Rudyland

LA Fashion Week: SS09

2008-10-24T21:34:00Z

The first round of photos from LA Fashion Week @ BoxEight are up on Flickr.

LA Fashion Week // BoxEight Factory // © Rudyland Photography

It's Fashion Week Again

2008-10-16T23:37:26Z

I'll be at BoxEight for the Spring 2009 Collection. I still need to post photos from the last gallery event...

Rudyland @ Color Overload

2008-06-02T22:25:54Z

Color Overload is a very cool Tshirt blog by Gino Orlandi, the talented designer who also runs one of my favorite design blogs, You the Designer. Color Overload is not your standard Tshirt or fashion blog - created with the designer in mind, instead of latest trends or "what I wore today"-type posts, you'll find an organized collection of very well-designed Tshirts that are presented in a fresh, inventive style. Tshirts are presented by category or color, and it's really inspiring to see what other designers are creating. If No Talent Hacks with Too Much Cash represents a bad direction in fashion and "design," Color Overload is a refreshing reminder that good design is alive and well, so be sure to support small, independent Tshist makers and designers with actual talent and quality products!

Rudyland FW08 Collection

2008-05-27T19:39:57Z

Here it is, the Rudyland FW08 collection of designer Tshirts! The Men and Women's tshirts are based on a custom pattern that is unique to Rudyland; they're not prefabricated shirt bodies from a generic wholesaler. The collar shirts and tshirts with stuff on them already are part of the "Rudyland Recycles" program, where I take existing garments and print my art on them, making something cool that is also good for the environment!

Announcing Rudyland FW08

2008-05-20T19:34:07Z

Rudyland FW08 // Model: Lana // Shirt: "Cut Out & Collect" // © Rudyland Photography

On Saturday I loaded my car with the Rudyland FW08 samples, camera gear, plenty to drink, and my awesome friends, and we headed for the BoxEight Factory in Downtown LA to take some pictures. I'm currently in the editing process right now, but the collection will be up by the end of the week, I promise! (see Photographer's Dilemma)

A Message from your Captain

2008-05-08T17:05:54Z

The Consumerist recently ran an article about how Delta is no longer offering ticket jackets to travelers, and while they lament the loss of the jacket, along with it's "foldy fun and secret slots," they touched on an interesting point - ticket jackets used to be well designed. Perhaps some still are, but I fly American (for mileage rewards) and their ticket jackets are boring. For a glimpse into the once glamorous days of air travel, before security checks and other inconveniences, peruse the Ticket Jacket Museum. Matt has an extensive collection of ticket jackets that I'm guessing range from the 40's to the 80's and include a bunch of most likely defunct airlines I've never heard of. Western Air Lines (right) was bought out by Delta in the 80s, but during their post-WWII heydey travelers could read the beautifully-designed Flight Report. I am in love with the script treatment! This is certainly better than SkyMall and other airline magazines, although one time American Way had some good drink recipes. Bust back to ticket jackets and design, I've collected some of the more interesting examples to present here, and there are many more on Matt's site.
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There are many great sites that have interesting collections of inspirational material for designers, but for the most part the material is collected from internet sources and is very contemporary. Smashing Magazine did a great feature on vintage and retro design, but not all the examples were historical. I like looking back at past design, be it ticket jackets or posters, etc, to see how color was used, how layouts were arranged, how whitespace was utliised, and how typography was incorporated into the overall design.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes

2008-05-06T17:30:00Z

In preparation for the blog redesign I have planned to feature Rudyland FW08, I will be slowly making changes to various page elements. Besides, any excuse to post a picture of David Bowie is a good one, right?

Currently, Rudyland FW08 samples are with the silk screener, and I'll be shooting the Look Book the following weekend. In the meantime, there is a secret painting project that I am working on...

My most recent photo adventure was covering the Music Loves Fashion party during Coachella. Fortunately I managed not to get sunburned! Photos are here.

Salton Sea: What Went Wrong?

2008-04-23T22:32:12Z

The Salton Bay Yacht Club

I can imagine that during the early 60's there was a rivalry stirring amongst the tranquil waves of the Salton Sea. In the Southwest, as part of the Holly Corporation's development of Salton City, a championship golf course was built, and the crown jewel of the city was the Salton Bay Yacht Club. The Salton City 500, a speed boat race, attracted many visitors, including some from Hollywood.

