Hypebeast recently shared a behind the scenes look at the Cottweiler for Reebok collaboration that debuted earlier this month at Pitti Uomo. The article provides a lot of great insight into the approach for this collaboration as well as the inspiration behind the FW17 capsule. Have a read and discover more from Cottweiler about the project concept, material usage and details.
Many of the shots include the accessories I worked on. You will see bags, caps and socks, all of which were designed with fabrics, executions and key details that tie back beautifully to the apparel and footwear. I am especially excited about the Memory Foam Holdall - a convertible backpack/duffle with a textural emboss that comes from the salt therapy inspiration for the entire project.
Image: Hypebeast
“The luggage is pretty important,” he says, picking up a backpack/holdall made from memory foam to show us. “This incorporates the entire collection – all of the fabrication, all of the detailing – it’s the concept piece for the accessories.”
— Ben Cottrell, as told to Jason Dike
For more information and images, visit Hypebeast.com
“The capsule collection, which will debut for Fall/Winter 2017, presented itself in the perfect balance between design and function. Technical fabrics were used through out the collection, which was mostly kept tonal, with a distinct techy edge to it. Truly giving the viewer the impression of looking at the future of sportswear, the collection which consists of both apparel and footwear, will for sure find its fans upon its release later this year. Stay tuned.”
— High Snobiety
VOGUE also posted an article, which you can read here.
Image: Vogue
“We had already been handed toweling bags with our press releases—the vibe was clearly therapeutic—and it was a theme transmitted through the clean, futuristic pieces on show.”
— Vogue
Image: Vogue
There will be more information about the project and images coming soon. Stay tuned!
This week I am excited to share some of the accessories I have designed for the Reebok ONE Series Running collection.
This season, I took a purist approach to designing each piece, focusing on essential details that add function and value and avoiding anything superfluous. I used bonded constructions wherever possible to minimize stitching and a focus was placed on reflectivity, flexibility and visibility.
We used lightweight ripstop and meshes to provide a barely-there experience while on the move, and used soft, brushed elastics wherever items come in contact with the body for maximum comfort.
The pack includes:
lightweight drawstring bag that packs into a belt
bonded media armband with reflective graphics and an adjustable brushed elastic closure
lightweight visor with 360° reflectivity
lightweight mesh waist belt with an expandable pocket, reflective details and an adjustable, brushed elastic closure
a handheld hydration solution with an expandable mesh pocket to store some cash, cards and a key
non-slip reflective headbands
Find them online and get ahead of those New Years Resolutions!
Following the announcement that Cottweiler for Reebok is the Designer Project of Pitti Uomo 91, and I am thrilled to share that I have been working in collaboration with the London-based menswear label on the accessories for this collection. The FW17 will preview at the globally renowned fashion show next month in Florence.
I will be able to share more details after the show in January, but in the meantime, please see the below press release from Pitti Uomo:
Global fitness leader Reebok releases details on the brand’s first apparel, footwear and accessories partnership with forward thinking designers Cottweiler to launch for the FW17 season. The capsule collection embodies the DNA of both brands, fusing the technical and cultural legacy of Reebok with Cottweiler’s unique vision.
Founded by Ben Cottrell and Matthew Dainty, Cottweiler is known for blurring the lines between high fashion and sportswear, receiving critical acclaim in the process.
For FW17, the collection, COTTWEILER For REEBOK, combines highly technical fabrics to create timeless yet progressive pieces that signify a move into the next era of sportswear, in which design and function are both given equal importance.
Over the past couple of months, I have been sharing photos of the JWF Backpack, my latest project for Reebok. I'm excited to finally share the final set of photos with you from this season. This is the JWF Outdoor, designed to hook with the Reebok Classics Phase II.
The bag features durable ripstop fabric, reflective webbing, paracord zipper pulls and a bold graphic with mesh overlay. There are tons of pockets for ample storage and a padded lap top sleeve on the interior. Perfect for a little urban adventuring!
photo: Dana Ramler Design
photo: Dana Ramler Design
photo: Dana Ramler Design
photo: Dana Ramler Design
photo: Dana Ramler Design
Check out my portfolio page for a full run down of this project
This week I am excited to share yet another round of photos from the JWF Backpack project that I designed for Reebok. You might remember from my last post that this backpack was designed with versatility in mind. The concept was to create one iconic backpack that could link to specific sneakers from the Reebok Classics range by changing up fabrics, trims and details.
This is the JWF Confetti, designed to hook to the Reebok Ventilator CC for women. As the Ventilator celebrates its 25th birthday this year, we wanted to create a throwback feel to this bag and celebrate this sneaker's heritage.
photo by Dana Ramler Design
Features include roomy side pockets, a padded laptop sleeve, a hidden phone pocket and an additional shoe bag to stash an extra pair of kicks or gear that stinks.
photo by Dana Ramler Design
photo by Dana Ramler Design
photo by Dana Ramler Design
I will be releasing a full portfolio page for this project in the new year, but in the meantime you can find out more about this project here and here. Happy holidays!
Last month, I shared some photos of my latest work for Reebok. The JWF Backpack was designed to hook with sneakers from the Reebok Classics range. This classic, iconic silhouette with universal features is able to adapt to the very different personalities of selected footwear by changing up fabrics, details and trims.
