word of the week – ‘legacy’ (ˈlegəsiː)

word of the week – ‘legacy’ (ˈlegəsiː)

When I was around 17, I had the best pair of jeans. I wore them virtually every day for three years, and by the end of that time, there was more patchwork repair than original material. To this day I remember my mother compaining they ‘gave her the pip’, as she spent so much time sewing them up. Which sounded hilarious in her Dutch accent.

I remember they were Wrangler drainpipes, but I have no idea where they were bought or made. I liked the Ws stitched on to the back pockets — maybe it was a latent appreciation of typography which was to kick in properly a few years later. But the point is, I truly loved them, and they were always with me whatever I happened to be doing.

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word of the week – ‘score’ (skɔː).

word of the week – ‘score’ (skɔː).

From Mark Farrow to Peter Saville, two designers from the same Factory. In the light of this week’s shenanigans at the FA, I though it would be worth revisting Saville’s recent redesign of the England football shirt. If you recall, the former Creative Director of the City of Manchester took the bold step of introducing some colour to the national team’s traditionally pristine white kit.

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ace in the hole.

ace in the hole.

Looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the designer man in your life? Something with a bit of sauce but not too much cheese? Never mind the bollocks, here’s the ‘Sex Pistol’ stretch boxer trunk from Bjorn Börg. You don’t have to mind your Ps and Qs in these beauties. Just the job for well heeled-punks and anyone who’s read Simon Garfield’s ‘Just My Type’. And available until stocks last with 40% off at www.underu.com. New balls please.

new work – Lettuce.

new work – Lettuce.

Fashion label Lettuce relaunches at the Pure fashion trade show at Olympia this weekend, with a head-to-toe rebrand masterminded by Form Design & Art Direction. A young, happening Australian brand, Lettuce specialises in funky women’s scarves, which they position as year-round accessories rather than winter neck-warmers. 

totalcontent helped in establishing a suitably fresh and appealing tone of voice, coming up with the strapline ‘Your Scarf. Your Scene’, as well as mood copy describing the brand’s various collections, which provided the basis for the 2011 catalogue (shown left). You can read some of our longer copy on the Lettuce interim website here. 

It’s our first very collaboration with the highly talented Paul and Paula at Form, an outfit we’ve admired for some time.

new work – Thomas Pink.

new work – Thomas Pink.

The 2008 Thomas Pink ‘look book’ takes the brand back to its roots, focusing firmly on the retailer’s expertise in shirts. The new approach and introduction of the discerning ‘Mr Thomas Pink’ character was the brainchild ofYellowdoor, Mary Portas’ fashion/retail agency. totalcontent developed a tone of voice to complement the new direction, supplying descriptions of Pink’s different styles and cuts of shirt, and highlighting the fine details that set them apart. Our words sat alongside a lyrical passage on the delights of Jermyn Street by author and screenwriter William Boyd.