WeAreCollision - ONE by WeAreCollision

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IGNITION

OLIVER PROUDLOCK | HATTIE STEWART HELMUT LANG | HOUSE OF HOLLAND LONDON FASHION WEEK | THE WEEKND MR KYLE ROSS & MORE 1

on daddys cash, lives the monPhotography - Mr Kyle Ross Creative Direction - Kahmarl Gordon Creative Asst - Cat Wise Make Up - Lauren Reynolds

Pippa Wears Top - BOY London 4

Suren Wears Shorts - Custom Made 5

Pippa Wears Top Top -- Helmut Helmut Lang Lang

Shoe - Topshop 11

WELCOME TO A NEW WAY OF THINKING ;-)

fter a year of planning and four months of hardcore editorial work, we are finally here! We Are Collision, a new magazine for those who are bored of the mundane regurgitated media that is so often found on the shelves of your favourite newsagents. We’re a new quarterly magazine about art, fashion, music, and other things, creating our own agenda. Most of all however, we are a collective. By this I mean that We Are Collision is made up of industry professionals and students alike, working together exploring new and exciting fields, raising the bar higher every day.

THE BRIEF

Our first issue is aptly named IGNITION and sets out to catch alight everything amazing and equally unique in the capital, so that it can beam out fully to the masses. We’ve got amazing work from some of the cities hottest, and in only a few months we’ve managed to secure front row seats at some of LFW’s hottest shows; you can trust us when we say this is just the beginning. Massive thanks to WhiteSmoke Comms, BlowPR and POP PR for taking a chance on us, thank you to our contributors for filling up our magazine, profile for some amazing models; most of all thank you to Kahmarl Gordon, our Creative Director, for all the time, effort and creativity

Issue one begins with The Hangover (P1) a shoot which depicts the aftermath of a night out with a few friends - yah? We then set things alight, tackling the burning issues surrounding ‘selling out’ (p12). With fashion from Fam Ivroll (p51) House of Holland (p52) Helmut Lang (p7) and more, we’ve got everything you need to get cosy up until Christmas. Speaking of cosy, plan your perfect night in (p35) or check out new music sensation The Weeknd (p33). If blasphemy tickles your fancy, Online editor Melchi gets to grips with a real life goatslay-thingy (p53) and Becky discusses the death of the book (p60). Don’t even bother saying we don’t try hard to please you, because quite frankly it really isn’t true!

- REZ XOX 12 10

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COVER

Shot By Mr Kyle Ross Illustration - Hattie Stewart Model - Gemma Janes Make Up - Lauren Reynolds p. 49

CONTENTS 1

The Hangover

Got Your Alibi?

Editors Letter

Perfect Night (In)

If In Doubt, Sell Out

London Fashion Week SS13

Short Cuts

World Music

Terrible Twins Takeover

Serge DeNimes

Contribute

Boring Bitches

Samuel Mensah Carter

The Satanist

Hattie Stewart

Edible (or not)

Art This Quarter

The Book Is Dead

Niya Brock

Masthead

32 The Weeknd

DESIGN FASHION CULTURE LIFESTYLE wearecollision.com 13 11

IF IN DOUBT, SELL OUT

words by Leonie Cumiskey

creatives and people within the arts are now willing to cosy up to big name brands and accept corporate handouts. The most glaringly obvious reason is actually because creative people like money. I know, I know - you thought we were all struggling, rolly-smoking thrifties, who sleep in a perpetual draft during the winter months, right? Well, yes, maybe some of us are, but it’s not usually a lifestyle we have chosen for ourselves. Mostly we’re up to our eyeballs in debt, and work two waitressing jobs to cover the rent. If FoxConn offered me a crisp fifty to write a glowing report of their labour practices, I’d probably bite their hand off. But enough about my own lack of integrity; the point is that there are individuals out there who are too desperate to

f you do an advert then you are off the artistic register forever,” claimed American comedian Bill Hicks. Sadly, Bill Hicks never lived to see Johnny Rotten touting Country Life Butter, nor was he able to witness Iggy Pop promoting Swift Cover Insurance, but it goes without saying that I would have loved to have seen his reaction to either of those recent adverts. No matter how funny you might find it that two of punk’s hugest stars have appeared in adverts (side note: Marky Ramone also has his own range of pasta sauces), you’ve got to admit that corporate cocksucking doesn’t have quite the same stigma attached to it that it used to. Of course, there are still people who get upset about oil companies pumping money into art foundations, but in 2012, if someone calls you a “sell out”, you can probably keep your credibility intact by responding with, “smug lefty wanker!”

“Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art.”

There are a plethora of reasons why 14

even factor in pride, and would happily write a jingle for Nando’s if it meant that they could afford to eat real chicken again, as opposed to Ridley Road Rat.

ger to spend some of their marketing budget on reputation management. Is this a bad thing? Meh, not necessarily. Usually, brands and companies select organisations to support based on their existing image anyway, so there’s no need for curatorial intervention – I doubt we’ll ever see a punk band playing a pop-up show in Marks & Spencer’s, but I can understand why people got angry when the Olympics were sponsored by McDonalds and Coca-Cola.

Another reason for this shift in attitude is because corporate cash makes up for the lack of government funding. Those who are cynical about this kind of arrangement might say, “Ah, but if those corporations didn’t dodge their taxes, we’d have more government funding!” Is that really true, though? We’ve all seen those MP expenses forms, and I think we know full well that when the government have spare money to spend, they much prefer to spend it on bath plugs, biros, moats and parcel string. And crack…probably.

Finally, sponsored creativity has become more acceptable because brands have got a lot more sophisticated when it comes to courting the arts. Unlike in Bill Hicks’ day, it’s fairly unlikely that a musician will be asked outright to be in an advertisement. It’s more likely that they’ll be playing the Ray-Bans stage at a festival, or be invited to a Sailor Jerry’s event, or cover their favourite song for a Doctor Marten’s session.

All joking aside though, in 2011 the Arts Council had its budget cut by nearly a third, and as a result this meant that some 206 organisations lost their funding altogether. Naturally, in order for these organisations to survive, they have had to look for other sources of funding. Sometimes this comes from generous individuals, but usually the really big cash injections are administered by corporations and brands, ea-

Brands have become so slick at pulling these stunts, that no one even bats an eyelid when an arte povera installation is being sponsored by Bloomberg!

SHORT CUTS

WHEN BOREDOM CALLS, WE LOVE TO GO VIRAL & FIND SOME ODD SHIT TO MAKE YOUR BRAINS BOUNCE A LITTLE...CHECK OUT THIS QUARTER’S

HAI, VENUS... TALE OF A TWO FACED CAT

You know that funny coincidental way in which nature works sometimes, allowing for people or animals to sport biological looks which induce us all into a Victorian circus frenzy? Well, meet Venus. Legitimately, Venus is literally a two-faced cat! So, some weirdo - Venus’ owner - took her viral, hooked a bitch up to Facebook and got her a YouTube. And now she’s fast becoming an Internet star. Hey B. Scott, I guess its one of those awkward moments when you log on to find a cat’s stealing all your love

muffins! So if you’re up for checking out a cat that’s a little bit of black and a little bit of white like me, head over to YouTubezz.

CATVERTISING YO, CAT’S GOT JOBS TOO!

