The Little Magazine

( the little magazine )

( this pencil is to size )

( page six )

(page seven )

LITTLE LETTER

LITTLE TEAM

EDITOR-IN-HANDKER-CHIEF DAISY TINKER (+44) 07891 103 207 daisy_tinker@hotmail.co.uk

DEPUTY DIRTY DOG EDITOR HARDEEP GILL (+44) 07999 288 787 h-gill@live.co.uk

MAP & ART DIRECTOR DIMA MARKOVA (+44) 07891 983 817 dima.markova@gmail.com

SENIOR FREAK OUT OFFICER REBECCA STEVENS (+44) 07854 157 098 rebecca_stevens_89@sky.com

SHOE EDITOR SAMANTHA SMALL (+44) 07809 342 412 samantha_small@live.co.uk

CONTRIBUTING COFFEE EDITOR COLIN BEATTIE (+44) 07792 643 099 colin_beattie@hotmail.co.uk

SECTIONS & SECTIONED EDITOR MADELEINE YOUNG (+44) 07545 378 026 maddieyoung@live.co.uk

ACTING CREATIVE ASSISTANT @ LARGE KASHIA ROBINSON (+44) 07961 009 424 kashiarobinson@hotmail.com

( page nine )

page one: front cover page seven: Little Letter page eight: Masthead page fourteen: Mini Mutation page twenty: Penguin Mini Modern Classics page twenty four: Fashion, put it all on me page thirty two: Little Moment page thirty four: Mini Mannequin Photo Shoot page forty two: Oversize Me page forty six: Who Wears Short Shorts? page forty eight: Size Matters Photo Shoot page fifty eight: Short and Sweet page sixty three: Big Person, Little Interview page seventy two: Shrink Me page seventy seven: Mini of the Month page seventy eight: Dolls House page eighty: All Dolled Up Photo Shoot page ninety: The Wide-Eyed World of a Blythe Doll page ninety four: Bags of Style page ninety seven: The Little Life of a Pygmy page ninety eight: Small Change page hundred and two: A Trip Down Memory Lane page hundred and ten: Willard’s World page hundred and fourteen: Lori Nix page hundred and sixteen: Lilliputants Photo Shoot page hundred and twenty four: Nanotechnology page hundred and thirty nine: ARTATTACK page hundred and forty four: back cover

MINI

MUTATION

I

( page fifteen )

“It’s in the genes.”

A film star in The Italian Job and notorious British icon, the Mini has been in fashion since it was first created in 1959. The little motor has since managed to integrate itself into popular culture and is known infamously for it size. You may recognize that they tend to take up half a parking space or they used to, before the latest BMW edition giant took over. The question on everyone’s mind is why is the Mini getting bigger?

The new Mini Countryman has gone against the laws of mini nature and has sadly been pumped with steroids. The result is a overweight car with a Mini label that doesn’t match the specs and there’s no point trying to navigate this beast in the city – it just isn’t practical. At twenty-two grand, there is nothing small about this 4x4.

The word “mini” emphasizes something that is created at a small scale, an ethos that the Countryman has lost.

A reminder here: it is not supposed to have a boot twice the size as the Hatchback or even four doors for that matter.

Squeezing in yourself and you shopping was all part of the fun. Sadly it appears that Mini is having a problem sticking to the original small qualities of a car we love and recognize. There is nothing wrong with a little car if it works for you and if you feel that bigger is better then the Mini will never be satisfying. For those original fans do not feel the urge to fall into the trap of buying big.

By Hardeep Gill

( page eighteen )

( page nineteen )

IT’S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL...

With the worrying demise of the book a current dispute among many, due to the eBook becoming a prominent feature of our society. has devised an ingenious way to celebrate their 50th anniversary of their Modern Classics series. In honour of this event the publishing house has released 50 miniature versions of some of their best known and most cherished short stories and novellas by Penguin’s most popular authors. The collection of Penguin’s Modern Classics offers a delightful time filler you can whip out and read when you are greeted with a delayed train, or just have a free window of time to fill or simply as a charming miniature addition to your bookcase.

The festivities are honouring the iconic collection of contemporary fiction, the brainchild of Tony Godwin in 1961. It was at this publishing house that such tales as F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World had earned such a prestigious status. This entitlement enabled them to sit alongside the classic masterpieces written by the literary greats of the previous centuries: Austen, Homer and Wilde.

February saw this half-a-century commemoration of the Penguin Classics highlight the greatest writers of the 20th century. “We are focusing on the stories that are enjoyable and as readable as possible, rather than the most classic stories that people already know.” announced Penguin Publisher, Adam Freudenheim. With an eclectic array of authors from the renowned Camus, Nabokov and Woolf to the unknown treasures: William Trevor, Eileen Chang and Ludmilla Petrushevskaya. These palm sized novels offer a fulfilling snippet of storytelling; Penguin’s publishing director, Simon Winder revealed, “They are something you can read incredibly fast.” With a road test of Angela Carter’s Bluebeard

Penguin

Mini

Modern

Classics

lasting a mere 40 minutes this statement is right on the mark.

These tiny volumes are another wave of the Penguins mini collections; September 1995 played host to Penguin’s 60th anniversary with the release of the first small-scaled compilation. This previous miniature book celebration transformed the bookshelves of the publishing industry; a record 4.4 million copies being sold over nine weeks. The 60p miniature one-offs engulfed the best sellers list and sparked a book-buying extravaganza across all nonfiction. However, the level of stature given to these books caused much controversy.

Ian Chapman, Macmillan book’s managing director of the time, declared, “These books are pamphlets,” arguing that they were not worthy of bestsellers’ cachet.

The current pintsized collection is only £3 a book or for the complete box set £150. Each book is a bite size anecdote of escapism. “You can eat them like a giant packet of crisps, there is no point that you would stop.” proclaimed Simon Winder.

Every pocket-sized tale is wrapped in a beautiful silver casing that at a flick of a dainty page will have you lost in a world of enchanted gardens with The Door in the Wall

by H. G. Wells. Or delve into the story of a strange voyage of the doomed ship, Judea, with Joseph Conrad’s haunting tale of Youth.

Discover new authors, treasure landmark classics and enjoy a quick literary fix with this new Mini Modern Classics series because as Penguin informs us “small is interesting”.

ACTUAL SIZE

By Samantha Small

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Madeleine Young investigates Anna Chong’s pint-sized petites of Lady GaGa’s most iconic outfits...

( page twenty five )

“She is a fashion trend in herself�

The Armani Privé hoop dress, the Alexander McQueen vintage red lace gown, the Philip Treacylobsterheadpiece,theHusseinChalayan bubble frock, the Franc Fernandez meat dress, and many more, Lady GaGa’s wardrobe is nothingshortofobscene.Inbarelythereoutfits, using some bizarre make up techniques and owning a wig collection so excessive it could put a fancy dress store to shame, GaGa has brought her extreme and innovative style to the mainstream. “She is a fashion trend in her self,” Anna Chong, 23-year-old designer from the London College of Fashion says of Lady GaGa, the inspiration behind her latest

miniature collection, “every piece she wears makes people memorised.”

AnnawasaskedbyUKtoycompanyBandai, to create a miniscule collection for their new miniature mannequins, named Harumika dolls. “I wanted to inspire kids or teenagers who dream of being a fashion designer and to showthemwhatyoucandowiththeHarumika mannequins.” The dolls were released in February to help children, teenagers, or adults who find sewing a chore to create wonderful miniature sized couture creations.

Anna focused on nine, key, memorable pieces from GaGa’s closet to transform into

pocket-sized collectables. “The majority of the collection took three days to finish as the Harumika dolls are so easy to use,” but there was one outfit that proved to be the biggest challenge – the iconic Franc Fernandez meat dress.“Themeatdresstooktwoweekstocreate.

I tested numerous outfits made from salami, honey roasted ham and raw beef strips before settling on the finest quality Parma ham.” But Anna managed to over come this challenge, “I knew I had to try my best to create it as it was one of the most well known and iconic GaGa outfits, so I didn’t mind that it took a few tries.”

Anna’s collection has been a success with the media all over the globe, with many people

asking her to create another iconic line of miniaturemannequins,“Itwouldbeinteresting to work with miniature mannequins again if I got a chance from Bandai. Many people ask why I haven’t done a Britney Spears collection, that could be fun!”

Anna’s GaGa collection is showing at the London Toy Fair in March. Unfortunately for all Lady GaGa’s avid fans, the collection won’t be for sale at the fair, “My collection will go to the Bandai UK company, who are the creators of the Harumika dolls.” But to showcase exactly how easy it is to create your own collection using the miniature mannequins, Anna has provided step-by-step videos for each look.

( page thirty two )

Quiet jazz buzzes through the old radio, while Parisian sunrays spotlight the dancing dust. There is fabric everywhere rolls of golden silk, crêpe de chine, gabardine and satin, some leaning against the wall, others hanging from shelves. The small path of visible floor leads to a round wooden table, on top of which proudly stands the leading star of this show – the Mini Mannequin.

This was Madeleine Vionnet’s apartment almost a century ago, around the time the iconic designer transformed the look of fashion by creating the bias cut. She didn’t do it alone however. Vionnet and the Mini Mannequin discovered the beauty of the bias cut together - one designing, the other modelling. Their innovation liberated women from the restrictions of corsetry and padding in the 1920s and 1930s, establishing a sinuous silhouette that continues to define modern day elegance and luxury.

The Mini Mannequins story doesn’t end here.

She has been a part of many designers’ homes ever since her popularity grew in Vionnet’s Parisian suite. Christopher Kane, whose creations are known for expert tailoring, edgy forms and unexpected embellishments, drapes all of his designs on a miniature doll before developing truescale patterns.

Even though she has helped out many creative minds, the Mini Mannequin has not always hidden in the shadows of big designers, and is the subject of various exhibitions around the world. The Victoria and Albert Museum hosted a major exhibition dedicated to English fashion history, which highlighted the significant role the Mini Mannequin has played over the past century. In The Golden Age of Couture 1947 – 1957, Miss Virginia Lachasse, a 1960s miniature fashion doll was exhibited, alongside her own tiny designer and couture wardrobe.