The North Shore Yacht Club

In the Northeast, the lavish North Shore Yacht Club & Estates opened at a cost of approximately 2 million in 1960, home of the largest marina in Southern California at the time. There was also a luxury seafront motel, and North Shore became known as the "Glamour Capitol of Salton Sea."

Brochure with information about Salton City

With two new cities each trying to outdo the other in terms of attractions on opposite sides of the shore, the Salton Sea was poised to become Southern California's next premier vacation spot. With the dedication of the Salton Sea State Park only a few years earlier, the Sea was a land of opportunity for real estate and recreation. What went wrong?

An ominous sky over the doomed Yacht Club

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Where the Yacht Club once stood Salton City is perhaps the best example of the dream destroyed - miles of cracked pavement wind and stretch through the empty desert, street signs rust at vacant intersections, and the desert has reclaimed the green of the golf course. The infrastructure for a great city was built, yet homes were never constructed and families never came. Is the Holly Corporation partly to blame for squandering the resources of investors? Was too much promised and not enough delivered? Some would argue that Holly bailed from the Salton City Project when they sensed it wouldn't be as profitable as anticipated, leaving investors in the lurch and a city half-built. The final death knell came in 2000, when the magnificant Yacht Club was razed.

North Shore Yacht Club Today

North Shore suffered a similar fate, although its Yacht Club has been spared since it was designed by architect Albert Frey. It closed its doors in 1984, and ever since it's become a haven for photographers and skaters.

Starting a Business

2008-04-23T19:25:48Z

With the debut day for Rudyland on the horizon, I've decided to take a look back at my journey so far and write a blog entry that I wish was already written when I was doing my research into starting a business (and preferably by someone with way more business experience, but I digress).

The idea of starting a business is pretty daunting. It seems like such an impossible task, and it's taken me about four years to get my act together and go for it. I'm certainly no expert, but I hope my experiences can be helpful to others who may be in the same position.

First Steps: What type of business am I going to be, anyway? The four main types are Corporations, Limited Liability Corporations (LLCs), Partnerships, and Sole Proprietors. Since I am going to run my business individually, with no employees, I'm a Sole Proprietor. I'll have room to grow later on, and won't have to fill out as much paperwork in the beginning. The only real disadvantage is that if my business is unsuccessful and I owe too many debts, collectors can go after my personal assets. If I become an LLC later on, I'll have much more protection, but for now I'll be smart with my money and investments, and hopefully won't have to worry.

How much paperwork do I have to deal with? I've made a list of everything required to run a business in California. This shouldn't be too different for other states, but check to make sure!

Fictitious Business Name/DBA (County) - This is the legal name of your business, and this document is filed with the county in which you are doing business. Upon receiving the forms back from the county, you're required by law to take out a classified ad for 4 weeks announcing your new business. For a Sole Proprietor this should cost <$100.
Seller's Permit (State) - In order to sell a product in California you need a Seller's Permit. It is obtained from the State Board of Equalization. You must file this in person in order to meet with a representative who will verify your information and let you know how often you need to file taxes. In CA the Seller's Permit is free.
Business License (City) - This is required by the city in which you do business, even if your business is run out of your home. It is obtained from the Chamber of Commerce. In my city I can file online, and for me this is the most expensive filing, >$150. The tax needs to be paid yearly or your license is revoked.
EIN (Federal) - An EIN is your Federal Tax Identification Number. Sole Proprietorships do not require an EIN (you can use your Social Security Number) but since it's free, it's a good idea to get one anyway. It would also make it easier for your company to grow, since all other types of businesses need an EIN. EINs are assigned by the IRS.

What else should I do?

Get a PO Box. When your FBN information is published, it's public record. If you're running your business from your home, unless you want your home address published, use the PO Box as your Business Address. This also makes it very easy to separate business correspondence and banking from personal correspondence and banking.

Set up Business Banking. Once you have the FBN paperwork filed you can open a Business Bank Account. This is the only document the bank needs in order to open your account aside from obligatory personal info. It helps to have the EIN as well when you set up your account, but for a Sole Proprietor this isn't required.

