This is not a test //

Two of our favourites, the magnificent Danny Sangra and fabulous Fanny and Jessy of FAJ have once again joined forces to make a film of the fashionable (and awesome) variety. Directed by Danny, with music from Rowdy Superst*r and threads from FAJ's latest collection entitled Vaniloquence, the film of the same title is a wickedly er, wicked and disturbing stalk through the canals of Clapton (London).

Simultaneously freaky and envy inducing, Danny and his team have created yet another super ssick, slick and achingly hip short film that not only werks another set of Danny's seemingly endless mad skillz but also gives FAJ the perfect setting to show off Vaniloquence (the collection which Lady Gaga was spotted rocking pieces from).

Go check the film HERE ! I love everything about it - it's seriously, dizzingly cool - just like Danny, Fanny and Jessy themselves.

Fanny and Jessy's sophomore collection was unleashed during London Fashion Week at WeKnowWhatYouDidLastNight.com's Pop Up Shop on Beak St in Central London to much merriment.

This time round, the girls have named the collection Vaniloquence; which means vain, foolish talk yo. Far from foolish, the girls have continued their androgynous, tough and street savvy aesthetic, with this collection seeing a much bigger range of fabrication than previously seen. There is also a touch of softness in their sparse spidery knits and the very 90s rose print that makes an appearance.

It's always so good to see new young talent follow up on their debuts; continuing to grow and develop their ideas. Last collection 'I Hope You Die Soon' was repped on Girls Aloud, Groove Armada and Ri-Ri-Rihanna herself - who'll it be this season?

Totally epitomising Hackney Hardcore / East End Kids' style, Fanny and Jessy are representing the best of the many faces of the every day denizens of London's creative heart; not without some self awareness either, in their fool talkin' street stalkin' vaniloquent collection. Rrawrr.

Danny Sangra

The scope of Danny Sangra's mad skillz is seriously enviable. Truly of the multi-media, multi-talented breed, Danny Sangra's work spans everything from film, illustration, collage to knitwear and all in between. Further more, he's not just a dabbler, or even a jack of all trades; London based Danny in fact excels at all the mediums he manipulates and embodies the ultimate in a modern, multifaceted young artist.

From videos for Metronomy to designing prints for Louis Vuitton Homme and tees for Uniqlo in Japan as well as others he's not even allowed to mention yet, he is also responsible for the infamous I Hope You Die Soon print which the most excellent Fanny and Jessy (FAJ) turned into a tee. Danny has also worked with another talent; IM//UR alumni Gabriella Marina Gonzalez, who along with FAJ, has Danny directed short films about. And in a sweet bit of cross-creative-pollination, Danny has also used the super hot Fanny and Jessy to model his latest project, clothing label AMS (or A Minute's Silence) with Lynnda Needles (I'll be posting their lookbook this week...wait for it, their stuff is GENIUS).

Stills from the shoot for the AMS lookbook

So. Danny works with a huge variety of people. And in a huge variety of creative mediums. And he does it supremely well. All evident in the crazy wicked background he's done for us this month. "I know you have the 'I Hope You Die Soon' t-shirt, so I kept the type as my own hand drawn type. The image is a collage image of my illustration work. I make images with multiple meanings and idea. One image doesn't necessarily mean it's one idea." (Images in this post are collated).

How and when did you know you were going to be an illustrator?

I never thought of being an illustrator...I mean, I don't consider that as what I am now. It's one thing I do and can do fairly easy but it's not the only thing I do. I grew up just wanting to make things. Be it drawn, photographed, filmed or glued together. I still pretty much work in the same way I did when I was 8 years old. I just start something and see what happens with it. However, I am slightly smarter than when I was 8. Only slightly though.

Danny Sangra for Louis Vuitton

What have been are your biggest influences?

Growing up I had artistic influences like most people, but when I left college I was lucky to meet people that had been in the industry for many years and had a profound way of looking at it. Namely Camilla Lowther (CLM UK) and Johnny Chatters (owner of Double Identity); these were people who had faith in me at a young age and guided my approach into what I should be trying to achieve.

Film stills

Who (else) would you love to work for or collaborate with?

It's weird as I have have pretty much worked with almost everyone I have wanted to work with, however the one person/label I have always wanted to work with is Vivienne Westwood. It can seem like an obvious choice for most people, I know. I would usually give a stupid answer to that question.

What did you dream about last night?

Apples, gun fights and a Fox.

Favourite medium?

Film

For all your sulky, sullen and misanthropist-ic needs as interpreted by the uber talented Danny Sangra with whom Fanny and Jessy have collaborated with on other FAJ driven projects. Right now though, they're kitting out Saint Saviour who's currently singing with Groove Armada, who co-wrote some tracks on GA's latest album, Black Light. Saint Saviour is going on tour next January and you can expect her to be fully FAJjed up!