Garments included a tiny leather vanity case, as well as a diamond encrusted evening gown, a New Look coat by Christian Dior and a tailored Balenciaga suit. Not forgetting the eye-squinting small under garments and stockings to go underneath it all.

The Mini Mannequin is not just a doll, but a fashion figure whose legacy continues to live on. Her role is still crucial today among the rolls of silk and satin, inside a designers’ studio.

By Dima Markova

( page thirty three )

Little Trend: Great Lengths Prudes everywhere will be celebrating the new A/W hemlines. Growing out from the midi after a resurgence of 70s styles, dresses and skirts are lengthier than ever creating an elongated silhouette for the new season. Fabric swept the floor of catwalks at Jil Sander, Dior, Chanel and Gucci to name but a few. Skinny trousers and hip length blazers also lent themselves well at Celine and Stella McCartney, another example of this clean, sleek look. A trend with clear longevity.

Little Trend: Oversized Outwear As womenswear gets longer, menswear is expanding too - in the form of oversized, bulky garments. Rejecting Shoreditchly skin tight jeans and i’ve-stolen-my-girlfriend’sjumpers, huge puffa jackets walked Burberry Prorsum and Calvin Klein. Comically large fur mitts and scarves accessorised otherwise plain coats at Antonio Azzuolo, and a hefty, ankle brushing over coat continued the trend at Acne, playing with the themes of scale and size.

ini annequin PHOTOGRAPHY: DIMA MARKOVA STYLING: DAISY TINKER, DIMA MARKOVA MODEL: MINI MANNEQUIN

( page thirty five )

ACTUAL SIZE

Black sheer strapless dress; Chanel

Cream velvet cape; Dior

Chequed fur trimmed poncho; Alexander McQueen

Green silk dress; Jil Sander

( ttvvv thirty nine )

High waisted trousers; Yohji Yamamoto

White fur mittens; Antonio Azzuolo

( page forty one )

{this is actual size}

It’s that time of year and the shorts are coming out of hiding. This summer however, it’s not just the temperatures that are rising - the hemlines are too.

From Galliano to Gant, there was more leg in the menswear shows this season than ever before.

Swedish super brand, ACNE introduced multiple micro minis in daring bright jersey and distressed denim.

There is such stigma surrounding short shorts that they have become near extinct in recent years. Post 1980s, anything above the knee became ‘a bit gay’ and baggy, oversized Alternatives became the preferred summer slacks. Popular among teenagers, these lengthier shorts usually landed a few inches beneath the knee, quite the opposite to the preferred style of this season.

One thing to bear in mind is your body shape.

This isn’t a one-size fits all trend and the wrong pair of shorts could mean you cross the line from sexy and strapping to just plain indecent. Slender legs are a necessity so, if you’re a man with a powerful set of thighs, perhaps this is one form of apparel you should steer clear of. Think less Daisy Dukes, more Tom Selleck in Magnum PI. Shed your inhibitions and try a pair for yourself. Who wears short shorts? You wear short shorts.

By Colin Beattie

(page forty five )

( page forty six )

Oversize - adjective /oh-ver-sahyz/

1. of excessive size; unusually large: an oversize t-shirt.

2. of a size larger than is necessary or required.

- noun /oh-ver-sahyz/

3. something that is oversize; an oversize article or object.

4. a size larger than the proper or usual size.

Playing with the bounderies of scale, size and silhouettes, oversized clothing has been a reuccuring trend over the past century. Still as popular as ever today, Colin Beattie investigates our on going love affair with all things huge.

Talking about oversized clothing doesn’t mean plus sizes. Not large clothes for large people, or XXXL. No, the kind of oversized clothing in question here is the kind that is purposely worn multiple sizes too big for the wearer. Thread bare t-shirts that casually hang loosely off of matchstick arms, and gargantuan jeans, which could handily morph into a parachute - fashion fans have been styling this trend for years.

Although popular over the last few decades, the 90s was the era where all forms of ridiculously oversized culminated.

Baggy sweatshirts, baggy t-shirts basically - baggy everything were favoured items of clothing amongst men and women. This was partly attributed to the prominence and mainstreaming of American urban Hip Hop and R&B music at this time – think Public Enemy, Nas and the feisty Salt n Pepa. Sportswear and tracksuits in extra large sizes emblazoned with branding were widely worn in the ‘90s too as a result of this.

Hip Hop wasn’t the only music that influenced this trend though; grunge was massive in the ‘90s, inspired by bands such as Nirvana. Epitomized by the late Kurt Cobain, this sloppy, anti-fashion taste in dress consisted of loose fitting lumber jack shirts and massive jeans – everyday wear that looked, and probably was, unkempt and thrown together.

Alongside the grunge trend, skateboarding reached new heights of popularity in the 1990s and this also contributed to this baggy dressing style.

Loose band t-shirts and denim three-quarter trousers, with extremely wide legs so as not to interfere with a skateboard, became the uniform for these sporting types.

Baggy clothes came to their height of popularity in the 90s, though the trend had been made an appearance before then. In the late 1960s and 1970s, oversized sunglasses were the item du jour, made famous by Jackie O in her time post Whitehouse.

A style icon at the time and still to this day, women all over the world were influenced by her wardrobe choices and the too-big-for-your-face, ‘bug eyed’ sunglasses are just as prominent in ladies fashion today as they were then. Extra wide legged trousers and flared jeans were also extremely popular in the ‘70s with both genders, creating the ‘Disco look’ that was synonymous with the decade.

Opposing the ‘70s style of loose trousers and fitted upper wear, the 1980s saw a reversal of the role of oversized clothing, with large tops teamed with tight fitting pants becoming the new trend.

Leggings and large sweatshirts emerged as the preferred casual wear for young women influenced by dance gear as seen in hit films of the time - Fame and Flashdance. Worn for both exercise and as general day wear, whatever the occasion, bright colours were a necessity. Big, boxy suit jackets with added shoulder padding - perfectly demonstrated by Joan Collins in the hit TV show Dynasty were another favourite of the era, and this style of attire became known as power dressing. The beginning of the acceptance of women in a working business environment at this time can be accounted for this and by wearing supersized shoulder pads in tailored jackets, women appeared similar and therefore just as significant in the office as their male counterparts.

Parachute pants were another outrageously baggy and brutally bright type of nylon trouser that shot to fame in the late ‘80s. They became better known as ‘Hammer’ pants thanks to the trademark get-up for unique rapper and pop icon, MC Hammer.

Michael Jackson’s thriller video as well as the Punk subculture that was prominent in this decade and saw big, bulky leather jackets adorned with studs and hardwear becoming common practice amongst youths.

Many of these larger than life trends sprung to popularity on the streets, however many designers endorsed this trend too – Vivienne Westwood the queen of large draping fabric and jumbo proportions.

As a designer who regularly plays with the idea of oversized clothing - her regularly re-vamped (and ripped off) drop crotch trousers have become her trademark garment. Her trousers, a new take on Hareem pants have excessively long crotches, some of which hang almost to the knee – giving them the nickname of nappy pants as they bear a striking resemblance to a baby’s nappy that’s in need of a change…

Another influential designer who regularly uses oversizing in their collections, is RAF Simons. Often featuring huge jackets, trousers and tops, clothing too big for the wearer is a trait often associated with his creations. Rick Owens is renown for using draping with his clothing, using much more fabric than is normally necessary to create unique silhouettes and build larger than life garments.

It could be that in the body conscious society, by wearing clothes too big for you, you’re hiding what’s underneath OR it perhaps it’s simply because they’re comfortable and there’s something effortlessly cool about baggy clothing with that ‘what? this old thing?’ look. It all depends upon the wearer but nowadays you’d be pretty hard pressed to find a designer who doesn’t feature some form of oversized designs in their collection, a shop that doesn’t sell oversized clothes or a person who doesn’t own an oversized garment themselves, growing into a rather oversized trend itself. By Colin Beattie

MA

ATTERS

PHOTOGRAPHY AND STYLING: COLIN BEATTIE MODEL: GUY RUGERONI

Red quilted hat; Fread Bear Black puffa jacket; Michiko Koshino London Red t-shirt; Adidas Originals Black cotton joggers; Acne Black hightop trainers; Reebok

Ski goggles; Prada Camoflage army jacket; Stylist’s Own

Black t-shirt; 5 Preview White PVC rucksack; Christopher Shannon Bleached dungarees; Stylist’s Own Black socks; Nike Purple camouflage trainers; New Balance

Grey and pink zip up cape; MJM Black culottes; ASOS Black Grey camouflage long johns; Uniqlo Black hightop trainers; As before

Black hooded sweatshirt; complexgeometries Wide legged jeans; RED Black trainers; Adidas

Bug-eye goggles/ear protectors; BollÊ Mesh and satin v-neck t-shirt; Stylist’s own Multi-strap backpack; Raf Simmons Black cotton joggers; As before

( page fifty seven )

HOW EASY IS IT TO DEFINE TODAY’S SHORT FILM? It isn’t easy to define the term ‘short film’ today. First screened in 1894 by American inventor Thomas Edison, the initial purpose and length of short films has changed dramatically. Originally referred to as ‘one-shot’ pictures in the early 1900s, strips of perforated film depicted royal processions, current affairs and celebrity happenings that, for a period with almost no technology, proved very exciting.

It comes as no surprise, however, that ‘shorts’ have always sat in the shadow of longer feature films; the first feature was created in 1910 after a burst in technology and up until WW2, shorts were disregarded and only shown alongside main features. Gradually, over the years, short films have found a way to hold their own once again: there are plenty of examples where it is now hard to establish between an advert and short film; short clips have proved an easy way not only to advertise but also spread a message through entertaining means. (This was most clear during WW2 when shorts were used for propaganda.)

Today, the same can be said for luxury fashion houses Chanel and Dior and various music videos as those in creative industries find innovative ways to push their ‘brands’. Throughout the last century artists such as Salvador Dali and Andy Warhol have quietly experimented with shorts and their endless possibilities yet today, as short films continue to increase in popularity, it is hard to predict the short’s future and whether it will ever rival the mighty feature film.

It has only been within the last 25 years that shorts have been reborn. Philip Ilson founded the Halloween Short Film club in 1994, where he began showing and creating shorts. “The nineties were what I like to call ‘year zero’ in terms of low budget film making. All of a sudden cameras and projectors were cheaper so people began making shorts,” said Philip. “You could hook up a VHS player to a projector, put a sheet on the wall and screen films anywhere.”

