Everything Communicates

Maria Cher + Sanyo = Autobiografías

I like it when two brands get together and in Argentina it happens all the time. Not your clunky Mars ads on the back of a Ryan Air headrest or Molton Brown in the British Airways toiletry bags, but full on partnerships that span retail initiatives, product design and joint advertising (with nice creative direction).

Maria Cher (upmarket Buenos Aires fashion designer) and Sanyo have paired up for Maria Cher's Summer 07/08 collection in a campaign entitled Autobiografías (click on Campañas  to see it). Images such as the one above are taken by real people of themselves using Sanyo digital cameras. I think they've managed to make the clothes look great and spill over a bit of charisma onto the Sanyo brand. You know that the camera is just out of view attached to that cool black cord that the protagonist is holding. There's something of the Cindy Sherman about it.

Always the comms strategist, I'm pleased to see that it doesn't end with the advertising. There are plenty more pictures and personal stories on the website, and Maria Cher will be releasing a range of camera bags and accessories in the near future.

I should note that this is the latest in a string of fashion + technology partnerships - Motorola and Trosman have been together for a while now, and Sony Ericsson and Uma used to appear in each other's advertising and retail spaces.

Enjoy yourself responsibly

Printed on a Quilmes Beer tshirt... perhaps an afterthought?

100% Love

I went to Feria Puro Diseño 07 yesterday, the design fair in Buenos Aires. There were some semi-interesting speakers talking about future trends in interior design, and the influence of Street Art, Urban Style and Vinyl Toys on design and culture.

I wasn't blown away by the interior design trends "As water becomes more precious, shades of blue will become more important in 2007/08 and beyond" <hmmm> but I loved the work of a graphic designer who has created a fashion label around the idea of "power to love".

According to the designers, Kurcho is a character with a message to share with the world. The messages appear on Tshirts and in a cute little kit that equips the buyer to share the love.

Here is the manifesto:

I KURCHO, DECLARE THAT HAVE EMPIRICALLY PROVED THAT HEARTS SPEAK. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONES THAT CAN LISTEN TO THEIR HEARTS ARE FEW AND MY STUDIES INDICATE THAT THE NUMBER IS GRADUALLY DECLINING BECAUSE HEARTS ARE TIRED OF SPEAKING WITHOUT BEING LISTENED...

THEREFORE I DECLARE OF URGENT NECESSITY THE PRACTICE OF LISTENING TO OUR HEARTS, TO FACILITATE A FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT TO THIS PRACTICE AND WITH THE ONLY PURPOSE OF REACHNG THE GLORIOUS DAY IN WHICH THE WHOLE HUMAN RACE LEARNS HOW TO LISTEN TO ITS HEARTS... I SCREAM: POWER TO INNOCENCE AND LOVE! (exact transcript)

The creators have made a nice little street campaign and have also managed a bit of product placement on some upcoming commercials. I like the meeting of information design & fashion and the current global Tshirt obsession as a medium to spread a bit of goodwill.