Saturday, October 31, 2015

It Started out Dark, ended up Pitch Black!

Tuesday was not the best and brightest of days, spring was certainly not very much in the air. But fashion changes with the weather and maybe your mood too so this blog kicked off the week with Black on Black here; then ramped up the all-new-InstaGRAM-account with plenty of not-light-weight SPRING photography as Sydney turned back on it's charm. You know what; I am actually enjoying Instagram at last.. and I think it shows! So if you are not already doing so, I think my reversal of attitude on IG is worth checking out. The New Plan is to the IG the week away; with special write-ups and a weekly round-up too on Street Fashion Sydney's home turf right here - but our turf is expanding - is there an HTML Emoji for that ðŸ˜ƒ I guess not..
Got the Black Memo - Two happy guys after the Seekae one off Pitch Black special performance for LYNX, at the Seymour Centre Friday night. #LYNXPitchBlack
At the Seekae one-off Pitch Black special performance for LYNX, at the Seymour Centre Friday night
Challenging show opening last night at Kudos Gallery, The Body Politik, lots of soft sculpture #boy #girl bits and more! #Recommended #art #sculpture #installation
Portobello PR Autumn Winter 16 showings, Shirts, Patterns.
Getting ready for it all to begin, @chapteronebondi #launchparty #bondi #bondibeach #chapteronebondi #hoppo #food #drinks #cafe #bar #restaurant #japanesefood #fusion #healthy
Getting ready for it all to begin, @chapteronebondi #launchparty #bondi #bondibeach #chapteronebondi #hoppo #food #drinks #cafe #bar #restaurant #japanesefood #fusion #healthy Below, the Beat Goes On! 
And The Beat Goes On! Hoppo, Stacy, Bongo Bear (without the bear skin)..  @chapteronebondi #launchparty #bondi #bondibeach #chapteronebondi #hoppo
Animal print, tribal weave pattern jacket, animal print dress, polkadots on cat bag and Dr Maten Boots. patterns and kitty bag at the #NASgraduates show
Mid to late week segue into Pattern - Pattern - Pattern!
Emanuel showing his Byron style last night at Roslyn Oxley 9 gallery. #ByronBay #Paddington #Menswear #Boho #Hat #Vest #mensstyle #Style #barista #Tote #Hippy #beards
Grey marl tee, denim skirt, wearing vintage Brown RM Williams Boots black bag with shapes pattern. Women's style, Street Fashion Sydney.
..and RM Williams Boots.
Vintage black suede RM Williams Cuban heel women's boots, brown court shoe low heel, lamb tattoo on foot. Street Fashion Sydney by Kent Johnson.
Heavy tribal pattern use in reds,  Dress, tote bag, floral scarf. Street Fashion Sydney.
Woman with classic Japanese inspired full back tattoo, full sleeve tattoos, black singlet top, heavily patterned pants, Chuck Taylor All-Stars, at China Heights Gallery Lucy O'Doherty art in the background.
Completely 'Spot pattern painted' bicycle seen at NAS, National Art School.
Continuing mid to late week segue into Pattern - Pattern - Pattern!
Black pleated skirt with vintage 50's geometric fabric pattern. Redback work boots, vintage Macpac backpack. Street Fashion Sydney.
Artist Machiko Motoi tonight at the National Art School Postgraduate show. #NAS With her work 'I Am A Human'. #PGshow15 #NASgraduates #artist #Portrait - Street Fashion Sydney by Kent Johnson.
Leaving #LYNXPitchBlack with Mr Christopher Haggarty. Photo by @vivalaviv

the all new Street Fashion Sydney InstaGRAM-account 

https://www.facebook.com/kudosgallery/
http://chapter-one.com.au/
http://www.portobellopr.com.au/
http://NAS/pgshow15.nas.edu.au/
http://www.roslynoxley9.com.au/
http://www.chinaheights.com/


Telling Stories in Pictures all over..
Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.
0433 796 863

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Sydney Italian Festival launch party at Doltone House.