This explosion in filmmaking led to new and innovative ways to enjoy short performances; it wasn’t just about watching a quick clip, it was also about the experience that came with it: live acts, music, comedy performers and cabaret all contributed. Following the great success of the club, Philip co-founded the Halloween Short Film Festival with Kate Taylor in 2004 (which is now widely recognised as the London Short Film Festival.) “When I first began in 1994 it was a different climate. The popularity happened overnight as there were very few places that would screen low budget films,” said Philip. “We started up the Short film festival in 2004 to try and get short films back out to audiences.”

Whilst innovative locations and viewings increased audience attendance, it became more of a struggle to get succinct films into cinemas themselves. “One of the reasons we started the festival was to get shorts back into reputable cinemas such as the ICA. It was so easy to show a film anytime, anywhere filmmakers felt honoured being screened at prestigious venues, rather then projecting their work on the side of the pub,” Philip said.

The London short film festival goes in search every January for London’s most exciting and up-and-coming filmmakers. Last year over 6,000 tickets were sold and over 200 shorts screened. “The London short film festival is a UK focus, which makes us unique. There are actually no other major film festivals in the UK dedicated to screening shorts,” said Philip. WHAT IS A SHORT TO PHILIP TODAY?

Often we view short films without even realising it and today it is hard not to notice them popping up all over town. Throughout January 2010 London’s ‘Smile for London’ campaign screened 36 silent short films at selected underground stations. The clips were shown not only to promote shorts themselves, but also give commuters something to think about. “I thought it was a great idea,” said Stuart Pearson Wright (an artist that contributed ‘Maze’ featuring Keira Knightley to the campaign). “It was like London’s first mini underground film festival. My film piece was originally a 12minute installation that got cut down to 20seconds. It was inspired by a dreadful relationship with an ex-girlfriend,” said Stuart.

By screening shorts continuously in a heavily public place, it helped generate awareness of an art form not always given full recognition. “Sadly, short films occupy a peripheral position in the film industry and that is entirely down to there being little financial incentive for cinemas to screen them,” said Stuart. “I wish they would rise in popularity but who would finance that?”

The problem lies with knowing where to invest the money. YouTube has recently sparked a phenomenon

an

IS IT RIGHT TO TRY AND DEFINE IT AT ALL? as filmmakers discovered the advantages of uploading their work for free, to millions. But who are short films initially created for? And who determines what classifies as a short? It’s a diverse and difficult question as often shorts are created to reflect personal feelings or memories. “With a short, it’s not about creating something you think people may want to see,” said Philip Ilson. “It’s about being true to yourself and creating something for you.”

The UK Film Council is a Government-backed agency for film in the UK ensuring all aspects of film are effectively represented at home and abroad (as of March 31st 2011 the council will close due to Government spending cuts.) The council alone has directly invested £5.9m into shorts in hope of keeping them alive. “We aim to develop new and creative talent and encourage the use of digital production,” said Tina McFarling- head of industry relations at the UK film council. “We have helped produce over 800 short films but at a considerable cost and now we’ve lost our funding.”

On average, a first short film supported by the film council costs £9,000 and the second £16,000. The rate of production is increasing also as in 2008 filmmakers created a single film a year- this increased to two in 2010. But who is responsible for the boom in short film production?

Suprisingly, only 6% of short filmmakers are women. Birds-Eye-View is a registered charity and festival aimed at promoting female filmmakers. Their latest festival was held on the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day (March 8th-2011) and showed over 40 short screenings. “The quality, imagination and creativity of short films directed by women are equal to that of a man’s,” said Louise Forbes- marketing assistant at Birds-Eye-View. “Short films offer the same inspiration and ‘wow factor’ that feature films do yet have to be far more clever to achieve this.”

March 9th saw the charity hold ‘fashion loves film’ as part of this year’s festival in conjunction with British Vogue. Designers, fine artists and photographers showcased work looking at the relationship between fashion, art and advertising.

With industry professionals continuously pushing boundaries, the fine line has blurred between distinguishing a ‘short film’ and a long-winded advertisement today. Fashion houses Chanel and Dior are prime examples for this, each releasing promotional clips up to 20 minutes long. Karl Lagerfeld’s latest venture involves a seductive Keira Knightley short, released March 23rd, to coincide with Blake Lively becoming the new face of Chanel. This will be one of the first projects not directed by Lagerfeld himself: Pride and Prejudice director Joe Wright has assisted.

“When film first took off it was predominantly women who were the filmmakers as it was deemed a light-hearted job,” said Louise Forbes of Birds-Eye-View. “Why stop at a picture when you can put together a beautiful homage in the form of a film?”

Perhaps it is luxury fashion brands that can boost women’s awareness of short films and the possibilities that come with it? Filmed by Jonas Akerlund, Dior have this month launched a beauty short starring Kate Moss, to promote their new Dior Addict lipstick range. At only one minute 30, ‘Addict Film’ includes film footage of Kate Moss cast in a Dior world; despite it’s length, the clip is shot in the style of a feature film with credits at the start. Longchamp have also recently launched a 3-minute short featuring Kate Moss, entitled ‘Faraway’: a dreamy, psychedelic production reminiscent of holiday snapshots and home videos. The luxurious leather company is now into it’s eighth year collaborating with Kate Moss.

Music videos have noticeably expanded and formed bona fide short films on their own. Rewind to 1983 when Michael Jackson’s iconic, 14minute ‘Thriller’ was first released and you begin to see my point. Today’s pop stars have followed suit with Justin Timberlake and Kanye West both delivering extended music videos for chart hits ‘What goes around’ and ‘Runaway’. Lady Gaga is the latest to interpret short film with her video for ‘Born this way’. At over seven minutes long, Gaga has created a whole other universe, with personal story line and narrative (and that’s before the track begins!)

The long and short of it is: short films are everywhere. There is no clear definition of what a short should be, or indeed can be, as professionals and filmmakers continue to develop ideas and play with time and digital production. Just so long as the ideas keep running, fingers crossed, the shorts will keep coming.

nd

BY: REBECCA EMILY STEVENS

( page sixty three )

big person

little interview

( page sixty four )

naomi campbell How much money do you make?

“I make a lot of money and I’m worth every cent.”

karl lagerfeld What shoe size are you?

“I buy my shoes a size too small. I like the way it feels.”

If you could ask the tabloids anything, what would it be?

“I wouldn’t ask for an apology because it’s only tomorrow’s fish-and-chip paper.”

tracey emin

courtney love What is the biggest perk of being famous? “ I like the free gowns�

How do you feel about being one of the most famous photographers’of the moment?

“I never wanted to be famous. I always wanted to take famous photographs.”

( page sixty nine )

w o r t no g right to

” . e r e h

( page seventy two )

“

You’ve go

By: Hardeep Gill

( page seventy four )

If you could drink an elixir that would allow you to shrink down to miniature size, would you?

Who would have thought that following a white rabbit and falling down a rabbit-hole would have led an ordinary little girl to a wonderful world of curiosity. Tea parties with the Mad Hatter and encounters with the Duchess has given Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland the credibility of everlasting popularity, even within the adult world.

The story itself has had many adaptations and the latest adventure is an unusual take from The Royal Ballet. From first glance, it is hard to imagine such an intricate, vivid story being danceable and it is not without difficulty. Christopher Wheeldon’s choreography has to battle with the exuberant set designs and staging. Nevertheless, The Royal Ballet has managed to pull it off highlighting the importance of keeping alive the extraordinary story of Wonderland.

Miniature re-creations are an escapism from a the reality in which we live, which is often an influx of the need to want more, and achieve everything bigger and better. The nostalgic child like fantasy that Alice in Wonderland creates is a display of the transition between childhood and adolescence highlighting that the curiosity in human nature is never entirely repressed. This combined with the fascination of a miniature world only emphasizes our shared love for the little things. If I had a choice, I would deny eating the mushroom that would make normal size again.

( page seventy five )

( page seventy six )

miniature of the moment ( page seventy seven )

Due to the roaring success of the Diana’s dreamlike images and colourful plastic exteriors, the Diana F+ camera has expanded her family, bringing us the Mini Diana; a little sister version of the original.

And she’s just as fun as her sibling. Available in a range of shades and multi-coloured themes (from the ghostly Diana Mini White, to the candy coloured Diana Mini En Rose and the amorous Diana Mini “Love Is In The Air’) she has an outfit to suit everyone.

The queen of convenience, the Mini Diana, is palm sized and perfect for whipping out on hazy days of the ever nearing sunny months; a perfectly cute yet useful miniature summer accessory.

Can’t afford your dream home? Think again, says Daisy Tinker (though it might be a bit smaller than you’d hoped) ( page seventy eight )

“We can make your dream home possible,” Christopher Cobb, manager of Your Homes promises me as he flicks through a booklet full of different house styles. “Did you want something Georgian? A townhouse maybe? Victorian? They’re really popular at the moment.” He explains. He’s not talking about new builds however, or property renovation. He’s not a builder or an architect. He doesn’t even sell homes as such.

No, Your Homes is one of a growing number of businesses who build and sell “amazing high end dolls houses to suit every taste” just as their tagline boasts. And amazing they most certainly are.

Handmade, each creation takes months at a time, depending on the level of completion the customer wants. “If we are building a home from our Basic range, straight from our catalogue, it takes about a month. That’s to build just the outside shell, not with any decoration or electricity fitted.

Cobb has a large base of customers who want the simplicity of picking from house styles and decor they’ve pre- designed. These builds take up the least amount of time, though still sell for upwards of £2500, giving the business their steady income, and Cobb can build around 10 of these each year. Surprisingly though, it isn’t where the big business lies. “Our real excitement, and money, comes from the custom houses we get commissioned. We work closely with the customer, and often with an architect to build to a specific brief, then we can really build almost anything.” Shocking as it is, they say they get around 5 of these uber builds a year. Taking anywhere up to 6 months at a time, Cobb employs temporary workers to help him build these monstrosities, often employing up to 5 fellow dolls house builders just to stay on top of his work, including an interior designer. “We employ an interiors lady so that we can offer a decoration service. Then our customers can receive a final product, exactly how they want without the fussiness of having to do it themselves.”

