05/24/2020
It’s a New Day ...
And today is a huge Pivot Day for me personally, which has been in the works since October 2018, and then again in February 2019 when my beloved son died. Today I completed #1 of a ‘New body of Art’ I’m working on dedicated in Austin’s honor.
Additionally, my adopted nephew, Alexander, formally launched his fabulous new clothing line called ‘Unknowns’! I adore his simple, casual and exquisite quality new line. I love My ‘Unknowns’ hoodie even more than my Armani sportswear!
My son Austin and Alexander always adored one another. As such, I’m deeply honored to announce that Alexander requested to dedicate ‘Unknowns’ brand in Austin’s honor. It’s quite fitting, as Austin was a style machine from the time he was very young, always inventing new things and his own brand of unique creative expression. He rocked his enviable personal style starting in kindergarten and he would have loved ‘Unknowns’. Alexander began formulating and designing his new line about the same time I was undergoing personal changes too. The timing couldn’t be more seamlessly aligned. We both formally launched our new projects today!
Click link below to View ‘Unknowns’ live launch on FB! I’m touched and inspired by what Alexander is ‘Up to’ with his new line appropriately named for our times ‘Unknowns’ ...
http://www.unknowns.la/dedicated-to-austin
Related Thoughts ...
All our lives are changing … practically overnight.
Almost no stone is unturned and I hope y’all are taking advantage of all the gifts that come with s l o w i n g D o w n.
And, my heart goes out sincerely to the many folks who are having a difficult time right now. In my experience ‘Breakdowns are the Mother of Invention’. When one is face to face with catastrophic ‘Breakdown’ it’s easy to feel futile, hopeless and excruciatingly UNCOMFORTABLE!
Currently, we as a Nation and ‘Culture’ have been forced to take a radical ‘Re-look’ at our lives, work and communities. The collective ‘Uncertainty’ on almost every level can be very disconcerting, throwing us off balance or feeling like we’re in quicksand slowly sinking to what may appear as ‘a dastardly fate’. Alfie always said “Problems are never solved at the same level in which they were created.” The Global emergency that has taken place in 4 short months, (and feels like an eternity), has turned our way of life upside down.
Personally, I find it helpful to ‘Get Curious’ about new ways of thinking and relating; relating to oneself and those around you. We have a tremendous opportunity in front of us to bring about ‘True Change’. When one is in total uncertainty, it ain’t always easy to rise above gripping fear, which generally produces enormous and perpetual anxiety!
Su***de hotline calls have spiked at an alarming rate and, the su***de rate itself has spiked since ‘the Shutdown’. Having been a Mental Health advocate for many years, I have tremendous compassion for individuals who may be experiencing engulfing despair. That being said, I will turn to what may sound like a ‘lighter note’... Retail!
While it sounds so polar opposite from the seriousness of su***de, the current state of retail itself is a weighted topic. In my experience the general public seldom understands the responsibility placed on retail owners and service businesses. A tremendous amount of work goes on in ‘The back of the house’ that patrons never see, and if you’ve never owned a business it’s entirely understandable that you would have no idea of the amount of ‘unseen work’ that goes into ‘The show’!
Owning a business is like having five or ten jobs instead of one. Wearing many hats and being good at all of them is required in order be ‘A successful business’ and ‘business owner’. Not only are owners providing goods and services, they also understand that they are responsible for generating employee livelihoods. Good companies and business owners are caring and very loyal to their amazing support staff as they are fully aware that there is no way they could maintain a successful business without them! CV-19 has been a catalyst, putting our collective feet to the fire to rethink, reprioritize and reinvent new ways of doing business, which brings me to ‘fashion’.
Fashion too, is generally not understood by the average consumer. Fashion flows and changes directly correlated to ‘pop culture’ and Politics! As our political climate changes, the arts, music and pop culture changes in a direct response. When this happens pop culture generates new ‘consumer demands’ and redefines and Re prioritizes what sells in ‘Retail’. Fashion, design and seasonal color pallets, (ALWAYS), directly correlate to current politics and economics.
So, retail is not only in flux, it’s undergoing massive change on every level! Where as ‘The Fabulous 80’s’ fostered conspicuous consumption in every direction, the 2020’s are bringing us ‘minimalism’ at its peak. Not only that, many hipsters are actually competing about how ‘minimal’ they can go!, bringing ‘minimalism’ itself to an entirely new ‘High Art’. Unknowns fashion line directly reflects what’s ‘being called’ for our new lifestyle right now.
If you’re going ‘minimal’ and want one hoodie, my personal and professional ‘Pick’ is Unknowns.la
Enjoy!
Denise Sims
unknowns is dedicated in honour of Austin Tracey, our beloved cousin who spread his message of love and community through his artistic passion and creative energy. He loved apparel and always rocked the flyest gear.
