Fashion Incubator, over the last week posted two items about the East West Musical Instrument Company. These jackets were out of this world as far as design and craftsmanship. The HEIGHT of 1970’s art leather. Some fabulous photos and references and other info are included on F-I.
I knew very little about East West beyond having been handed an original years ago and asked to do a version if it. After which I met a guy who told me he sold the originals, and gave me the little bit of info I’d had on the line till now. I’ve only seen two of these original jackets in person and boy, are they AMAZING.
Here's a pix of an original. And here is my version, circa 1995- hope it stands up!
A few years later I was asked to recreate it again- this time for Victoria's Secret.
This is what the final result was...
A lot different!
A lot different!
Literally, two days before the shoot (video for TV catalog, stills, the whole nine yards) the concept suddenly changed, from "Barbarella as a Vargas Girl" to " Apollo 13". Thank god the linings weren't in yet. We wound up re-cutting and re-constructing 5 jackets in under 48 hours! (then they lost a girl!) You can just barely see the wing details on the sleeves, and of course the wings on the back stayed, but we lost the fronts & had to kill the original collar, add cuffs and tailored waistbands and little hand painted name plates.
so Very NASA...
so Very NASA...
