H A W L K

Are you ready to find out what really happens in the name of fashion? Here are nine shocking fur facts that will make you think twice about wearing the corpse of any animal:

Fur Fact 1: Electrocuting fur-bearing animals anally and genitally is an agonizing slaughter method used frequently to limit damage to fur. New York is the only state in which this inhumane method is illegal.

Fur Fact 2: Eighty-five percent of the fur industry's skins come from animals who were captive on fur factory farms, where they are crammed into severely crowded, filthy wire cages and later skinned alive.

Fur Fact 3: There are no penalties for people who abuse animals on fur farms in China, which is the world's largest fur exporter, supplying more than half of the finished garments in the United States.

Fur Fact 4: One billion rabbits are killed each year so that their fur can be used in clothing or for lures in fly-fishing or trim on craft items

Fur Fact 5: In China, more than 2 million cats and hundreds of thousands of dogs are bludgeoned, hanged, bled to death, and often skinned alive for their fur.

Fur Fact 6: Fur farms harm the environment. One million pounds of feces are produced annually by U.S. mink farms alone. One dangerous component of this waste is nearly 1,000 tons of phosphorus, which pollutes nearby rivers and streams.

Fur Fact 7: Fur farms in the U.S. are the only sector of animal agriculture unregulated by the federal government.

Fur Fact 8: After an animal has been slaughtered, his or her skin is treated with toxic chemicals to keep it from rotting and decomposing in the buyer's closet.

Fur Fact 9: One-third of all fur sold in the U.S. comes from animals killed in steel-jaw traps, which are legal in 43 states. These traps slam shut on an animal's limb, which causes excruciating pain and leaves the animal stuck and starving, sometimes for days. The conibear trap crushes an animal's neck by applying 90 pounds of pressure per square inch, leaving the animal to suffer for another three to eight minutes while he or she slowly suffocates.

Surprised by these shocking fur facts? Sign the pledge to go fur-free today! And tell your friends about the cruelty of the fur industry by tweeting one of these shocking fur facts to them. Use "@PETA" and "#9shockingfurfacts."

The Fundamental Elements of Design

Every client should be allowed to see this. Every designer should reference this once a year- heck, once a month! Simple, beautiful, precise = genius.

This powerful young woman gave an insightful and persuasive speech on the state of the world. The sad fact is that there hasn't been much change since she spoke 20 years ago. War, famine, greed and environmental destruction still plague our global society.

PETA is known for pushing boundaries. They have to in order to break through the ever annoying doldrums of our egocentric lives. Their aggressive, witty and contraversial campaign brings together the social dialogues of being vegan with the realities that our gotta-have-it-anywhere modern day society is stressing our ecosystems and natural resources to their breaking points. Ultimately, their goals are to have a world that is safe, smart, empathetic, responsible and sustainable for all life on our planet. And if PETA's critics can understand this, then everything is just good comedy.

Two exciting things to share today. The first announcement is that we are launching the film componet of the HAWLK brand (the "L" is silent for those of you new to us). It is aptly titled HAWLK FILMS. We have always been passionate about cinema as we are architecture. In many ways, great cinema can infuluence cultures and define generations just as great architecture does. For us, there is not a division between the intensity of emotion and beauty that both mediums can employ.

The second announcemnet is the actual subject of our first film piece; NEVE INSPIRED (http://www.neveinspired.com/). Neve Inspired was created out of love by two talented and caring people, Bob and Kris Galmarini. Once you meet them, you can't help but to fall in love with them and their two kids, Neve and Shepard. Together, this dynamic duo have built an amazingly authentic and unique clothing brand for kids. They are the real deal and are using every ounce of energy and passion they own to make their dreams a reality.

I shot them over the course of the past year in an effort to record their adventures in starting and running a small business. Each time I got to know them a little better. The passion and love that they share as a family is infectous. I even got to watch them cheer their family motto. It goes a little something like this... "Who are we?" Kris says to Neve...and Neve responds, "We are the Galmarinis...and We Love, Mama!"

Please, check heck out the video and I dare you not to fall madly in love with Bob, Kris, the kids. Help them make their dreams come true and donate a couple bucks to their kickstarter project: kickstarter.com

BIG UPS!
I am greatful for all who helped and contributed to this piece. I couldn't have gotten it done without the the assistance and tutelage of Adam Boozer of Jewel&Ginnie (http://jewellandginnie.com/) and Ally Ackert for her willingness to always dig in and help.

Music Courtesy of Alexa Woodward (http://www.alexawoodward.org/). Additional Music Courtesy of Father Sleep, Lorenzo's Music, & Jason Shaw.

Morphosis awoken the architect within me over 15 years ago. Today they still understand the scale, materials and importance of space better than anyone. The human mind and body, whether we choose to accept it or not, is heavily influenced by the spaces that surround us. Morphosis is a master of space and making it, oh so alluring.

I really needed to see this today. Thanks Keith for posting it.

"Considered to be one of the the most influential skateboarders of all time, Tony Alva, an original Z-Boy, hit a bottom 4 years ago battling drug addiction and alcoholism. There, at his lowest point, his reliance on successes and ego came into perspective for the first time. Tony's fight for sobriety and truth has recently lead him to a new perspective on life and direction moving forward. Dedicated to giving back Tony now see's passing the bucket as the only way out. "

For more information on how you can help support the children go to CHLA.org

Backstage Behind Ducati's Diavel Spot

"Stunning design, cutting-edge technology and incredible performance.
What can you say about a bike that was an object of desire even before being unveiled?"

Read more and watch the commercial here: http://www.ducatiusa.com/diavel_commercial/index.do?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Backstage_spot_Diavel&utm_campaign=NL_20110526#

http://www.ducatiusa.com/index.do

A series of fun, sweet and simple videos that engage you to travel abroad. A very cool awarness campaign.

I am so in love with this!!!

Over the past 2 weeks we worked on several fashion film shorts. TEEM (Tim Tewell) and O'Sully (http://ohsully.com/backintothewild.html) were on board as well and it made everything great. I can't wait to do more beautiful work with these cats-they each bring so much to the table. One new video is to premier nighty at Charleston's Fashion Week. The first of five, Luminous, opened the week last night and looked even better on the silver screen. You have to come out this week and catch the rest.

http://www.charlestonmag.com/fashionweek/main

G-Star as a whole is heads and shoulders above other brands. They stand alone with uncompromising style and strength. G Star understands that doing something great means doing it with character, passion and an insatiable enthusiasm for quality. I am always impressed.