Many of their customers use this service, giving initial ideas on colours and period features they want, then letting the designer free to create the look they wanted. “One lady wanted an exact replica of the house she lived in as a child. I worked with her for nearly a year to get all the detail exactly right, looking at old photos and researching a lot into the period.” Anna De Vere, interior designer for Your Homes explains. “It was a lot of work, making it look authentic, but she had such a strong vision, a typical 1940s house with working fireplaces, cream net curtains and handmade rugs.”

The custom dolls house trade hasn’t always been so booming. There are now endless dolls house makers, furniture builders and upholsters, who all promise to make unique, high quality miniatures, often to whatever your brief may be, allowing any style of interior and any period of house to be created. In the past 2 years, Cobb says his orders have doubled, and he only began creating individual houses to order as a result of enquiries from numerous enthusiasts, many who wanted tiny versions of their own dream homes. “Of course people use dolls houses to get their dream house.” Charlotte Stokoe, founder and organiser of world renowned Kensington Dollshouse Festival agreed. “The range of items available at our festival is endless. You could get anything you might possibly need or want for any type of doll’s house.”

This festival, which sees enthusiasts travel from around the world to buy and sell almost anything miniature you can imagine has seen a huge rise in the number of attendees.

They now receive up to 4000 visitors each day and have added extra dates around the Christmas period, which she attributes to the growing number of doll’s house enthusiasts.

“The hobby is more popular than ever. I think in these uncertain times, people enjoy having a hobby that they can spend a bit of money on, where as they can’t afford to maybe go on holiday or buy a new car, or live in their dream house they’ve always wanted.” Though building a fully functioning, decorated miniature home can surely be expensive. “If you buy everything from top craftsmen, and have it all made to your own briefs then getting your prefect doll house can cost thousands.”

Louise Hatton, Manager of The Dolls House Emporium, an online resource for miniaturists explains.

“We had one customer who sent in tear sheets she had collected over the years.

Hundreds and hundreds of ideas for living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, the works. She wanted us to source all the products for her. She lived in a small townhouse and said she could never afford or fit everything she wanted in her real home, so this was a more feasible alternative for her.”

“Making your perfect doll’s house can cost thousands.”

( page eighty )

ALL DOLLED UP BUT NOWHERE TO GO

Cream lace dress; Zara

White silk dress; Topshop White sheer skirt; Zara

Black cotton dress; Topshop

Heavy knit dress; Whistles

Black backless body; Reiss Nude sheer skirt; Mango

White lace panelled dress; French Connection

PHOTOGRAPHY: DIMA MARKOVA EDITING: DIMA MARKOVA, MWAPE NDILILA STYLING: DAISY TINKER, HARDEEP GILL, REBECCA STEVENS HAIR AND MAKE UP: CHARLOTTE MORAN MODEL: HANNAH CALLABY

( page ninety one )

Couture closets, designer dresses, and photo shoots in exotic locations. Madeleine Young investigates into the exuberant life of the Blythe doll.

US toy company Kenner brought the Blythe to life in 1972. For many children in the seventies, the Blythe was, frankly, pretty creepy.

Blythe dolls were removed from all toyshops and abandoned after its freakishly oversized head, bulging eyes that changed colour at the pull of a string, and weirdly petite body were a definite miss with the nation. What the creators thought would be the latest US toyactually company Kenner brought theand Blythe toBlythe life in retired 1972. For many children in the But seventies, Blythe frankly, pretty fad, sent children running, so the a year after her release. little didthe they know,was, the pint-sized darlings creepy. Blythe dolls were removed fromlater all toyshops and abandoned afterdoll-enthusiast its freakishly adults. oversized head, bulging eyes that would be a monumental success with changed colour at the pull of and a string, and weirdly bodywas were a definite miss with the nation.

What the creators thought Gina Garan, a photographer doll collector frompetite New York told by a friend that she bared a striking resemblance to a Blythe. would betime the in latest actually sent still children andsosoGina the took Blythe retired a year afterwhat her they release. little did they her At the 1997,fad, Blythe dolls were very running, uncommon, to the Internet to see wereBut all about, buying pint-sized darlings later and be awhen monumental success with first Blythe at know, $15. “I the ordered my first Blythe would from eBay, she came, I opened thedoll-enthusiast box and nearly adults. threw up with excitement!

Gina Garan, a photographer and doll collector from New York was told by a friend that she bared a striking resemblance to a I loved her from the minute I saw her.“ Blythe.

At thetotime in 1997, Blythe dolls were very locations, uncommon, so Gina took toclothing the Internet to see what She theycollected were all about, Gina began photograph her Blythe dolls in still different customising their and appearance. a staggerbuying her first Blythe at $15.

“I ordered my first Blythe from eBay, and when she came, I opened the box and nearly threw up ing 2,000 pint sized petites, and eventually published her photographs in a book named ‘This is Blythe’ in 2000. Bringing the Blythe withthe excitement!

I loved her from theGina’s minute I saw her.“ toy company Takara released the Neo back to life, Gina shared how stunning Blythes could be. In 2001 with help, Japanese Gina began to photograph her Blythe dolls in different locations, customising their clothing and appearance.

She collected (new edition of) Blythe. The beautiful way in which Gina styled and photographed her dolls changed the opinion of the nation,aand staggering 2,000 sizedfanatical petites,over and eventually herinphotographs in a book named ‘This is Blythe’ 2000. people started topint become Blythe dolls,published particularly Asia. The success in Japan then spread to theinUS, whenBringtoy giant ing the Blythe back to life, howlargely stunning theto Blythes could be. Inand 2001 help,began.

Japanese company the Hasbro released Blythes in Gina 2004,shared this time, selling an older audience; so with adultGina’s collecting Aftertoy resurrecting Takara released the Neo (newofedition of) Blythe. waycan in which Gina styled photographed her dolls changed Blythe, Gina is now thought as a collector God. The Now,beautiful Neo Blythes sell anywhere fromand $400 for limited edition creations, while the opinion of theBlythes nation,can andcollect people $1000 started(£600), to become fanatical over Blytheifdolls, in Asia. The success in Japan vintage Kenner rising to $2000 (£1200) they particularly are in mint condition.

A very costly collectors then spread to the US, when toy giant Hasbro item released Blythes in 2004, thisstart! time, largely selling to an older audience; and indeed, and that’s just the soGina adult collecting began.back Aftertoresurrecting Blythe, Gina now the thought of asbecome a collector Blythes can sell of brought the Blythe life, making the abnormal dollisfrom seventies one God. of theNow, mostNeo collected miniatures anywhere from $400 for limited edition creations, while vintage Kenner Blythes can collect $1000 (£600), rising to $2000 the last decade. (£1200) if they are in mint condition.

A very costly collectors item indeed, and that’s just the start!

Avid collector Fiona Berger agrees, “I think the main reason why people love collecting Blythes is because they can create a comGina brought the Blythe back life,else making abnormal dollcan from the seventies become of eyes, the most miniatures pletely individual doll that notoone in thethe world has. You change the colour chips inone their theircollected hair, make up and even of the decade. their face shape. It’s amazing how diverse Blythe is - she canlast be high fashion, punk, cute, sophisticated, or mysterious.” First discovAvid collector Fiona Berger agrees, “I thinkever the since. main reason why people love petites collecting Blythes is because canBlythes create while a ering Blythe in 2008, she’s been collecting “I started out collecting for my doll house.

I camethey across completely doll that else in house. the world has. can change theon colour chips inI their eyes, make up looking forindividual the perfect doll to no liveone in my doll From theYou moment I saw her the Internet thought shetheir was hair, gorgeous.”

Fiona and their face shape.

It’s amazing how Blythe is - she can be high fashion, punk,on cute, waseven quickly hooked, and within 2 months shediverse had already spent an immense amount of money hersophisticated, vast collection.or “I mysterispend more ous.” First discovering Blythe in 2008, been collecting everI since.

“I started out collecting petites on clothes for myshe’s Blythe every month than do on myself!

I guess I spend around 200for my doll house. I came across lookingmore.” for the live in my doll house.

From thepassion moment sawbeloved her on dainty the Internet I dollars someBlythes months,while sometimes It’sperfect clear todoll see to that Blythe collectors have a huge forI the dolls, Fiona thought she was gorgeous.”

Fiona was quickly hooked, and within 2 months she had already spent an immense of montalked about her day to day basis with her massive collection of 236 Blythes “I usually spend a couple of hoursamount every day with my eygirls. on her vast collection. on involves clothes for my Blythe month than do onfinding myself!

I guess I spend around I like to take photos“Iofspend them,more so that choosing a dollevery and an outfit, andI then somewhere nice to take a200 photo.” dollars months, more.”

It’s clear see that her Blythe collectors haverecently a hugestarted passionsewing for thedresses beloved dainty Fiona some has also found sometimes a new hobby in textiles sincetocollecting Blythes “I’ve also and knitting dolls, Fiona talked about and her hats day to basis massive collection of 236more Blythes usually a couple sweaters forday them, so ifwith I amher making an outfit, I will spend time“Iwith themspend on that too.” of hours every day with my girls.

I like to take photos of them, so that involves choosing a doll and an outfit, and then finding somewhere Due to the growing collectors obsession, thousands of people from the UK and Europe, including Fiona, congregate every year in nice to take photo.”

Fiona hasdoll also found a new hobby in textiles since collecting her Blythes also recently sewLondon forathe annual Blythe collector’s event, Blythe con. “The convention is incredible.

It’s“I’ve so great to see sostarted many collectors ing and knitting sweaters and hatsmain for them, so if of I am making outfit, I “Blythe will spend time them on that too.” alldresses together in one place.”

Julie Westphal, organiser Blythe con an explained. conmore creates anwith environment where everyDue theget growing collectors obsession, of people fromofthe UK andstyles Europe, Fiona,for congregate every year onetocan together and compare dolls.thousands We love seeing the array different thatincluding people create their collections.

People income London for thecon annual dollthousands collector’son event, con.

“The Together convention is raffles, incredible.

It’sand so great to see so many to Blythe and Blythe can spend their Blythe precious ladies.” with bingo, a massive vendor market collectors all together in one place.”for Julie Westphal, mainBlythe organiser of Blythe con nautical explained.

