Thoughts on Fashion Enemy! Add yours? [Archive]

Nath

09-18-2007, 04:06 AM

So when I watched the Threadbanger pilot segment with Andrew Hanson, I really liked what I saw but I admit it seemed to be a different flavor of DIY compared to the Threadheads I'd come ot know and <love3. When I learned the guy was going to have his own Threadbanger show, I was a bit skeptic at first but I must say it seems to on track for a very nice addition to Rob and Corrine.

I think the strongest part of FE is that it distinguishes itself very strongly from TB from the get go. The projects are (and this is partly me just extrapolating from what I've seen) more focused on making aesthetically appealing clothing than the re-fashion/break the rules/don't spend over $5 standards of Threadheads. For example, Fashion Enemy howto's reference some quality retailers for materials and the clothes are more fashionable, at least in the circles Hanson is a designer for. Threadbanger howto’s are more likely to tell you to find old things you'll never wear or goodwill hunting prizes, and your finished product is likely to be like NOTHING you’d find in a store. =) While these differences might make TH and FE seem contradictory, I think that both approaches to DIY clothing are valuable depending on the situation, at least they both appeal to me depending on what I’m in the mood/budget to make. Rather than clashing I think they can both compliment and borrow from each other to make their contributions to DIY fashion greater than their two parts.

As far as what I’d like to see in future Fashion Enemy shows, I think that on the forums there’s a huge interest in adding art to hoodies and shirts (foundmyfrisbee’s bleach designs come to mind among others) . Doing in depth guides to the many effects and techniques for using blank articles of clothing as canvases for paint, stitches and more would be great. There’s so many ways to print, stencil, stitch and wash a simple tee that a guide of what’s cheap and effective and cool would be great, Andrew’s expertise in this area would go to good use.

I’m sure there are a lot of other ideas that could go in to this promising new series; so fellow forum members add your two cents! (You know $0.02 is like nine pairs of pants and a smoking jacket at goodwill. =P)

Jelfish

09-18-2007, 04:28 AM

I got the impression from that one show that it would be a bit more aggressive in the "break the rules" department in terms of everyday fashion (thus "Fashion Enemy"). Now granted, the host is in fact a professional designer for celebrities, so in a sense, he contributes to what is ultimately mainstream fashion, but perhaps he'll focus on more punkish elements. Then again, maybe that was just for this episode. Who knows? It could be completely different next week.

ladyjanewriter

09-18-2007, 09:33 AM

I don't really care for his delivery as much? Rob and Corinne have a natural rapport and seem to be more comfy on camera. His delivery seemed a bit stilted.

I think that ThreadHeads may just appeal to me more, because of my age and what I want to do with my refashioning skillz. I don't want to be "RAWR! GRR! RADICAL!" because, well...I'm 35. And my style was never punk-ish or hardcore-ish. I just can't pull off a spiked cuff. People would seriously laugh at me.

Fashion Enemy is not my cup o' tea, but I think that's partially because I'm not quite part of the target audience. (Because of who I am as a person, not my age demographic, per se.)

tec222

09-18-2007, 02:14 PM

even at my day and age it seems that FE isn't my cup ether but it could be a good resource as to making other stuff (not on the show)

Coffee

09-18-2007, 02:36 PM

in agreement with the OP, I'd have to say that while the advice and project was interesting, it felt a little skewed because it felt much less... Within the same sphere of refashioning, recycling, and DIY that Threadbanger occupies.

Also, I'm not sure how much I trust anyone with anything to do withParis Hilton, period.

lafemmedramatique

09-18-2007, 02:50 PM

While I agree with LadyJane that this was not my style (as I'm studying to be a teacher... they would kick me out if I tried to wear this!) I do think that it had some interesting points to it.

I think, however, that he could have done the same project with a bit more recycleing involved. I know that doing so is a bit more along the R&C line of thinking, I think that, for me, it's one thing that I have been trying to do more lately with ALL of my clothing. After all, there is a lot of stuff out there already that is just being thrown out.