There’s something oddly cruel about sending animals to work. I mean, it’s not unusual; dogs have a variety of different careers to choose from. Now, modern day man has created the first Catvertising agency, relying solely on cats to produce adverts for paying brands and clients. I guess the cat that got the cream now becomes the cat that got the campaign. Freaky!

BACON LUBRICATION LOOKS LIKE A PIG, TASTES LIKE A PIG

I know I’m not alone when I say this, but I love me a bit of morning sex. I especially love a bit of a fry-up after morning sex; it’s like a tradition for me. Now those clever sex-aid scientist people have come up with a lube that combines both – Bacon Lubrication, a lube that tastes like Bacon! I’m being serious; I first saw it whilst walking through Soho and was not convinced until I actually tried it. Since then, I’ve been hooked. It’s actually become more popular, and is now available at all good sex shops. Fellatio never tasted so good.

CAT FILM FESTIVAL LIGHTS, PAWS, ACTION.

With the success of sites such as lolcats and funnycatvideos.net, cat popularity is at an all-time high - even to the point where influential blogs and serious online magazines are now posting pictures and videos of those adorable felines doing crazy things. It’s only natural that these cat videos are celebrated right? Move over Cannes and Sundance, there is a new film festival due to hit. Yes, the first Annual Cat Film Festival will launch in London, Summer of 2013. I love the BFI. Meow.

RED

THE TERRIBLE TWINS: SYNESTHESIA*

“

Everything ed with Yves we think of him, blue colour slowly minds, when we

startKlein and when we just imagine appearing in our close our eyes.”

consist of? It’s crazy mad how one colour can be the same to everyone, yet totally different at the same time as, after all, it’s mainly a thing of perception, right? The Terrible Twins, a London-based art duo have an extremely unique eye for colour, and what better way to challenge that, than to

Colour, quite possibly one of the most underrated and underappreciated facets of the world. What does real colour

GOLD

in a slightly different tone. So what is in black and white is color as well. You can imagine the red, when you see the flesh, and rose symbolises pink, church icons could remind you of gold. It is our brain and senses, it is how we mediate in the world, past experiences, symbols, cliches, memory that creates a sense of colour, not the world itself. So if you say that this page is white, we say that this project is in colour.”

have them explore the medium of colour (in particular Yves Klein) without using any colour at all. In this project they “question the perception of the colour and what colour is.” According to Urte, “Colour is a wave of a different length. Colour is a sense. Different creatures perceive colour differently. Probably every human sees things

BLACK

WHAT IS SYNESTHESIA? Synesthesia derives from the Greek words syn and aesthesis, meaning together-perception. People with synesthesia have mixed senses where one sense unconsciously triggers another. Some people can even taste colors and feel words. Everyone with synesthesia experiences it differently, and no two people with synesthesia experience it the same. 20

PINK

DRUGS AND SYNESTHESIA. People often say that they experience Synesthesia-like effects after taking drugs which effect their serotonin levels like LSD, MDMA & Others. CREDITS Make Up- Martyna Prazniewska Models: Lukas, Mia & Gerda. LSD, MDMA & Others. WWW.TERRIBLETWINS.CO.UK 21

THE WHITEBOOK E AC H Q UA R T E R W E A R EC O L L I S I O N GOES ON THE HUNT FOR SOME OF THE C A P I TA L S H OT T E S T C R E AT I V E TA L E N T. T H I S M O N T H S E E S T H E A R R I VA L O F T W O A R T I S T S S P EC I A L I S I N G I N D I G I TA L G R A P H I C D E S I G N . S A M U E L M E N S A H C A R T E R A N D N I YA B R O C K TA K E T H E M E D I U M O F D E S I G N I N TO A N E X T R E A L M . E N J OY

F E AT U R E D : S A M U E L C A R T E R M E N S A H P H OTO BY: TO LU A M U S A N

SAMUEL CARTER MENSAH S

amuel Carter-Mensah is a designer to watch, in fact, strike that – he’s one to stalk. His attention-arresting work, seemingly endless creativity and extensive knowledge of design has made him a driving force in the young designer scene. It’s astounding to think that he had only launched his DeviantArt profile in 2007, but was then invited to exhibit his own work in a Shoreditch gallery held by DeviantArt themselves earlier this year a moment Mensah proclaims was “a first and huge honour” for himself. It’s apparent that Mensah has a huge passion for what he does and truly believes in the power design holds: “Design is the driving force of the art world, every idea starts with a sketch…design has an influence on everything.” Design has always seemed to hold something of a forced backseat in the world of art, but Mensah believes that all that will change as, “museums are starting to embrace graphics even more now, which is a beautiful thing.” Mensah states that he finds his inspirations in many things, mainly centred on fashion photography and film – “I believe everybody finds their connection to different things that are relevant to them and their personal ideas,” he says. Mensah has set up his own design brand, which he has inspirationally named SomeMustBelieve, which he explains is, “a 24

mantra for designers – some must believe in you, your work and your vision; nobody started at the top, so keep on going.” He still says he has a lot of work to do – creatively he wants to grow and get to a place where his “ideas are more complex, but executed in simpler ways.” Mensah has recently created a new font named ECHELON, which has gained him access into the Keystone Design Union (think MENSA for the design world); he has also been working alongside a few clothing labels and has also been appointed as Creative Director of the Mi Firi Ghana

Establishment. “All this while finishing my final year of University. I’m looking to do so much more in 2013 and take my brand SomeMustBelieve to another level.” This guy is going to be EVERYWHERE Words by Melchi Anyinsah. 25

HATTIE STEWART

t’s rare in this day and age that an artist manages to get me excited. Everyone’s style seems to emulate one of the previous greats, but none seem to speak a tone of their own. In a world obsessed with the shock factor, where the only artists seeming to cause conversations are the ones who love drama (Hirst et al), the fun and allure of Pop has been forgotten. East London based artist

Hattie Stewart, equipped with a pencil, paintbrush and canvas is here with that burst of colour we all needed, in a time when it was starting to feel like all happiness was forgotten. Hattie’s art takes the viewer into a world of humour, one in which seedy sex flyers are transformed into über friendly caricature posters deriving laughs, and daunting fashion publications are vandalised into playful comics. She breathes fun!

Drawing inspiration from the world around her in film, fashion, music and art, Hattie believes that, “opening your eyes to the outer world is far more important than searching solely in your own field of creativity.” Having this mindset certainly sets her apart from others in her field; there is a certain uniqueness about her work that others who strive for originality fail to achieve. “If you think that there is something missing out there, then go and create it yourself.” I doubt truer words were ever spoken. Hattie has always wanted to draw for a living, having started in school and all the way through to university – there is undeniably a niche in the market for her illustrations. However, during her years in education, Hattie felt it was more the experience than the grades that changed her life – “my grades had absolutely no effect on my work. What I learned and the people I met at university did though, and that means more.” Having been drawing since a young age, and professionally for two years, Hattie has made a name for herself in the industry as a young and quirky illustrator, and has previously worked with the likes of Adidas, Diesel and Marc Jacobs. She has a bright future ahead of her, and we are delighted to have the chance of working with her – hats off to Hattie! Check Hattie out now, she has a portfolio full of beautiful art, ready for your eyes. h t t p : // h a t t i e s t e w a r t . c o m / Words by Rezwana Uddin

