Andrea Valentini creates sculptural textiles by combining urban textures with architectural fabrics. Through her signature process and technique for manufacturing, Andrea has created an innovative product that is the perfect combination of sophistication and sensuality.

These daring materials can be understated, as in the black Bump fabric based on the curvature of an egg, or bold, as in the Hive material created from the pattern of ventilation grates. And, by juxtaposing materials such as Italian leathers and industrial contract fabric, Andrea creates iconic products that transcend the worlds of fashion and design.

“STYLE360 during New York Fashion Week hosts exclusive events and runway shows featuring independent designers, emerging brands, and creative tastemakers. These elements converge on the runway to provide a telescope into the future of style.

Now in its 9th year, STYLE360 will light up the Fall/Winter 2012 runways with new collections from Malan Breton Fantôme, bebeBLACK, Sachika, EMU Australia, Theia, Monopoly by Junk Food Art House,and more….”

The show marked the finale of Elle’s Style360 runway during NYFW. From commercial vintage inspired t-shirts to editorial high-end fashion, the runway show covered all the bases in the fashion world. Andrea Valentini interpreted two looks for Indiana Ave and St James Place properties from the legendary board game Monopoly in a unique exhibition entitled, “Money Can’t Buy Happiness.”

Andrea, who is always pushing design boundaries, choose rich, textural textiles and manipulated the fabric in fun and quirky silhouettes. Red property, Indiana Ave, was a one-piece garment was to evoke “sadness” and orange property, St James Place, sculptural dress was to stimulate “happiness.” Check out the images below of our models, Shannon and Olivia, rocking the runaway!

Shannon getting ready backstage

Olivia representing St James Place

“Money Can’t Buy Happiness” = happy

Monopoly x Junk Food Art House  Runway

Shannon representing Indiana Ave

“Money Can’t Buy Happiness” = sad

Andrea with models on the red carpet

Models Shannon and Olivia

The lifestyle team at Go Local Providence recently named Andrea as one of their “12 to Watch”. Here at Andrea Valentini we have our sights set on innovation and are always on the lookout for up and coming artists. Check out the press clip here.

We are honored to be featured in Material Connexion and on the local front. We are amongst good company and are humbled to be featured with our own peers who are constantly inspiring us. Here are some of the people, places, and sounds that inspire us:

Iris Van Herpen

Iris Van Herpen’s sculptural fashions defy style expectations. Iris Van Herpen’s ability to construct beautiful yet unexpected designs that maintain a highly artistic quality and craftsmanship makes this Dutch designer one that we can’t wait to see more of. Did we mention she’s only 27?

United Nude

United Nude’s shoes are like nothing we’ve seen before. The shapes and textures that designers Galahad Clark and Rem Koolhaas (who is one of the most famous living architects) have achieved are unique, elegant, and design oriented. Their shoes buck traditional forms and are truly a wearable art form. United Nude also collaborated with Iris Van Herpen for her “Capriole” Collection that debuted in Paris Fashion Week.

The Dorrance

The Dorrance is an amazing new restaurant located in the heart of Downtown Providence. The former Union Trust Building provides The Dorrance with an ornate backdrop of beautiful architecture and design. The building was built in 1901 and The Dorrance maintains its historical appeal but offers a modern American cuisine.

Moriyuki Ochiai

Japanese architect, Moriyuki Ochiai, creates inventive spaces that are both practical and visually pleasing. Fusing architecture with design, Moriyuki Ochiai’s work takes shapes and lines and transforms them into imaginative venues.  Ochiai was recently awarded Interior Design’s Best of the Year Award in 2011. Andrea’s work has also been featured in this magazine.

J-Hood

J-Hood began rapping when he was 12 in Yonkers, New York. He gained exposure through his mentor, DMX and in 2006, he founded his own label, ODG Entertainment, which is distributed by Interscope Records. J-Hood recently released his new single-check it out here.

If you are interested in Peter’s work, please contact ABV Design at 401.467.7104 or email info@andreavalentini.com. LAUNCH gallery is open during our regular business hours: Monday – Saturday 11am – 6pm at 200 Allens Avenue, Providence.

A few words from the artist explaining his exhibit:

“In my work I respond to a history of landscape representation and use in order to gain a deeper understanding of how humans relate to the world around them. An 8×10 camera is essential to my process as it allows me to slow down, compose with precision and produce large, finely detailed photographs from the negatives. This series “Mountains” looks at the mountain as significant form that relates to the romantic idea of the mountain as a cathedral of god. The mountains I find exist in transient spaces such as construction sites in the form of piles of various materials that have been put there by humans. Through the photographic frame I set up an ambiguous relationship with the pile that transforms it into a space that contains the same revelry in form as a Hudson River School painting and speaks about humans continual consumption and reshaping of land, our own creation of what nature entails, and how elements of the sublime can be found in mundane spaces.”

We are excited for new editions in our gallery and look forward to seeing what Colin does next! If you are interested in Colin’s work go to www.colinprahl.com or email at cprahl@risd.edu.

LAUNCH gallery is open during our regular business hours: Monday – Saturday 11am – 6pm at 200 Allens Avenue, Providence.

“Black Wave”

“Ripple”

“Red Wave” | “Blue Wave” | “Green Wave” | “Stripes” | “Black and White”

“Edge”

“Red Bricks” | “Yellow Cone”

Our LAUNCH gallery

Visual

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty

If you missed the Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty exhibit at the Met…well, you missed out! We all managed to make the weekend trip to New York to see the amazing exhibition of the late designer’s epic work. And it was impressive. If you did not make the exhibit or could not handle the two hour wait…fear not. They published a book! The awe-inspiring and beautifully crafted book illustrates all the featured exhibition’s garments and is the perfect book for your coffee table.