My suggestion-- You could get the same look with an old belt. You could either A) use the end with the buckle as the wrist strap. It would be like a normal watch band, only on steroids. Or B) use the end of it, and add your own snaps. They do sell snaps that you can attach, after all, and you're having to buy the spikes anyway, so why not?

ladyjanewriter

09-18-2007, 02:55 PM

You know who I really think would be an interesting addition to the ThreadBanger "channel"?

The good people of Everyday Hardcore:

http://www.youtube.com/user/EverydayHardcore

They're basically 3 pals who do their own Punk Rock version of Martha Stewart.

MamaSasss

09-18-2007, 04:15 PM

lafemmedramatique

09-18-2007, 04:25 PM

Well, if you look back on the pilot episode where Andrew Hanson was originally featured he did the whole spray paint to the t-shirt and chaos stitch thing that a lot of people on the board (not necessarily because of him) consistently play with.

I liked the episode, but I too wouldn't make a spiked watch cuff for myself, although I know people who might like one. It's good to have the tutorial in the catalog of my brain.

I'm giving FE the benefit of the doubt and going to wait a few more episodes before I decide if I really like the segment or not. Who knows what else could come from it?

Agreed. Thus far I have no issue with the segment, other than the lack of recycling. And as far as it not being my thing, not everything on Thread Heads is my thing either (I have no real desire to make ninja mittens.) However, I do think that all the tutorials are worthwhile, even if they're not my style, because they may draw in someone who DOES have that style. To me, getting as many people to DIY as possible is the ultimate goal.

Grey Squirrel

09-18-2007, 07:50 PM

I liked it...though I do think I would seriously hurt myself wearing that watch hee hee ow! Lots of the things I see on TB (and now FE) would not be things I would wear, but I like to take the ideas and use them for things I would.
I could see taking a boring watch and adding some <less pointy> things to the band, and it was nice to see how you can use simple tools (a screwdriver) to make the holes, not some fancy leather punch. Maybe make a bracelet the same way, etc...or it could also be adapted to more recycled materials (someone up there mentioned using a belt....ah, was lafemmedramatique)
It took me a while to figure out that he was the same guy from the cross spraypaint shirt....the hair threw me off....
But, ya , I liked it anyway...

EndureLife

09-18-2007, 10:15 PM

Well, he did use a "recycled" watch face for the cuff, and may have used an old leather cuff of his own... you never know... i think what we have to pull from the episode is simply the idea he throws out there in the universe... from there, we can adapt and mold the projects to fit our personal needs and convictions (i.e. using all recycled materials).

I think it was a good idea he put out there that some of us may be able to use to springboard into other projects.

And hey, it was only one episode... let's see what else he's got up his sleeve. :)

korupt_trash

09-18-2007, 11:09 PM

I really didn't care for it that much. he wasn't comfortable looking when he was talking.. god knows its gotta be hard comparing to Rob and Corinne. it was just too stright forward for me. i dind't like that. was kinda boring to watch too... i probably won't watch it again.

Coffee

09-18-2007, 11:24 PM

I still think there's potential.

Even if I don't trust him.

scrabble

09-19-2007, 06:03 PM

I liked it.
Its diffrent to threadbangers and i like that.
Dont get me wrong, i LOVE threadbangers, but its nice to have a change.
And I think the idea is for us to combine ideas from both shows to become uber diyers.
So. YEY!

Miss_Gagarin

09-22-2007, 11:43 PM

I agree with EndureLife. The point is to get ideas, not to copy exactly the same stuff we see on TB. Besides, it is been only one episode. The guy was nervous a bit, so what? Let's see what's in is bag...

lafemmedramatique

09-24-2007, 07:57 PM

I def. liked this week's episode a lot more... it's something that I could see myself making for my little sister, so that was cool.