ART THIS QUARTER

From super kawaii lolitas to thought provoking installations which allow us to think about ourselves like never before, this quaters Art scene in London is buzzing! Online editor Melchi gives you the 101 on the eastern extravaganza and creative director Kahmarl fills you in on two of his must-attend exhibitions at the Tate Modern and National Galleries. Both Free, both too good to miss!

words melchi anyinsah

KITTY AND THE BULLDOG Harajuku. That word might strike up a few images; you may remember the entourage of four super cute Japanese girls that surrounded Gwen Stefani during her solo career. Or if you happened to have been living under a rock back in 2006/07 and only just resurfaced, you may know of that rapper chick that calls herself a ‘Harajuku Barbie’… Harajuku is actually the name of a train station located in Shibuya, Japan. It just happens that the world’s supreme creative dressers hang out and shop around that area. These are the real Harajuku girls and

boys - a world of limitless expression. Japan has always been my secret obsession; I guess you could call me ‘Otaku’, which means ‘geek’ but I’m pretty sure it’s used as a rude word describing people who aren’t Japanese – but really wish they were. It’s like being a ‘Wigger’ OMG. Japanese Street Fashion is split up into many different styles. On one hand you have the trendy, stylish look and on the other you have the cosplayers; literally shortened from ‘Costume Player’ these 29

are the ones to look out for – clashing colours, beads and accessories, awesome make up and even bigger hair, really looks like something from ‘The Tribe’ (only Japan came first, sorry Aussies!). The Japanese really couldn’t do plain, it’s just not done. There are so many groups: you have ‘Sweet Lolita’; ‘Male Lolita’; ‘Punk & Gothic Lolita’; ‘Guro Lolita’; ‘Kogal/Kogyaru’; ‘Dolly Kei’; ‘Visual Kei’; ‘Ganguro’ – I could actually go on. ‘Kitty and the Bulldog’ is an exhibition that explores how British Victorian and Punk cultures have inspired the Japanese style ‘Lolita’. The Lolita style emerged during the 90’s from Japan’s love for cuteness or ‘Kawaii’. Lolita is recognisable from its frilly skirts, pastel colours and child-like aura, taking its inspiration from Victorian literature such as Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. There are three styles that all come under that oh-so-cute umbrella, first there’s the ‘Classical Sweet Lolita’ – described as elegant and cute, without blemish; very much childlike and untainted, very much like the quizzing Alice. The first Classical Lolita actually started in the late 1980s with long lasting brand ‘Baby, The Stars Shine Bright’. Secondly, the Gothic Lolita which emerged in 1999 was pioneered by Loli-Label ‘MoiMeme-Moitie’. With its colour motifs of black and ultramarine blue, this style is described as ‘Elegant Gothic Lolita Aristocrat Vampire Romantic’ – it’s a mouthful, but it’s a delightful mouthful; think Bram Stoker’s Dracula meets the 1980’s new romantics. Lastly there’s the Punk Lolita, also from the 90s which takes its style from the British Punk Scene; chains, tartan, spikes, safety pins and wild haircuts. Vivienne West-

wood is described as the ‘doyenne’, a heroine for Punk Lolita designers. In recent times Lolita has gained a new addition to the family, a much more traditional type of Lolita – less sweet than its counterparts but traditional and native. Simply called Japanese Lolita there are two distinct looks – the clean, demure Kimono style and then the dramatic, harsh Samurai style. Notable designers include Takuya Angel. It’s amazing though – a style that gets so much more interesting with time has its roots in a country where quirky style has somewhat dwindled. I’ll always be Kawaii though! It’s an exhibition worth going to see if you’re into Japanese Fashion – there is SO much more to explore though so I suggest grabbing a photo book on it or just going to Google! The exhibition is on until 27th January 2013 at London’s Gem the V&A – and it’s FREE!

YOUR OWN SPACE

Descending Nude, Richard Hamilton 2006 The Estate of Richard Hamilton

RICHARD HAMILTON: THE LATE WORKS

Whats the point in constantly looking through magazines thinking you could do better, but never actually bothering to try? Submitting content to any magazine, not just ours is easy.. the hard part is weather it gets chosen or not. Thats where we’re different. Because we don’t set an agenda or defy ourselves our content is shaped by you.. so in other words, its more likely to be published. Anyway, if your the kind of person that dosen’t believe in taking chances

The works of British Painter and Collage Artist, Richard Hamilton, who sadly passed aged 89, will be on display at the National Gallery from October. This is a great chance to check out some truly amazing work, including large scale computer graphics. OCT 10 - JAN 13, NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY FREE

SUBMIT TODAY

JUAN DOWNEY

wearecollision.com info@wearecollision.com

Downey uses Film, Sculpture and Interactive Performance to challenge perception and self. In other words, mind fuck art that makes you think about how you think about you. Any students wet dream when engrossed in portfolio building! 23 OCT - 26 OCT TATE MODERN FREE 31

NIYA BROCK N

iya Brock albeit new to design is fast making a name for himself. With his bright use of colour and keen eye for detail, his abstract works are beginning to turn the heads of online crowds and curators alike. We caught up with Brock to talk design vs art, and find out a little more. COULD YOU TELL US WHAT THE INSPIRATION WAS BEHIND YOUR ‘UNDER THE SCOPE PROJECT’? ALSO, WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MEDIUM TO WORK IN?

My whole inspiration behind the ‘Under the Scope’ project was to give the audience a different prospective & composition on my photography. My inspiration behind the project actually came from the Nigga’s in Paris – Kanye West & Jay-z video , I like how they mirrored and morphed certain scenes in the visual to give it a kaleidoscope effect , so I decided to experiment with the effect on certain images... and I came up with Under the Scope. 2. My favourite median to work with would probably have to be photography and digital media, I love working on my laptop or computer with some music playing in the background … perfect working state. IN OUR DISCUSS website: email:

FIRST ISSUE WE DIGITAL ART VS

FINE ART, WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE TWO OR COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, OR DO THEY SHARE ATTRIBUTES?

The only thing that they share is ‘Creativity’, but apart from that they are entirely separate. They both come from different ages and different working techniques. I don’t think either one is better than the other ,their too different to compare each other … but I love them both. 4. Fine Art is taken in a very much higher regard than digital are , I think this is because of the process it takes to create them, Fine art to me is mostly oil paintings of human portraits and a few building here and there where as digital art is more abstract & futuristic looking. I think if something takes a long time to do and was very meticulous to create then it deserves a much higher regard than something didn’t require much brain power to create. And Fine art s mostly meticulously hands painted oil painting which I think rightly deserves more respects than digital art. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE WORK OF ART, WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT IT SO MUCH? Mostly architecture and Fashion, because architecture & fashion is mostly useable art rather than something to be put on display

http://be.net/niyabrock niyabrock@ymail.com 32

and just looked at by an audience. My favourite architecture would probably have to be ‘The World Islands’ in Dubai. The world Islands are 300 manmade islands in Dubai constructed out of sand in the Arabian Gulf; it’s one of the biggest projects taken on by man. I like it because of the complexity of the project.