Well what a great way to launch a month of all things Italian in Sydney; Prosecco and Peroni, Ferrari, Maserati and Vespa, Italian Food, Italian Fashion, Italian Food, Italian Design, Italian Food, did I mention Italian Food! Of course I did because it is perhaps Italy's most famous export. And while there are those who will argue for the great design work of the Italians and fast beautiful cars, beautiful women and handsome men in superb Italian fashion, Italian fashion. Take your pick! There's a lot to like, then Italian films; Inspector Montalbano; travel to Italian cities and countryside, take a Roman Holliday!  I could go on, I will stop, FOLLOW the LINK to find out more of what's on in Sydney in the coming weeks!
www.sydneyitalianfestival.com/
Chef Andrea Tranchero cooking Barilla pasta at the Sydney Italian Festival Launch - Street Fashion Sydney
Vivienne from vivalaViv arrives at the Sydney Italian Festival Launch - Street Fashion Sydney
Opening speeches to launch the Sydney Italian Festival Launch - Street Fashion Sydney
 www.sydneyitalianfestival.com/
VIP,s Italian Trade Agency, Sydney Italian Festival Launch - Street Fashion Sydney
Piaggio VESPA Australia at Sydney Italian Festival Launch - Street Fashion Sydney
Speeches to launch the Sydney Italian Festival Launch - Street Fashion Sydney
 www.sydneyitalianfestival.com/
Sicilian Iced treats! Sydney Italian Festival Launch - Street Fashion Sydney
VIP's mingling at the Sydney Italian Festival Launch - Street Fashion Sydney
Drinks and smiles from Casa Italia, Sydney Italian Festival Launch - Street Fashion Sydney
Photos on the Appian Way on a Piaggio VESPA Australia. Sydney Italian Festival Launch - Street Fashion Sydney
Chef Andrea Tranchero Barilla pasta dishes ready at the Sydney Italian Festival Launch - Street Fashion Sydney
Mr Haggerty and Milo Elder at the Sydney Italian Festival Launch - Street Fashion Sydney
Friends talk and mingle at the Sydney Italian Festival Launch - Street Fashion Sydney
Vivienne Shui - vivalaViv and Kent Johnson - Street Fashion Sydney as VIP guests at the Sydney Italian Festival Launch - Street Fashion Sydney
www.sydneyitalianfestival.com/ #sydneyitalianfestival

Need a Photographer? 
Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.
0433 796 863

Black on Black on South Dowling Street..

I do like it when the photography gods tease me a little and remind me, that if I keep my camera out and ready; then they just might send a beautiful vision walking my way. It can also help to dawdle along and admire the Victorian architecture of the Greek Orthodox Church. Because those photography gods did just send a divine auburn haired creature sporting a versatile Black on Black ensemble walking my way, right down to the RM Williams Cuban heeled boots ! Just perfect for the inclement spring weather that's descend again. Keep your fashion options open for now Sydney.

Young woman with auburn hair in black knit jumper black skirt and stockings with RM Williams cuban heel boots, tan stachel/shoulder bag, photographed outside the Greek Orthodox Church on South Dowling Street for Street Fashion Sydney.

Need a Photographer? Try Me!
Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.
0433 796 863

Friday, October 23, 2015

Sperry Odysseys Await launch @ Regatta with Swimming Australia..

I remember the day Australia won the America's Cup, I cycled my classy road bike past the Regatta Hotel beside the Brisbane River, and caught a flat tyre from the broken glass the celebrating and endlessly jubilant pub crowd had strewn across the road! What the hell; we had won the cup! "Any boss who sacks a worker for not turning up today is a bum." it had never Never been done before!
This time the Regatta was in Rose Bay Sydney, I took a taxi, yachting shoes the order of the day, lots of lovely people, Olympians Ellie Cole & Mitch Larkin, great food and drinks and a Sydney Harbour view. But down to business; Sperry shoes don't slip. This is very important. On the deck of a yacht or walking beside a pool, you slip, you lose. Loss of grip in sport, like a flat tyre cycling, it's bad news. You want the good not the bad. Sperry are now sponsoring Swimming Australia to help keep performance out of the pool as good as it is in the pool. And it was very interesting to see local Bondi Ink tattooists embellishing these classic boat shoes with equally classic sea faring motifs, something a bit new and fashionable to go with that great sports credibility.
Tattooed Sperry Top-Sider boat shoes. Sperry Odyssey Australia launch @ Regatta with Swimming Australia.
 Ted Baldock of RCG & Sperry Australia The Australian Swim team athletes Ellie Cole & Mitch Larkin. Photo by Kent Johnson.
Indul-Gent Jeff Lack and friends on the deck at the Sperry Odyssey Australia launch @ Regatta Rose Bay.
Mitch Larkin and crowd during speeches, Sperry Odyssey Australia launch @ Regatta with Swimming Australia.
Steve  & Will 'The Gourmet Pommies with vivalaViv blogger  Vivienne Shui at the Sperry Odyssey Australia launch Regatta Rose Bay.
DJ on deck at Sperry Odyssey Australia launch @ Regatta Rose Bay.
Selfie time - 'The Gourmet Pommies' Will wears Ellie Cole's 2012 Olympic Gold Medal as Steve tries to get in on the act. Sperry Odyssey Australia launch @ Regatta with Swimming Australia.
Fashion photographer and writer/blogger Kent Johnson at the Sperry Odyssey Australia launch @ Regatta Rose bay.
View of the Rose Bay marina, Sperry Odyssey Australia launch @ Regatta.
On the deck, Sperry Odyssey Australia launch @ Regatta with Swimming Australia.
Bondi Ink tattooists tattooing Sperry Top-Sider boat shoes. Odyssey Australia launch @ Regatta with Swimming Australia.
Checking out the topsider boat shoes at the Sperry Odyssey Australia launch @ Regatta Rose Bay.
Sperry Odyssey Australia launch @ Regatta with Swimming Australia.

