Imagery: Revolver Project Spring/Summer ’14 look-book styled by Brian Teeling and shot by Seán Conroy.
Revolver Project is a homegrown Dublin venture that aims to re-assert the contemporary relevance and wearability of vintage clothes by presenting them in a modern way through a carefully edited buy and in putting the customer experience front and centre. It’s an idea that comes with a bit of deeper meaning attached, expressed through The Journal – an in-house and online celebration of, and a reflection on, the pop-culture of the past that tells a story about the clothes on Revolver Project’s rails. Brian Teeling, 26, has recently been enlisted as creative director and buyer and we caught up with him to see how the new post is going, what he wants to bring to the table and for a quick injection of frankness.
Tell us about yourself.
My main focus at Revolver Project is buying and creative direction, bringing my buying experience with more established companies and brands in Dublin as well as what I’ve learned as a stylist with the photographer Johnny McMillan to a vintage setting. That switchover has been really unusual but so far it’s working really well for us.
What’s your vision? Do you have any local or international retail inspiration that you’re drawing from?
It’s easy to say I’m inspired by the likes of Trés Bien in Malmo or Collette in Paris, but we’ve got some retail heroes here in Dublin. Shoutouts to Brother Hubbard, Tamp & Stitch, Havana, Smock (RIP) and the others who are or were doing their own thing, not just for the money, but because they’re passionate about what they do. That’s impressive and energising.
Do you feel Revolver Project’s location – and it being a store within a store – is a hindrance or do you think it helps?
It can be a hindrance sometimes as customers might be unaware of where we are, but we like our unique location in Twisted Pepper and we have great company. I would also argue that the Northside has a better shopping street in the classic sense. Sure there’s no Brown Thomas, but that’s just one shop. The Northside does have Boyer’s though!
What do you make of the current scene in Dublin vintage?
It’s not something I think about a lot. If I started worrying about what other stores are doing I’d be less focussed on Revolver Project. The ‘vintage scene’ can do what it wants – we want to be known for doing our own thing and, for us, that means variety. You won’t find rails of studs or bleached denim jackets here. It’s not our thing. The difficulty lies in trying to remove that conception of vintage from Revolver Project. It should be about so much more.
Relative to the city’s size, there’s a lot of vintage stores, some arguably better than others. Why do you think there’s such an interest?
I think the relative ease of setting up is why there’s such an ‘interest’. It’s easy to say you’re into vintage because it requires very little effort. I think it boils down to a visible ‘cool-factor’ that everyone wants to be on board with. You’ll see it with any new restaurant, gallery, or pop-up – there will be people who jump to be seen there. Not because they’re really into whatever’s opening but because it’s ‘cool’. In saying that, there are people around who are really passionate about what they do and they’re the ones that are the most appealing and exciting.
What are your ambitions – as fantastical or realistic as you like – for Revolver for the year ahead?
For Revolver it’s simply to be bigger and better than everyone else. Which is always the ambition; if you don’t want to be the best, what’s the point?
And any mad crazy hopes for fashion in Dublin for 2014?
Not many, no. Maybe someone will give the buyers from BT’s a kick up the gooter. That’d be great. And hopefully we’ll see more independent businesses and stores.
Revolver Project appears in the Twisted Pepper Tuesday-Saturday, 11:00-18:00.
Snippets…
Going for Gold.
Super blogger Chiara Ferragni of The Blonde Salad recently took her first tentative steps into jewellery design with the launch of Caia Jewels, furthering the breadth of the mogul and maven’s fashion empire. Like or lump her own personal style, the collection has a few gems (weh weh weh) including the stacked rings and the eighteen karat gold-plated chain emblazoned with Ferragni’s signature red lip.
If anyone can, Kanye can.
Adidas have officially announced the next partnership to add to their bulging roster of collaborations, this time with he-who-transcends-all-adjectives, Kanye West. Launching later this year, the three-stripe brand seem to be in pretty safe hands given West’s past experience with both Nike and Louis Vuitton (whilst maybe excluding his foray into an eponymous label). A pairing with Y-3, Yoji Yamamoto’s diffusion line with Adidas, would make the most sense.
Of Corso She Can.
Carla Sozzani, once at the helm of Vogue Italia, and who left publishing to set up Milanese gallery and concept store 10 Corso Como which went from cult following to international renown in no time at all, has recently put pen to paper on her passions. 10 Corso Como A to Z is set to be a written extension of the store she established focussing on the finest of fashion, food, travel and culture.