Instagram

If you haven’t heard of Instagram or downloaded the app on your mobile phone, now is the time. Instagram is a fun way to take your photos from your mobile phone and create fun images to share. Snap a photo with your iPhone, choose a filter to transform the look and feel, send to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr or feature on our ABV blog. If you haven’t noticed, we use Instgram for all our photos. Follow us on twitter at @av_studio_ or Andrea Valentini on facebook to check them out!

Audio

Classical Music

Image: Berliner Philharmoniker in Berlin, Germany Architect: Hans Scharoun

What song is stuck in your head today? We asked Andrea what she has been listening to while designing her upcoming SS12 collection for StyleWeek. She responded, “classic music”. Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Frédéric Chopin, Richard Wagner, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and Edward Elgar to name a few. She says classical music clears her mind and keeps her focused. See if you notice the classical references in her upcoming collection on Saturday, September 3rd the PPAC center in downtown Providence.

Lollapalooza

Image: Coldplay playing at Lollapalooza

What do the girls downstairs listen to? Well, we listen to a bit of everything. We are music junkies. (We actually have a pet peeve artist list and it is quite hysterical). One of us made it to Chicago for the Lollapalooza music festival this summer and it was quite the venture. Coldplay, Deadmau5, Eminem, Damien Marley, Dom, The Joy Formidable, Two Door Cinema Club, White Lies, Foster the People, Friendly Fires, Crystal Castles, Pretty Lights to name a few of the many bands featured at the festival. Check out these bands and all bands at their 20th anniversary event.

Textures

Walter Hood of Hood Designs: Powell St. Parklet in San Francisco, CA

Fun fact: the majority of ABV team has architectural degrees. We love architecture and constantly referencing projects. So why not share some of our favorites?! Walter Hood is a dear friend and fan of ABV (He carries the Lena messenger bag everyday!). His latest project in San Francisco, Walter transformed dozens of street parking spaces into eye-catching, hi-tech urban niches. Torqued aluminum railings, benches, planters form the impressive hard-scaped ‘parklets’ expressing an inviting feel for the Powell St pedestrians.

Read more: http://www.dwell.com/articles/powell-st-parklet.html#ixzz1WWbsdPOA

Heatherwick Studio: UK Pavilion in Shanghai, China

Heatherwick, an up and coming British architecture firm, designed the the UK Pavilion for the Shanghai 2010 Expo. The event is the largest Expo to date with two hundred countries taking part. Heatherwick’s aim was to create a strong and creative design by capturing the balance of nature and city. The Seed Cathedral is a multi-layered landscape treatment constructed from 60,000 transparent optical strands, each embedded with a seed showcasing the work of the Royal Botanical Gardens. The interior is illuminated only by the daylight passing through each optical hair.

Scents

Tom Ford Cologne

We love Tom Ford’s controversial marketing and we love his cologne for men even more.

Burberry Perfumes

We are huge fans of Burberry and are addicted to their perfumes. We cannot wait for the launch of the new fragrance, Body.

Tastes

Momofuku’s Compost Cookies from Momofuku Milk Bar in New York City

The high-concept compost cookie sounds a bit funky at first glance. The cookies contain pretzels, potato chips, butterscotch chips, and chocolate chips…and it is too good! It’s a combination of salty, buttery, sweet, and crunchy textures are worth dreaming out. And if you get the chance, also try the crack pie, cereal milk, or candy bar pie. Drooling yet?  Momofuku Bakery and Milk Bar: 207 Second Avenue, New York NY 10003

Red Fez

We have to throw something local in here. We love the Red Fez located in downtown Providence. It’s dark, red, artsy, hipster, and pretty fantastic! The restaurant/bar is decorated with antiques, mounted deer heads with red fezzes (of course!), and classic pinball machines. The vibe comes off as cozy dive bar and a music selection from the heavens.  Best items on the menu: mac ‘n cheese and the grilled cheese (The grilled cheese is to DIE for). If you check this place out, you are bound to run into one of us there! Red Fez 49 Peck St Providence, RI 02903

>> Click here for tickets!

AMERICAN MYTHS

This is a story about passion, protection, and freedom inspired by our country’s fight for independence. The early American wars are said to be known as the wars that made America and gave the passion to persist and protect our freedom. This collection titled, “American Myths” shadows historical and stylistic references of the early American colonial wars.  I was visually inspired by the strong detailed attire worn by the militia during the French and Indian War and sought to capture that essence both literally and conceptually throughout the collection.

At this moment in my life, this concept resonates with me and my current state of mind, as I struggle to understand my own independence. And so, I tell a story in my collection for SS2012 though the visual language I speak…

This is my story…

To be an American means to be free, yet, the fight for freedom is illusive without protection.

ON PROTECTION:

Myths are beautiful because they do not have to be true, they can just be. We are free to choose.

ON FREEDOM:

In a dramatic contrast to the structure and form fitted waist coats, I was inspired by a common pant worn by soldiers during this time referred as breeches. I emphasized the details in the gathered pleats around the waist and bunching around the buttocks through the balloon skirts and billowing jumpers. I chose three wild, translucent colors that simultaneously represent the past with the future color trends for SS2012. Poppy red, royal blue, and peacock green in sheer organza illuminate in transparent and vibrancy. The outfits are loose, flowy and move with ease. This design works as a metaphor emphasizing the desire for freedom.

This upcoming season’s collection we gathered up all the chain we could find…heavy amounts of it. From tassels to fringe, we are all about mixing metals to create classic pieces from true vintage relics.

Check out our FW11 Vintage collection HERE!

If you are interested in Alice’s work go to www.aliceoneill.com or email her at oneill.fineart@gmail.com.

LAUNCH gallery is open during our regular business hours: Monday – Saturday 11am – 6pm at 200 Allens Avenue, Providence.