UNDER THE SCOPE - BY NIYA BROCK

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT LONDON AS A CITY IN GENERAL? ARE THERE ANY PLACES IN PARTICULAR WITHIN IT YOU FIND INSPIRATION OR LOVE TO GO? I don’t travel that much and I hope to change this as I grow up but London has been an amazing place to grow up. It has birthed some of the most talented artistic people in the world. It also has provided some of the world most interesting history & culture. I Think for me it’s time to move because I’ve spend 20 years here, but I’m so grateful for them 20 year spend in London because they’ve made me who

I am today . (weathers a bit crap tho ) AND FINALLY, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU IN THE COMING YEAR? This coming year I hope to develop my photography skills a little more at university and also do more collaborations with other talented artists, photographers and animators. But Im in works of setting up my website & showcasing my working in galleries around London so you’ll be seeing a bit more of my work in galleries other than magazines.

HOUSE OF BALLOONS - PHOTO BY THE WEEKND 34

THE WEEKND

t’s nearly 2013 22. MALE. TORONTO. FIRST , amongst a g eneration tired of MENTIONED BY DRAKE re-cycled copyc at bullshit which ha unts the world of TRACK. HOUSE OF BALLOONS commercial, it seems almost impos- from the days when urban music sible to stumb le across new music wasn’t all about drugs and bitches. which almost ce abrtainly is that, new. The Weeknd manages to make Samples have s fast become fu ll on stract artistic beats and fill the top copies and th e word origina arto set l has with subtle and melodic fal pretty much ce ased to exist. Th k, its at’s rangements. In layman’s spea why when so meone like To go bing. ront ough to make your thing, born Abel Tesf aye (better know o en y proctl exa n as Whilst the lyrics aren’t The Weeknd) comes along, s to ha peo- found, and the message he ple get all kille r teen belieber or psy- give isn’t exactly Black Panther, cho style cra zy. Naturally, ws allo sic mu I’d be even Kanye West, his counting mysel f as one of th me ose for escape and revival in the sa said people bec ause its only ob g. rin I vi- sitting; the songs never get bo ous how much I fucking luffzz himz. guess his music kind of takes me back t its hot off If you don’t kn to Prince, in the sense tha ow The Weekn d, ba- the shelf in abundance and quirky in sically think Dra l. ke as a singer with sound but exciting all the while stil a cool old scho ol urban throw back cography inFavourite tracks on the dis Thursday EP, clude The Zone from his and Trust Iswhich features Drake <3 w pace but sues; both of which take a slo crack whore still manage to feel like a o your party has just slipped acid int r park rave. mug at the new years eve ca the internet, Check him out now on a contendquite possibly becomming guy to miss er for the 2012 hardest the dark agaward, your a little bit in re already. est if you haven’t got the ND.COM H T T P : // T H E - W E E K N D X O @ T H E W E E K Words by Kahmarl Gordon 35

Got your alibi?

PRETOX

n a health freak world where we count our calories more than we count actual numbers, there are an array of different concoctions and potions that really don’t so anything.

(natural flavouring of course) Citrus, which is an enriched source of Vitamin C and Pomegranate, which boosts clear, healthy skin. It can’t get any better!

I wouldn’t fret though, there is an amazing product called ‘Alibi’ that boasts itself as the first ‘Pretox’ health drink, basically a mash up of the best nutrients that your body needs to keep functioning without the additives that will mess yo’ ass right up. The drink comes in two flavours

Head over to our website to find an interview with the makers of Alibi, and a chance to win some goodies!

PERFECT NIGHT(IN) your alone and lets not forget summer wasn t even sunny, SO SCREW GOING OUT, PLAN THE PERFECT NIGHT IN

J.CREW NIGHTWEAR (RIGHT) So what if it’s raining outside, noone loves you and there’s nothing else to live for? It does not, in any way; shape or form, allow you to look a mess! You are allowed to look nice at home you know! Go on and get yourself this comfortable, yet becoming J. Crew Night Outfit with its classic design and selection of colours to suit your mood. Besides, you never know who’s going to knock at your door ;). NET-A-PORTER - £80

YES DELI GARAGE MULTI NOODLES You and I both know that noodles are the saviour of any broke-ass student! Seriously; you can make ANYTHING with noodles. Now imagine noodles, but in shapes – it’s like being 5 again, only with essays and a loan debt looming over your head… As pricey as they are, these pasta shapes are well worth the buy, so get them when loan drops. HA. Deli Garage has a plethora of foods that are re-imagined and packaged in quirky and unique ways. See, cooking can be fun! No more beans on toast for you. HARVEY NICHOLS - £12.95 TAILS, ELDERFLOWER COLLINS Not enough to get you singing along to the chorus line of The Sound of Music, but with just the right amount of flavour and kick; these Tails Elderflower Collins mini-drinks are just the right addition to a cheeky night in. Perfect on their own or mixed down with some Lemonade. The hardest part about these mini-delights will be not racing back to Harvey Nicks for more! HARVEY NICHOLS - £4.50 37

FYODOR GOLAN

yodor Golan kicked of SS13 at The Waldorf Hotel with an amazingly bright, yet seriously feminine collection which drove its inspiration from the book â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Blue Tattooâ&#x20AC;?. Dark themes were very apparent and the collection could easily be likened to a beautiful disaster, or even the inner conflict between the beauty of self. Amber prints were present and overall the show was amazing. Fyodor Golan are truly favourites! 38

SPRING/SUMMER 2013 Twice a year, every year; some of Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most exclusive venues open their doors and play host to the countries hottest fashion talent. At times, hard to understand but still all the more alluring; Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s designers continue to inspire and please masses of fashion enthusiasts world wide. But what goes un-noticed throughout all this is that these very pieces, will not only be snapped up by the trend conscious, but their presence will inspire designers worldwide, and next year even your granny will be rocking the latest trends. Good or bad? You decide. We chose a lovely backround picture which we feel encompases fashion week at its most comical of times. Its fashion dahling!

PPQ

nature pieces – like the cocktail dresses she was known for. Other notable fans include Rihanna, Daisy Lowe and Noisettes frontwoman Shingai Shoniwa who, of course, was present last night – along with Jodie Harsh and countless others. This season sees pink and brown palettes featuring heavily, along with illustrative patterns and wild colour accents, actually getting us excited over next summer, despite the fact that we hardly got one this year.

HAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU SIT TWO QUEENS AND A PHOTOGRAPHER AMONGST A FEW HUNDRED OF LONDON’S PREMIÈRE FASHIONISTA’S, STYLISH CELEBRITIES AND NOTABLE FACES? THE PPQ SS13 SHOW OF COURSE!

The collection stems from a mistake made via iPhone predictive text. Disco Tech became Fiasco Tech, and thus the invention of a bright and colourful clubready collection. The reason it works, and continues to draw crowds that only grow in numbers, is because it doesn’t dictate. PPQ is for a girl who doesn’t want to strip down to a minimalist look in order to retain elegance. Yet they still understand that keeping that elegance doesn’t require bleeding the colours to leave clinical whites and greys. Molyneaux and Parker flirt with love hearts, and characterise with French stripes; each cut into a shape that allows for a feminine figure to really shine through. Their vision is saturated with colour – blacks and whites hardly feature in this season’s collection and of course, screams London.

It’s 7.30 in the evening, and after much struggle and countless cab rides around the city, we roll up to Goldsmiths Hall, greeted by a queue extended half way around the block, leading any passersby to believe the night had only just begun; and trust me, it had. Amy Molyneaux and Percy Parker launched fashion label PPQ in 1992, and since then have managed to capture the attention of the capital’s most sought-after personalities and creatives, in an understated fashion reminiscent of Keyser Söze in The Usual Suspects. The kind of situation where everyone knows there is a gangster present in the room, but they never have an actual grasp on who they really are, making them all the more prevalent and generally amazing for doing what they do. I guess that’s why every year, a new generation of fashion conscious innovators clock onto their elegant-but-cute dresses and colourful patterns; allowing the queues to get longer and the essence of PPQ to spread wider.

