality to what’s on offer. It also brings up an image of a lively and communal atmosphere.
*Dover Street Market London, which was the first location of all DSM locations, was located originally on Dover Street in Mayfair, London. This is where its name originates from. Although the London store has since moved to Haymarket, its name is still linked to the first store location, rooting it in a place and linking it to a certain time.
As my thoughts go; I want to start something of my own, namely a business selling things I make myself.
But what is this thought worth if you never start working towards a realisation of it? Starting is the hardest part, making the first move. Once you’re in the flow, you’re flying. But getting the engine going… how?
By doing you, by not going the copy cat route. Define what it is that you really want, where these urges really do come from, and start using that as the fuel man!
That’s right!
Let me list it out for myself, because who else is here to get inspired by these words than myself (at this point) really. There are two ideas floating around, and it’s worth finding out where these ideas come from (what motivations/urges) and what it would take to get started (realistically, not hypothetically):
➊ Clothing line
Where it comes from: – Against fast fashion (new collection every season) – Against continues sale (sign of overproduction) – Against unsustainable practices (of production, of wearing things once) – Against the copy cat nature (‘globalisation of style’) + Pro paying for quality (high price, high value) + Pro ‘never out of fashion’ (keeping things available for longer) + Pro upcycling (there is already enough out there) + Pro individuality (local styles, designs with a story/concept)
What it means: ➀ Translating inspirations into clothing pieces/designs ➁ Using memories of places to inspire (visual) research and design ➂ Creating a representation of the world, spreading local identities globally, without becoming a globalisation of style ➃ Creating a flexible brand identity that can adapt to/represent cross-cultural pollination (instead of monocultures)
➋ Online gallery
Where it comes from: – Against uninspiring ‘art’ (‘wall fillers’ encountered in short-stays) – Against the short lifespan of pictures (instagram fast feed) – Against the business of representation (quality approved by…) – Against exclusivity of art photography (limited supply) + Pro alternative visual expressions (tools for pondering) + Pro slow photography (analog methods, careful selection) + Pro self-representation (being able to earn of your own creations) + Pro domestication of art photography (inspiration is for everyone)
What it means: ➀ Printing and framing photographs from my archive ➁ Using photography to represent something between the abstract and picturesque ➂ Creating a website that is inspiring as a portfolio while simultaneously being functional as a commercial environment (there can’t be confusion about it being a webshop, but it has to equally be able to inspire) ➃ Creating a brand identity that encompasses more then myself and photographic print sales alone
Now these two business objectives could be realised onto separate lanes, but don’t necessarily need to exclude each-other. They could merge into one. And to be honest, the fact that they don’t usually overlap should not be a reason for me not to do so either. If it works for my, if its my dream to do so, then so be it. Be yourself and do you. After all, the motivations behind both these business ideas are rather similar; out with the homogenisation of creativity and culture, in with the independence and affluence of styles.
How to start while in limbo
Living in temporary accommodation with most, if not all of our personal belongings in storage, I find it hard to even find the motivation to sit down and do this (write these words). Finding motivation/inspiration to even think about making work seems to take a lot of energy at the moment. But luckily that’s changing by the help of a list I started writing ‘those that inspire’, of people that are able to push me in the right direction just by doing what they do best.
Some smaller scale things I can start working on, that help me work towards my larger goals (as described above) could be the following:
✪ Draw without the pressure of ‘working towards something’ (contradictory but true) ✪ Organise my reference library into one place (migrate all to Are.na) ✪ Research brand positioning (instagram, SEO, naming, business plan)
➊ Embroider items of clothing I hardly wear ➊ Create graphic designs that could be screen printed onto something
➊ & ➋ Think of a name that is scaleable (with the potential of combining everything into a single platform)
➋ Select photo’s to be printed from those that I have already scanned ➋ Compare printing/framing costs and calculate cost vs selling price ➋ Sell some prints to my network (via instagram)
2020, what a year it has been. Might I share some thoughts on that tomorrow perhaps, if I may, I may. But not today, as today I’m trying to settle into the couch for the first time in a while. It’s (after all) the start of my holiday. And while I’m slowly adjusting to relaxation, but am still with a busy/full mind, I’m starting to observe habits of mine that I’d like to break with in the year ahead. One of those observations I’d like to capture here today as it has come back to me multiple times over the past year, is as follows;
❑ You don’t have to be interested in everything
❏ You don’t have to know everything about your interests
❑ You won’t ever be fully up-to-date, learning never stops
❑ You don’t need to collect/archive if you won’t exploit it
❑ You don’t have to rely on out-side sources for inspiration
These mental notes have came to me every now and then this year. At times I can be so soaked up by it all that I don’t actually get to think for myself anymore. I want to get back into my inspired, creative and curious self again. And no excuses; don’t fool yourself. You won’t do better when you are ahead of yourself in terms of knowledge, or references. These come with time and come when the time is ripe. I learn through practice, doing.