I also think that it's unfair to write him off because of the first episode. I'm sure that he has probably read these posts, and I think that if it were me, I would be really upset if someone wrote me off because I'm not Rob and Corrine.... after all, he can't be R&C, because he's ANDREW! He was born who he was! It's ok to compare the strengths and weaknesses of their projects, but being upset because of his delivery isn't fair. And, obviously, R&C think he's a pretty cool guy, because they used him in their pilot episode, and then asked him to come back regularly....

So is it fair for us to write him off? No. After all, I'm sure that this will draw some people in that may not have been drawn in otherwise.

Besides, there are some Threadbanger projects that I've never done.... I already said that I have no intention to make ninja mittens, and overalls aren't my style... but then again, I show EVERYONE the screen printing episode, and I have used the reversible purse episode to make my friend a purse as a gift, but I also took the details from it to teach myself how to make other styles of purses with lineings (seriously, the idea of leaving a hole open NEVER dawned on me!)

But ya, my point is, even though I wasn't completely impressed with the first episode, I'm more impressed after watching this episode, and that's saying something.

Just give the poor guy a chance.

Coffee

09-24-2007, 10:23 PM

He plays an Epiphone Casino. That's pretty cool.

ryanmoore

09-24-2007, 10:29 PM

i think he shoudl shave
the facial hair makes him look hardcore old

lafemmedramatique

09-24-2007, 10:37 PM

i think he shoudl shave
the facial hair makes him look hardcore old

hahaha... I think the facial hair is hot...

But then again, I'm older than you.

I think he looked less cool with the old look...

But then again, I think crazy indie/hippie boys are attractive....

Maybe this is saying something about me as a person?

countrygrl96

09-24-2007, 10:47 PM

Ummm... I wasn't that impressed with the watch, but just because it wasn't my style... I am going to keep watching though.

I agree lafemmedramatique though, give him a chance. It's only been ONE episode.

Coffee

09-25-2007, 12:24 AM

TWO episodes now.

I can't say I didn't enjoy the new episode.

But... I don't think it'd hold your pants up very well.

Fashion Enemy is very much, it seems, about creating a certain style, and it's a pretty cool style, too. Not everyone's cup of tea, though.

lafemmedramatique

10-02-2007, 01:41 PM

THIRD EPISODE NOW!

For those of you who didn't take the time to watch it, it was pretty darn good...

I love the idea he used for the t-shirt... I think I probably would have kept the sleeves myself, or reattached differant sleeves, but that's just me... and I probably would have used two colors, but like i said, just me..

Honestly, what I think I liked best about it was that it's something that you seriously could do so easily, and not just with stripes... you could draw in a zig zag pattern and get the same effect... seriously. it's such a simple idea, but so cool at the same time!

Good job, Andy!

ladyjanewriter

10-02-2007, 04:17 PM

I think the show is progressively getting better, and he seems more comfy on camera.

What's working now, that wasn't quite right before?

I think that the approach of being kind of "chatty" works better for him. I don't think he's a "RAWR! GRRR! HULK SMASH! FIGHT THE POWAH!" kind of guy. He seems really mellow.

The whole vibe that seems to work for him is "I'm this mellow tattooed dude and we're hangin' in my apartment and I'm gonna show you how to make a cool ."

I think the approach of explaining the reason behind the step he's about to do, then him doing the step, works [I]really, really well. (In this case, the trying on the tees and pinning together, and also explaining exactly WHY he was tracing horizontal lines on the tee at 2 inch intervals.)

I think that I won't be doing most of the projects myself, I'm pretty sure I'm the wrong age and style demographic.

