dogstar celebrated its Mercedes-Benz fashion parade on saturday night at our Southbank store in company of customers and staff. There we had the opportunity to relax and enjoy after weeks of hard work getting ready for the event.  On the night gift packs were handed out and included in them were Perfect Potion aromatic mist Eros, gingerbread men and hand printed items based on our upcoming summer range inpired by fables and fairytales.

Here are some snap shots taken on the night…

For more photos of the parade visit:

http://www.mbff.com.au/gallery/day1/dogstar/

Paola Milani is the gifted artist behind laika’s water crystals, in this interview we uncover a bit about her and the meaning of her art.

How did you first get in touch with dogstar and what made you become a
collaborator to the label?

I met Masayo when I moved up from Melbourne a few years back. We always had this idea of working together but it was never the right time. I became a visual merchandiser and creative for Perfect Potion. Working with Perfect Potion inspired me to get back into my artwork again. Masayo liked what I was doing and we took it from there.

We have worked together really well.

Can you tell us a bit about the current collaboration?

What I have enjoyed about making art is getting a message out there for people to hear and maybe get inspired by. The current laika range is based on my series of photos and paintings that I have layered with screen prints of water crystal designs that I have hand drawn.

The message behind this series was to hopefully inspire people to see that we have the power to change the world for the better by making our little individual space a better place. We see this happen when water crystals are exposed to positive energy they shine, when they are exposed to negative energy they look dead and seeing we are mostly made up of water…..

What inspires you?

People that are out there trying to change the world for the better, people that are making a conscious effort to do their bit for the planet. Positively, Nature, Clouds, Water. The light before a storm hits. Traditional crafts from indigenous cultures. The water crystal photographs of Dr Masaru Emoto. My beautiful daughter Isabella and husband Marcello.

How do you and Masayo work on a range together?

With the Water Crystal series the designs were taken from my artworks and we just worked the collection around them.

With the next collaboration, we have been working on an idea that we are both passionate about and have this idea in mind when working on our parts. The prints (my part) get done first but the clothing design starts before my designs are fully finished and we communicate all the way through the process until we come up with a final story that works and is beautiful. It’s about creating beautiful art pieces that people can wear.

What medium do you use, does it change depending on the situation or project?

With my own art work I used mixed media, a combination of photographs, painting, drawing and prints. With dogstar I have mainly been doing pencil work or lino cuts.

Will you be collaborating with dogstar in the future?

We are currently working on other collaboration and are very excited by it!

What I like about collaborating with dogstar is that clothing is a beautiful way to produce art. It makes it more accessible to the public and it also make people feel special about wearing it.

A bit about Paola Milani

I studied both Fine Arts and Media Arts at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. I have worked as a visual merchandiser and creative for Perfect Potion for a number of years which I loved before having my daughter. I now do freelance illustration and design work form home as well as working on my art pieces.

One of the best things about the work I do is being able to create a story or visual message. Whether it be an illustration for a client or an art series I am working on, there is always a story behind it. I enjoy creating pieces that will give people inspiration or joy. It’s pretty satisfying when people that have bought my art contact me and tell me how good it makes them feel when they look at it and I love hearing their interpretation on what the art work means to them. Giving others inspiration to create is a wonderful thing.

www.paolamilani.com.au

dogstar vip’s and staff enjoyed mbff in style.

Here is a sneak peak at what went on after the MBFF fashion show…

The night started early at the stores with champagne and nibbles before the big show. Afterwards the dogstar team and some of our most faithful customers headed to KG Bar in the city, a very stylish and tasteful venue, where we sat down and relax after very busy weeks getting ready and making everything perfect for the show.

What better way to celebrate the success that with a glass of wine and some cocktails in the company of our great staff and customers!

After a quick drink in the city store, dogstar VIP’s and staff trouped off to city hall to witness Brisbane’s top designers strut their stuff at MBFF on Tuesday night. dogstar showcased with the likes of Mother Maria, Maiocchi and La La Luxe amongst others. While the majority of us got to sit back, relax and enjoy the show, Masayo, Brooke and Laurie from our production team, were behind the scene madly dressing models. The girls obviously did a good job because the show went flawlessly and the collection was stunning.

