Twitter Talk: Kanye West

Kanye West has had an interesting round of radio interviews this week- namely first with The Breakfast Club here and later with Sway In The Morning here.
Whether you think Kanye is a musical genius, a philosophical mastermind, a political activist or absolutely none of the above, it is interesting to discuss his performances- both his artistic performance and his performance of his self, his identity.
Some would argue that Kanye West as a topic is 'old', redundant. Some would also argue that we are giving Kanye's mindlessness too much attention. But I think there are some wider issues involved in all this Kanye talk.

For a basically good, quick response to Kanye calling Kim Kardashian more influential than the First Lady, Michelle Obama, check out this piece.

I have compiled some of the interesting tweets I found concerning his interviews and performance. Although Kanye West's interviews should not be as important to us as, say, the current mass exodus of Syrian refugees or the US drone strikes in Pakistan and Afghanistan, they do provide us with an interesting look at current popular culture and an artist who has perhaps become a victim of the culture of which he is a part. See below- enjoy!

- Posted by Olympia

Multi - Ethnicity Hair & Beauty Expo

Over the weekend, on the 16th of November, I went to the first ever Multi-Ethnicity Hair and Beauty Expo at the Parramatta Town Hall (Sydney). I was representing a new and unique bag line I collectively work on with my sister- Coconsa Bags. A vibrant blend of traditional West African fabrics and contemporary materials; it is something I am super proud of. This was the first time we  have had a stall at any expo or event, and boy, was it an experience! It was so interesting to see people's reaction to the creativity and effort that goes into the craftsmanship of the products. What I learned from the day is that consumers are very skeptical when it comes to spending their money on new products/brands that they are not familiar with. I have observed this especially in my generation who are brand-name obsessed, even for the most basic pieces. Trying new things is undoubtedly scary, but I guess I seek quality and a genuine love for whatever the product may be- new, old, brand-name or not. In any case, the expo was a great platform for emerging underground designers and brands. I have amazing dreams of the heights Coconsa will reach, God willing. 

You can check the bags out here.

Here are some pics of the bag line and some from the Expo (not the best,sorry) 

- Posted by Vanessa 

All in the name of 'beauty' !

A few days ago my boyfriend showed me an article I couldn't scroll past. A man has sued his wife over ugly children and won, yes you read that right, WON ! Although I had pre perceived opinions on the story before I even read it, I soon came to slighty change my viewpoint halfway through reading. I feel like this story has some significance to the growing craze of Instagram and other social media outlets. Insta fame, how many likes you get, how many followers you have are some peoples reality. Social media has allowed the formation of an idealistic persona that is a totally opposite representation of the actual person. Don't get me wrong, we are all guilty of adding a filter that gives any picture the perfect touch. However, it's sad to see some people edit so much to the point it doesn't even resemble them in real life. In relation to the article, it's somewhat a sort of false advertisement. I would be pissed as hell too! Each to their own, but filters, photoshop and surgery doesn't change the REAL you. In this case, the characteristics your children are bound to inherit. I guess what I'm trying to say is I wish we could all embrace our individuality more despite society's definition of beauty. Though I half agree with the husbands points, the fact that he went out of his way to sue his wife of the time is beyond crazy. The $120 000 he won doesn't change the fact that those are his kids. Kids that are also human and will probably have a hard time breaking away from the 'ugly' label, inflicted by their own blood. Crazy. 

Read full article: http://www.chicagonow.com/dad-all-day/2013/11/man-sues-wife-over-ugly-kids-and-wins/

-Posted by Vanessa 

A California Beach Wedding

My brother got married in California on Labor Day at The Biltmore Santa Barbara. We just got the professional pictures back and I really think they perfectly captured the celebration. My now sister-in-law also asked me to be a bridesmaid which was incredibly exciting as I had never been to a wedding, let alone been a part of a wedding. The actual ceremony took place on the beach. Guests then walked to the grounds of the Biltmore to enjoy cocktails, lunch and speeches. The day ended with a cruise along the coast, watching the sunset and dancing. It was really beautiful. Below are some of the pictures from the day.

- Posted by Olympia