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Posts Tagged ‘Ipanema’

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farming in rio…

In art & design, fashion, travel on January 17, 2011 at 12:06 pm

…is not quite what this post is about! rather it’s about another retail experience at farm in ipanema. farm is an atelier in the zona sul specializing in modern clothing in vibrant prints and edgy styles for contemporary women. part of a retail collection, each boasts it’s own take on the overall farm concept that is tailored to suit each retail space. the vibe is definitely south american and deeply reflective of brazilian culture. if i could compare it to anything, it’s reminiscent of anthropologie in that it clearly defines a specific consumer segment and owns it. the experience is thorough from retail, to packaging and it’s online presence. (i’m actually surprised that anthropologie doesn’t have an app……)

my first impression when seeing the façade was of sweet nostalgia reminding me of trellises that were used in delineating living spaces in homes built in the 60′s. my parents had a trellis with graphic clover cutouts that separated living from dining room and i was heartbroken to see it removed (but thrilled to know that they still exist under wraps in the garage!). what seals the deal on farm, however is the beauty of the interior space. (pics, with the exception of the above façade, are courtesy of farm’s website.)

the beautiful finish of the wood paneling, wide open glass windows and ceilings and the tropical touches of grass baskets, cane furniture and larger than life foliage fully immerse you in this retail experience. shielding you from the bustle of the street, you walk downstairs into the store so that all that is visible of the outdoors is the outside plants and sky above, a neat visual trick that transports you into farm.

a sneak peek at some of the pieces from their upcoming spring collection:

i just love the fresh youthfulness and energy of this collection! please check the link back to farm’s website and blog for more brazilian fashion and a lovely slice of music. for those who want to take it to go, there is the farm app available here…

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gilson martins’ little shop that could…

In art & design, fashion, travel on January 13, 2011 at 3:06 pm

…one of the highlights of rio was being able to pop into gilson martins in ipanema! like so many shops in sao paolo, melissa’s for instance, gilson’s follows the trend of bringing the inside of the store out with a bright, artfully painted façade. this shop is a rio based business who’s slogan “take brasil with you!” is apparent in all of their bags. a revolutionary in contemporary design, gilson uses recycled vinyl to make pop kitsch bags showcasing the culture of copacabana’s mosaic sidewalks, sugar loaf mountain, christ the redeemer and lapa with quirky style and unique form. gilson’s bags are collectibles and have been displayed at the louvre, the galleries lafayette, the cannes film festival, the 2006 world cup in berlin and are also carried in new york’s museum of modern art.

i purchased the bag below in coral snake print with watermelon pink zipper trim. what’s so great about this bag is the form! many women carry larger bags loaded with pockets to follow fashion and function. what i love about this bag is that the design is turned inside out with the elimination of the over-all bag and replaced with the whimsical “pockets” being connected together with a single strap! genius! i can take any one of the pockets off and carry as a quick clutch or i can use the additional strap to lengthen it into a shoulder bag. there wasn’t a single place i went where i didn’t receive positive comments.

the staff were of course, all young and beautiful and extremely helpful with regards to the product and two minutes after i made my purchase, the shop was overrun with customers. seeking a less crowded spot whilst i waited for my partner to transact his business, i popped into the gallery in the back which was just as compelling as the front. i’m seeing a theme in these painting’s reminiscent of the book “information is beautiful” by david mccandless. the ice cream painting would make a great print:

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Lagoa rodrigo and Ipanema…

In travel on January 2, 2011 at 8:42 pm

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…visiting the lagoa was a dream of mine since my last visit and it did not disappoint. The neighborhood surrounding is exquisite and possibly the most expensive real estate. Ipanema is where all the action is with tons of cafes, shops and bars. Most tourists are Brazilians and other South Americans so we’ve had to work fast to pick up phrases. Thank goodness for technology which has simplified this! The photos are of the lagoa, a sweet piece of neighborhood street art, one of the tony intersections of Ipanema, another cow from the cow project (I have a few from other cities), and a corner of the world famous feira hippie market.

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