We LOVE PPQ. Although at times hard to find, it certainly is a label worth hunting down. Their show truly topped Friday’s bill, giving all other established designers a reason to continue to work hard on future collections, and inspiring a new generation of fashion talent. Molyneaux and Parker really do have the eye, and WeAreCollision bow in their presence. YOU ARE THE TRUTH X

PPQ have, in recent years, dressed the late iconic star Amy Winehouse and were responsible for some of her sig-

words Kahmarl Gordon photography Mr Kyle Ross 40

WORLD MUSIC

When we think of the term ‘world music’, copious amounts of images spring to mind. For some, it’s the image of a seemingly derelict section at your local HMV or for others; it’s the music your parents admire and insist on blasting on a Sunday morning. To those who don’t really know what an Atlas is, world music is probably also known as that poor influx of euro-dance-pop that the US keep churning out, oop. However I’m not one of them and this is my selection of artists from different areas of the world, the real world that I know will get you excited and most importantly, get you whinin’ your waist down. words by Edwina Mukasa

nd Idol a p o P w tralian 2007. I kno s u A in reer in e to her im stant a e c t n lo o a so en du sac tender wa n to pursue be mistak o shade in y 2 IA g L A in R s T it ’d US op ga y (n The C ut you EE – A lian p he be onalit RICKI L nty Austra s before s eryl Cole? B open pers he Sex and moderate t u h d iva d This ja d Young D : another C elatable an uch It” from she gaine r local ra, r n g o n a T u d in e o k p la n girl b e thin rmances a ingle “Can’t e. Since th rk for a po l music wh ’r u o y o a t s o b f s s a r w r r lo s h e e e u w live p nise h cross the g decided to d Univ r for the A ee g n o iv a c s s e r m to it a pre ht Fre and tea a men tralia as a h ment r and ou mig ed). Y ack that w ger in Aus w manage r. Currently lbum “Fea fused antr sin ne -in ree da . sound as a solo g to a ol in her ca tly release and dance e change in n s ig s ic s n r succe ion before more cont e Her rece Like That” makes a n e t It e at dio st to tak ice, Ricki L e hit “Do so tha r , e a r h e u o d q p op allowe n of The V eyonce-es a soa m io B o s r r f h e ie v ome s wit G-DRAGON – SOUTH KOREA result d hasn’t c ” m o n d a , Already a mega-star in his native Ko. Oh thems rea and throughout Asia, G-Dragon is a PLAYLIST member of K-pop - or Korean pop - boy band BIGBANG. Since their debut in RICKI LEE - Raining Diamonds 2006, BIGBANG managed to become AGNES - Walk Out of Here one of the biggest boy bands from Korea, spreading their popularity across conG.DRAGON - One of A Kind tinents with world tour stops in America M. POKORA - On est la and the UK and with artists like Ludacris 42

and

As tet, som the bac K-p Als

The b see eautif u min gly l Swed that f e e and she’s s lt like o first ca t me u t the hailing ill prod r last dos o our a from ucin mus e dev g of A ttentio elop ic indus a musi new g m c Ame try m ed a usic nes b n with t com r n ack he s i . i x p c d Fr a e s righ e AGN t so n prod volved ince sh tition b om the in 200 ingle “ ES u a R u 9 ew nex as 1 ckgrou small . Howe elease – SWED t ye nd for cers, s sound to ar he o for t 7 s n ents ver Me” EN he . Now d in h wn V its pt ? I th s Euro omethi w ink w vision ng a ed to w songs 24, he er nat änersb safe t hich ive os tre litt rn or , is or e ow e it t n’t it a le mor k with ss. Pre ew alb land, s g, Swe ay e h b d v o u o th em; out tim matur nes fro iously a m deli e’s bee en v e. W n ew our m e i min in rs S e inte i riors indulg th Swe weden g to w a more or d e to wer e pr d in som en taki cultiv k with a n acti g the te the call e of th h y im e port ir mus elm at ical ed f rom t ther ale…

and Diplo collaborating with their music.

look provides a cool outset and look to his musical package. Frequently wearing designers like Chrome Hearts, Givenchy and Balmain, this guy knows how to stand out from the crowd – and look good whilst doing so. Now with his most recent release named “One of a Kind” out in September, the title seems fitting for this young and talented trendsetter.

As the songwriter and rapper of the quintet, it’s of no surprise that he’ll be releasing some of his own solo music. His last effort, the album ‘Heartbreaker’ was a big hit back in 2009, arguably the biggest rise of K-pop as it continued to expand overseas. Also known for his style, his androgynous 43

SERGE DENIMES by oliver proudlock

IF YOUR LOOKING FOR A NICE PERFUME OR A PRETTY LITTLE TOPSHOP RANGE THEN OLIVER PROUDLOCK WON’T BE YOUR GO TO GUY. ALTHOUGH MADE IN CHELSEA, HIS DESIGNS TELL STORIES. HE’S TRULY AN ARTIST.

“HIS LATEST

Usually when a ‘celebrity’ ventures into the fashion world the results are manufactured and cringeworthy. Star fragrances are a hype, smelling only marginally better than Lynx Africa, and clothing collections look like the result of a spoiled child being allowed to play in the haberdashery and textile departments at John Lewis. So naturally we were a little hesitant when we agreed to go down to the White Smoke Showroom to see Oliver Proudlock’s latest designs. What started as a snigger at poor Proudlock’s expense, soon turned into a bunch of smarmy students looking on, gobsmacked, at a carefully crafted and considered (not to mention well-designed!) collection.

COLLECTION HAS A MUCH DARKER THEME. RELIGIOUS CROSSES, ILLUMINATI ICONOGRAPHY AND KANYE WEST.” WWW.SERGEDENIMES.COM @SOSERGE ages of Kanye West lead us to believe pop culture has seriously influenced the newest pieces. Proudlock carefully demonstrates the ability to recognise and appreciate the mainstream, without calling on clichés which make it feel like your father’s trying to dress you for the Christmas Disco. With this new collection, there is also a range of t-shirts that have been created to raise funds for a Brazilian charity called Barrier Vasco. Aptly titled Rio Carnival ’78, Proudlock will be donating a percentage of the profits to Barrier Vasco. To put it simply, he believes in giving back when you can.

Not that you can really blame us for our pessimism. We, like most people, are used to seeing Oliver Proudlock on Made in Chelsea. Fans of the show regularly get to watch his friends mooching around South West London throwing down money like it was worthless…although during these times of economic uncertainty, that could well be round the corner. Anyway, what the programme doesn’t want you to know is that Proudlock’s actually a pretty cool, grounded artist and designer. When the label was founded in 2011, the main idea behind Serge DeNimes was that it would be a way to provide pieces of Proudlock’s art to friends and family. The products are entirely crafted by the man himself, and a lot of inspiration has been drawn from his mother, Lena Proudlock – a renowned photographer and designer in her own right.