Find a CPA. I went to Art School so I'd rather not deal with tax deductions and complex legal filings related to money. A CPA will take care of all your business finance requirements and make sure you can write off that $1500 Nikkor Lens as "business capital" (it is!).

Specific to the Fashion Industry

RN If you are going to be selling Tshirts or any other apparel, you need an RN (Registered Identification Number). The application is free and can be filed online with the FTC.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something; when I remember I'll be sure to add to this entry. Feel free to provide your own advice, or better advice since I'm so new at all this!

No Talent Hacks with Too Much Cash

2008-04-17T23:03:58Z

I have a secret shame - I read gossip blogs like The Superficial and Oh No They Didn't. But it's purely for the Schadenfreude Factor, ok? It's really entertaining to read about idiot "celebrities" doing dumb things and laughing. One trend I've noticed, however, is that for some reason all these people think they can launch a clothing line as easily as intentionally "forgetting" your underwear. Abandon any idea of hard work, good design, or artistic integrity - with all that cash who needs it? ]]> Read

Now, I have no idea who Heidi Montag is or what she's famous for, but from what I've read on the gossip blogs she is well known for dating an idiot and crying in public. I am pretty positive she's not a designer, though, and it's doubtful she even has a degree. But she just launched a clothing line! Look how easy!

This is really a smack in the face for legitimate designers that are pinching pennies just to get samples made, hoping the buyers will order, and using all means necessary to distribute to as many locations as possible. We don't get to go straight to the top with nationwide distribution for zero effort. At least we can rest easy knowing our products are the result of careful craftsmanship, attention to detail, and honest-to-goodness creativity.

Rudyland is an idea that's been growing over the past 4 years. I've been incredibly meticulous during the whole process of selecting contractors and manufacturers to make sure my shirts are of the highest quality, and I've been there, to the cavernous warehouses on the outskirts on LA, watching over each step as my samples are made. It's with a sense of pride that I can say Rudyland is made in LA, is supporting the local community, and IS NOT using anything from American Apparel (ugh that guy is a perv, ew). I'm taking a huge risk; the economy isn't the greatest, and buyers aren't going to be willing to invest on a new line. I, and other local designers, don't get a free ride. We've got to struggle, but in the long run, talent and creativity will prevail.

In Heidi's case, even though she can buy her way to the top, her product quality will speak volumes over her cash. The Fug Girls sum up her line with a simple It was bad. So bad.

The Photographer's Dilemma

2008-04-16T22:55:13Z

Rudyland.net's LA Fashion Week: FW 08 photoset

I'm about halfway through getting my FW08 photos on Flickr. My "Photographer's Dilemma" is that I find far more enjoyment in the taking of pictures than in post-processing them - instead of sitting around making minor corrections in PS and then resizing photos for web, I'd rather go out and take more photos. It's counterproductive, really, because as I sort through my photos I often think to myself that although I am satisfied, I still feel that I could explore other situations and angles and lighting, and basically take the photo over again to make it better instead of bothering to edit what I have. I explained this to another artist and he called me selfish. He's probably right.

Of course, dealing with clients is totally different - all my clients get work delivered on time and in the specified format. But for personal stuff, I'm woefully lazy.

When I was still in school, a professor asked me "What is your best photo?"

My answer? "I haven't taken it yet."

The Dying Swan

2008-04-10T18:03:45Z

Tomorrow I am going to NYC to watch Uliana Lopatkina dance The Dying Swan, one of the most challenging ballet solos not only for its technical demands, but because it requires immense emotional fortitude.

Originally choreographed by Fokine for the great Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, The Dying Swan captures the last moments of the fragile creature in beautiful agony before its death. A ballerina who dances this role is challenged not only to portray the frailty of dying, but to display defiance in the face of impending death, to struggle to the last breath, gracefully. Dancing this piece is one of the defining moments of a ballerina's career - like Swan Lake, The Dying Swan is a piece with which a ballerina's virtuosity is judged.
]]> is Odette. No other ballerina has brought me to tears from sheer emotional magnitude and beauty.

