PROVOKE

verb

To stir up purposely; provide a needed stimulus 

/ 29 Artists Explore Abstractions of the Color Black / "...meditations on a hue that exists socially and politically as one of the most charged constructions of identity and signifiers of a condition." The Creators Project.  

/ Aurora: 'I'm Not an Angel' / "The lofty ambitions of her aesthetic and the sonic realm she rules over have indeed had that very divisive reaction she was hoping for. So much so that the fanatical drive and dedication of her following has earned  them the official name of 'Warriors and Weirdos'." Gigwise.

/ The Secret Meaning of Food in Art / “I hope I plant a seed in my guests' minds to start detecting the infinite ways food is interwoven with most aspects of our lives,” says food expert Angelis Nannos. The Smithsonian. 

/ Susan Cianciolo, the '90s Artist-Designer Inspiring Eckhaus Latta / “There’s a lot more to say at times than just thinking about the clothing itself, and I think we both love putting on a fashion show.” W Magazine.

/ The Neuroscience of 'Cool' /  It’s an attitude, a term of approval, and today, as much as any of these things, it’s a game of superficially rebellious status-chasing, centered on consumerism. Quartz.

 Image: W Magazine.

This month Idun had the pleasure to interview L.A.-based designer Shaina Mote. Her eponymous label incorporates a monochromatic palette and clean lines with hints of unexpected and inventive details. Each piece is designed and constructed in Los Angeles. Shaina Mote is new to Idun this season and we hope you enjoy getting to know the designer behind one of our favorite brands on Selby Avenue.

What is your background? Is it specifically in fashion design?
My background is in pattern making, vintage buying and creative direction. Though I am a self-taught designer, these experiences directly fueled my ideas and process behind the creation of the line.

Did you ever doubt yourself as a designer? If so, do you have any advice for those trying to conquer similar doubts?
I still doubt myself all the time. I think doubt is a hurdle all creative people encounter. I believe that without taking risks and pushing into new territory creatively, culture suffers from stagnant ideas. I think the idea of taking a second look at something is beneficial and wise. However, I always have to be careful to not overwork an idea due to my own doubts about it.  

I think the search for perfection holds us back from reaching new potential collectively as a society. I find that when I can let go and not overwork an idea is when the outcome, reaction and feeling behind it is most authentic. I want to live in a world of authenticity—this is my personal motivation to overcome my doubts and move on with the seed of an idea.

What keeps you stable during the chaos of your work?
Palo Santo wood, chai tea, my dog Enzo and the amazing people I work with daily.

What people/place/things do you find yourself consistently going back to for inspiration?
Richard Serra’s installation work, the open sky in the Southwest, White Sands, NM, the music of Laaraji, the Picasso Museum in Paris, the ranch I grew up on...the list goes on.

If you weren’t a designer—what other occupation could you see yourself in?
An architect or permaculture landscape designer.

> See the Shaina Mote Collection at Idun right here.

Three Word Poem inspired by Larissa Brue,
Idun's Production Associate.

PROVOKE

verb

To stir up purposely; provide a needed stimulus 

/ Kanye West, Bon Iver in Francis and the Lights' 'New 'Friends' Video / "As its name implies, friends of the band play a role in the song and in the clip, which features Kanye West and Bon Iver's Justin Vernon." Rolling Stone.

/ Maryam Nassir Zadeh and Her Family Visit Mexico / "The designer and boutique owner Maryam Nassirzadeh and her husband, the photographer and artist Uday Kak, recently made their annual pilgrimage to Mexico." The New York Times.

/ Decisive Moments: Olivia Arthur / "In missing the storm the picture becomes more about the couple and it made me realise that what you think you’re looking for is not always the most important element." Port Magazine.

/ Inspiration Comes When We Linger to Observe / "Every single object, situation, place, or person that we have the chance to meet has something that is incredibly fascinating and can become the trigger of inspiration, it can be a colour, a certain shape, even a smell or flavour. I really believe that there is a difference between see and watch the world and that inspiration comes when we linger to observe." Creative Digest.

/ Sofia Coppola's Dreamscapes / A super-edit of every dreamy moment of Sofia Coppola's 'cool-girl aesthetic.' Nowness.

PROVOKE

verb

To stir up purposely; provide a needed stimulus 

/ Kika Karadi: Time and Monstrosity / "Just as motion is more than the sum of successive positions in space, duration is not encompassed by the series of successive moments that seem to comprise it. This is why our experience of time varies so wildly from the hours, minutes, and seconds measured by the clock. It is not that our mental state skews our perception of time; rather, it is the chronological subdivision of time that fails to capture our participation in time, as well as our experience of it." Portfolio.

/ The Many Pleasures of Reading Donald Britton's Poems / 

Tonight you are privy
To the stars’ most intimate
Thoughts about you. Under
Their menace, edges of furniture
Seem like old news
As tears fall single file.

Hyperallergic.

/ Sui Park Creates Sea Creatures from Cable Ties / “It is an abstract representation of objects or concepts that recreates our surroundings.” Blouin Artinfo.

/ Scroll, Skim, Stare / "Art – like all cultural production – has a complicated status online. It becomes ‘content,' that catchall phrase for the stuff that advertising is sold around. And that is also the condition in which art is viewed: as part of a mass." The White Review.

/ Video Premiere: 'Go Ahead,' from Pillow Person / "A dance-infused pop song you're gonna want to wake up to all summer." i-D.

Image: Sui Park, Summer Sculpture Showcase.