Gabriella Marina Gonzalez' Victorian Sci-Fi Surgery

lookbook images by Sarah Piantadosi

We first introduced you to the unquestionable mad skillz of Gabriella Marina Gonzalez and her graduate collection mid last year, whilst she was working on some bags for Charlie Le Mindu and Danny Sangra name dropped a collaboration with her too. These images got buried under the ice berg of shit that's on my desk top, but they've come to light finally! This collection, entitled 'Victorian Sci-Fi Surgery' was actually presented at Machine-A (the boutique formerly known as Digitaria) during the LFW just gone, along with designers Asger Juel Larsen and Gemma Slack. Check the awesome look book images, as captured by Sarah Piantadosi:

Fully articulated finger leather gloves. A little woodlandy with just a touch of S&M, innit?

An evolution of the insane shoe Gaby created in her debut collection:

If there ever was an awesome accessory dog, it's this one next to the look below:

Hats off to this collection.

Available for order at Machine-A.

GALLERY

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

Now, label Firetrap isn't normally something that I would wear. Or even look at. But when one of the fiercest betches in London town, i-D magazine stylist Matthew Josephs werks that shit up, it just can't help but look good. Oh and did you spot Gabriella Marina Gonzalez's OMG SHOES in the pics shot by photographer Paul Wetherell? They're kinda hard to miss...

Go check this all out in life size at the Firetrap windows in London, and of course, the pre-fall issue of i-D.

It makes me laugh to think of the time when Matthew and I found ourselves simultaneously stomping our Doc Marten booted feet and throwing tantrums about a label (that shall remain unnamed) that we were hating on having to try and werk - except Matthew always looks MAYYYJAHHH every single time I see him...MAYYYJ babes, MAYYYJ.

Gabriella Marina Gonzalez

Lookbook shots by Leon Mark

Dropping in on Charlie Le Mindu working on his collection for the upcoming London Fashion Week, ogling the pieces and wishing I was blonde, I met the fresh Central St Martins Womenswear Graduate, the extensively named Gabriella Marina Gonzalez, who had a couple of pairs of the ridonkulous shoes she made for her collection with her.

Shoes for the Emotionally Dispossessed (and strong of ankle)

Made of suede and mock croc patent leather, these insane platforms - which are 7inches in the back and 4inches in the front!! - with an uber square toe remind me of a Harajuku bondage girl on steroids. These babies make a grrrrrl TALLLLLLL.

Her graduate collection, named 'Clothing for the Emotionally Dispossessed' is based on the fact that for her, London is an ocean of people who've come from small towns, who were obviously too big for their pond. Gabi told me that:

"There is an over abundance of talent and people here who are here based on the fame and fortune London promises. The reality check comes when people realise the illusion of this, and that they need to get off their high horses and look into themselves and their art and take the fame aspect out of it; to personally and emotionally get involved with work, because there are too many people here for the same superficial reasons. Emotional dispossesion I guess, is the jaded feeling you get of being here because its very easy to lose your vision."

Gabi is in charge of the realisation of some pieces in Charlie Le Mindu's show. TRUSSSSST watch this space. Mad skillz ahoy.