Friday, November 13th, 2009
ok folks. we are still tying up details. but here’s the docket.
sat dec 5th- our first holiday night indie mart. happy hour and evening shopping. the best and most unique 40 vendors we got. rock & roll your faces after! at the independent. more deets to come!
sun dec 6th- a second indie mart? huh? we are hosting a holiday vintage party over at a new space we’re working in for a bit. in the mission! the mission? yes, the mission. one block from the yard where it all began.
fri dec 11th- launch of a secret new indie mart venture. bringing you local designers. handmade. and more…ssssh, more soon. hint: it’s more than one day. or two. or even three.
sat dec 18th- the holiday ball. you heard us. an old school ball. dancing to oldies. dresses. ties. photo booth. punch. wallflowers. tree trimmming. mistletoe. 40 of you. us. slamming down vintage style all night long. we even got old school cocktails. no need to bring the ambrosia salad! $40 a ticket, $75- for couples. includes slammin’ dj’s, dancing, some snacks and bar.
and then….
a few month vacation. see you in the spring.
xoxo
kelly & the indie mart.
Friday, November 13th, 2009
CC Rider is…
Lien Gray.
Owner of CC Rider.
Designer. Stylist. Rad chic. Maker of rock quilts.
The faves:
Craft: Sewing
DIY Tool: Dental Floss
Books: Anything vintage. Pshychadelia. Rock & Roll photography.
Designers: Alexander McQueen. Vivienne Westwood. John Paul Gaultier.
Album: Sad Wings of Destiny by Judas Priest.
Movie: Easy Rider & Suburbia
Spots in the city:
1) Mojo Bicycle Café
2) Pops
3) Decades Vintage
4) Yamo
5) Thee Parkside
What Records/Bands Do You Listen To That You Can’t Live Without and That Influence Your Design Aesthetic?
First, I should probably just say that CC Rider was based off of a song from the 1940’s. It’s an old blues song that’s been covered by 100 different people throughout the years — everyone from Janis Joplin to The Animals to Elvis Presley. So that has its roots in rock n roll and I think a lot of our inspiration design and aesthetic wise has to do with rock n roll and heavy metal. I really like Uriah Heap, Led Zeppelin, Thin Lizzy, Ted Nugent, Kiss, Merciful Fate, The Animals, The Zombies, UFO, Black Sabbath…a lot of roots in heavy metal in classic rock.
What Else Inspires You?
I try to steer clear of too much outside influence, or current influence. I read blogs but I try not to get too involved in it so I can have fresh eyes for everything. When I pick pieces, it’s more of a personal experience . I have a lot of books in the store and around me that have been a really big influence. I really like to delve into to historical counterculture movements that were going on in the 60’s and 70’s, up until now. Even in the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, which were prevalent with punk rock and hardcore…all of that stuff has formulated my taste. I definitely have enough rock n roll and photography encyclopedias to last a lifetime, and then some.
What was the first thing that you remember making and getting paid for?
I made some costumes for some friends of mine who were in a heavy metal band. They all dress up as executioners, so I handmade a bunch of costumes for them for one of their shows. They commissioned me to make them and I spent 3-4 months hand drafting all of these tailored jackets/executioner-style wardrobe pieces.
What’s the most recent thing you made that you were proud of?
For an art show a little while back, I made this piece called “Qiss Kuilt” and it was actually the cover of Rock n Roll Over in quilt form. It’s a 1,000 piece, hand-sewn quilt. And I actually had an offer from someone in Japan, but I couldn’t part with it. I’m pretty proud of it – that was a pain-staking amount of work. It was 3 months where I basically didn’t sleep and my whole house was covered in thread. All my roommates were really supportive of it though, so that was awesome. I definitely commandeered the living room for several months.
What are your McGuyver tools that you can’t live without when you’re making stuff?
Seam ripper, fabric glue, vintage accessories and ecoutrement and a quality sewing machine.
How does D.I.Y. influence you?
D.I.Y.is pretty much everything about me. This whole shop, from its roots to everything in my core, is probably D.I.Y. I was really heavily involved in the SF punk scene when I was younger. There is a lot of value put on really being able to support locally owned businesses and things from the ground up that start out with nothing and end up making everything happen through this local community of people. It’s a collaborative effort between all of these people and myself to try to bring art and recycled clothing and new, independent and vintage stuff together all in one place and have no sponsorship or corporate entities supporting us. We started with absolutely nothing.
I had this major accident where I fell into a campfire and almost burned my arm off and was in the hospital for a few months. Afterwards, I had six months of recuperation time and I wrote up a business plan and got funding through various sources that were all independent contractors working with me who all gave me little bits of money. We also fundraised and got everything together to start this, and so the whole process has really been do-it-yourself.
If you could give advice to someone starting an independent business, what would it be?
Planning, planning, planning from the beginning! There are so many variables that you do not have control over. But if you at least have control over the smaller things, you’ll be able to get through those tougher times.
How did you get into the DIY community?
Definitely punk rock, just because at that time in my life when I was in school, I was really involved in local music. There was a real emphasis on making things and fashion and style – its such a big part of it. I used to spend days and days on my vests and jackets – studding them and making them the perfect expression of myself. That was the most fun part about it – being able to express yourself through fashion and really make it your own. Since you’re making it yourself, it’s not something that is going to go out of fashion at the end of the season. It’s not a trend – its you communicating your personality to the world.
What’s one thing you refuse to spend money on?
Like, everything. I refuse to spend money at giant conglomerate chain stores because I think they take away from the local businesses. They take a lot away from individuality as a whole. If you want to do anything to help your local economy, it’s to buy local instead of saving the $5 at Wal-Mart or Target.
What’s the most recent thrifting score that you picked up?
I just got an old 7-piece vintage 1950’s Verducci jacket. It comes apart in pieces and it turns into different jackets. It’s fully a lined leather jacket with zippers and everything. It was pretty epic.
CC Rider is located at 835 Divisadero Street near McAllister.
Peep ‘em. Do some shopping. Say hey.
http://ccridersf.com/
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
The Indie Mart is back for our final outdoor throw down of 2009 before moving back indoors for the winter. You know how we roll with the best designers, makers, and vintage, all local, all unique, and all individually selected for Indie Mart. This time, we’ve got a hundred of them! We’ve got tasty baked goods to power up that sugar high. We’ve got rock T’s you’re gonna wanna get into (and take off later…) But that surely ain’t all, folks. Cruise by our DIY booth from Workshop, featuring demos from 1pm on. Sewing stations where you we’ll customize your rock tees for $5- (choose one of 3 ways- the Tawny Kitean, the Benetar or the Lita Ford..yes, really). We’ve even got ping pong for going from 1-5pm (guys, get your wrists ready…). Add Photobooth. Add killer BBQ. Add drink specials. Then throw in The Yellow Dress (myspace.com/theyellowdress), The Glassines (myspace.com/theglassines) and Malloy Family Album (myspace.com/malloyfamilyalbum) on the stage inside, and the most kickass lineup yet (Primo, DJ Sarahdactyl, Mother Barry, Mr. Wrong & SWORDS) outside. And you’ve got October Indie Mart. See you there.
The Indie-Mart Street Fair
Sunday Nov. 8th, 12-6pm
Thee Parkside- 17th st & all down Wisconsin
Ride your bike, take the 22 Muni Line & ample parking for bikes and cars
ALL AGES- 21 to booze it up.
$2 suggested donation
www.indie-mart.com
www.twitter.com/indiemart
www.facebook.com/people/Indie-Mart/1330994393
