Urban Outfitters - Blog

05/23/13 10:44AM

Cool Art: Kubiat Nnamdie

Kubiat Nnamdie is an artist originally from Nigeria, currently living in Miami, who shows off his immense artistic talent through film, photography and sculpture. His work bridges his experiences in Nigeria and the US, and we hope to be seeing a lot more of Kubiat's work in the future. Make sure to check out his awesome "Heaven Can Wait" series over on his site. —Katie

02/26/13 01:33PM

RiFF RaFF: "Art Ballin'"

RIFF RAFF, WHAT ARE YOU?—Katie

02/12/13 01:35PM

Curtis Kulig at the Thompson Hotel

Just in time for Valentine's Day, we got this video that's a little flashback to Art Basel in Miami, with plenty of sea, pools, sky, Curtis Kulig and a giant Love Me. Heartwarming.

06/20/12 11:04AM

BESS for Urban Outfitters

Get to know the man behind the studs, Doug Abraham of BESS NYC. We talked to him about the start and transformation of the brand, the BESS @ UO Collection, and his favorite quote of all time (which you'll just have to figure out for yourself!).

Introduce yourself!
I’m Doug Abraham of BESS NYC.

How did BESS get its start?
We started in 2000 as a jewelry and accessories brand.

Why did you decide to use your wife’s name, Bess, for the brand?
We were moving (for the 18th time) and Bess' name was written on old boxes: "Save for Bess."

How did you and your wife meet?
We met in our junior year of high school in PA.

Does working with your wife make things harder or easier?
I don’t know. We have kids so working is a break.

Have you always been interested in designing?
No, I went to undergrad art school and the Museum of Fine Arts school and fell into fashion by accident, if there really is such a thing.

What was the first thing you ever studded?
A denim jacket in 10th grade.

What made Bess transition from Jewelry to apparel?
When we moved the BESS NYC jewelry store to 292 Lafayette St. we started selling all different categories of goods in addition to jewelry: vintage furniture, vintage posters, zines, ephemera, and vintage clothes and T-shirts. We started mixing in vintage punk biker jackets and shredded Victorian dresses with the jewelry and objects we sold. We began using studs on vintage and then making clothes. Coming from a background working with metal there was an attraction to putting metal on stuff and messing around with the it—aging and patina-ing the studs. So really, the apparel grew out of our need to fill a shop and sell exciting products that commanded people’s attention.

Who are some of the musicians that have influenced your designs?
Joseph Beuys and Minor Threat

How does the collection for UO compare to your main line.
It's a similar vibe to what you would find in our shop. The UO collection is for summer, so you want to offer something to wear ASAP on the hot city streets. It’s fun to design stuff for girls to wear in the swelter.

Describe the collection you designed for Urban Outfitters.
Lots of zippers and studs, black and white, lightweight denim and jersey, and canvas studded sneakers.

What was your inspiration for the collection?
I was inspired by my summer after 8th grade. I found the punk store Zipperhead in Philadelphia where I got my first pair of black jeans. That was a fun summer.

What is your favorite piece in the collection?
The zip front cut-out mini dress.

What is your most material prized possession and why?
My Paul Evans cityscape bed for sleeping.

What are five things you'll be wearing this summer?
Leopard denim shorts, a suntan, a fanny pack, tube socks, and BESS NYC Decay White Corroded Steel Stud Chucks.

What's your favorite quote of all time?
"Ei, Großmutter, was hast du für große Ohren!"
"Daß ich dich besser hören kann."
"Ei, Großmutter, was hast du für große Augen!"
"Daß ich dich besser sehen kann."
"Ei, Großmutter, was hast du für große Hände"
"Daß ich dich besser packen kann."
"Aber, Großmutter, was hast du für ein entsetzlich großes Maul!"
"Daß ich dich besser fressen kann."