Yeah, what the t-shirt says, innit

The tee above is fairly limited edition right now, so get in quick; they've got new ones coming up real soon which are just as hot shit, as well as their next collection, so stay tuned to their website for when shit gets dropped.

Otherwise, hit them up at INFO@FANNYANDJESSY.CO.UK to get yours...

In the meantime, check Saint Saviour mincing it up in a Pam Hogg catsuit on the Groove Armada single released mid November, 'I Won't Kneel'.

OH AND P.S. FAJ are now stocked at DIGITARIA and NO-ONE yowchhhhh! XXX

So, who do you think parties harder - Sao Paulo or London?

By now you'll know that we're blowing up Sao Paulo, Brazil, with The Golden Filter at world famous Clash Club on the 5th of August - but we couldn't leave out London this time.

So the ever fabulous BISTROTHEQUE is playing host to IM//A\\PARTY this Friday!

WHEN: Friday 31st JULY 2009
TIME: 8pm-Midnight
WHERE: BISTROTHEQUE, 23-27 Wadeson St LONDON

with DJ SETS FROM:

The deadly wicked O CHILDREN

The delectable and darkly danceable MODERNAIRE

and WE//R\\DJs

plus SPECIAL uber fashionable GUESTS: FAJ

and

VENUE TRANSFORMATION/DESIGN by:

LIGHTNING AND KINGLYFACE

it's going to be the POO so take a big WHIFF.

[ Let's all run to Drunky Town]

FAJAYJAY mobile

Photography by Ellis Scott

How the HELL do you tie dye a whole freakin' car!? Somehow, Fanny and Jessy did it. They did mention this to me a while back that they had this in the works, especially after graduating fashion college, that they were going to totally transform a car into their very own FAJmobile. And I thought, cool, it's going to be like the Batmobile, but with loads of fringing and probably more naked people inside. I was wrong about the fringing, but I'm pretty sure this car will see a load of nudie people in it. Or at the very least, some super hot, incredibly dressed people standing on top of it.

A tie-dyed car. Yes.

FAJjin hell!

Remember a little while back when I told you about FAJ, the design duo from East London? Well they've freshly graduated from college, killed their end of year show amongst all those sorts of shenanigans, and so, finally, their real fun can begin.

Jess and Fanny let me in on what's coming up next for them, so y'all better watch out because they've got a whole bunch of stuff planned in the coming months, like a moving art installation for one. The girls have just brought a car that they've covered in their tie dye fabric on the outside and pasted their look book all over the inside. Can I make a suggestion that you call it the FA-JAY-JAY-mobile?

Already they've planned a diffusion line to extend from their main collection that has more of a womenswear slant to it that's going to be unleashed in a catwalk (as RuPaul would say) extravaganza eleganza in July, complete with a short film made by Danny Sangra - director of a new video edit of Metronomy's 'Radio Ladio' and who also created FAJ's logo. Besides Danny and their Fa-Jay-Jay mobile, to add more fuel to the fire, the girls are also teaming up with Bourgeois and Maurice (his lashes are genetic, his compassion fake; she's alright once you get to know her - you'll never get to know her) the neo-cabaret act.

All of this will be culminating in a par-tay at the beginning of July. *PHEW!* It's going to be a gang bang of epic proportions.

In the meantime, to get your appetite whet, here's a shoot that the super talented Mark Cant did of their collection for you to geeze at.

GALLERY

FAJ on the roof

My good friends Fanny and Jessy have finally finished their debut collection!! Congratulations Fa-Jey-Jeys!! I met Jessy as she had just wrapped up doing an internship in Paris for a fashion label; she couldn't stand fashion school and she wanted to run away from it all and join the Circus.

Thank god she resisted becoming a Carnie and teamed up with Fanny - and with their powers combined, FAJ was birthed. It all began when they literally just got lost and wonky in and about London town, and were totally inspired to create their debut unisex collection entitled 'I Hope You Die Soon'. I am, in fact, dying for a pair of the Iranian waterproofed leather lazer-cut leggings, and some of their insane hoodies to slouch around in.

Their mission statement:

"Welcome to our world: Fanny And Jessy. A wonderland created by us, influenced by our surroundings and experiences.

Our concept is inspired by the fusion of several visual cultures, all of which induce a feeling of personal happiness. Based on the idea of losing your identity without the intention of creating a new one, it’s purpose is to offer an alternative outlook to fashion, not intended to fit in to any current trends or social ideals."

Translation: it's just about having fun, innit. WERK, BITCHES! Here's a sneak peek of their collection for you...THEIR SHIT IS BANANAS!

GALLERY