You can log online now to WeAreCollision.com and check out a full interview, in which our publisher Lydia gets up close and personal and talks to Oliver Proudlock about the latest pieces. Obviously, being designed for men, the line oozes masculinity, so we’ve femmed it up a notch (and turned it slightly odd) by adding a nice touch of lipstick. MWAH! XOX

The latest Serge DeNimes collection has a much darker theme. Religious crosses, Illuminati iconography and im-

Joeseph Wears Top - Serge DeNimes Pants - Topshop 46

boring bitches PHOTOGRAPHY: MR KYLE ROSS MAKE-UP: LAUREN REYNOLDS HAIR: JOEL BENJAMIN CREATIVE DIRECTION & STYLING: KAHMARL GORDON & REZWANA UDDIN MODELS: NINA & GEMMA JANES (PROFILE) ASST: JACK SHEEN 49

Nina Wears Top -QUILT Skirt - Soojin Lee Collar- Urban Outfitters Glasses - Baroque Eyes 50

Gemma Wears Glasses - American Apparel Top & Shorts - Urban Outfitters 51

Top -Jacky Tsai Jacket - Dans La Vie Tights - House of Holland 52

Top -Fam Irvoll Tights - Topshop 53

Mara Wears Jumper - Forever 21 Pants - House of Holland 54

THE SATANIST

Roman Polanski must really know something that we don’t... Remember his film Rosemary’s Baby? As I found myself glued to the television screen, screaming with Rosemary as she was getting daggered by that filthy beast. I got to wondering if there were any REAL Satanists out there... As I hear you cry duh I feel the need to defend myself by arguing: if so, they really are quite good at keeping schtum! The Satanist is an article which aims to explore the real world of a satanist. Goats ‘n’ All! Words - Melchizedek Anyinsah Layout - Kahmarl Gordon Photography - Mr Kyle Ross Model - Mara

Pants - House of Holland 56

more about, the belief that Satan is actually a deity and worshipped as one…

Genuine Satanists are, understandably, quite hard to find. I mean, really, I wouldn’t want people to know that at the stroke of midnight, me and a secret collective of goat-loving rapists sacrifice children, and partake in orgies that were intended to mystically summon the presence of the dark lord himself. But then I found myself asking myself, “Are these activities really on the 666 agenda?” I was sure that some of them could be really lovely people who weren’t spending their evenings planning the next Jeffrey Dahmer spectacular. Are Satanists evil? Or are they just people who never really outgrew their “misunderstood” phase?

We all know what many of the single God religions think about the world. They’ve made their opinions known when it comes to issues such as homosexuality, suicide, IVF and abortion… but what is the general consensus of a Devil worshipper? What do they think about the impending end of the world? And, more importantly, are they really hell-bent on bringing about the coming of the anti-Christ? I wouldn’t bring out your crucifixes quite yet! My search took me to a place that, arguably, had nothing to do with Satanism. Having failed to find any portals into the Satanic underworld, I found myself in the realm of online dating; where it seems as though anything has the ability to become some kind of niche fetish. Something told me that this was going to be fun! I plucked up enough courage to message a lady who, according to her profile, was a ‘high-priestess of Satan’ and was also into chains, leather and female dominance. Scary much? Thank the Lord she lived overseas and the kinkiest thing she could make me do was conduct a Skype interview in my panties. She would have been the perfect interviewee, if only she’d replied. Maybe next time I endeavour to find me some underground action, I’ll upload pictures of myself in more compromising positions!

I decided to go on a search; you see, I wanted to find myself a real Satanist and ask them a few questions. Like any serious investigative journalist, my search for the truth began on, umm… Google – but it was all the basic stuff, all speculation and no reality. I read up on the practices and found that there were two types of Satanism. On one hand you had Anton LaVey and his ‘Church of Satan’, which really isn’t Satanism at all; it’s over-zealous, self-indulgent atheism and that’s boring! The second type, Theistic Satanism, is much darker – think Aleister Crowley in a black cape, with a black cat in a dark room speaking Latin backwards. That’s the type I needed to find out

Eventually, I was left feeling dejected and disappointed. I had found leads in the most obscure places, only to find them useless - I had given up. As a last ditch attempt, I logged onto YouTube and began to search for my next potential Satanist. After scrolling through

“CHRIST WILL MAKE HIS FINAL RESURRECTION ON THE EARTH, AND WILL SAVE ALL THE GOOD PEOPLE LEFT HERE.” 57

an infinite selection of what could only be described as a long hanging rope of utter rubbish, I finally came across a young “IT IS POSSIBLE THE lady, a student, who caught my attention. Quite fittingly, she was going by the alias ANTI CHRIST IS ON THIS EARTH of ThySerpentsTongue and refreshingly AS WE SPEAK. there were no gimmicks, no eccentric and YOU JUST NEVER KNOW” elaborate costuming, no weird title credits - just her in a university dorm, much school became extremely difficult. I belike you or I. Reluctantly I sent her a mescame sick during lectures, it was literally sage, to which she replied and agreed. hell for me there. Then my mom let me quit. At the age of 12, I decided the CathPraise Jesus, I had found a Saolic faith was not my way of life. I decided tanist! Irony is fantastic. I was to be a Satanist, it was my calling. Like the Catholics choose to follow the WHAT EXACTLY IS THE GENERAL path of God, I was on the opposite side. I BELIEF OF A THEISTIC SATANIST? believe my destiny drew me towards this. I believe I was destined to be this way. Theistic Satanism is the traditional worship of Satan. Its like anti Christianity. We WHAT ARE YOUR PERSONaccept The Bible; we have read The Bible. AL GAINS FROM WORSHIPPING? We believe that everything happened. We believe that there are angels and deLike Christians and Catholics, they hope mons, Heaven and Hell. We all believe in to be saved when The Rapture occurs, the Lord. Yet, we are on the other side. and to have a peaceful life in Heaven in the end. As for myself, I have a slightly difWHY SATANISM? WHAT DREW ferent idea. When The Rapture happens, YOU TOWARDS SUCH A FAITH? it could be long after I’m dead as far as we know. Christ will make his final resI believe that I was destined to follow the urrection on the earth, and will save all path of Satan before birth. My family were the good people left here. They will go to always traditional Catholics. Growing up, heaven. The people left behind will have I was put into Sunday school, and that is two options, to accept Satan or live in fear where the freaky stuff began, and I beto be killed by the demons who will terrocame closer to Satanism. I began havrise the Earth on this day. So I hope that ing strange dreams involving Satan over when this happens, and when I choose a time span of a few months. Sunday Satan, he will recognise my enduring faith for him for the years I have been “BEING A THEISTIC SATANIST worshiping him, and I will be saved and MEANS YOU ACCEPT earned reward in Hell. If I die before this day, I also hope to be recognized in Hell CHRISTIANITY, YET YOU for my faith and the choice of his path.

