packlight diaries 1st edition - Lisboa
‘The most challenging part in dressing well is knowing how to be elegant while being casual’ Umberto Angeloni
packlight Conceptualized with love by Armando Cabral & Kalaf Angelo + With the generous contribution of: Photography
Columns
Frederico Martins Simon Frederick Sérgio Santos Lillian Santos Herberg
A Golden Boy Ana Rodrigues Bidarra Ana Sofia Asheru Noir
Styling
Design
Paulo Gomes
Vasco Chaparro
Editing
Special thanks to
Kalaf Angelo Vasco Chaparro
Maria Bs Pedro Oliveira
© Packlight editions
www.packlighteditions.com
Images from Packlight Editions Lisboa - Video Lookbook
Direction
Production
Pedro Oliveira
Kalaf Angelo and Armando Cabral for Packlight Editions
Direction Assistant Production Assistant ClĂĄudio Farinha Styling Paulo Gomes
Maria Bs Models Armando Cabral Fernando Cabral Mauro Lopes HĂŠlio Morais
LESS IS MORE
> Kalaf Angelo Armando Cabral
Packlight Editions is carefully conceptualized with the intention to create a platform where we could share the products we admire. Products which we have gathered on our journeys across the globe. We specialize in menswear, good and simple design. After all, less is more. Perhaps, because we value products beyond their aesthetics, we want the stories behind each single piece, the drive and motivation of the creators. Yet, just as important is the way we relate to pieces in our daily life. Packlight is not a lifestyle; it is a culture and we are part of this culture. The pieces put together
for this first edition reflect a state of mind regarding fashion, but also the attitude that we exhibit on a daily basis. This is culture born out of necessity, a lifestyle, and a concept store dedicated to global urban diversity. A platform which covers stories about upcoming and young brands, follows rising stars, dashing individuals and draws tasty routes to secret cities and cities with secrets. When the daylight fades into darkness and the morning glory gives birth to a brand new day: we approach it with love.
‘It's never about whether I'm the best-dressed man in the room. Instead it's about comfort and the flow. That's the only way to look good.’ Pharrell Williams
‘Only great minds can afford a simple style.’ Stendhal
packlight Men’s Pop Up Store 1st Edition - Lisboa photo presentation by O Alfaiate Lisboeta February four, five and six
Rua D. Pedro V, 74
FABRICO INFINITO UNLIKE REPETITION
> Ana Rodrigues Bidarra
We love good design, and nowadays, we can’t neglect its importance. Cultural awareness is getting out of the bunkers, soldiers shooting everywhere, having the sky as their limit. Unlike before, talented volunteers are not disguised in the battlefield anymore. It's overt: in the streets, on the WWW, in galleries, museums, studios, your messy kitchen: Wherever! We went for a walk around Principe Real, Lisbon, one sunny afternoon, and found one of the first design stores in the area; Fabrico Infinito. A place made possible by Marcela Brunken, the owner of the place, a nice and very interesting lady. The concept behind the store is ecological design, which we believe is very important and not overly known. What we actually see at Fabrico Infinito, is the ecological thought being translated into extremely well designed pieces. It amazed us. And we’re not only talking about the wonderful design pieces in the store, there was was more to it than that. It was the ability to create a space that passes on the idea of pureness and exclusivity, without arrogance or exorbitance. At the entrance, in the storefront, they have their manifesto. It states: ‘In nature nothing repeats itself. There aren’t two identical trees. Two birds alike. Two rain drops alike. Two kisses alike. In that infinite production (Fabrico Infinito), everything is also unique and unrepeatable. It won’t come back. Enjoy it. And be happy.’ When asked about the concept of her shop, she kindly replied – At Fabrico Infinito, ‘what sells is not so much the pieces, but what gives value to these pieces. Economically speaking, we sell gains. Added values. And the greatest value we have to offer is pleasure. The empathy created between those who create, and those who enjoy. It doesn’t matter if it is a building, a poem, a sculpture, music, a cake or a toy. The most important thing is to bring out those unique and singular smiles.’
‘In Nature nothing repeats itself. There aren´t two identical trees. Two birds alike. Two drops of rain alike. Two kisses alike. In that infinite production (Fabrico Infinito) everything is also unique and unrepeatable. It won´t come back. Enjoy it. And be happy.’
http://kr3wdenim.com
available at:
Tribal Urbano Rua da Madalena, 232 Lisboa (+351) 218 870 173
THE SARTORIAL OR NOT SO SARTORIAL RULES > Asheru Noir
Any man should set boundaries and define rules for himself. If you do not you might get bandied around and be taken as a wuss. Why does this matter you might ask? Well, because we as men (and women) of this society we tend to care how our fellow comrades view us, as we should, i.e.: rules of attraction. I have a couple (among many) of my sartorial rules that I would like to share with you. I do this because the good Sir Kalaf Angelo asked me to throw some tips your way. * Do Note, these are my opinions only. Pink Garments: Do you recall when pink was the huge trend in hip hop? Yes, well to me that was a traumatic experience indeed. How could all my heroes be clad in a colour that should only be worn by frilly American college girls? No self-respecting man wears pink. Heed my advice men, stay away from pink! Yes, salmon is a cool tone. Salmon tastes lovely especially with a hint of lemon. Don’t think you can get away with applying your culinary preferences to your sartorial ones, FYI just because lemon works with salmon, does not mean the colour yellow does. Point is, us men (hip-hop lovers or not), leave pink to frilly American college girls and Cam’ron (the only exception).