The Dying Swan

Here are what the critics say about Uliana:

"Uliana Lopatkina (Odette-Odile) is a most extraordinary ballerina. She moves, a fascinating creature, without a bone in her body, bending herself into spectacular arcs of classical perfection. We want our Russian ballerinas to be grand and Lopatkina fits the bill like no other.”
Source

"As the White Swan she employed few mannerisms — or rather exactly the right ones, employed judiciously. While always strikingly regal and slightly aloof, she was more vulnerable than she has sometimes been, which is all to the good. As the Black Swan, she evinced or simulated an unusual abandon and her fouettés were flawless. Her extensions are now higher, and, as always, her long, long arms are extraordinary, seemingly devoid of sinew or bone, their line perfect to the tips of her fingers."
Source

I especially admire Uliana because her ballet career has been rather unconventional. Growing up as a young dancer, I was discouraged from pursuing a professional career due to my height. Uliana, who is one of the tallest professional ballerinas, was able to persevere and overcome the difficulties facing tall ballerinas. (if only the US could follow her lead...) Below is a great interview with Uliana, where she discusses her ballet training, the difficulty of being "too tall" in ballet, and how, despite her successes in ballet, she remains humble and true to herself.

"When I do classical ballets like Swan Lake they fix me up with a whole system of hairpieces and pins... I think it would be wrong to want to change anything about the way I look."
Source

The First Look @ Rudyland FW 08

2008-04-04T00:05:26Z

The Rudyland Premier Collection for FW 08 is in production right now. By the numbers:

9 original designs
2 unique patterns exclusive to Rudyland
50 shirts total - 25 Men's & 25 Women's
4 colors - black, white, and two pantones
3 special thread colors used, since having black thread on a black shirt is boring!

Art Preview:

Days until LA Market: around 50

Excuse the Mess

2008-03-25T21:55:25Z

~~I am currently experimenting with the blog design in MT 4.0~~

I changed some stuff. MT really doesn't offer a lot of support for designers (although their developer community is great) so it takes me a while to figure everything out and get the display to be perfect. There are still a few bugs (such as weird title text on the Category and Search pages) but the HP looks good and that is the most important page.
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1. Pick a Style found under Design > Style
It doesn't matter which one, it'll all get changed anyway - this blog uses the "Hills Pink" style, but you'd never know it! What matters is selecting the type of layout i.e. 2 column, wide-thin (which is what I use).

2. Add your custom CSS found under Design > Templates > Stylesheet - Main
It is really important that you use Stylesheet - Main and not the base. Main is the last sheet to be loaded and should therefore contain all your custom CSS. The styles and their overrides should cascade properly, but from my experience this works about 90% of the time. If you are really picky, you need to check at the top of Stylesheet - Main in order to find the CSS file that drives the style you selected in Step 1.

/* This is the StyleCatcher theme addition. Do not remove this block. */
/* Selected Layout: <MTSetVar name="page_layout" value="layout-wt"> */
@import url(base_theme.css);
@import url(/mt-static/support/themes/hills-pink/hills-pink.css);
/* end StyleCatcher imports */

I would find "/mt-static/support/themes/hills-pink/hills-pink.css" and modify it to remove any offending styles.

3. Modify the Header and Footer found under Design > Templates > Template Modules
To access the Template Modules, use the menu on the right. You will then see "Header" and "Footer" which contain all the elements for the top and bottom of the page. Widget Sets are also included in the Footer, although they can go anywhere. After modifying these files, you should have a custom template.

4. Further Edits
You can modify anything in the Template Modules (I'd recommend "Entry Metadata" and the Comment modules) as well as create your own Widgets/Widget Sets. Everything I've done with this blog has been trial and error, and while I'm sure it's not the best solution, it's working.

Or you could cheat and download Byrne's awesome templates.

LA Fashion Week FW 08: 1000 Photos Later

2008-03-17T22:59:25Z

LA Fashion Week FW 08 was amazing; I had press credentials for both BoxEight shows, which were done beautifully @ The Factory, their official studio in the downtown fashion district.

I'm in the process of organizing and editing all the photos; there are nearly 1000 photos covering 4 collections, art installations, live performances, party people, and exactly one lowrider (it was a '63 Impala and it was rad).