It's really odd of me to think of the "tone" of the show this way, but this week I felt like Andrew Hanson handed me a glass of iced tea and invited me to sit on his sewing room rug and kick back and watch him work. In case you didn't see me, :D I was sitting on the rug by the window with the sunshine streaming in. With my shoes kicked off. If he has a cat, I was petting it.

ladyjanewriter

10-02-2007, 04:25 PM

Oh, and I LOVE his huge smurfin' shears. Those are seriously sweet.

poisonbuttons

10-02-2007, 04:25 PM

I like the FE episodes, they're not exactly my style but they are good for getting ideas for your recycling projects and stuff.

ladyjanewriter

10-02-2007, 04:31 PM

poisonbuttons - Hi, Welcome to ThreadBanger. That avatar is hilarious!!!
X-D

AprilDraven

10-02-2007, 05:57 PM

I like him. It's always good to learn from a professional designer. His ideas are unique. you don't have to apply them to expensive stuff. Tell me that same shirt wouldn't look awesome with one red shirt and one black shirt paired up with some awesome ninja mits. I think the show has some major potential.

Coffee

10-02-2007, 07:28 PM

Oh, and I LOVE his huge smurfin' shears. Those are seriously sweet.

But but but

Mine are totally bigger!

ryanmoore

10-02-2007, 07:40 PM

i think he should shave and get a haircut

fo real

ladyjanewriter

10-02-2007, 07:52 PM

But but but

Mine are totally bigger!

It's not the size, but how he uses it.

Of his SHEARS, people. His SHEARS.

What'd you think I was talking about???

Bad ThreadBangers, no pudding for you. :D

pinoyblaze

10-02-2007, 08:05 PM

It's not the size, but how he uses it.

Of his SHEARS, people. His SHEARS.

What'd you think I was talking about???

Bad ThreadBangers, no pudding for you. :D

To tell you the truth,

I LOVE guys with bigger SHEARS.

Tiny SHEARS are cute but they don't satisfy the urge to rip and cut through things.

I don't know why, it just better I guess.

(Okay That's enough for me. I'm just waiting in class bored n stuff)

I enjoy FE a little bit. The most recent shirt is awesomeness though I was hoping for bolder colors. Also, you can sense he's still a bit awkward. Then again, I'm not the professional designer here ^_^

Jelfish

10-02-2007, 08:35 PM

I really liked the last episode. I think the shirt would have looked better with a darker or lighter shade of the same color for one of the shirts, but it's the design that counts.

Vman

10-02-2007, 11:10 PM

He seemed like he was a little stiff in the first two episodes, but thats probably to be expected. The new one was better, ans I'd probably try that shirt project. I just think the show needs a little time and it could be something.

lizzymahoney

10-03-2007, 01:14 AM

Andrew is fine. He's just different, which is kinda the point. Not all projects are for all people, but how many of us ever do exactly what someone shows us? It's all about creativity and working your own mojo.

Mara2Wild

10-03-2007, 02:33 AM

loved the sneak peak of his tats tho!

duct tape dude!

10-03-2007, 04:45 AM

ya like i dont do the tb purse episodes, but i do this stuff! idk i like the whole leather and spike accesories stuff

ladyjanewriter

10-03-2007, 11:58 AM

Andrew is skinnyyyy! I think he's just one of those lanky dudes. Nice to see a guy not all pumped up and ridiculously huge.

(I'm just not a fan of the super-pumped roid rage look is all...)

Magik

10-04-2007, 08:10 AM

i love the fashion enemy videos...

timothina

10-07-2007, 10:25 PM

I LOVED the striped shirt episode! I have two really beat-up identical(except for the color) t-shirts. I am going to do this and have one great shirt rather than two ratty ones!

zombied

10-08-2007, 06:52 PM

I like his ideas. The converse re-dux I probably won't do, but the striped shirt? Absolutely. What I did take from the converse episode is how to distress an article of clothing and add spikes and studs. Now, where to get studs...

MissMary

10-08-2007, 06:58 PM

Now, where to get studs...

I use studs from old belts that are broken in some way or another, ask around, maybe someone has one laying around, or maybe try a fleamarket. :)

I loved the shirt idea, and maybe I'll use some of the ideas from the new episode on my boyfriend's chucks. I like Fashion Enemy. <3

ladyjanewriter

10-08-2007, 07:03 PM

New episode's up already!

I can't really say much about it - Chucks hurt my feet (always have). So, I'll refrain on this one.