“Blythe creates an environselling quality hand made clothing Blythes, this years con has a vintage theme.

“Wecon decided to add a theme for ment everyone can this get together and compare dolls.everyone We love seeing of different styles that people createand for get dollswhere and their collectors year, as we felt that getting dressedthe uparray is a great way to celebrate the convention their collections.

People to ticket, Blythethe conevent and can spendpricey, thousands on their precious Together with to know each other.”

At come £35 per is pretty but collectors are more ladies.” than pleased to pay theraffles, price, bingo, as well as and a massive vendor market selling quality hand made clothing for Blythes, this years Blythe con has a vintage nautical spending copious amounts on clothing for these cherished dolls. theme. “We decided to add a theme dolls and their collectors thisdesigner year, as Rui we Saito felt that getting Blythe for collector, customizer and fashion brought her everyone dressed up is a great convention andsells get to know eachdesigner other.” At £35 per ticket, the event pretty but own way stallto to celebrate Blythe conthe in 2010.

Ruis stall high fashion catwalk copies at Blythe conislast year,pricey, and she is collectors set to bring it pleased price, as which well ashas spending copious amounts on clothing for cherished backare thismore yearthan too. She also to haspay an the online store, been such a success that she regards it asthese her main sourcedolls. of income and Blythe collector, customizer and fashion designer Rui Saito brought her her business.” I love fashion and I love my Blythes, so making them designer copies came naturally to me. It also made me feel like I own to Blythe con in 2010.

RuisRui stall sells high fashion designer copies at With Blythe con copy last year, andselling she isfrom set to wasstall spoiling my girls!”

This is when decided to start making luxurycatwalk items for others.

Prada dresses £150 bring it back year too.every She also has an online store, for which been such a success thatfind shespending regards money it as her to £300, Ruithis makes sure tiny little detail is perfect herhas customers.

“Many collectors onmain theirsource collection ofmore income and herthan business.”

I love fashion and I love Blythes, making them designer came naturally to me.

It also on rewarding spending it on themselves.”

Ruismy stall was anso astonishing success, with copies many collectors spending thousands made feel like I iswas mylast girls!” when Rui decided to start making luxury itemson fordresses others.and With Prada copy theirme dolls “There onespoiling lady from yearThis thatisI will always remember, who spent at least £2000 accessories at my dresses from £150 to Even £300, Ruia makes sure every tiny detail perfect herany customers.

“Many find stall forselling her beautiful girls.” with recession looming overlittle the UK, thisisstill hasn’tfor taken real effect on thecollectors Blythe collectors spending money on their collection more rewarding than spending it on themselves.”

Ruis stall was an astonishing success, market; Rui explained, “I think that people would expect it to have taken a real knock, as the majority are spending their money more with many spending like thousands their dolls is have one lady from last yearpart thatofI our will lives. always remember, wisely.

Butcollectors for most collectors myself, on in recent years,“There Blythes become a massive Most are even who treated spent at leastthat £2000 on dresses and accessories myan stall for when her beautiful Evenour with a recession over the Rui like children collectors have never had. Moneyat isn’t object it comesgirls.” to treating favorite girl to looming a new wardrobe.”

UK, this that still hasn’t taken any real effect on the market; Rui explained, “I think people would expect itand to life insists she talks for all Blythe collectors outBlythe there. collectors “Without my Blythes I don’t know where I’dthat be. My income, happiness have taken a real knock, as the majority are spending more wisely. forway.” most collectors like myself, in recent depends on themtheir and Imoney wouldn’t have it anyBut other years, Blythes have become a massive part of our lives. Most are even treated like children that collectors have never had.

Money isn’t an object when it comes to treating our favorite girl to a new wardrobe.” Rui insists that she talks for all Blythe collectors out there. “Without my Blythes I don’t know where I’d be. My income, happiness and life depends on them and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

( page ninety two )

( page ninety three )

BAGS

The sacred ‘it bags’ that have captivated the fashion world and have become some of the most sought after items. Samantha Small examines this season’s trend of designers taking this worshipped accessory to toy sized proportions.

ACTUAL SIZE

From the mid 90s this perfect bag phenomenon transcended into pandemic proportions with women signing up for the ‘must have’ bag of the moment, on waiting lists that were up to eight years long. With well known bags such as the Birkin, Kelly and the Paddington becoming the iconic status symbols of their generation. The introduction of the mini ‘it bag’ trend surfaced in the 90s, but was repressed by the influx of bags of mammoth proportions; which enabled fashion folk to carry everything but the kitchen sink in their oversized Balenciaga Lariat or Mulberry Giselle. However, this season the fashion tides have turned, the mini bag has made a comeback; with catwalks showered in clutches, satchels and box bags being tailored into telescopic proportions.

The first ever ‘it bag’ was certainly the notorious Baguette. The size zero of ladies purses, it was created as a mini piece of art to be the arm candy of any outfit. Designed

by Silvia Venturini Fendi, it made its debut in 1997 and was christened Le Baguette due to its resemblance to the French loaf. Having celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2008 the emblematic Fendi has been recreated in over thousand different versions and is a prominent feature upon the catwalk. To celebrate a decade of the bag, Fendi created ten new limited edition quilted leather coloured versions to collect. Also an all-white canvas version was available for the owners to customize with ten Pantone markers, reiterating the piece-of-art aspect the Baguette established for itself. The versatile Baguette, which can be worn as a shoulder bag or as a clutch, is still a highly coveted accessory due to its overa-thousand pound price tag and extreme exclusivity “once a Baguette style runs out there are no repeats”.

Le Baguette’s sister bag the Croissant has also been a prominent status symbol with Louis Vuitton, thanks to its iconic Monograme fabric, designed by artist Taskashi Murakami. However, the Queen of mini bags of course is the illustrious Chanel 2.55; the most iconic bag of the century.

The archetypal small bag is the timeless fashion piece, the foundation of any handbag collection. Created by Coco Chanel to free up the use of a woman’s hands, with its soft quilted covering and its instantly recognisable chain shoulder strap the bag has been present season after season upon the runway since its creation in 1955. Their AW11 catwalk showcased the mini classic amongst the apocalyptic backdrop, also Karl Lagerfeld’s new Mademoiselle Handbag range, includes a Mini Mademoiselle that “maximises your formal appearance“. The bag has had Blake Lively, new face of Chanel Mademoiselle, revealing, “I will always feel it’s more than just a purse. It’s a quilted case full of lipstick, love letters and the dreams and possibilities that I have always felt every time I see that beautiful ‘CC”. The quilted beauties are available in stores already and are retailing from £1,250 to £19,000.

The iconic 2.55 has barely changed from its original design, however, a plethora of other iconic bags have recently gone under the leather knife. Mini makeovers have taken the catwalks by storm and left audiences cooing in their wake. Hermes led the way taking the Birkin to microscopic proportions in their SS11 catwalk; the Mini Birkin with just enough room to squeeze a credit card, your phone and maybe a lipstick into a too adorable for words arm decor. Other labels that have recreated baby versions to their most sought after purses; Mulberry’s Alexa and Bayswater have both been modified to doll dimensions. The British Handbag label, whose turnover continues to increase two fold every season with its unveiling of yet another delicious leather delight, further embraced the little bag ethos for SS11. The creation of the 10.5 x 16cm Mini Mila and the Mini Margaret; inspired by Princess Margaret and encrusted with a tea and cake logo for a bite of regal miniature goodness, in a plush purple covering or a more elegant ostrich grey. The British brand has continued its mini assault in its AW11 collection with the dainty shoulder strapped Lily bag and the diminutive Edna looks as though it has been doused in a shrinking potion.

This seasons AW11 catwalk has been a symphony of miniature bags from Prada’s 60s enthused purses, which were so delicious the models desperately clasped them to their bodies. These structured brightly hued shoulder bags were echoed on the Jil Sander runway with their elfin sized architectural leather jewels of eye-popping mustard, poppy and turquoise.

The DKNY girls wore compacted bags decked with bulky tassel charms to complete their mod finish with a perfect hand embellishment. Whilst DAKS AW11 chequered and quilted clad models swung toy sized black patent Gladstone cases; following on from the previous SS11 that featured baby Vacchetta square satchels. Raoul picked up on the mini bag belt decoration, that has swept the this seasons collections, for his girls and played further with the petite scale aesthetic; adding small across the body strap handbags, adorned with a chunky metal finish.

Grasping at the sixties heartstrings Stewart Vevers created tiny beautifully crafted vanity cases and satchels of bright candy apple red and ice blue enhancing the sixties city girl vibe of the collection. This assortment of different eras designers this season have dipped in and out of was picked up by Gucci - their models sailing down the Milan runway in a cloud of seventies glamour. Frida Gianninni chose small and subtle framed handbags bejewelled with the GG logo buckle, paying homage to the late Guccio Gucci. Models wore the sophisticated textured purses paired with a revamped Jackie O to demonstrate a girl can never have too many bags. The glamorous shroud of timeless bags of bantam proportions had obviously leaked into other collections; as Lanvin saw a mirage of tiny hand sized, jewel encrusted clutches that dazzled with indulgent pleasure. Whilst, noir thriller models entranced the audience with a seduction of art deco infused mini handbags clasped in their glove-clad hands. This clan of femme fatales and their killer handbags had us all ensnared in a bond of irresistible desire; entranced by the miniature goodness.

Sarah Burton was yet another designer who sent us into a dizzy spin over their small creations, creating an obi bag which will undoubtedly be another McQueen bestseller.

When it comes to McQueen you are spoiled for choice with their vast collection of dainty sized handheld confection; knuckle box clutches with a Swarovski crystal ring clasp, the Union Jack emblazoned skull clutch that is a mere 16.5 cm, and the new mini ivory Wicca satchel that is a 3D leaf embossed charm. Similarly, Marc Jacobs has also crafted miniature delights to shout about, with Tigerlily, a tiny bag packing a whole lot of punch; comprised of python, goat hide and lambskin. This eighties inspired firecracker will have you in disco heaven. But if its sophisticated bliss you are after try Charlotte Olympia for her Pandora’s box of teeny tiny clear pexiglass clutch.

