I recently read a Wallpaper article about Uniqlo’s CEO – Tadashi Yanai. While the man behind the company is brilliant, what interested me more about Uniqlo was their game-changing approach to the fashion industry. As Yania stated, “We are at the cultural and economic crossroads of the modern world.” And so true they are. Why - the brand appeals to a myriad of audiences by marrying high quality and style, great prices and service, and an accessible approach. Their business approach is also threatening the traditional business model of fashion. Read the article (in the March 2011 print edition) and learn. Watch out Milan, Paris, London and New York.

Images from: NYTimes.com, Uniqlo.com

Dear Corning (and you bloggers out there),

I watched your future video of glass. Our message back to you – we’re ready for this. These technological + glass innovations were truly mindblowing. It was like watching Steve Jobs talk about all the things that Apple is doing 10 years from now. For all your bloggers out there, watch this video for a Jetson’s view of tomorrow. The music and pace of the video is incredibly dull and slow (Corning – you could have done SO much better than this). But the innovations were truly exciting.

We’re ready Corning. When can we start?

I’m not sure if anybody has seen the latest Ace Hardware commercials but it’s hysterical and well done. As I’m watching the Godfather on TBS for the thousandth time, a new Ace Hardware commercial comes on. It clearly spoofs the scene in Braveheart when Mel/William Wallace is spurring on his warriors in their first major battle with the English. To the responsible agency – great job. Not only was it funny, but it also gave me a different image of the Ace Hardware brand.

And since we’re talking brand, lets discuss Scotland’s brand a bit. I’ve done a few talks in Edinburgh and Glasgow about branding. One of the biggest brand misconceptions is about Braveheart and how it represents Scotland. My initial impression was that Braveheart was a great brand ambassador for the nation and its people. But to my surprise, most Scots did NOT like the William Wallace connection. When I probed why, Scots stated it was less about the attention that it brought Scotland (tourism increased) and more about the limitations it placed on the rich culture and history of Scotland. Bottom line – Scotland is more than Braveheart.

But if you’re a Braveheart fan, then definitely watch this commercial for a laugh.

In 2007 architects Hirsch Bedner and Associates, under the leadership of Ian Carr, were retained to renovate Cathay Hotel, now called the Fairmont Peace Hotel. The team found it challenging to preserve original details, as many of the original blueprints were missing and everything from furnishings to faucets had disappeared after several botched renovations. They literally peeled layers of plastics and paint to go back in time.

What’s most fascinating about Carr’s team is that they didn’t leave it to a surface level re-interpretation. To re-create a true Art Deco feel for the building, the restorers found inspiration in letters sent to the hotel over the years. The letters helped them understand the people, the Shanghainese culture, and what the hotel was all about.

One of the fundamental practices that my partner, Paul, and I have instilled at CO-OP is to dig deeper to find the truth. The truth is never on the surface level, but if you look hard enough, you’re sure to find it. Ian Carr’s team took inspiration from the old architectural details and from the letters – a balance of what we refer to as the rational and the emotional. The old blue prints and other physical intricacies helped bring back the structural details while the letters helped re-create the soul of the hotel.

Thanks Hirsch Bedner and Associates for digging deep.

Sources: Fast Company, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Fairmont Peace Hotel, My Living, Telegraph, 2point6billion

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To view his work further, go to
http://www.alexanderssculptures.com