Coffee

10-08-2007, 07:47 PM

I think the ideas were interesting...

But they didn't really grab me.

MamaSasss

10-08-2007, 09:20 PM

I love the tutorial he gave on the shirts, but I kinda like Chucks 'cuz of their simplicity. Studding and painting them up doesn't really do it for me.

bjababy

10-08-2007, 09:20 PM

I think the ideas were interesting...

But they didn't really grab me.
yea thats pretty much my opinion on it, its worth a watch but none of the projects so far are on my to do list.

scrtchdrecord

10-08-2007, 10:00 PM

i dont really like fashion enemy as much as i liked the other older shows, with rob and corinne just doing the show.
its good, but i dont really think ill do as much of the stuff.
but whatever. =]

ryanmoore

10-08-2007, 11:55 PM

i think one reason some of us dont like it is becuase alot of the projects are common sense and like where the smurf are rob and corinne?
we havent REALLY seen them in awhile?

Coffee

10-09-2007, 12:14 AM

If by "a while" you mean "in 3 days" then you're absolutely right.

Let's get one thing straight; Fashion Enemy is Andrew's Show, not Rob and Corinnes'.

ryanmoore

10-09-2007, 12:40 AM

If by "a while" you mean "in 3 days" then you're absolutely right.

Let's get one thing straight; Fashion Enemy is Andrew's Show, not Rob and Corinnes'.

no i mean like they are """ starring"" in the shows anymore
its more like other people doing the work
and i kinda liked watching THEM
so i want them to like be more in the shows
and not as much as the other people

Coffee

10-09-2007, 01:01 AM

They're the only people in Halloweenie Wednesdays, so we're still talking a matter of under a week.

The difficulty is that with Threadbanger becoming more established, Rob and Corinne are more able to have professional designers and other notables on the show, and there's no point trying to deny that. What's more, while they are very creative people, there's only so many ideas that one person can have, and it's important to spread things out.

Basically... Quit yer yappin', ya lolligagger XD

ryanmoore

10-09-2007, 01:31 AM

Basically... Quit yer yappin', ya lolligagger XD

whats that supposed to mean???

TomotheCat

10-09-2007, 03:12 AM

I like Fashion Enemy's projects, even though all but the striped shirt aren't my taste.. I love handmade, DIY, unique, but I like the stuff I make to look really neat and clean like it could come from a store. And I also like my stuff girly, so I'm not too big on the dirty/dingy stuff. He's still interesting to watch though, and I wish he'd give his projects some camera time. It seems like I only see the finished product for a half a second o.o

TomotheCat

10-09-2007, 03:19 AM

lol, well to be honest, I'm 23 and it doesn't really appeal to me either. I probably couldn't pull off a spike if I tried.

I don't really care for his delivery as much? Rob and Corinne have a natural rapport and seem to be more comfy on camera. His delivery seemed a bit stilted.

I think that ThreadHeads may just appeal to me more, because of my age and what I want to do with my refashioning skillz. I don't want to be "RAWR! GRR! RADICAL!" because, well...I'm 35. And my style was never punk-ish or hardcore-ish. I just can't pull off a spiked cuff. People would seriously laugh at me.

Fashion Enemy is not my cup o' tea, but I think that's partially because I'm not quite part of the target audience. (Because of who I am as a person, not my age demographic, per se.)

kate

10-09-2007, 03:51 AM

Well, they went on a trip to SF and the past couple episodes were about their trip. I like seeing who they meet and what they have to say. And the Halloween episode was all them. It's fun to see different people and their takes on things.

BornDefiant

10-09-2007, 04:46 AM

I like Fashion Enemy! I remember really liking Andrew Hanson's guest segment in the very first episode of Threadbangers.

I reckon some people may not like it cause it's quite different from Threadbangers, but that's what really sets it apart. I like the T-shirt segment and the turning the broken guitar strap into a belt. Been asking my bandmates to hook me up with their broken straps lol!

