Our friends win big @ Sundance film fest!!

University Link pal, Drake Doremus just won the GRAND JURY PRIZE at the 2011 Sundance film festival. His film LIKE CRAZY won over a lot of hearts. Here he is on the front page of the Sundance website - big smiles all around with his team!  University Link Magazine was spot on with their Big in 2011 article! Congrats Drake, we are so very proud of you!! 

and then there's our gal pal, Melissa Lee, rad producer that helmed film CIRCUMSTANCE that won the AUDIENCE AWARD. CONGRATS, Mel, we are beaming with pride for/with you!!!

We can't help ourselves so here's a shameless plug... notice (far left of the photo) she's looking mighty stylish and uber hot in that black, white and grey AI FOR AI shift dress.

Cheers to all of our independent spirited and creative friends putting out amazing energy and work into the world!

DEMO TEAM!!!!!!

Meet the Demo Team... we were introduced to this band by one of our all time fave music wonders, Ali Helnwein (composer of our f/w2010 film directed by his sis' Mercedes Helnwein)... well, if he wasn't busy enough with film projects and other orchestral projects he is in yet another euphonic group w/ some all around rad guys making noise for the love of sound and the love of you. Right here out of Los Angeles and straight into your hearts...

They are raising some funds here on kickstarter --- feeling altruistic??? You should. The guys are good and the music is better!  Here's something lifted off of their facebook fanpage

Demo Team come on guys! look at it as buying an advance copy of the record.

Kickstarter >> DEMO TEAM - TRIMURTI by Demo Team

www.kickstarter.com

Demo Team is raising funds for DEMO TEAM - TRIMURTI on Kickstarter! A new album entitled "Trimurti" exhibits influences ranging from baroque classical to organic electronic to spoken word, etc.

AI AI LA LA LUV LUV...DUM DUM GIRLS!

Hey 2011 campers! It's been an amazing start to the year so far. We've got our noses to the grindstone and we're cranking out some mysterious and magical threads for our fall/winter 2011 line. While we're doing that we've been listening to some mystical sounds by our new crushes, DEE DEE, SANDY, BAMBI & JULES! Yes, if you haven't already read the title of this blogpost -- those names belong to super sexy rad fantastically talented ladies of California based band, DUM DUM GIRLS! We dressed them while they were here in Los Angeles playing at the Echoplex last month and since then.... their haunting tunes have been looping on our chop.shop.design.studio playlist! 

Here's a look at the lovely ladies;

sandy prepping to get those heartbeats a-thumpin'!

 jules looking mighty fine in ai for ai strumming us along...

 bambi wearing a sexy ai for ai number plucking those basslines

and last but not least, dee dee kills 'em gently with her voice.

(photos by Martin Wong of Giant Robot and c.a.)

AI FOR AI, University Link Magazine - Jan 2011

Hey friends! We're sprinting to complete our first full year in business this March 2011 (our first collection - Spring/Summer 2010 - hit stores last year in March of 2010). 

Thanks to the young and thriving minds at University Link Magazine for rounding up a group of 11 people they deem BIG IN 2011: Most Likely to Succeed! We are stoked about the honor and to be in such great company.

AI FOR AI was the only fashion line chosen among a dynamic group of 9 others; Athletes, Artists, Filmmakers and Activists!

Curious? January 2011 issue with Seth Rogan on the cover.  Go and grab one at your local news stand and support young journalists on the move.

childhood C R U S H E S...

 

                                                

What better time than during the holidays to have sweet nostalgic memories of the ones we used to dream of kissing and holding tight before we ever even had our first REAL kisses. We went down memory lane and collected some babelicious images of our childhood crushes. Remember buying NKOTB bubblegum at the ice cream trucks? Trapper Keepers with Zack Morris on it? Pleather purses with Michael Jackson? MJ Fox t-shirts? We fondly look back to those innocent times and after going through all those old photos --- we sorta think these flames in our hearts are never going out!  Pine pine pine away, girls!!!

F/W 2011 INSPIRATION - FEELING DEEP PURPLE!!

we're really inspired by purple things. mostly because of the artist formerly known as prince's sonic masterpiece, Purple Rain. don't know if it's a seasonal thing but P.R. sure does sound good in this cold weather.  we did some research on the color deep purple and one of the first things that came up was this;

DEEP PURPLE!!!!

It's not about Turkey! It's about our fine feathered friends. Thank you!