Thank you to, http://www.sperry.com.au/  #odysseysawait
http://www.portobellopr.com.au/

Book Street Fashion Sydney to cover your next event.
Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.
0433 796 863

Thursday, October 15, 2015

FASHION - Is it yours? Is it stolen? Does it matter?

In the digital age where something you want can be as close as a click away there is an awful lot to be seen that looks as though it can be just as easily possessed. If you can see it and possess it it must be yours right? Whoa there, slow down, maybe its not as simple as that; in fact it is NOT as simple as that at all.
Panel for the Sydney Fashion Law Breakfast at K&L Gates, L to R Lisa Egan, Anthony Halas, Glynis Traill-Nash, Jonathan Feder. Photographed by Kent Johnson for Street Fashion Sydney.

On Wednesday morning I had the  pleasure of attending the K&L Gates, Sydney Fashion Law Breakfast for a panel discussion and insights into Intellectual Property (IP), Copyright Law and Design Registration as applied to fashion. On the panel were Seafolly CEO Anthony Halas, and esteemed Fashion Editor at The Australian Glynis Traill-Nash, flanked by legal eagles, Lisa Egan and Jonathan Feder. I thought I already had a reasonable grasp on how copyright laws worked but I do have to say, I learn't a whole lot more in a reasonably short period of time; experts are great to have around!

The panel kicked off the case studies with a look at copyright infringement of a Seafolly fabric PATTERN design. No my caps lock did not get stuck. One of the things I learn't Wednesday morning is that the pattern created by Seafolly, in this case an English Rose design; as they had created their own English Rose, that design was COPYRIGHT protected - that is life of the author + 70 years in Australia. In a nutshell, another swimwear company had taken serious liberties with the English Rose design, it went to court, Seafolly had full documentation of their creative process in coming up with their own, Original - English Rose; and it also became clear in-court, that the other guys had been pushing for their people to copy and manipulate the Seafolly design. Had the other guys made changes to the design? YES! They had, but they had not made their own design. This was an important victory for Seafolly as it forced a competitor to remove the pattern-knock-off range from sale, we are talking fabrics not shapes. Also a creative victory for a company that does put a lot of effort into designing unique quality product. Be aware, even purchasing a knock-off fabric design and making/selling anything from it.. can lead to legal disputes.

By the way that is not a mess on the platform in the picture above, that is a collection of samples of the swimwear and Tee shirts coming up next.
Elwood compared with.. Panel for the Sydney Fashion Law Breakfast at K&L Gates, L to R Lisa Egan, Anthony Halas, Glynis Traill-Nash, Jonathan Feder. Photographed by Kent Johnson for Street Fashion Sydney.
Next was Elwood Vs  ____ ; I am not going to go into legal details, only the concepts spoken about. Again, in a nutshell, it was not enough to change details, the design CONCEPT of Elwood was seen as unique and original, beyond the idea of generic collegiate shirt designs. Elwood had created something creative and unique that they styled their designs on. The competition the red copy-cat tee above was forced to be removed from sale. In court it was found that the designer of the copy-cat range had indeed had the Elwood tee on their desk for inspiration..

Something that surprised me greatly is that the shape of your garment is not protected by copyright. So if like Seafolly you design your own fabric patterns, you automatically have copyright protection of that aspect of your fashion creation. But the shapes! The shapes are another matter, for a shape or specific design aspect you need to apply for Design Registration which if granted gives you ten years of protection. You must apply for design registration before releasing your product. I suspect this could be tricky with some fashion production timelines. Still if you plan on starting a fashion revolution it may be wise to look into design registration before taking it to the streets!