This is the Sophisticated Tech version, designed to pair with the Reebok Ventilator Adapt ST. The neoprene style interlock with a hexagon texture references the Heaxalite cushion technology that these kicks are famous for. The reflective heat transfer branding is a reference to the discreet reflective upper that keeps you visible at night. Coated zippers and shrink-wrapped pullers amplify the sleek bonded details from the sneaker.
photo by Dana Ramler Design
Other features include:
internal webbing loops with a carabiner for usable storage
ballistic nylon base fabric for durability
side pockets for accessible storage you can access on the go
hidden phone pocket on the back panel
shoe bag included for separated stashing of gear that stinks
A full portfolio page complete with the other three backpacks is in the works, so make sure to check back again soon.
I am excited to finally share some of the work I have been doing for Reebok! The JWF Backpack was designed to hook to specific footwear from the Reebok Classics range. The challenge was to create the iconic lifestyle backpack that could use variations in color, trim, fabrications and details to link to a key selection of seasonal footwear.
Photography: Dana Ramler Design
The project began with five versions, each of which has its own distinct personality. A full portfolio page will be coming soon, but for now I wanted to share some images of my favorite: the JW Luxe. This bag, along with the others in this pack, can be found online in many countries, including Canada.
Festival Bag (aka Wayfaring Bag) Summer 2013 | Image by Bright Photo
I've received a few emails from people who love the lululemon Festival Bag (what I called the Wayfaring Bag) that I designed for Summer 2013 and are wondering if it will be available again so they can get their hands on one. I no longer design for lululemon, but I did see on their website today that they brought the Festival Bag back!
This is awesome news for two reasons. It means that:
it was a really successful style (yay!)
all you ladies who have been looking to score this bag but missed it last year are in luck!
Still got it: two years running, this bag is chic both at festivals and on the street | left: photo by Dana Ramler Design, right: photo by lululemon athletica
It looks like there are some great colour combos - I am especially loving the webbing on the grey one. Happy festival season!
Back in July, I promised a Wanderlust recap, and I'm happy to say I have some pictures of my Wayfaring Bag design in action that weekend. It was especially exciting to be using it while I attended this event because Wanderlust Festivalwas the exact scenario I had in mind when I designed this bag.
I used mine the whole week I was in Whistler and, though I realize this may sound biased, I loved it. I was lugging around my yoga mat with my shoulder strap, so it was wonderful to be able to wear the bag around my waist to lighten the load. I loved the phone pocket - it's placement on the back panel of the bag meant I could feel the buzz and stay connected all weekend. It was the perfect size, and the interior pockets were perfect for stashing sunscreen, lip gloss, sunglasses and snacks. The best part? When I went through security at the Saturday night concert, the guard complimented my bag!
Here are some pics of my friend Jess rockin' the lilac bag.
Wanderlust ready. Just add shades and malas.
Wear it around your waist when you don't want anything heavy weighing you down.
I am very excited to share that the release of the highly anticipated Before I Die book is slated for November 5, 2013. Walls from my Small World Big Dreams event will be included in the book, including photographs and personal stories from the wall organizers. In an interview earlier this year, the folks at St. Martin's Press gave me the amazing opportunity to share the story of this event that connected people all over the world in their creation of Before I Die walls on the same day.
There are now over 300 Before I Die walls in over 50 countries and over 20 languages. 304 pages long, this inspiring hardcover book will feature countless walls filled with the world's hopes, fears, humour and heartbreak. It is an awe-inspiring "collection of insights into our aspirations from city to city and as a whole, and much more," - beforeidie.cc. Also included in the book are spin-off projects and walls that were inspired by the Before I Die project, including my Gratitude Wall.
The Before I Die book is now available for pre-order on Amazon, so get your copy right away. I just ordered mine today! Only 70 days until November 5! #cantwait
I am fortunate enough to be attending Wanderlust Festival in Whistler this weekend as a volunteer. For those of you who don't know about it, Wanderlust is a festival celebrating yoga, music, art and much more. These four day summits take place all over North America, with more locations being added every year.
I can't wait to practice yoga with international teachers, dance with friends to awesome music, and be in Whistler during the heat of summer. I plan on posting a Wanderlust recap when I return, so stay tuned.
In the meantime, I thought I'd share this post I found from yogi/blogger/stylist Lexie of The Elle Tee. She did a post about her go-to Wanderlust outfit that features my festival bag design from this year. She has some really great things to say about it. You can see the whole post here.
“This festival bag from lululemon athletica sure makes me feel festive. With the many ways to wear it; from cross body to fanny pack, it’ll be my go-to accessory during Wanderlust.”
— Lexie, theelletee.com
I'm honoured this bag can be a part of Lexie's Wanderlust journey. Hopefully I see even more of these bags in the village at Wanderlust Whistler. Check back again soon for the recap.
This week, my friend Brittney Kwasney of Bright Photography took some time out of her busy schedule to take some product shots of my latest bag design, the Summer Tote. This bag is perfect for taking you from the studio to the beach (or vice versa!) and everywhere between.
photo: Brittney Kwasney of Bright Photography
Brittney is an amazing photographer, and was a complete joy to work with. I can't wait to share the rest of these photos with the world - I'm so happy with how they turned out! In the meantime, you can see drawings and more detailed information about this bag here >
We also have an upcoming shoot planned for the Wayfaring Bag, so be sure to check back in again soon to see more pictures of these great summer bags in action.
* A very special thank you goes out to my beautiful model, Nicole Boileau.
Gear for the beach, the studio, and in between: this bag can fit it all. Photos: Bright Photography
My new Summer Tote design for lululemon is selling really well. Designed to be lightweight and fit all your gear, it's perfect for going from the studio to the beach. New colours were just released - get them while you can!