White Trousers: Unless you are Vybz Kartel or you live in a country with a tropical climate, please refrain. Only allowed for excessive masturbators or when temperatures reach 25 degrees or above. Maybe, you could get a pass if you are Mr. David Guetta but if you are Mr. Guetta you have no shame at all, so you can wear anything my friend, just make sure you are clad. Questionable facial hair or hairstyle choices: Let us tackle questionable facial hair firstly. Greek men that reside in the north of London seem to have a penchant for having their beards in very odd zig zaggy patterns (you know the type) I would like them to stop please, because it’s an insult for people like me who have been trying to grow a respectable beard for over six years and miserably failing, ending up with pubic hair looking moustaches. I resent you dear greek guy. Secondly questionable hairstyle choices: Who else among many is Justin Bieber. Bieber should really fire his hair stylist, and get his hair/life back. Perhaps pray to the heavens, not for being something similar to an antichrist but for having that god-awful hair style (ouch). All men that are donning a mohawk you should pray as well. This goes out to you Didier Drogba, Bacary Sagna and all the white dreadlocked men: join in and repent, let’s make this world a better place. Rings They are always acceptable but only around your ring or middle finger and if you’re really rich maybe around your pinkie finger. Men that look like Peter Andre, you may proceed and wear rings around your index finger or thumb and walk around with beads hanging out your arse. Well this is it for me and before you utter to yourself “Who does this guy thinks he is setting up all these stupid rules” , I’m an amazingly good looking guy with great hair and I was listening to Wacka Flocka Flame when I wrote this, therefore, you can’t say shit to me! I am exempt from criticism.
PACKLIGHT & GO >
‘All it takes are a few simple outfits. And there’s one secret – the simpler the better.’ Cary Grant
‘A man should look as if he had bought his clothes with intelligence, put them on with care, and then forgotten all about them.’ Hardy Amies
‘Style is when they’re running you out of town and you make it look like you’re leading the parade.’ William Battie
‘If you’ve got a t-shirt with bloodstains all over it, maybe laundry isn’t your biggest problem’ Jerry Seinfeld
Photography Frederico Martins Styling Paulo Gomes Assistant Maria Bs
Models Fernando Cabral Luis Borges Mauro Lopes Hélio Morais Brands American Apparel Armando Cabral Cheap Monday Filling Pieces Hurwundeki Kr3w Denim
EGO
> Ana Sofia
1. The Self, as distinct from the world and other selves. 2. In psychoanalysis, the division of the psyche that is conscious, most immediately controls thought and behaviour, and is most in touch with external reality. According to #1, the Ego is what differentiates us from others, it’s essentially being, and while #2 is self-explanatory, a third definition is the one that seems most interesting in respect to human social behavior: ‘An exaggerated sense of self-importance; conceit. Appropriate pride in oneself; self-esteem’ In certain social situations, most people get their ‘ego boost’ from others, and while not
explicitly asked for (and denied if mentioned), outside validation becomes essencial for some people to function. It’s observed often. Insecure people wearing masks, placing themselves at the center of every party, acting like they don’t give a flying fuck about anything, not even being there. But without a regular ‘fix’ of praise, knowing how to act becomes a problem. Accordingly, this behaviour is detrimental to most aspects of life. It gets in the way of relationships (romantic or otherwise) and personal image. Ego should be ‘homegrown’ first, as inner validation is paramount in developing healthy lifestyles. Physical appearance is important, but in the end, the whole is much more than the sum of it’s parts. Body and soul are one.
‘Every morning upon awakening, I experience a supreme pleasure: that of being Salvador Dalí, and I ask myself, wonderstruck, what prodigious thing will he do today, this Salvador Dalí.’ Salvador Dalí
WINTER LIGHT
> A Golden Boy Simon Frederick
My two last girlfriends were interesting women. Beautiful teeth and laughter. Educated in fine schools. They moved beautifully, but their most disturbing feature was radiosity. I started noticing it whenever we entered a room. The colour of their clothes, mixed with their social frantic gesturing, contaminated the white walls. Too much colour. I stopped looking straight at their bodies and smiles and started piecing them back together just looking at the walls. Lego women. The two above-mentioned relationships did not last. Lego is phase. Radiosity is a wonderful property but one that catalyses entropy rather than equilibrium. I started craving for simple canvases. Time passed, winter. She navigated the room in a subtly different manner. Absorbing light, digesting it and refracting it in the same frequency, the same colour, only with more intensity. I don't know how long the relationship will last. Time is not relevant. Refraction alone is relevant. The ability to bend light through ones body rather than impose random high street colours. I now choose my women in the wintertime. Preferably with a lot of white around. Cold but simple. I now choose bodies by the way they refract light.
"I decided that if the shaking of her breasts could be stopped, some of the fragments of the afternoon might be collected, and I concentrated my attention with careful subtlety to this end." T.S. Eliot
LISBON... DANCE ME A DANCE
> Sérgio Santos - Flashead
"I dance for no reason, for reasons you can't dance, Call me an activist of intellectualized circumstance, You can't learn my steps until you unlearn your thoughts Spirit, soul, can't be store-bought." Saul Williams
available at:
Eastpak Store Rua do Norte, 12 Bairro Alto, Lisboa
available at:
Fashion Clinic Lisboa Wrong Weather Porto Dover Street Market London
armando-cabral.com
‘If I have any justification for having lived it's simply, I'm nothing but faults, failures and so on, but I have tried to make a good pair of shoes. There's some value in that.’ Arthur Miller
packlight diaries
www.packlighteditions.com