The show was followed by celebratory drinks at the KG bar where the dogstar family got to relax in style. Thank you to those who joined us for an exciting night. Congratulations to Masayo for a stunning collection once again.

It is with great sadness that we make known the passing of dogstar stalwart, Trevor.

Trevor has been with us from the inception of the label and leant a great deal of input to the naming of the label, fabric selection and marketing. He will be much remembered for his groundbreaking (although not very successful) campaign, “I would like to have a girlfriend in Japan.” With the recognition of his skills in label management, marketing and promotion, Trevor was elevated to the position of C.E.O. of dogstar in 2001, a posting which he held until his retirement in 2005. All who were there will remember his retirement party at the Valley shop where images of him and stories of his achievements covered the walls. He oversaw his final dogstar engagement like a king that night.

During his time with dogstar, Trevor had a very strict rule that while business and connections were important, all thoughts of enterprise finished at meal time and his concentration was put into the savouring of dinner.

During his retirement Trevor passed his time sometimes quietly, other times, not. He loved going to the Gold Coast Spit for a swim and sunbake. He enjoyed times with his neighbours and visitors and spent much time in his backyard entertaining himself and others.

We know that in his passing he would like to make special mention of his good friend, Orla, who was his constant companion when we were away. We also want the thank with great sincerity Diane Sheehan of Fiveways Veterinary Practice, Graceville, for her help and compassion during Trev’s last months.

 Trevor and his sense of friendship and humour will be sadly missed.

To herald the arrival of dogstars summer 09 range, our city windows have had a make over. Strange but beautiful sculptural forms have taken over the windows in our Elizabeth St. store.
Behind the design and execution of the installation is Sachiyo Oizumi, who has collaborated with dogstar in the past.
The installation mirrors dogstars summer 09 aesthetic and highlights the raw egde of the range. The artwork’s direction emphasises the beauty in everyday life, and encourages us to look at mundane objects as art.

One of our largest wholesale customers, Soul Diva Boutique at Buderim on the Sunshine Coast, hosted the ‘Made in Australia’ fashion lunch @ The Wine Bar on the 8^th of May. The event showcased Australian designed and made fashion for over 100 invited guests and those lucky enough to grab tickets.  After enjoying delicious Mooloolaba Prawn Risotto and roasted Beef Fillet, we were treated to an exciting and intimate fashion show exhibiting dogstar as well as a number of other well known Australian designers. The entrepreneurial ladies that own and run Soul Diva put on a great show, from organising models and coordinating outfits, too facilitating an onsite ‘pop up’ store for post lunch shopping.

Sarah and Dianne stock a great range of current season dogstar garments within their boutique, so if travelling to Brisbane is a little inconvenient, check out Soul Diva on your next shopping trip.

To view more photos from the event please visit http://www.ourevents.com.au/2009-02-12-01-07-20.html?func=viewcategory&catid=11

Orla

Kicking back in our wholesale department after a busy day as receptionist, accessory buyer and wholesale and online shop distributor…we have Erika! From selecting our seriously funky jewellery and bags (soon to be available online!), to organising our wholesale accounts Australia and New Zealand wide, this girl is always on the go. So yes Erika, you deserve a little relaxation time… at least for the next 10 seconds before you rush off to start something else…

Our creative force behind dogstar, Masayo, listens to music for the melody. Her first language is Japanese and understanding the lyrics of english songs can be tricky. For her, music evokes emotion through its sound rather than through its words.

Music is  an universal language we all relate to. People are moved and influenced by it in many ways. We breath music, the sounds inspire, provoke thoughts; it rouses emotions, settles nerves, relates to feelings felt by many. We laugh, we cry, we dance, we reflect, we create, we are stirred by its feeling. Nick Cave’s dark and brooding sounds and Vast’s industrial and drum-driven, heavy bass were a couple of the influences behind dogstar’s winter 09 collection. 

Like music, dogstar appeals to and is enjoyed by a broad range of people, of all shapes, sizes and ages. We like everyone to be able to speak its creative language.