1 October 2008
‘The Don’t Miss List’ Feature in Vogue
J Smith Esquire was featured in the Vogue exclusive ‘Don’t Miss List’.
24 September 2008
Interview Magazine: Stephen Jones Nominates Justin Smith
In the September issue of Interview magazine, the legendary hatter picks Justin as his one to watch… “It is very refreshing to see a different point of view in millinery at last,” says master British hatmaker Stephen Jones of nominee Justin Smith. “Justin’s hats have culture, and they are original.”
Jones is also been quoted in the September 08 issue of Grazia as saying: “Justin’s work is exciting because he makes hats which challenge the aesthetics set by myself or Philip Treacy.”
2 September 2008
‘Kaleidoscope’ Collection Show at LFW
Justin Smith’s third independent collection for S/S 2009 is called ‘Kaleidoscope’. The show takes place at the Royal Academy Of Arts on September 16th as part of London Fashion Week.
After receiving much press attention for his previous two shows, ‘Kaleidoscope’ takes Justin’s signature styles to the next level of artistry. The quicksilver milliner’s skill deceives the eye of the beholder and every hat in this collection showcases a different technique to amazing effect.
‘Kaleidoscope’ is a collection of fascinating, hand-made millinery pieces that can be worn singly or in clusters, coming together to make any number of ingenious combinations; from pop-up sun hats to origami headbands, fringes and finger waves, buttons and bows, dream-catchers and foil-blocked feathers, endlessly combinable, uncontrollably creative.
Watch the show here.
26 June 2008
Tattoo’d Top Hat Bought by the Museum at FIT, New York
J Smith Esquire’s tattooed top hat has been bought by the museum of New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology for their permanent collection and is to be displayed in this Autumn’s ‘Gothic: Dark Glamour’ exhibition. Exploring the influence of Gothic culture on high fashion, this promises to be one of the largest and most exciting exhibitions in the Museum’s history. The exhibition will be on display from September 5th 2008 to February 21st 2009, and will include about 100 looks by designers such as Alexander McQueen and John Galliano:
“While I was working on the exhibition, ‘Gothic: Dark Glamour,’ I happened to see a photograph of J Smith Esquire’s hat in ‘W Magazine’ – and I immediately knew that I had to have it, not only on loan for the exhibition but for the permanent collection of the Museum at FIT. As a specialized fashion museum, we acquire directional clothes and accessories – fashions that move fashion-forward.
This extraordinary hat obviously fell in this category. Drawing on historical prototypes of upper-class masculinity, the hat also carried an aggressive edge that alluded to punk sensibility. It also evoked the Victorian futurism of the steampunk subculture and, of course, the amazing ‘tattoo’ of the bat alluded to a wealth of body art. An extraordinary creation, it was the product of multiple craft specializations – fashion, jewellery, and art.”
– Valerie Steele, Director and Chief Curator – The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York
1 March 2008
‘Dance With Me’ A/W Show
Justin’s A/W 2008 “Dance With Me” collection will be shown at the Royal Academy of Art as part of London Fashion Week.