BELIEVE THE OTHER SIDE OF IT”

GENERALLY PEOP L E 58

ARE WARY OF SATANISTS, IS IT COMMON KNOWLEDGE FOR I acYOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY? cept all other WHAT ARE PEOPLE’S REACTIONS? faiths. If you are a theistic Satanist, you cannot have one without the People are wary of Satanists because of other. You cannot worship Satan and bethe media. The media makes us look like lieve there is no God. God created Satan. crazy serial killers who sacrifice lambs, Being a theistic Satanist means you acthanks to movies. This is not true at all. cept Christianity, but you believe the The people who really end up like that, other side of it. God is the wrong one; such as murderers who say, “The dev- he is the hypocrite and a power-hunil made me do it,” are mentally ill. Real gry God. So yes, in a sense we are anSatanists don’t do any of this crap. We ti-God. But we do acknowledge he is are generally good people and private there, and was first. God is the evil one. people. As for my friends and family, my very close friends know about my be- IN ONE OF YOUR VIDEOS, liefs. My family, however, don’t – and YOU MENTIONED ‘DESPISING hopefully never will. Since my moth- THE WORLD’. TELL ME MORE... er is Catholic, it would break her heart. I love her too much to hurt her like that. Traditionally, we were put onto this world by God. God created this Earth. Theistic DO YOU ATTEND MEETINGS? DO Satanists despise God, he is the hypoYOU GUYS HAVE A, LIKE, ‘CHURCH’? crite and betrayer. So therefore, it’s easy to despise this world. Yet, we must live I do not currently attend any meetings. here like everyone else until we are done. There is no place to really attend meetings in my area. If there was, I definitely THE BOOK OF REVELATION GIVES would go. Also like I stated before, Sa- A THOROUGH ACCOUNT OF THE tanists are generally private people, so its ‘LAST DAYS’... WHAT DOES THE hard to find others with similar interests. AVERAGE SATANIST BELIEVE You never really know who is a Theistic ABOUT THE END OF THE WORLD? Satanist, unless you know them really well. Most people don’t know I am, either. I’m a If you are discussing The Rapture, I regular university student – people don’t somewhat got into that a few questions usually ask about my religious beliefs. earlier. Paul wrote, “The Lord himself will descend from heaven...and the dead in YOUR VIEWS ON CHRISTI- Christ will rise first.” But he adds that, “we ANITY: ARE YOU ANTI-GOD? who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds “I DO BELIEVE THAT DEMONIC to meet the Lord in the air.” My mother taught me that The Rapture or final resPOSSESSION COULD POSSIBLY urrection will be the end. Christ will come to Earth, and all of the good Christians BE DIVINE IN THEISTIC will rise up with him, and those left in purSATANISM.” gatory as well. She told me it will be hell

on Earth for those left behind, demons will ravage the earth, and we will all be left in a destroyed hellish land. We can either stay, or join a pact with Satan. I believe that this will happen some day, I don’t necessarily believe in one or the other, The Rapture, the resurrection, or the second coming of Christ; I simply believe that one chaotic day will happen. It could be tomorrow, or a million years from now. But I do believe it will happen.

So therefore, anyone can worship who they please as long as they don’t bother me. So the LaVeyans I look up to for worshiping a figure of freedom and power. DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE AFTERLIFE? I do believe in the afterlife. There is a Heaven, and Hell. I believe that there are different parts of Hell. If you have accepted Satan in life, he will accept you in the afterlife and give you praise, not punishment.

IS THE ANTI-CHRIST ALREADY HERE? IS HE/SHE A FIGURE THAT YOU CON- WE’VE ALL SEEN THE EXORCIST AND SIDER IMPORTANT TO YOUR WOR- STILL CAN’T STOMACH A PEA SOUP! IS SHIP, LIKE JESUS TO CHRISTIANITY? DEMONIC POSSESSION SOMETHING THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED DIVINE? It is possible the anti-Christ is on this earth as we speak. You just never know. I do believe that demonic possession I think that there are angels and de- could possibly be divine in Theistic Samons among us at this moment. There tanism. However it is a very real, and a is a spiritual war going on between dangerous thing that I do not wish upon these two sides as we speak. As for anyone. It does kill people, and does go the anti-Christ, it is possible he or she on today. There are still exorcists in the is here. But I do not think it is time yet. church. It is something I take very seriously. If it happens, it happens for a reason. LaVeyan Satanists are different from Theistics. They see Satan as a figure of Before the interview ended, I asked her if freedom, not actually worshiping him she had anything more to add. In that inas a deity or a Lord. Like I said, I do not stant her eyes became an unnatural shade deny other people their religions. I could of black, her face twisted with malicious incare less what you believe in. The world tent and she began to recite something in is too busy for arguments over religion. reverse Latin, her voice a thousand times I’m a full-time college student, working deeper...I’m kidding! Rather, she said this... hard on my studies. I don’t really care if people accept my religion, and I don’t “I do not encourage hurting others, or give two looks on yours. Being a Theistic animals. People who do that are menSatanist isn’t my job, it’s just my beliefs. tally ill and need help. Real Satanists do not harm human beings or animals in Just like my mother is a Catholic but any way. For years the media and the works full-time. No one should go around Church have made people believe that shoving their beliefs down other people’s we are horrible people; but we are northroats. I don’t do that, but I do share mal people just like any other religion.” my beliefs to others who are interested. I told you she was nice, didn’t I? 60

EDIBLE (or not)

here’s a new trend among the fashion outlets: Insect Sweets. That’s right, sweets made from actual bugs (and other creepy crawlies). The sweets, from the company Edible, are sold in Selfridges and Harvey Nichols as well as on the Edible website. Evidently, these sweets will appeal to a select few; those who have travelled to exotic places and tasted these ‘delicacies’, or those who are curious to try something different. The company not only sells insect treats, but also snakes, plant based food and a coffee that is made from Civet cat faeces. These are not for the faint hearted. You can read a full article about Edible on our website, which is available and updated daily. wearecollision.com is the place to be, even if bugs aren’t taking your fancy!

THE BOOK IS DEAD

“Whilst it is great that people are still reading,

bcause of the popularity of e-readers, it is sad that, arguably, the most significant

invention

history, the source of all knowledge for thousands of years, is slowly but surely being re-

r.i.p

book

es d a sh y fift f sh** o

r is it? This has been something that I have been pondering for some time. With the rise of the Kindle and e-book, sales of novels have certainly dwindled. This will be noticeably problematic for the smaller, independent bookshops. But, in the long run, it may cause issues for all bookshops, especially as websites like Amazon sell books cheaper in all formats. Whilst the book isn’t going to die out anytime soon, I cannot help but visualise the distant (or maybe not-too-distant) future, a world without ‘hold-in-your-hand’ books. With the exponential growth of technology over the past hundred years or so, it follows that, in future generations, they will see no need for an actual book as they will be available online, on e-readers, or on some even more developed invention. The book will become a pastime, a memory, something rare that only a select few will get hold of and read together to learn about the past. I may be over-exaggerating, but when we look back through history, so many things have been replaced by more efficient versions. Look at the development of the MP3; kids today don’t know what a record or cassette

des *

effect as actually turning a real page. tape is and, very soon, CDs will be a distant memory. There are facts in support of this; according to the website iSuppli Market Intelligence, book sales will have reduced to $22.7 billion (£14.5 billion) in 2014, compared with $25.0 billion (£16 billion) in 2010, a total decrease of about 9.2-9.3%. In the first 6 months of 2011, book sales declined by 3% more than the previous year. The book could easily go the same way as the record – something that literature connoisseurs collect, while the rest of us enjoy our cheap digital formats, which are easier to reproduce and distribute.

Whilst it is great that people are still reading, more so because of the popularity of e-readers, it is sad that, arguably, the most significant invention in history, the source of all knowledge for thousands of years, is slowly but surely being replaced by a screen. A friend of mine, a university lecturer, was discussing how internet-based sources are being increasingly used in the classroom. A little over ten years ago, before the Internet, everything was taught around books. If you didn’t know something, you went to the library or a shop to get the relevant information.