And it’s not just the girls who are getting in on the mini bag bandwagon; in the form of tot sized belt bags. Versace wore them high waisted on studded black belts, while Louis Vuitton toy sized black and post box red ones were placed on waistbands of trousers to contrast with the oversized luggage bags the models carried. ACNE proceeded with a slightly different approach; accessorising their guys with a tiny red wristlet and a dainty clutch. These examples of pixie volume were repeated at Canali; with a black padded clutch appearing upon the runway. Whereas Christopher Shannon carried on from SS11 approach of little scaled shoulder bags; in the form of a small Eastpak, spaghetti strapped urban-tribal hybrid.

A pick ‘a’ mix of tiny bags featured at AW11 fashion week left right and centre; leaving a pact of, giddy, miniature hungry spectators in their wake. The sugar-coated leather goodness; the antithesis of the oversized bag, that has for years now been the optimum arm ornament for any fashion squadron. This steady torrent of little mini bags that is captivating our hearts and our wardrobes; the hand sized treats are the accessory that you cannot dress without this season.

{this is actual size}

Pygmy animals have never been bigger than they are now (excuse the pun.) These miniature pets, or pygmy as they are formally known have seen a huge increase in popularity over recent years. For a while now Micro Pigs have been quite literally hogging the limelight, Standing as little as 12 inches when fully grown, these pocket-sized porkers can be house-trained, keep themselves clean and became somewhat of a ‘celebrity craze’.

Miniature hedgehogs are now seen as acceptable household pets. A somewhat unconventional critter companion due to their sharper than usual exterior and nocturnal habits, they love being handled and very rarely curl up defensively in a ball as you might expect. Unlike your bog-standard, garden hedgehogs, this tiny variety doesn’t hibernate (beware, let them get too cold and they’ll give it a try anyway) and only grow to a maximum of 8 inches in length. Feed them cat food, chicken or turkey they love the lot but whatever you do don’t give them milk. Not cows milk anyway, an intolerance to dairy means they can only drink the milk of a goat.

There certainly is something magical about small animals and as the nature of pygmy creatures is that even at full maturity, they’re still miniscule, it’s easy to see why they’ve become so desirable. The waiting list is longer than an army of hedgehog’s nose-to-tailing so get in line and join the pygmy revolution.

By Colin Beattie

SMALL CHANGE

Put away your credit cards, and your wadges of cash. You’ll only be needing your penny jar for Little’s selection of the best things to do on a budget, this summer.

By Rebecca Stevens

Lord Of The Flies- Regents Park Open Air Theatre From 19th May-18th June 2011

Could there be anything more traditional then packing a picnic and watching an open-air performance in the park? This is one of a kind as the Regent’s park theatre is the only permanent, professional outdoor theatre in Britain that can be enjoyed on a hazy summer’s evening with Pimms in hand. It can hold 1,240 people and is an experience to be remembered with its intimate atmosphere and fairy lights in the trees. Prices start at £14.00 and can go up to £41.00, however our advice is to pack a picnic and see where the evening takes you.

Ai Weiwei Sunflower Seeds

(Tate Modern - until April 25th) At first glance it may just appear as a room filled with copious amounts of sunflower seeds. Unbeknown to many, each seed is actually hand crafted from porcelain and hand painted to make up 1 million seeds featured in Ai Weiwei’s latest exhibition. The intention behind the field of seeds is a representation of not only Chinese history but also ‘one man in a big city’ idea. To the initial eye each seed is the same, but actually all are unique and carry with them distinctive characteristics. The exhibition is free and runs until April 25th as part of the Unilever Series. The only down point is you can no longer bask among the seeds due to health and safety. It truly is an exhibition worth seeing.

Royal Wedding

29th April 2011

It’s the event that’s on everyone’s lips.

Not only because the Royal wedding is the most anticipated event of 2011 but also because it’s been announced as a bank holiday. The day is your oyster and whether you choose to watch the event at home, bake cakes and make cheese and cucumber sandwiches for a street party or just spend time with the family, it needn’t cost you much at all.

Camden Fringe 1st-28th August 2011

The excitement is already mounting for this year’s Camden Fringe, which runs over a 4-week period.

2010 saw the festival host 652 performers performing comedy, dance, magic, standup, poetry, theatre etc. The list is endless and each year we’re never sure what to expect. Tickets are £7.50 and one things for certain: whatever your passion, there is something for everyone.

http://www.camdenfringe.org/

London Naked Bike Ride 11th June 2011

It’s time to bare all to help raise awareness of cyclists on London’s roads. Join the thousands of naked enthusiasts cycling through London on 11th June 2011, starting at Hyde Park. Cost of participation and entry is free. Of course if you would prefer to spectate –fully clothed- simply join the hundreds lining the streets for free. The naked tour will also riding through the streets of Brighton, Manchester, York and Southampton. Check website for details. http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/whatson/london-naked-bike-ride-article-3067.html

10th April 2011 Chelsea Town Hall Kings Rd 11-530

http://www.frockmevintagefashion.com/

With the 1970s a huge trend this summer, why not source your own individual pieces rather then settle with high street replicas? Join the hoards on Sunday 10th April at Chelsea town hall in search of one off pieces: clothing, hats, gloves and jewellery to name but a few. Entry is only £4.00 (£2.00 for students) with prices inside starting at £5.00. Keep your eye out also for celebrity faces as Kate Moss and Kylie Minogue have been spotted at previous events. If battling the crowds doesn’t appeal, enjoy a coffee and cupcake at the pre-war style tearoom; simply sit back and watch the vintage mayhem!

8

Frock Me Vintage Fashion Fayre

There’s nothing better then an old fashioned trip to the seaside; especially if there’s chocolate involved! Come to Brighton on the 16th & 17th May for a chocolate extravaganza!

Truffles, cupcakes, pancakes, bonbons and ice cream will all be there for your enjoyment.

Entry is free; all you will need is money for sweet treats. If you can’t get to the coast, the festival is also coming to London between the 8th-10th April at London’s Southbank Centre.

Chocolate Festival 16th-17th April Brighton http://www.festivalchocolate.co.uk/

Lates London For a little bit of evening culture, join London’s favourite artistic institutions for late night events, cocktails and exciting exhibition viewings. A selection of the capital’s major art galleries and museums offer an alternative to pubs, bars and clubs with film screenings, live music and debates on select evenings of the week.

Whether you fancy a silent disco at the Science museum or late cocktails at the National Gallery, be sure to check online to find out the latest events. All events are free so the question is, who’s buying the cocktails? http://www.lates.org/home

Summer Screen Season In association with Film4 Running throughout summer.

It’s officially British summer time and at Little, we can’t help but dream of taking everything outdoors. The Summer Screen Season at Somerset House and Canary Wharf offers the perfect opportunity to do just that; take the indoors into the great outdoors. Both venues will be setting up huge screens in outdoor locations, showing a selection of films such as Cabaret and Gold finger. It’s the perfect opportunity to pack a rug, get a few friends together and enjoy the great British sunshine.

Tickets start at £14.50. http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/film/default.asp

Dali And The City Exhibition 01 April-30 June 2011 FREE ENTRY Moor House (nearest tube Moorgate)

This superb exhibition takes over Moor House this spring as previously unseen works by the iconic Salvador Dali are put on show. The exhibition will feature sculptures and works on paper that are sure to delight Dali fans.

The key piece featured at the exhibition is the 5 metre tall, bronze sculpture of Alice in Wonderland created by Dali in the 1970s.

The fairytale story provided a wealth of inspiration for Dali and has been recreated in a contemporary way; the sculpture of Alice is bare breasted with a rose flower head. Admission is free and this is the first time the sculpture has featured in London.

http://artmoorhouse.com/current-exhibition.php

Floating Cinema

June-Sept 2011

On a sunny day the cinema is the last thing we want to be doing, however how about taking the screening outside?

This year a floating cinema will navigate the waterways of the five Olympic host boroughs and will not only show the latest films but also entertain the kids with film related activities. The idea stemmed from those at the Portavilion project, whose pop-up dance tent travelled around London earlier this year. Enjoy the Thames this summer in all its glory; hopefully the film will be a good one too.

http://blog.visitlondon.com/2010/12/floating-cinema-coming-to-east-london-in-2011/

12 Secret Sample Sale Sale-3rd April 2011

Secret sample sales are happening all the time; you just got to know where and when to find them! For regular updates on designer sale events sign up for the Fashion Confidential newsletter. It’s free and they send regular emails with exclusive dates and VIP shopping events. http://www.fashionconfidential. co.uk/sign-up.aspx If entry into the sales isn’t free it’ll often be only £1, so if you have no intention of buying, it won’t break the bank looking!

Great for the style conscious, savvy shopper.

http://www.opensquares.org/media/index.html

Open garden squares weekend 11-12th June 2011 The mention of gardens and all things green may sound unappealing, but this weekend in June sees over 200 of London’s most prestigious gardens opened exclusively to the public. One ticket at £7.50 (bought in advance) gets you into all gardens all weekend, with breathtaking views from a selection of Kensington’s roof top gardens to be discovered. Get the family together and breathe some fresh air whilst admiring the city’s best-kept secrets.

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“There is no one giant step that does it. It’s a lot of little steps.”

A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE In the ever-growing world of miniature, Hardeep Gill explores Miss Bibi, a jewellery line of tiny, cutting edge accessories.

Meat-cleavers and scissor earrings, a saw as a necklace and an axe pendant all seem like the tools used in the ever-familiar game Cluedo. It may, depending on how you see it, even sound rather morbid when it comes to accessories, but not in this case. Introducing to you a recreation of everyday objects including those familiar from your childhood is the defining idea behind handcrafted jewellery brand Miss Bibi. Hailing from Monaco, designer Brigitte Giraudi not only brings you diminutive wearable objects in the various forms of high-healed shoes, old-school telephones, chandeliers, perfume bottles – even can openers – but ensures that they are highly collectable forever pieces. With this in mind, the main aesthetic focuses the mini attraction through the subversion of scale taking inspiration from children’s toys, books and games.

Jewellery has long presented itself in the form of personal adornment and is often selected by individuals carefully in order to see what best suits and represents them. When Brigitte Giraudi graduated from the renowned Central St Martins in film and animation; Jewellery making wasn’t the immediate career destination she was opting for. She went onto work on numerous film sets, and was then originally involved in creating small sets for animated movies where her passion for creating miniature gradually translated into the magical world of jewellery, “One day I transformed some of these precious little items into accessories and a magazine published these jewels just before leaving for a holiday in Vietnam. When I came back 2 weeks later I couldn’t believe it! There were more than 200 requests!! This entitled me to change job without even realizing what was going on.”