One question I asked that I had hoped might be answered or some insight gained, sadly seems to be in the too-hard basket. My question was why the (fashion) magazines don't seem to be doing anything about bloggers etc, willy nilly knocking off their intellectual property (fashion stories/photographs) as 'inspiration' blogs. As a writer and photographer who creates original content, this question about stealing pictures, while not quite on-topic seemed in the spirit of the discussion and close to my heart. Glynis to whom I directed the question to thought it a "very good question"; however did "not have an answer". Could be an issue the magazine industry might want to keep working on..

Of course if you are a designer or a designer working for a fashion company who wants YOU to take design short-cuts, the simple answer would seem to be don't do it! Lets help keep creativity alive by being original and creative. If you have a fashion IP or copyright  problem, Lisa Egan and Jonathan Feder from http://www.klgates.com/ seem to know the legal position (don't ask me I am NOT a lawyer).

And if you want some free background on Design Registration, try this link to IP Australia.
http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/get-the-right-ip/designs/about-designs/

Play nice, be Original!

Book Street Fashion Sydney to cover your next event.
Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.
0433 796 863

Saturday, October 10, 2015

HEAVY WEATHER - About ART Last Night at China Heights..

Heavy and heavenly weather it would seem with Sydney throwing out the dubious cold and bringing back spring warmth and sunshine which no doubt put one in a fine frame of mind when looking at the beautiful and colourful cloudscapes of Brooklyn Whelan. Also great to see the colours co-ordinate across these artists work and seeing the (new for me) folded-reflective works of Dion Horstmans; the forms of the open work sculptures working very well with these flat formed pieces. And of course a fabulous and styling art crowd, if it's art on a Friday night, it must be China Heights! Web links below, mouse over for details.

Artist portrait of Brooklyn Whelan at Heavy Weather a group show at China Heights Gallery, Sydney, Australia
Brooklyn WhelanRemade-denim denim dress, black singlet and denim chocker. Photographed by Kent Johnson for Street Fashion Sydney.Flat folded reflective and open work sculptures by Dion Horstmans. Photographed by Kent Johnson for Street Fashion Sydney.
Artist portrait of Dion Horstmans at Heavy Weather a group show at China Heights Gallery, Sydney, Australia
Dion HorstmansGallery Title wall, Heavy Weather, China Heights Gallery.Black branded tee shirts, Denim jeans and casual bag, menswear, China Heights. Photographed by Kent Johnson for Street Fashion Sydney.Leather jacket spotted dress, Pink check dress, two women, street fashion at China Heights. Photographed by Kent Johnson for Street Fashion Sydney.
Menswear, chambray shirt with tucked in tartan tie. Photographed by Kent Johnson for Street Fashion Sydney.
Black brogues, black cut away heels, Labrador puppy! Photographed by Kent Johnson for Street Fashion Sydney.
Matching pairs of block heel animal print shoes, contrasting toe nail polish, red, green. Photographed by Kent Johnson for Street Fashion Sydney.
Ben wearing similar colours to the art works, pink cap, neck necklace shorts, blue geometric pattern shirt. Photographed by Kent Johnson for Street Fashion Sydney.
Man wear in cat 'Cats' tee shirt black jeans and short long sleeve jacket. Photographed by Kent Johnson for Street Fashion Sydney.
man in blue denium, short sleeve shirt, full sleeve tattoo, rose on back of hand. Photographed by Kent Johnson for Street Fashion Sydney.
Blogger Vivienne Shui with Jeweller Sofia Fitzpatrick at Heavy Weather. Photographed by Kent Johnson for Street Fashion Sydney.
Mui Mui handbag and teddy bear head handbag.. Photographed by Kent Johnson for Street Fashion Sydney.
White shirt black culottes with sandals. Photographed by Kent Johnson for Street Fashion Sydney.
Out back decks, black, work tee shirt. Photographed by Kent Johnson for Street Fashion Sydney.
Brooklyn Whelan with his wife at Heavy Weather a group show at China Heights Gallery, Sydney, Australia. Photographed by Kent Johnson for Street Fashion Sydney.
Opening night art crowd at Heavy Weather at China Heights Gallery, Dion Horstmans work on two walls.  Photographed by Kent Johnson for Street Fashion Sydney.

http://www.chinaheights.com/
http://www.brooklynwhelan.com/
http://dionhorstmans.tumblr.com/


Need Art Documentation?
Please contact me about my art documentation services.
Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.
0433 796 863