Some writers are publishing straight to e-book. Completely bypassing the paper copy. Kindles are smaller and light enough to carry around everywhere, especially as you are able to have numerous texts in one easily accessible place. In the future, or even now, it will make sense to have one of these in order to consolidate your library into one manageable space. I admit that I have a Kindle and it is useful, particularly on holiday when trying to save space/ weight. They are a brilliant invention, but they will never replace books; clicking the ‘next page’ button doesn’t have the same

Now, “the communications industry is growing…towards electronic forms of entertainment, news, and education” (Gale Global Industry Overviews: 2011). If you want to find something out, you go to Google and click ‘search’ This new method, albeit easier and quicker, provides problems for many, because there is so much false information online, making it hard to determine the truth. I use academic databases online for my work, to make research easier, but I much prefer being able to go to the British Library and work in its beautiful study areas, ponder in its cafés and have access to any book ever published.

“As a result of the

I love the smell and feel of books - especially old ones - the satisfaction you get upon finishing a novel, putting it down, and feeling more enriched. In a weird way, I am also obsessed with book covers; vintage copies with hard back, leather covers that have gold type for the title; beautiful cover designs that may have surreal artwork, or a classic painting that illustrates a seminal text like Frankenstein. I even compare the covers of

Fifty Shades phenomenon, sales of e-books have finally overtaken sales of books.”

the same book to decide which is best to buy (for example, I recently saw the most beautiful edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, illustrated with abstract and surreal drawings that fit well with the opium-induced text). The saying goes, “never judge a book by its cover”, but just from covers alone you can learn so much about a book - what it represents, what it’s about, and so on. With an e-book, you don’t get that. Often, you can find the cover, but it is plain and uninteresting. Something positive about the e-reader, however, is that the cost of books is relatively cheap. Many of the Classics are free because they are out of copyright, thus you can fill your reader with Austen, Dickens, or Shakespeare at no cost to yourself. Those that you do pay for are, generally, sold at a reduced price. This is really beneficial to people like me, who are students and need to save money. Then again, on Amazon, all books are a few pounds cheaper, so to buy an actual novel also saves you money. The issue with Amazon is that the discounted price of everything means that less people are willing to go into bookshops, as they can often be deemed too expensive when compared to Internet sellers. If we want to save the bookshop, we must find a way to make new books cheaper. There are charity bookshops that sell used books super-cheap. These I love, because you can find old editions of texts that have a history and are more special than a modern copy. There is also the sense of instant gratification, as you don’t have to wait for delivery. Another issue is that people just don’t read enough books anymore, particularly the Classics. People learn these stories through film or, as students often do, through the Internet. A film has nothing on a good book; it misses key

components, or can be so far from the original text that it seems pointless to be advertised as ‘Based on…’ something. However, once in a while, there will be a book that becomes a phenomenon, getting people reading again (although there should always be excitement over novels). That has occurred this year, with the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy quickly moving toward becoming the bestselling book of all time. While the reasons for its popularity are flawed, it does suggest something about the kind of book people are willing to read nowadays. There is not a mass hysteria over academic or classic texts, as there once was, instead people are choosing to read easy, poorly written books that do nothing to challenge or stimulate the imagination. No one is enriched by these ‘novels’; they are like reality TV shows; so bad but so popular. Notably, following the numerous ill-humoured references to Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles, sales of this wonderful novel have increased dramatically, but for the wrong reasons. Would all these people have chosen to read the novel had it not been for Ana Steele’s comparison between Christian Grey and Angel Clare or Alec D’Urberville? Unlikely. In one way, then, people are still reading and learning, but the books they choose to read may have limited literary merit. As a result of the Fifty Shades phenomenon, sales of e-books have finally overtaken sales of books. Amazon is, ac-

“People are choosing to read easy, poorly written books that do nothing to challenge or stimulate the imagination. No one is enriched by these ‘novels’; “ 64

IT WOULD BE REALLY STUPID OF US TO LAY OUT AN ARTICLE ABOUT PEOPLE NO LONGER READING BOOKS, WITHOUT GIVING SOLUTIONS TO THE QUANDRY.. READ!! NOT SUGGESTING BOOKS WOULD ONLY FURTHER OUR IGNORANCE.. ITS PROBABLY QUITE OBVIOUS WHERE WE’RE LEADING. TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF BECKY’S TOP CHOICES FOR READS. NOT ONLY FOR NOW, FOREVER. *HADOUKEN*

THE GREAT GATSBY – F. SCOTT FITZGERALD

fyi

Set in affluent 1920s America, the novel centres round the narrator Nick Calloway and his perceptions of the mysterious, elusive and extravagant Gatsby. The novella follows the friendships formed by Nick, as well as the many myths surrounding Gatsby. Fitzgerald accurately comments on the decline of the American Dream and the greed, cynicism and emptiness of the upper class at this time.

cording to the This is Money, selling 114 Kindle books to 100 print books. Whilst this is a small increase, it suggests that in subsequent years, the novel will continue to be outsold by the e-book until, eventually, it dies out completely. Unfortunately, this will be inevitable and there is very little anyone can do to stop it. People just don’t crave a good novel like they used to. The main culprit will be the constant influx in film, television and the Internet. Books are ‘old fashioned’, but they do need to be saved. These changes are only minor at the moment, but they need to be addressed. Perhaps bookshops and libraries should set up incentives to encourage more readers. Some have book clubs, but they are badly advertised and the books are often unappealing. The media has a strong influence in the way people think, so advertising through television or social media

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD– HARPER LEE Poignant story dealing with the issues of prejudice, rape and racism in the 1930s Deep South from the perspective of young, impressionable and accommodating Scout. An innocent black man is trialled for the rape of a white woman. and Scout’s father, Atticus, is his kindly lawyer. A heart-warming, emotional tale of acceptance and morality, the novel remains socially and politically significant today.

would have a positive effect upon book sales. Many will deny that the book and bookshops are dying, but this will be a long and slow process, the beginnings of which we are seeing. The Fifty Shades example has only highlighted the decrease in book sales, but who knows where books and bookshops will be within the next 10, 20, or 50 years. Let’s hope that we don’t lose the book completely. 65

MASTHEAD EDITOR IN CHIEF Rezwana Uddin (rez@wearecollision.com) PUBLISHER Lydia Mills (lydia@wearecollision.com) CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kahmarl Gordon (kahmarl@wearecollision.com) ACCOUNT MANAGER Craig Davies (craig@wearecollision.com) EDITOR AT LARGE Leonie Cumiskey (leonie@wearecollision.com) FASHION EDITOR Becky Snowden (becky@wearecollision.com) STYLE EDITOR Alex Vallely (alex@wearecollision.com) PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Kyle Ross (kyle@wearecollision.com) CONTRIBUTORS Samuel Carter Mensah, Niya Brock, The Terrible Twins, Jessica Felicity, Neil Dumar, Valena Tzv, Declan Attenborrow. Hattie Stewart, Joel Benjamin, Lauren Reynolds, Thomas Vonier, Cat Wise, Mara Scherer, Damien Connery, Michael Savva, Jack Sheen SPECIAL THANKS TO BLOW PR & White Smoke PR for some amazing outfits! MODELS

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