In 2006, Miss Bibi was born and Giraudi’s first line ‘Intrig’ took its inspiration from an infamous detective game, giving way to a growing, adorable Lilliputian world. “Precision, scale transposition, fragility, intimacy, narratives” are all defining factors that fascinate Brigitte when it comes to creating miniatures. On her work, Brigitte firmly believes that “In the miniature world of childhood, images alone are narrative fairytales, flatness gains a lifelike third dimension, the mundane living room emerges a jewel encrusted cathedral…” it is this is exact creative moral that she lives by and applies to her work when creating her unique pieces. With a background in illustrating children’s books, Brigitte has always been articulate in expressing herself artistically and visually, ensuring that each and every whimsical item is able to re-tell a familiar story that you aren’t ready to let go of.

The things that surround us in childhood are never truly forgotten and the need to indulge and find comfort in these objects is where Miss Bibi comes in, mainly as she is able to present them is an eloquent fantasy filled world. Surely you remember those times when you read tales of the Grimm’s brothers, where your days were consumed with playing dress up in your mothers wardrobe or learning to ride a bike and constantly falling off but not giving up? It is those memories that define who people are and where they have come from. Life for Brigitte growing up in the second smallest country in the world, Monte-Carlo naturally meant that small things always surrounded her. “My room was 1 meter wide and 4 meters long.

Everything in my childhood was small, except the love around me”. A wistful desire to return to such times, although we are aware we cannot, does not remove from the feeling that we want to. Childhood is a sentimental time often filled with happiness and joy, where certain objects that we used to own or surrounded ourselves with had emotions tied

to them. Today in a world where consumerism and value dominate society, Miss Bibi manages to escape the idea of needing the largest sapphire diamond or ruby and takes you back to original function of jewellery: artistic display where a meager sized tape measure attached to a bracelet is more than satisfying.

The nostalgic feeling surrounded by Miss Bibi pieces hones in on a time where everything was innocent and the fascination with normal objects with still quite fresh. The subversion of scale changes the dynamics of the jewellery as something that is supposed to be small, like a zipper, is then expanded and oversized, whereas a man’s head will have been reduced down to be placed on a ring. This element of humour is a notion that you will find throughout Giraudi’s work – the exaggeration of size amongst objects you wouldn’t necessarily imagine.

Where else would you find a set of eyelashes hinged to a necklace? You wouldn’t and this intriguing element is what allows Miss Bibi to remain fresh and enticing.

Although some objects appear to be a little bit sinister (the concept of Cluedo has always been to solve a murder amongst people that know each other), their miniature size has the ability to capture the admiration of the wearer. The surreal collection that has continued to grow now boasts three different lines.

The initial debut line “Intrig” carries many nostalgic items from the Lilliputian world such as the shoe ring, little Pinocchio’s and the baby carriage. In the “ready made” line, which is associated with reference to the surrealist works of Marcel Duchamp, you can expect the common household object such as the tape measure ring and cuff links that resemble matches. For this Brigitte describes, “The body becomes the stage on which these miscast objects are exhibited.” This is similar to the concept of her jewellery being more than merely accessories and works of art instead. Last but by no means least is the “Superflat” collection that incorporates things that are folded and unfolded in a pop up sense, as the heart earrings that remain flat and incorporate two different materials. The pieces themselves are bought to life and plated in silver and gold.

With jewellery currently being a large fashion trend, sometimes becoming the main attraction of a look, the demand of the accessory industry to be different is at it’s highest, whether it’s high-end designer jewellery from Tiffany’s & Co. or cheap costume jewellery. The industry is infiltrated – though what sets Miss Bibi aside from other designers is that when buying a piece of Giraudi’s creations, you are not simply buying a product but instead a story. “I always presented my pieces in displays that I designed in order to create a whole universe. I don’t consider myself a jewellery designer but more of a Lilliputian artist.”

Fashion Blogger Mademoiselle Robot is an avid fan: “I already have a collection of regressive jewellery, but I am pretty sure I will be adding a little something by Miss Bibi to my collection as soon as I can!” As long as the miniature is still valued amongst its dedicated fiends then Miss Bibi will be in business.

Use Miss Bibi to explore yourself and your moods through the range of collections. You may find that your feeling a bit more dollhouse than murder detective so why not put down the candlestick and take light in the miniature Victorian style chairs and the gold gilded photo frame brooch. Miniature things are excitable and even more so when you can wear them for display.

It is safe to say that Brigitte Giraudi successfully merges a range of objects with a dark humour that women everywhere will find irresistible, and even men would want to buy for their significant others. It is about time that women took off their towering heels and place stiletto’s on a ring instead, which isn’t any less feminine. Her collection can be found in over 50 countries worldwide, and is easily available online. If you ever find yourself in Paris, head over to her own miniature concept store at Jardins du Palais, which is opening, nest month. Of course it manages to stay true to the small theme being only 2m x 2m. Indulge yourself in a fairytale where it is adequate to unleash your younger self: “The ‘Child’ within us is the most precious things we have. So everything that refers to this lost paradise is something to cherish.”

For more of the Lilliputian world see: www.missbibi.com

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The micro-sculptor whose work proves that, “Just because you can’t see something, doesn’t mean it’s not there.”

Humans are an incredibly inquisitive species and naturally question the unknown; in the infamous words of Sir J.M. Barrie: “Seeing is believing.” Micro-artist Willard Wigan is no exception to this rule. Since the age of five, he has created micro-sculptures by hand that sit either within the eye of a needle or on a pinhead. Willard’s work is so tiny it is only visible by microscope and verifies, “Just because you can’t see something, doesn’t mean it’s not there.”

Born in 1957 in Birmingham, Willard struggled at school with dyslexia and learning difficulties. “I felt very much like I was a ‘nothing’ at school so I looked for an escape. The micro sculptures allowed me to create a fantasy world of my own where dyslexia couldn’t hold me back,” disclosed Willard. “I have always been fascinated by small and miniature things as my mother brought me up to respect the little things in life.”

Willard’s first sculpture was created for a family of ants that lived in his garden. “I wanted to experiment with the tiny world in front of me so I started off by looking at ants. I made them houses, merry-go-rounds and ladders however my mother encouraged me to take my work to a smaller level: a molecular level.”

Working on such a minute scale requires great control and patience; Willard has developed his own unique method for when working at a microscopic level. “I have learnt to slow my nervous system right down so I can work between my heartbeats; that allows me 1.5 seconds to construct,” declared Willard, “Luckily my eyesight has always been very good but it’s always problematic when you accidentally sniff your own work.”

It is hard to imagine any material suitable for creating such tiny works of art; human fingers are clumsy against the delicate materials used. “I use my own tools like many other exceptional micro sculptors in the world,” explained Willard, “My main inspiration is the greatest micro sculptor of all: Mykola Syadistry from Ukraine: his work is breathtaking.” On average, one sculpture takes three months to create and perfect.

“I have used teddy bear fibers and fibers pulled from my shirt along with splinters of glass and grains of sand to create whole artworks. When painting I normally use the hair from a dead fly,” revealed Willard, “I recreated the iconic Huf Haus by attaching money spiders web together and when I use glass I experiment with its own friction to mould the shapes.”- Not bad for a sculpture that measured only half a millimeter when finished.

Willard’s work includes a replica Statue of Liberty that sits comfortably in a needle eye, created from a grain of sand; Ben Hur and a 24carot gold chariot nestled on a pinhead and a Bart and Homer Simpson model (on sale for £9,000) made from the nylon tag from his shirt.

“I don’t really have a favourite sculpture, however, I suppose when I look back the one that gave me the greatest pleasure was the Mad Hatter’s tea party. I hope to create the Coronation Coach complete with horses at some point,” Willard proclaimed, “People discard the small things in life- the things you do not see. I enjoy making small things that people must search to find.” By Rebecca Stevens

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DELL Inspiron Mini 1018 Netbook available at PC World from ÂŁ229.99 for a limited time only.

LORI Rather than finding existing scenes to snap, Lori Nix creates her own. Daisy Tinker talks to the artist, who painstakingly builds and photographs her own miniature disaster scenes. “I wasn’t much of a photojournalist, I didn’t have the gift of being in the right place at the right time” Brooklyn based artist Lori Nix explains, when I ask how she first began photographing tiny disaster models. “I’m also horrible at portraiture - I’m unable to capture the essence of the sitter.” These rather honest realisations should have been an obstacle to a career in photography, but luckily Nix soon discovered her niche after visiting an exhibition of the photographer Richard Misrach. This was a series of work dedicated to many years exploring all the aspects of the desert southwest where Nix grew up.

“Standing in front of his photos, I started to reflect upon my own life. I immediately had an epiphany - I didn’t want to travel back to the state of Kansas to explore my history, but rather bring Kansas to my studio. My desire was to construct the image rather than find an existing one.”

And so immediately Nix went to the local bookstore and purchased a ‘how to’ book on building model train scenery, playing around with tiny props and scenes; journeying into the world of miniatures.

“This medium allowed me to create the fictional scenes I wanted to photograph rather than actively finding them.” This interest in fiction something she admits has always interested her. “I’ve always worked with fabrication rather than real life. It’s much more interesting. I used to do ceramics and with ceramics you have to build an entire image from nothing with your hands, so you can see how miniatures suited me.”

And on a more practical level it suited her too. Working from her small Brooklyn apartment, she builds in her living room and uses her study to mock up models, while miniature power tools are scattered throughout the apartment. “Small scale allowed me to construct an entire scene without it overtaking my entire work space - space is a premium in the city after all.”

Each scene can be as small as 50x60 centimeters, though some are slightly bigger at just over a meter in diameter. Each one differs as they are often built completely to suit one specific props she wants to use, “In ‘Majestic’ I found the piano first and scaled everything else around it, though I do hand-make nearly everything else.”

Creating the buildings, people, and props from “anything lying around”, it’s easy to see why each model can take up to 7 months to build and shoot, even with the help of partner Kathleen, a trained glass artist who adds the final touches, “painting faux finishes, guilding architectural details with gold leaf, distressing walls and making everything look old.”

