Perfect Bodies...err

I have been working on collecting silhouette inspiration for upcoming products including duvets and such that I am working on, but I couldn't be more amused by stumbling on the "Perfect Bodies Duvet." Very kitschy and funny. This duvet is definitely a conversation piece. My only suggestion for the designers is to add more color options, IE. African American, Asian.. lol

Summer Fun

With the temperature rising into the 90's, I started to think about where I would really like to be today. Where you say?!?! Kickin back at the beach, now I could only do this stylishly so here are my beach necessities. We have the beach chair which is simply gangsta by design because it gives you that much need back support when you are sitting in the sand checking out the guys or gals on the beach (you just set it in the sand, like you do your beach umbrella), A purely indulgent (expensive as hell) beach towel from Missoni, but I love the design, and very few people do print design as well as Missoni, a soda cooler that also operates as a radio or mp3 outlet (not the best color, but it rocks for funciton) and of course you got your Laidback tote that comes out later this summer to stuff your sunblock, magazines, camera, and cellphone.

Wiley(n) Out!!

Equestrian Portrait of the Duke of Lerma

Kehinde Wiley Willem van Huythuysen 2006

Albert and Nikolaus Rubens, the Artist's Son 2006

I am a fan of painter Kehinde Wiley who depicts black men in traditional and mostly classic poses that date back to work from many of the masters in contemporary art. He has hip hop heads posing and the brothers form the block posing in classic styles familiar to those seen in the early 1800's. Dwayne Wade, and LL Cool J are some of the portraits that he has created in striking artistic poses. I am waiting for him to show in NY again. Check out some of his work here. I would love to see my son looking all powerful posed on top of a wild horse similar to his "Equestrian Portrait of the Duke of Lerma"

Bitchen Kitchen

Katie Pell is the bomb! Not that I am the biggest domestic, although I can throw down when I do. I am in love with the idea of customizing home kitchen appliances. This chick gets a roar from all the feminists I'm sure by comparing kitchen customizations to guys pimpin their rides but hey I am with it. The flames are not my style but trickin out vacuums and appliances is gangsta. How can we get laidback with it??? She even had the balls to enter a car show. Check it out (I really wish it had sound)

Laidback in Dumbo (Halcyon)

For all you guys in Dumbo we are getting closer to you. Laidback will now be carried at Halcyon a dope record shop in Dumbo. Shout out to Alex, and Frog.

Laidback gets blogged by AT

Apartment Therapy has blogged Laidback. They gave a recap of my presentaion over at the Design Meet-up last week. Chek it out here.

Totes Coming this Summer

After many requests for a Laidback tote I have caved and decided to introduce 3 styles this summer as a tote. "Headline," "She Rocks", and "Ol' Play" are the tentative tote styles that I will be bringing to you this summer. There are also some fun summer surpirses to look out for. Check out the Ol' Play vinyl tote and tell me what you think.

Laidback X AT Meetup

What a great time was had at the Apartment Therapy meetup. The presenters were great including myself reppin Laidback. I really enjoyed talking about our new looks and the inspiration behind it all. Great feedback from the group. Everyone loved the product and fed off my energy. AT will be posting more on the event in the coming week.

Laidback X Apartment Therapy

Apartment Therapy, one of my favorite blogs on design is hosting it's second meetup piggybacking on the success of the ICFF meetup debut. They will be feauring 4 designers tonight and Laidback is a featured company. So if you are in the Soho area at 7pm, the meetup is being held at the Design Within Reach Store 142 Wooster Street

Laidback at FIT

Anyone enrolled at FIT (NYC) for the "How to Style, Design and Merchandise a Collection" class for either fashion or home products will get to check Laidback out close and personal. Tonight in the fashion class and tomorrow in the home products I will be talking about the design process, what it takes to create and market a line such as Laidback and fielding questions and offering insight on bringing your own product lines to fruition. See you in class.

Drinking in the Color

Any graphic, product and even interior designer worth there pay is familiar with the Pantone color system. It is the universally, and internationally recognized bible of color. A British company, W2 has designed Pantone Mugs. Can I get any cornier? I am in love! I would unabashedly line my tiny cabinets with color. #239C will could make me a coffee drinker. They are inexpensive if you live in the UK but I think they ship internationally as well. Check them out at W2.

Inspired By Design

I stumbled on Innovation USA a few years ago at the ICFF show. The furniture was one of the key modes of inspiration for me designing home accessories that were urban, funky, edgy and sexy. I can see a "Her Cherry" or even a signature Laidback style turning one of these bad boys out. Look at the modular style, the clean lines, and casual fabric applications. Laidback X Innovation a perfect combination for a stylish city apartment.

