VOLCOM

A very peaceful walk around the neighborhood of Bayonne with a lot of boutiques opening, very tempting but I choose to eat around the corner, my obsession of crepes. It was time to call for a taxi or at least look for one hoping the driver would understand me, to my luck she only spoke French, but the second I said Volcom, she was extremely delighted and to what I understood she knew where it was and there would be no problem taking me there. Was it a coincidence that she knew their offices were at or have they once again achieved their mark for people of the town know where their offices not just stores are located?

I finally meet Josie Clyde whom was very kind to give me a tour and any information of their offices. Josie is the European Girls Marketing Manager, who uses to be involved with snowboarding and music industry, making it a lot easier to work with Volcom having the knowledge of working with variety of brands. I learned from what the marketing department focus on overlooking events and advertising, as well as, visuals in opening a new store using original artwork to a connection to the culture. Furthermore, I got an insight of control quality of each sample and production, which has various steps from sizing, shipping cotton and non cotton products to shipping to the stores.

Something quite awesome, is they work with different fashion schools in Europe,  giving the students six months to work on anything Volcom has given them it can be from a lot of denim and create just about anything. Whoever is the winner gets to work in for six months in Volcom and create their own capsule collection from start to finish.  It was quite extraordinary the various things happening and all to the most creative and inspirational human beings working in Allee Belharra, 64600 Anglet.

 

the creative room

working fast since their deadline was fast approaching

Au revoir Paris!

After a walk to Chanel and Colette it was our last stop YSL/Pierre Berge Foundation before we departed to our next destinations. It has more than forty years garments created and they are the most beautiful pieces. Then we had lunch or other moved on to other activities, but I had to be on a train by 3 to head toward the south where I was hoping would be more peaceful and with less traffic.

Lovely picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower

Beautiful way of ending the night with a lot of cheese and bread! (:

Printemps Paris,

This amazing historic Monument has been turned into a 9^th floor department store. It has main focuses to become one of the top five luxuries places. These services include from personal shopping, entering VIP entrance and going to a private room to relax and have a glass of wine. They can also try their clothes in one of the most wonderful dressing rooms. Their display windows have a theme they pick for the season and let say they are spectacular. Printemps definitely wants freshness and new technology part of making their customer more than satisfied. Yet, they have still kept their values intact the store being very exclusive with their products and display their product in a different way than other department stores. We were able to get a tour of all these places and a wonderful presentation with very respective speakers taking their time to inform us of their successful company. I am very thankful for the hospitality Printemps dedicated to us.

View from the top floor of Printemps

Opera National de Paris Palais Garnier

I was completely amazed by this wonderful art created by Garnier. There are no exact words to describe it because the art was a combination of all types of arts put together into creating two stages. The first one was the entrances and where the people would meet to get inside their seats, it is completely designed as if it was a stage because it had the balconies looking toward the entrance and whoever was walking the staircase could be clearly seen. It was important for the ladies to show their elegant dresses and jewelry with their escort dressed in impeccable suits with their gold chains. We then got to see the stage inside, what an amazing view, and we were lucky to even get inside since, there was a performance to happen the next day and you could hear people working behind the stage. The place was amazing and yes pictures were allowed! ( : We then headed to Printemps and afterwards we went for a lovely picnic in front of the Tour Eiffel. 

 

 

 

Bonjour! (Hello)

Paris, we meet again, and this time I got the stamp from Paris in my passport not from Swiss not that I have something against them but I really wanted to get my stamp that said Paris. (:

The minute we got off the Eurostar we meet with our tour guide who was quite angry that the bus was driving off to another side of the street and had us walking more than we had too. But she was still very informative of all the sites of Paris, we went from viewing Arc de Triomphie, Museum du Louvre, Tour Eiffel, tour Montparnasse to finally tours de Notre dame. Very busy streets of Paris, but we managed to hit the main points, heading to our hotel afterward which many of us were starving. We went out to look for lunch/dinner but to our luck, we found a place not so good and a bit over priced, and after walking more we found other places that looked way more delicious. But good thing we still had another night left in the city of Paris.