The level of detail is exquisite, as Nix hopes at first viewers will believe her photographs are real. “I have succeeded if someone looks at one of my photographs and even for a second thinks it’s of a real place. My first scenes are nowhere near perfect but as my fabrication skills improve, I can make my subject matters more complex,” One of the reasons why her latest work Unnatural History has moved indoors, showing architectural interiors, and while she admits they have “proven most difficult”, they have equally been the “most rewarding so far”. With such a level of tiny detail, it’s unbelievable to comprehend that they are simply realisations of Nix’s imagination, and the artist admits she relies on inspiration from many areas of her life, in particular her childhood landscapes. “The state of Kansas in particular isn’t known for much beyond farming and really extreme weather. As a child I experienced firsthand blizzards, tornados, floods, drought, and insect infestations. Most adults viewed these seasonal disruptions with angst, whereas for a child it was considered euphoric.” It’s clear to see the excitement these “downed trees, mud, even grassfires” gave to the artist. They injected colour to a more dull and “mundane life”, the reason each of her dioramas depicts a different disaster scene; a man drowned, a church destroyed, a building struck by lightening.

This inspiration can particularly be seen in her work Accidentally Kansas, though living in New York for the past 11 years, it isn’t just the rolling hills and fields of corn and wheat which feature. “My urban life has also greatly influenced my work. The simultaneous construction and destruction of buildings, communities and cultures found in a growing city is fascinating.”

Unlike most of us, the artist’s daily commute into Brooklyn also inspires her work. “I get most of my ideas during my morning commute. Something about the morning light, the rocking of the subway, seeing the cityscape pass by opens my mind up to inspiration.” Though it’s not just the city landscapes, which can be a source of inspiration, as she explains, “Wherever I am, I’m always trying to be aware of my surroundings and filter them into my work.” In addition to Nix’s childhood experiences however, classic 1970s disaster films have played a large inspirational role too.

“I remember watching Towering inferno, Earthquake, Planet of the Apes, and sitting in awe in the dark. Here was the type of dangers I experiences day to day being magnified and played out on the bug screen in the typical Hollywood way.”

One film in particular, Nix cites as “most influential”. “Logan’s Run is my favourite film. It is a movie that depicts a dystopic ageist future society. It still inspires my work today.” This fascination of our future on earth can be seen in her work The City, a set of images which show abandoned scenes, empty of human inhabitents. “The walls are deteriorating, the ceilings are falling in, the structures barely stand, yet mother nature is slowly taking them over. These spaces are filled with flora, fauna, insects, what was theirs before man’s encroachment.

I must admit that I am afraid of what the future holds, but at the same time I am fascinated by what our changing world can bring.”

By Daisy Tinker

NIX

“Accidentally Kansas” 1998-2000 In Nix’s first series of work she recreated tornadoes, floods, insect infestations and other bizarre events that punctuated her childhood in the Midwest; the landscapes which first inspired the artist to begin to use and photograph miniature scenes.

“Some Other Place” 2000-2002 Moving to New York brought a new inner city feel to these scenes as neighbourhood sidewalks, city parks and motorways all feature with skyscraper backdrops, an urban continuation of “Accidentally Kansas”.

“Lost” 2002-2004 With this series, Nix continued her investigation into different landscapes, examining the feelings of isolation and loneliness. Further blurring the lines between truth and illusion, the obvious artificiality of the scenes enhances the enjoyment of Nix’s humorously dark world.

“The City” 2005 – Current Nix’s scenes found their way indoors for this ongoing series of scenes. Showing uninhabited launderettes and empty roads, it explores our future in the city, hundreds of years from now, showing empty, laundrettes and abandoned churches, as flora and fauna begins to reclaim what was once theirs.

Lilliputian Life PHOTOGRAPHY: DAISY TINKER, COLIN BEATTIE

“What A Mess!”

“Fag Break”

“Daily Mail”

“A Walk On The Wild Side”

“Site For Sore Eyes”

“Child’s Play”

“On The Road Again”

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Nanotechnology is not the tag hanging on the door of the Apple lab where engineers made the first iPod nano. Neither is it miniature versions of already existing cranes and airplanes. Imagine the next world industrial revolution. Nanotechnology will change the nature of almost every human-made object, all done with machines two hundred times smaller than the smallest unicellular organism on this planet. Do you know what this means?

So what exactly is it? In simplest words: nanotechnology tries to make materials and machines in atomic scale; the size of an atom. That does not explain much except that it is all very small; but how small? One nanometer (nm) is one billionth of a meter. That is the same size difference as a golf ball and the Earth. Or another way of putting it: a nanometer is the amount that a hair on a man’s face has grown, in the time it takes him to lift his hand to shave. Nails also grow one nanometer per second. That small.

Think of any object; for example a fork. For centuries cutlery manufacturers have been making forks by pouring boiling metal into specialised moulds. In liquid form, the atoms in metal are far away from each other, and as temperature decreases, atoms stiffen together to form a solid shape. The metal hardens, the fork is ready. When nanotechnology becomes the common method of production, the fork would contain the same metal atoms, except instead of pouring them into a moulded shape, they will be arranged one on top of the other, until they form a fork. There is time for product quality control as well; each atom is carefully selected before joined onto the main structure, making it much stronger (ones that do not make it are recycled). Remember how small this is? Machines, the same ones used to make the microchips in every computer, use atoms as building blocks, just like large cranes manoeuvre steel bars to contour a building.

“I want to build a billion tiny factories, models of each other, which are manufacturing simultaneously. . . The principles of physics, as far as I can see, do not speak against the possibility of manoeuvring things atom by atom. It is not an attempt to violate any laws; it is something, in principle, that can be done; but in practice, it has not been done because we are too big.” — Richard Feynman, Nobel Prize winner in physics.

He was the first person who mentioned visionary ideas of ‘nanotechnology’ (before the name was invented) in his “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom” talk just over half a century ago. Feynman spoke about a way to move individual atoms and molecules using very small machines to build and operate even smaller instruments and so on, down to the needed scale. Fifteen years later, in 1974, Tokyo Science University Professor Norio Taniguchi sealed the term ‘nanotechnology’, and officially put a name to the study of changing materials by one atom or molecule at a time.

There are two common approaches in the field of nanotechnology. In the ‘bottom-up’ idea, just like in the fork, materials and instruments are built from molecules, which join together because of their chemistry. In the ‘top-down’ idea, nano-objects are made by breaking bigger things apart, without trying to move them at atomic level. The pyramids in Egypt were built through the ‘bottom-up’ approach, while the Mt Rushmore presidents in the US were carved into the cliffs, ‘top-down’ approach. Try to think of a single human-made object, which could not be engendered by either of the two methods. There is not even one.

All of that sounds very good, but how are mini machines going to revolutionise the production of materials? The total societal impact of nanotechnology is expected to be greater than the combined influences of the silicon generated circuit chips, medical imaging and computeraided engineering. The new concepts of nanotechnology are so vast and pervasive, that they will influence every area of technology and science in unpredictable ways, and replace our entire manufacturing base with a new, more precise, more flexible, and less expensive way of making products.

Nature will forever remain the main source of muse for technology. Nano scientists are now investigating how the living world works in order to find solutions to problems in the ‘non-living’ world. Engineering new lightweight is inspired by the way marine organisms build strength into their shells; plant photosynthesis can lead to techniques for efficiently generating renewable energy. Even the way a nettle stings can suggest better vaccination techniques.

There are many types of applications of nanotechnology from the simple to the complex. For example, there are nano coatings, which can repel dirt and reduce the need for harmful cleaning agents, or prevent the spread of hospital-borne infections. Combining nano particles of inorganic clays with polymers can make wear-resistant tires. Greatly improved printing can be brought about by selected nano particles that have the best properties of both dyes and pigments. Nanotechnology will keep making products smaller and smaller, while growing cleverer, faster and most importantly, cheaper.

Many further and greater advances resulting from nanotechnology are inevitable. Nanometer-scale traps will be constructed to remove pollutants from the environment and deactivate chemical warfare agents. Computers the size of the dot in this ‘i’ will operate for decades with the equivalent of a single wristwatch battery. Robotic spacecraft that weigh only a few pounds will be sent out to explore the solar system, and perhaps not just this one. Within a few decades, healthcare will be revolutionised; ingestible systems will harmlessly flush from the body if the patient is healthy, but will notify a physician of the type and location of diseased cells and organs if there are problems. Molecular surgical tools, guided by molecular computers and injected into the blood stream could find and destroy cancer cells, unclog arteries, or provide oxygen when the circulation is impaired. “Economic progress in the 21st Century will depend fundamentally on maintaining a competitive position in nanotechnology,” says Ralph Murkle, senior research fellow at the Institute for Molecular Manufacturing.

As empowering and influential to our lives nanotechnology will become, today these tiny particles spark huge debate. There are possible dangerous allegations of nanotechnology, to list a few: economic disruption from an abundance of cheap products, environmental damage or health risks from unregulated products, unstable arms race, and personal risk from criminal use. Most common questions come about when discussing the necessary regulations of nanotechnology; fears that the government will use it to control and monitor people have risen. There are already countless products on the market that feature nano-technological innovations, found in everything from sunscreen to ketchups, powdered sugar and thermal insulating paint.

Implications on a bigger scale suggest that nanotechnology may unintentionally cause harm, as has been predicted before every large social and economic change. There is no debate however that it offers ways to create smaller, cheaper, lighter and faster devices that can do more and cleverer things, use less raw materials and consume less energy. At this point nanotechnology is still young, but one day it will become the next industrial revolution.

By Dima Markova

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“Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things and I’ll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things.”

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Most artists use pencils, but

Dalton Ghetti

carves miniscule masterpieces out of the pencil itself.

Painstakingly shaving away at the graphite tip, he creates tiny screws, buttons, keys, even a miniscule hammer.

( page hundred and thirty four )

Famous for his miniature books, microminiaturist painter,

Anatoly Konenko

he has created the world’s smallest aquarium, with real life fish that measure just one milimeter.

Slinkachu

is an anonymous artist who creates tiny street scenes with real life props, abandoning them once complete in cities around the world.

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An epic tale on a tiny scale.

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the little magazine ÂŁ18