Freefall Blog is a crash collision of high fashion menswear, streetwear and everything in between, emphasizing the style kaleidoscope formed by runway shows, ad campaigns, retrospectives, exhibits and noteworthy news.
Five Question Free for All On Thin Ice with Michael Kuluva
Whoever said that environmentally-friendly clothing can not be stylish or comfortable clearly has yet to meet Michael Kuluva—creator and designer of Tumbler and Tipsy. Kuluva’s label, which was founded in 2009, is bringing the green fashion scene to its knees and critics and fashionisto(a)s alike to their feet. The brand boasts one of a kind hand-sewn pieces made from recycling vintage garments to reconstruct new ones. Kuluva—Montana-born and Los Angeles-raised—received early acclaim as a figure skater, joining the U.S. Figure Skating Team in 2001. Over the next 7 years Kuluva skated professionally appearing in over 20 shows worldwide and made rounds on some of the most popular morning shows in the country. Kuluva’s foray into fashion was far from folly as he consulted with designers on his own skating costumes. Ever-inspired by fashion, Kuluva transitioned from figure skating to design in 2008, a leap Kuluva describes as “completely natural”.
One of Kuluva’s major industry breakthroughs resulted from an innovative take on a staple accessory: the necktie. “For me ties were always hard to wear. I never could tie them—I just wanted to put one on everyday”. Like any resourceful designer, Kuluva thought up a solution which has since become a signature Tumbler and Tipsy piece. The Tipsy Tie requires no knot tying, rather hangs around the neck from a chain.
Versatility echoes throughout Kuluva’s work, resonating with a range of customers nearly as eclectic as Kuluva’s collections themselves. Moreover, Kuluva is content with a brand that is available only through exclusive distribution rather than large scale expansion, a far cry from the branding juggernauts many modern designers have become. For Michael Kuluva, life in the fashion lane has been anything but magical overnight success, but with a keen eye for style and a consistently growing base of loyal fans and followers, Kuluva is set to ensure the label won’t become a disappearing act.
Kuluva recently sounded off for Freefall’s Five Question Free for All, and here’s what he had to say:
1. Besides being “green,” what separates your design aesthetic fromthat of other contemporary designers? All of my designs are one of a kind and are over 95% recycled. My line features vintage and antique clothing and embellishments dating all the way back to the early 1900's. I can take two luxury vintage garments and mesh them together to produce a modern recycled garment that is a piece of art.
2. Whose work inspires you (music, fashion, film, art, etc.)? Wow I have tons of inspirations! Traveling around the world as a professional figure skater before starting this fashion label definitely helped me with inspiration for the line. I use rare vintage military pins from Russia which I found at antique markets while on my travels plus each season I use some of the cultures that I have visited in my designs.
3. What is your least favorite thing about being a designer? I think not having enough hours in the day always gets to me. Designing and producing clothing takes a lot of time and I wish there was more of it!
4. What would your friends, fans and followers be surprised to see inyour wardrobe? Well I know my friends wouldnt be surprised of anything in my wardrobe because I have no limits with fashion usually. I have a HUGE closet that holds over 1000 tshirts, 100 pairs of pants, and the list goes on. However I am a huge collector of designer vintage plus Chanel Men which is VERY rare to own. I also have a rather large collection (or tower) of vintage Louis Vuitton luggage and accessories that are just beautiful. I think my clothes are like art and its hard for me to part with amazing art, so I keep them all!
5. What can we expect in the future from Tumbler and Tipsy? Tumbler and Tipsy will always and forever be changing with each day, each new day brings new designs and aesthetics to this eco friendly label. I think the one of a kind designs that I make really keeps the Tumbler and Tipsy fan and customer coming back for more, they know they wont see the same designs on their friends.
Any man who collects Chanel deserves my respect! Thank you for posting this interview; it was a great read! I did not know much about Tumbler and Tipsy before checking in here...
Although an integral piece of any modern man’s autumn/winter wardrobe, sweaters often go overlooked and underappreciated. With each passing season, designers continue to push the limits of color, pattern, proportion, texture and styling of sweaters. Moreover, the cuts of sweaters have drastically evolved from boxy or even tapered silhouettes to include radical necklines and cropped detailing. Fall into these designs and cozy up to some seriously scorching seasonal style statements.
Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony
Jil Sander
Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair
Robert Geller
John Varvatos
Maison Martin Margiela
Hyden Yoo
Trussardi 1911
Diet Butcher's SLim Skin
Cold Method
Photos Courtesy of MensRag, Contributing Editor, OakNYC and Blackbird
We live in a warring world and leave it to fashion designers to capitalize on our ever-covert quest for combat. The likes of Alexander McQueen, Calvin Klein, Vivienne Westwood and more are all suiting men up for battle. There are no shortages of breastplates, helmets, knee guards or shoulder pads on the runway, nor is there a lack of healthy wartime satire of modern battle. The sheer wit of these pieces is overshadowed only by their lack of apparent wearability, however undisputable their relevance may be. Fall into these designs and prepare for a no-holds-barred style smackdown.
Diego R. Wyatt is a student, writer/poet, activist, stylist and aspiring fashion journalist/insider currently based in Chicago. “Style is my sixth sense—it is innate. Not everyone has it, but who wouldn’t want it?” Freefall is Diego’s answer to the style stratosphere dominated by the perspectives and perceptions of female writers and stylists. Men have something to say about fashion too! Freefall is at the helm of everything fresh in fashion. From ready-to-wear and streetwear to high fashion creations, Freefall follows what’s new and notable in men’s fashion. Fall in.