04/19/12 09:00AM

Agustina Woodgate's green dreams

The young Argentina-born, Miami-based artist Agustina Woodgate isn't the first artist to make beautiful works out of garbage, but she certainly is one of the most exciting right now. Best known for her psychedelic rugs patched together with the hides of used stuffed animals, Woodgate has made a range of works—from enormous chandeliers of disused fishing wire, to lace-like arrangements of produce stickers, to poems stealthily hand-sewn into clothes at thrift stores—that cleverly recontextualize, and bring weight to, the materials of our all-too-material world. One is an old globe, sanded down so that the continents are blurred, that resembles a post-apocalyptic desert and is titled Sooner than Later. Words to remember. -Eviana

03/30/12 04:00PM

Wiissa

Wiissa is the collaborative photo archive between Wilson Philippe and Vanessa Hollander (a combination of their nicknames: wii and ssa). After meeting in Miami at 15 and 14-years-old, the duo became hooked on photography, using each other as their subjects to help them learn and grow. Their use of film and video brings moments to life that are nostalgic, genuine and youthful, which together create the timeless world they seem to live in. See more at their website, including their first prize winning entry to our Crush video contest and the Flickr Favorites photo featured right now on our homepage.

02/29/12 11:00AM

Banter Banners

Say something a little more poetic and mysterious with these adorable banners from Banter Banners. It will make your party infinitely more interesting. - Hazel

11/29/11 04:30PM

Mondrian Sessions at Art Basel: A Special Screening of CAPUT

Mondrian Sessions and The Museum of Contemporary Art are having a special screening of Harmony Korine's latest film CAPUT, featuring the one and only James Franco. It will be held this Thursday, December 1, from 9pm-2am at the Sunset Lounge at Mondrian South Beach (1100 West Avenue Miami Beach) along with cocktails and music. RSVP at caputrsvp@gmail.com!

09/12/11 11:23AM

Lords South Beach

Lords South Beach, Miami's newest hotel, is the first gay boutique hotel brand in the United States. The hotel was designed by BHDM and it includes a cabana bar, custom designed Levi's staff uniforms, and a giant polar bear in the lobby.

05/17/11 09:20AM

Beer Soap

With hints of oriental rose, jasmine and Brooklyn Red Lager, this soap will get you clean and possibly wasted.

> Eat
> Home

04/04/11 11:07AM

Mobroder

Beverly Hills Cop meets Cocaine Cowboys in Mobroder, the latest side project from Spank Rock's Naeem Juwon. That mustache. That car. That attitude.

03/29/11 01:37PM

Leather Beer Holsters

The only thing that could make enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon beer lazier: A custom all-leather hands-free beer holster.

02/22/11 05:00PM

Christian Yasser Massuh

Who wears short shorts? Apparently it's our friends down under—Christian Yasser Massuh is based out of Miami but primarily get orders out of Australia for his ripped, studded and ombre dip-dyed vintage jean shorts, available in pretty much any color you can dream up. Summer, hurry up already.

02/07/11 01:46PM

Teddy Bear Rugs

Agustina Woodgate rescues discarded teddy bears and sews them into super plush rugs.

01/26/11 03:04PM

Bruise Cruise

Stuck on a cruise ship with Surfer Blood and Black Lips, headed straight for the Bahamas? We can think of worse ways to spend a weekend. Today's the last day to purchase tickets for the Bruise Cruise festival, which leaves port February 25.

01/17/11 11:49AM

Vintage Mavens

Alexandra Roxo teamed up with Vintage Mavens for this photo shoot, "Stranded," on the beaches of Miami.

09/30/10 03:34PM

Agustina Woodgate

Argentina-born and Miami-based artist Agustina Woodgate seems to prefer to work with two subjects in her art: hair and fairytales. She sets up mobile hair-dressing stations in busy cities to collect human locks, which she then uses to create shoes, portraits and brick towers. Check out some of her work at the Miami Art Museum until October 17. (Via Nylon)

09/01/10 09:51AM

OhWow Vide-O-House

Super stoked on this new feature for Oh Wow's web site, the Vide-O-House is filled with teasers for the shows down south (Miami to be exact) and all kinds of weirdo flicks you have to check out. You know when A-Ron is at the helm, it's gonna be good. X - Jen

08/04/10 09:56AM

Surf the Webster Pop-Up

From now until August 31, you can stop in Webster's new pop-up shop and pick up exclusive surf clothing, gear and boards from surfers like Danny Fuller and Tori Praver. A portion of every sale goes to the Surfrider Foundation, a great organization protecting our waterways.

12/07/09 10:40AM

Iggy Pop Book Signing Part II

Check out Tim Barber's photos from the Iggy Pop book signing at Urban Outfitters in Miami on Saturday. Looks like a good time was had by all—even Iggy's dog.