USB Chillin'

I am definitely digging the designer mind behind the USB Beverage Chiller, the latest usb enabled gadget for your computer. I can attest as well as every other designer who is a slave to their computer that we stay hard- pressed for a cool drink. But am I the only clumsy techie that knows that this is an accident waiting to happen? However, if you think you can hold your own it costs only $40 to keep your soda, milk, or beer chilled. You can buy it at Red Envelope.

The Graphic is Everything: Suupa Pop

Here at Laidback the graphic is everything. I am a big fan of people who can use graphic imagery to create and sell with style. Some of the best packaging design that I have seen comes from Japan. The color usage, the funny imagery and use of American verbiage makes it all the more amazing. In Japan there are so many products and limited amounts of self space, so they have to let the packaging speak. So here are some of my favorites from the exhibit I checked out on Thursday that just ended.
Now I love this box juice. Now isn't this hotter than a capri sun pack?


My guess is that this is the equivalent of buying pantyhose from the market or drugstore.
I love the way they make you think that these silicone like perfectly voluptuous lips come from the gloss.

Don't really know what this is about, but it seems like some kind of booty enhancer.
To see more picts check out my flickr page.

Laidback X Riclectic

A new blog, Riclectic that showcases blacks in interior design has gotten laidback. Ri Henson has put together a great blog of designers doing there thing. Even in it's infancy I have found the blog to be extremely informative and a great read. I am exited to be a featured designer on the site. Check it out.

Laidback X A&G Merch

Ol' Play

"Her Cherry"

Design week presents a host of parties and yesterday I stopped into the Metropolis First Stop party right after ICFF and then headed over to The Future Perfect and A&G Merch. tow extremely stylish boutiques that are side by side and have the same owners. While The Future Perfect can be a bit out of many peoples price range, the products are gorgeous and extremely stylish. A&G tends is extremely stylish and fits into every budget and they also carry Laidback. I was told that 2 Headline pillows were sold on Saturday when they put them out. I managed to catch a couple of picts of Laidback in A&G while sipping on some club soda at their garden party.

ICFF

One of my yearly indulgences is to check out and salivate over the brilliant design represented at the ICFF show. I am awaiting my turn to show there. Here are a few of my favorites (will rifle through my cards and tell you who they are later today) as well as a pict of myself and Temar and Teman from Design Star. I am heading back to the show today so you can see more. I bumped into the stylish duo while at the show. They are really nice and fun guys, looking forward to doing something with them in the future.

Design on a Dime Recap and Design Week

Last night Design on A Dime was great.. a ton of people turned put and spent money. I was able to see my pillows in the mix with the Nathanegan Designer vignette. Too bad I had spilled juice in my bag earlier and jacked up my camera because I did not really get to take any picts. The two you see are from my camera phone, and you know how those go. I did get to meet Thom Filicia (Queer Eye, Dress My Nest) and introduce him to laidback as well as a few other people. The white She Rocks and You Rock were being purchased just as I stepped into the vignette. Great night for fundraising and design. (P.S. Sorry for the grainy picts and sis blocking the shot, but she was with the party who purchased the pillows, so she is a friend of Laidback.)hehe

Design Week is in full gear and I have plans to partake in some of the festivities. I am anxiously awaiting checking out the design at ICFF on Monday. Unfortunately I missed the blogfest party and the apartment therapy meetup today. Oh but design goes on. I will be heading to the ICFF and hopefully taking tons of picts Monday and possibly this weekend when I come back from my little sisters graduation. Get em Sherika, Big Laidback Congrats to you lil sis, doing the darn thing, lol!!!

Laidback X Design on Dime Fundraiser

Over the course of the BK Designs weekend I had the opportunity to meet someone from Nathan Egan Interiors. The company is participating in the Design on a Dime Fundraiser that benefits people with HIV. The designers are using several Laidback designs to create the vignette as well as sell to raise money for the event. I am excited and proud to be down! Check back later for picts from the event. I will be attending the Fundraiser and then rushing over to celebrate my girl Najwa Moses' birthday tonight over at Lotus.

Brooklyn Designs Recap

Brooklyn Designs is over and now is the real time to assess the success of the show. We met a ton of cool people and found that there is quite an interest in having something funky and fun to spice up the home. I am still fielding requests and comments from many show goers from the weekend. So shout out to you all, and know that Laidback Hearts the BK!!! Many thanks to Apartment Therapy and Gen Art for shouting us out as what was poppin at Brooklyn Designs.

I also want to shout out David from the Future Perfect and A&G Merch for stopping by the Laidback Booth and adding us to the family. Laidback will be available at A& G Merch very soon (like next week). I am extremely excited because I have been a fan of The Future Perfect for a while now and became ecstatic when A& G Merch opened with more affordable designs. So it is truly exciting that Laidback will become a part of their great style.