Designer 2: Carri Mundane

Carri Munden's label "Cassette Playa" is the perfect example of a futuristic and ultra modern version of the 1980's - 1990's "Second Summer of Love" style. Linking to my earlier post "Psychedelic B-boy", I believe that Munden's designs have the mixture of the B-boy style with the extremely colourful palette of a psychedelic hippie.

Looking at the garment type and styling which is geared towards the B-boy influence on the raver's style, Mundane has designed; sneakers/ trainers, matching shell suits, large sportswear logos on show, gold chains, caps, graphic T's, loose jeans and generally oversized clothing.

 

The image below on the left is a good representation of the 60's psychedelic influence on the second summer of love. Using the new technology that we have available to us, such as digital printing Carri Mundane has created a vibrant print mimicking the tie-dye and marbling techniques that were used on garments during the "Summer of Love" and then carried through to the "Second Summer of Love".

 



 

Carri Mundane has also collaborated with Nike to create a pair of Cassette Playa Blazers, freshmag.com wrote that the colours used in the high top sneaker reflect "the faded neon's of the eighties", just as the multi coloured T-shirts were printed in the 80's

In an interview Carri Munden spoke about the fact that her designs come from an interest in music and technology, as every DJ would have. Munden's interest is mainly focused on the technology involved in circuit bending and creating virtual video games. Whereas the DJ of the second summer of love era would have mainly been  interested in the latest mixing technology to create the next big acid house track.

 

http://vimeo.com/85441559

This is a video clip of the work which Carri Mundane produced in collaboration with Aaron Chan who created the special effects. This creation was shown at the Tate Modern "Hyperlink" exhibition which was aimed to encourage young people to get involved in the arts.

When she was interviewed by "The Daily Street" she told them that "I live for metal, rave, industrial, EBM and garage and grime.", this and that fact that she has " I referred to Cassette Playa as luxury street wear brand" is a prime example of the strong link between the culture in the Second Summer of Love and Carri Mundane's work as she's influenced by her love of dance music and her market is still veered towards urban street wear, just improved with luxury fabrics and technology.