AI FOR AI is very thankful to our friends and family for making 2010 amazingly fun and rewarding for us in our first year in the business of playing dress up. Thank you for all of the collaborations, support and love.

We could not have done this without each and every one of you! THANK YOU & WE LOVE YOU!

Sample Sale Shopping Party!!! Thank you!

Thanks for stopping by friends. We had a really great time with our designer gals! BIG Hugs to Unearthen, Hansel from Basel, LD Tuttle, Annie Costello Brown, Wren, Alexandra Cassaniti and Me & Arrow!

W MAGAZINE selects AI FOR AI F/W 2010 FILM - Please vote for video FIVE!!

http://fashiononfilm.wmag.com/vote.php

BEST COAST's BETHANY COSENTINO wearing AI FOR AI - LA WEEKLY

AI FOR AI loves Best Coast!! We are so thrilled to have Bethany Cosentino in our transcendent dress on the cover of the LA WEEKLY. Thanks for bringing that swinging vintage sound back! You guys rule!!

AI FOR AI - spring/summer rtw 2011 - behind the scenes

 

photos by: yvette aispuro

Art Installation & S/S 2011 AI FOR AI muse:

Owen Schmit - www.owenschmit.com

Art Direction: Noah Olmsted

Stylists: Jessica Loria & Kelly Williams

Hair Stylist: Tara Jean Mann

Make-up Artist: Eliven Quiros

Music: Bobby Evans & Boom Bip

Coordinator: Audrey Dallas Petenbrink

Magician: Ben Wong

Models: Mearii, Julie Ann, Constance, Roxanne, Brittany, Stella, Amanda and Alex

last but not least - the most awesome hosts in the world - Shop Epic - Tristan Scott & Rhianon Jones

Mercedes Helnwein in November 2010 NYLON magazine!

Our girl Mercedes is on fire!!!
Don't miss her Beck hosted show at the Merry Karnowsky gallery November 13, 2010!!

AI FOR AI f/w 2010 film by Mercedes Helnwein

Directives West presents AI FOR AI @ First.LA during L.A. Fashion Week!

Visit us at L.A. Market Week!

S/S 2011 PRESENTATION @ E.P.I.C.

S/S 2011 MUSE - OWEN SCHMIT - NYLON MAGAZINE - IT GIRL

 

OCTOBER 2010

Nylon Magazine --- you're so right!! Owen Schmit is amazing!!!

AI FOR AI SPRING/SUMMER 2011 - ZEBRA PRINT

ai for ai - F/W2010 muse - Mercedes Helnwein on Beck's website!

Enjoy the art work of Mercedes Helnwein's here and there and here

Sneak Peak - S/S 2011 - Ai for Ai - Astral Travel

  

http://meredithjenks.blogspot.com/2010/09/blog-post.html

AI FOR AI - Spring/Summer 2011 - Astral Travel
Photographer: Meredith Jenks www.meredithjenks.com
Photo Assistant: Yee Ie
Artist/Model: Owen Schmit www.owenschmit.com
Hair: Amber Maynard
Hake-up: Eliven Quiros
Stylists: Jessica & Kelly www.jessicaandkelly.com

Featherbeard over s'mores in Valencia! -

Ai sisters love you Joy Joy! What a fun night in song underneath California stars and skies.

master of the obvious part II

M.O.T.O Part II: yes, life in the universe is beautiful!
via:
http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/08/11/4869749-see-and-hear-the-meteor-show

old buttons - new memories

Came across this image of a colorful bunch of buttons while surfing the web --- and felt compelled to share it. These individual pieces of wonderfulness and utility are saved and sometimes forgotten but remain useful if we choose to remember and use them. As they get loose or fall off of our clothes we treat them like most memories - put away for a rainy day. They are gathered and collected from garments we wear and love -- to pieces. Here we are in the AI FOR AI studio making our samples - sometimes with these loose pieces of thread, buttons, and a few ideas from our memories to create our vision of the future. We hope you get to wear and share until the things you love begin to fray and tear and make new memories of their own like we do.


photo: nicole rigets

The Love Below

We're in the studio in an Outkast kind of mood today. Love this album so much. xo

VIETNAM Summer 2010....XE MOTO EDITION

he is in absolutely no rush at all.oh baby!family of foury'know we love our twilight...had to take a photo of his *new moon shirt*we found a party of five! look to your far left.far right is our friend john che whom we've known for over twenty years. yes, brother from another.