"VERY MACHINE-A..."

The man behind the machine, owner of MACHINE-A, Stavros Karelis, who had just told me "It's not Fashion Week until I've seen you Marina".
Awe, the feeling's completely mutual Stavros (yes this is a total love-in and I'm making no apologies!). He then confides that something really exciting's being planned for the business... but more of that later.

Image via MACHINE-A

It's only two years ago that MACHINE-A (Digitaria) popped up, totally left-of-centre, in an old tailor's shop in Soho and quickly blindsided everyone with its conceptual, imaginatively curated yet utterly intelligent fashion. Even Lady G's now a fan.

Designer clothing should look unlike anything else, forget 'pretty', it should be relevant and meaningful and thought provoking and challenging... Think that's why I have such a soft spot for MACHINE-A, both the shop and the extended collective of emerging talent. Can't articulate precisely why but this shop gives me a flutter of excitement in the pit of my stomach.

Like everyone else, I'm still struggling to 'label' the brand's unique sense of editorship - this pleases me greatly because that's the point.
"Oooh, very MACHINE-A" was the best I can do. Coincidentally and completely independently, lovely Michael at Anastasia and Duck blog recently used that very same expression! 

I'll eat my Lina Osterman studded collar if this isn't a Charlie Le Mindu haircut. The hair architect does a regular pop-up salon in the MACHINE-A shop.

What other independent boutique has a shop front like this? Piers Atkinson for MACHINE-A starring Aaron Frew.

Can now reveal that secret... As of today, MACHINE-A also have an ONLINE shop!!! Styled by the inspirational Anna Travelyan, click the image below to see the site.

Lots more MACHINE-A people and pics still to come...

MACHINE-A Soho shop
MACHINE-A Online shop

MACHINE-A: London Fashion Week Party

MACHINE-A's Paul Joyce and Stavros Karelis, Paul's incredible top is by Lina Osterman.

Ok, let's cut to the chase, I'm a huge fan of this shop and gallery, they totally won me over at last year's fashion week and I'm delighted that this business is gaining some real torque on the London 'fashion map'. You can read how it all started in my post from last year. 

Showcasing an achingly intelligent selection of work from emerging designers and artists, it's a stylist's dream and I imagine one day this Soho shop will be talked about with the same mythical fervour now evoked by Vivienne Westwood's 70s shop SEX. 

Monday night was MACHINE-A's London Fashion Week party...

Designer Gabriella Marina Gonzales beside her A/W 2010 Victorian Sci-fi Surgery collection. Gabriella told me she hand cuts and polishes all the components herself.

Click here for Gabriella's blog

Designer Asger Juel Larsen, who also had some fabulous chain-mail garments in the windows on my last visit.

These are metal tubes!

A short film featuring Asger's work.

Cute knockers from Designer Gemma Slack who I was really keen to meet but even with Stavros and Paul on look-out, the party was so busy that it was all a bit "Oh, she was just here but she definitely went that way..." So sadly, I ended up without a pic of Gemma.

Stumbled on the brilliant work of accessories and jewellery designer Russell "Random Bangle" just before Fashion Week last Autumn. I dropped him an email and got no response but resolved to keep an eye open for any clues as to who the mysterious "Random Bangle" might be. When I did the previous post on Digitaria (as MACHINE-A was formerly named) I'd ommited to ask this chap his name in order to credit him. Yip, you guessed it, the person who waved me through when he couldn't find my name on the guest list back in September was Random himself. I've just confessed all to him which is probably why he's mischievously chuckling!

Maker of sublimely beautiful music, Jim "Warboy".

Anna Volosenko from Stylistique blog

Gabriella Marina Gonzalez

Chun P.Lin, Photographer

Stavros

This coat intrigued me because it looked like toile fabric, turns out it is a sort of toile but fully lined and from the workshop of Westwood! 

Millie from MACHINE-A

Sculptor Henry Mackay-Bull wearing a wonderful chain made by a friend's Father from bone!

Love's KT, designer.

MACHINE-A  (Digitaria)

60 Berwick St

London

W1F 8SU

www.machine-a.com

The Lady's Just Gaga for 'House of Blue Eyes'

Lady Gaga sporting a PVC cape from House of Blue Eyes on her new album cover. Well done Johnny and the House of Blue Eyes collective.

Want a piece of the action yourself? For two weeks, Johnny Blueeyes will be showcasing and selling selected items from the 'unique archive of his life' as a music industry stylist and designer. And it's all happening in one of my favorite London boutiques, Digitaria, now known as MACHINE-A after an adroit name change at the end of last year. Drop by the shop between 4pm-5pm daily to see what Johnny's up to in the window...maybe he'll just be taking tea!

Johnnyblueeyes 'Love For Sale'

MACHINE-A

60 Berwick St,

SOHO.

OPEN 16 – 30 JANUARY, MONDAY TO SATURDAYS, 11AM – 6PM

For one on one afternoon tea and chat appointments with Johnny, contact Johnny@houseofblueeyes.com