My only beef with it is pretty superficial, I'd like to see more creative camera work and music like in Threadbangers, make it more Rockstar like Andrew's project :D

pinoyblaze

10-09-2007, 05:06 AM

I think that he's doing well so far... It's good to see more faces on the Threadbanger network, it means we can see more people in the future who will bring more experience and creativity.

I still love Rob n Cor but they are only human!

Let them balance their lives people!!! haha they can't be thread heads all the time ^_^

chromatograph

10-09-2007, 12:08 PM

i don't like it! too punk for me ): but i suppose that's because i'm a girl heh

kasmira

10-09-2007, 01:31 PM

I LOVE ANDREW!!!!!

HE's awesome in so many ways.

fashion enemy always gets my creative juice flowing!

and that andrew is quite a hottie.

juxtaposedpink

10-09-2007, 04:34 PM

I don't like that he used leather. It made me sad. Since then I haven't really watched his stuff.

DIYing Meister

10-09-2007, 05:31 PM

I really like Fashion Enemy! I know how to do alot of stuff, but he does stuff that I never would have thought of.

secretmachine

10-25-2007, 05:28 AM

I don't know, I didn't like FE simply because all he did was create more stuff as opposed to recycle stuff. All his materials were new and if I wanted to buy new stuff then I would have just bought something already made! In addition, his ideas were nothing new. Anyone can spray paint some chucks. If he's a fashion designer, then why doesn't he use something better than spray paint rather than actual fabric paint? You guys have been very respectful in your comments but I just don't see the appeal.

Traveler

10-25-2007, 04:22 PM

I like it. I've done some of his ideas but made them my own. He has a different point of view. I would love to see more people make different styles of shows, it is a good place to start.

JemAllman

10-26-2007, 05:51 AM

omg, andrew is so amazing. and he helped me totally look at diy in a whole different way. on most of his videos ... i always say "OMG I DIDNT KNOW I COULD DO THAT!" Im super glad he has his own segment on here. Cuz like I said before he's amazing! I just wish he had a hoodie video where there are more than one hoodies he has worked on or can teach us.

Lobsticles

11-09-2007, 08:10 PM

Damn.
I actually really enjoy the Fashion Enemy segments.
1st - The different delivery style (I didn't find it stilited) is a nice change. There's nothing at all wrong with Rob and Corinne, but variety is fantastic.
2nd - Most of what is on the Fashion Enemy posts...I wouldn't ever make/wear but I still love to watch. Partially, I think it's because Andrew LOOKS like he should be Mr. Toughguy but is super mellow (almost like a punkrock Bob Ross) but also because, to drive the point home, his projects are way different than the rest of what I usually see.

At the risk of echoing Nath's original post, the Fashion Enemy segments are great and offer a great counter-balance to the rest of the Threadbanger/head content.
I think that producing those segments was both ballsy and brilliant.

Lobsticles

11-09-2007, 08:21 PM

I really liked the last episode. I think the shirt would have looked better with a darker or lighter shade of the same color for one of the shirts, but it's the design that counts.

I totally agree about the color of the shirts...for personal wear, of course do as you like, but for a demonstration a little contrast would've been super-valuable.

CelluloidPixie

11-09-2007, 09:29 PM

I would love to see something a bit more girly... sorry, im a total girly girl...
I'm not talking lace and frills necessarily, but maybe a punk dress or a girl-style shirt. (i don't wear tshirt unless they are fitted or else I look like I'm swimming in too much fabric!)

kisukejazz

11-14-2007, 01:48 PM

Fashion Enemy at least shows a different style of fashion, right? Every fashion style is an enemy of other fashion style. So I guess it's still a great show within ThreadBanger. Sure the projects within FE are not my interests, which are punk rock and nu-metal influences, but I simply cannot avoid that. These projects still educate me any other possible methods can be used in remaking old apparel into brand new. So it's 50:50. I dislike the Converse Remake project, but the methods used in that project open my mind for my new projects.