 

 

Before heading out to France, a memorable visit to Prudence Millinery’s workplace

Prudence, a very energetic, kind soul who clearly loves making hats and taking her time to create a wonderful piece of art. She starts with either deciding from whom she wants to make the hat it can either be to Vivienne Westwood or Italy Vogue covers. Then she gathers inspirations from walking the streets of London going to museums and looking at vintage furniture designs and watching old movies where every single person wears a hat. The moment the idea comes to live she makes the mold of the hat and if she will be using it a lot she makes sure she sends the mold of the hat to get made into wood. Every step of the way and every detail of a making an exquisite hat is done by hand. She loves her work and wants people to be love what they are doing, did I mention she designed the hats for sex and the city movie. She incredibly amazing and we did not want to leave her workplace at all, I would totally stay there if it wasn’t because we had to get going to Westfield mall. Having a mall is quite rare for London, but of course there is a strategy to make this work. The entrance of the mall is amazing with literally looking up at the sky, what a perfect view, and every stand that’s in the middle of the stores goes from doing a massage to cutting and styling your hair. It’s quite impressive since they do a lot of concessions to keep the customer inside the mall practically the whole day. After the visit we made our way either to our flats, store or any last minute details before waking up the next day, really early to be ready by 07:00 am. First, time travelling by eurostar, this by the way goes under the ocean to get to Paris. Yes, quite extraordinary concept and a bit scary but we made it. ( :

 

 

 

Paris, here we come

Yes, we leave London for a couple of days but for some it is a whole week. I really am excited for Paris but a bit sad we have to leave London, for some time. Either way I hope to find or re visit new places in France (:

A once in a lifetime opportunity

I doubt I will ever have the chance to witness Trooping the Colour that celebrates the Queen’s birthday and the Queen and all of the royal family in the parade. Our first Saturday morning with nothing scheduled and many decided to sleep in, however, was I glad I did not especially when I told myself I was going to enjoy every second of this trip.

We got out of the tube and started walking toward the Buckingham Palace where a lot of people were already gathered, finally we arrived at a spot where it was a bit overcrowded but we managed to be in the second row. It turns out to be Clarence House where a minute later the cars come out with Prince Charles and Camilla, and Prince William and Princess Catherine. I was completely in shocked and excited at the same time, we did not expect to see them that fast and close either. Finally we had the ceremonial parade with the first carriage with Princess Catherine, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew and Camilla. Then another carriage with the Queen and Prince Phillip, and since we were next to Clarence home all the children and in laws came out to wave to the Queen. 

We were able to see them once again when they were heading toward the palace again for the Trooping Ceremony and this time we were much closer front row! I was excited because it’s something completely amazing to witness this parade. Finally we got close to the Bucking palace where all the royal members made their way to the balcony, meanwhile the cannons were going off which made it feel like an earthquake but of course it wasn’t, it was part of the parade then Royal Air Force made a spectacular performance! The whole experience was just amazing and I was able to be amongst many locals who dressed with their proper attire to see their Queen. It was indeed a very wonderful morning, and once again it is so hard to pick the best thing from this amazing trip but I am completely grateful for being able to be in this trip.

Prince Edward

The Queen

Camden Town (:

It was a bit of a mission to arrive to Camden town but at last we made it and well let’s say London has wanted it to be rain and rain. However, this does not stop us at all especially for exploring new places and well doing a little bit of shopping. It was also an educational trip since we were to observe the shops and stands that still sell to the New Romantics, Goth and Punk. I managed to keep myself dry except my boots, I was considering of buying willies (rain boots) but it hardly rains in Cali. I stepped in a shop called T Flower and wow did I wish it was my closet, I was completely fascinated with the clothes.

 

 

A bit of an obsession!

Audrey Hepburn   

She is best known for her charm and elegance. She is completely one of my newest admirations and the best part most of the shops here in London have something of Audrey. How amazing! ( :

World’s End

I indeed wish I had my own personal clock that had thirteen numbers instead of twelve.

We got to visit where it all started, Vivienne’s Westwood World’s End shop, our lecture on punk was two days before and actually stepping into this wonderful historical store was amazing. It’s a tiny shop but to know Malcolm and Vivienne helped the punk street style grow as it has, got me excited to have been able to visit this piece of history.

Favorite garment pieces….. So Far!