It’s been streamed across the news the past week—the horrific disaster that struck the Philippines: Typhoon Ondoy. The worst storm in recorded history. This video, only captures a minute depth of the tragedies that the people of the Philippines are currently undergoing. Please help join HomeRoom’s efforts to aid relief by donating monetary funds.

Any aid would be appreciated. Clean clothes/canned foods/blankets are graciously being collected and accepted by these bay area community organizations:

Filipino Community Center, 4681 Mission St., San Francisco.

Liwanag Kultural Center (after 3:30 p.m.), 222 Lausanne Ave. Daly City.

Asian Pacific Islander Youth Promoting Advocacy & Leadership, Attn: Armael Malinis, AnakBayan-East Bay, 310 Eighth St., suite 215, Oakland.

United Methodist Church, 474 Southgate Ave., Daly City.

Filipino Youth Coalition & Filipino Community Support, corner of Kenesta Way and Clarice Drive, San Jose.

Valley Faith United Methodist Church, 1251 Sandia Ave., Sunnyvale.
ALSO, HomeRoom will also be donating 25% of all purchases for the next 2 weeks from  www.homeroomstore.com

For more information on how to donate, go to links.sfgate.com/ZIGJ.

*Source: Bay Area for Typhoon Ondoy Disaster Relief

If your anything like me your wondering why i posted this. I’m not quite sure, but i keep staring at this image thinking its one of those images that will turn into something if u stare at it long enough (i should have made that into two sentences). Let me know if you see another image pop out.

Behind any foot print there is a story of how that foot was made.  Its pretty interesting to me of how things come about. I have learned that the best things happen unexpectedly. Mostly as a result of being at the right place at the right time. Here are some unexpected moments from HomeRoom 2006.

I met Jessica “Yoshi” G. at Milk 3 years ago. She had on some really sick shoes for those days. I told her about this run down old sneaker shop in downtown that had size 3-5 deadstock rebook pumps from the early 90’s.

We met up the next day and hung out. She bought out the store.

This was the first time Mike Giant and i met. I told him about how i got 100 hours of community service as a child in ‘98 because I got arrested in the tunnels taking pictures of his pieces. So, he hit up my supreme hat. Many hats have come and gone, but i’ll keep this one for life.

This was the day Niko and I registered HomeRoom with the city. We were fabric shopping when we saw Nikos boyfriend. How unexpected.

I remember unexpectedly styling The Grouch for his and Zion-i’s  album cover. He was hear no evil.

Zion was speak no evil

Amp as see no evil (not pictured)

“Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.” oscar wilde

I’m starting to design summer 10 and i see my design routines evolve with every season. I’m trying to find the fine line between satisfying my tastes and keeping the prices reasonable.  Some of the pieces that i designed would have to retail at $1,000 to justify making them. You never know I might just say lets put it in the line.

Did I mention everything is made in the Good ol’ USA or Japan, It costs a little more. However, its worth the quality and the hands on that I personally have with each product.

I spent yesterday hanging out with my homie Benny Gold.  Its really interesting to me how much our cities fashion scene has grown in the Last 3 years. There are so many talented people in this little place we call San Francisco. Benny being one of them check  the never before seen Benny Gold items.

Go get yourself one.

Ben hooked me up with the new argyle socks and this Japan exclusive Key Chain. Sayonara to my old “Flat Head” key chain.

Today I am proud to show you the HomeRoom Holiday 2009 collection look book, titled “American Rejects”

Taking inspiration from the hard working American man of the 1930s through the 1950s.  This line reflects the values, family, and the blue collar ethic of those times.  It’s the telling of man who starts his day at the break of dawn, labors until dusk, and comes home to his family, only to repeat another arduous routine the very next day.  It’s the workings of the American quo.  This collection is the archetype of these traditional facets of life.  Meanwhile, American Rejects embodies the overturn of classics with the intention of manifesting progressive change in style.

I got 99 problems and most of them is the lack of time. I’ve made my life as time friendly as possible. I have a sketch book laying in the bathroom and by my sleeping headquarters. I have been fortunate to wake up with an idea almost every morning. Somehow i’ve managed to work in my dreams. I have dreams about designing. When i awake I jot down a design that i came up with in my dream. My girl must think I’m crazy as i’m murmuring ideas half asleep. Also, i figured if i take the bus everywhere i can use the transportation time to do emails. Doing emails while driving has given me a few close calls. I couldn’t live with myself if I were to crash because of facebook or a twitter email.  Goodnight. I have to be up in 4 hours to figure out how to get good quality buckles in the USA.

Also, i bought the new Kid Cudi album. Its been on rotation all day, its that good!

I feel like design is so subjective. Kinda of like the museum that I went to yesterday. Its art, it cannot be judged absolutely.

I also feel that with age, comes a more refined taste for finer things.  I guess I grew up (kinda), I got sick of looking like a bill board. I wanted to start wearing the nicest wools, cottons and leathers that I could find. I had to leave the graphics or anything childish alone and move to a new chapter of my life. I decided to make even a more higher quality collection and I think you will all appreciate this approach.

Once you take away the extra extras from your clothes, you’re left with just the presence of your personality. This is the Holiday 2009 HomeRoom Collection. I will release the entire look book for Holiday ‘09 on Wednesday titled American Rejects.

Yesterday I was able to check out the Richard Avedon exhibit at the MOMA. It made me think about art, photography and how some much of it is taken for granted. I believe that everyday the concepts, tools and skills that we use on an everyday bases are deemed normal. We forget how much innovation had to go into making these achievements. We rarely think about the breakthroughs in art and technology that goes into our everyday necessities.  That’s why I really enjoy going to museum’s. It puts everything into an honest prospective.

I was looking through my folders and found images of the very first HomeRoom graphic and some of our first products. Its very interesting to see how far we’ve all come.

I remember I used to go onto the fashion forums during my homework/study breaks and post these linesheets. Asking people to pick 2 fabrics and I would then put it together for them in a reversible hoodie. At the point all we made was hoodies. “HomeRoom Hoodies” was the original saying. We felt we gave a really good price for a one of a kind piece too.

Linesheet for may 2006

Linesheet for june 2006

We had a lot of great support from the start and we would sell out so fast. I remember my first accounts being True, Digital gravel and Reed Space. I really appreciated the support that we got from  Micheal Brown, Nima Neems and Jeff/Nico from Reedspace/Staple.

Here are some of the products that we put out 3 years ago.

People thaught we were crazy for making something so simple.

Way back when. Get ready for the new holiday lookbook. I think we have matured a little bit and got a little bit more cleaner. Can’t wear just a hoodie everyday…you know?

I rarely go out anymore. The idea of going out and partying at a club, doesn’t have the same appeal that it did when i finally go to do it legally. I rather hang out with friends at a local bar and or get some great food. When did it become okay for a shot to cost as much as a plate of food??? Alcohol is worth its weight in gold at some of these places. I digress.

Last night I went out because my friends Nessa and J. Espinosa from 94.9  were throwing an event. I ran into my friend Nikki and my new friend Cassie. I’m going to take a crack at making a drape top for her.

Often times we go about our daily routines paying little attention to what we are actually partaking in and in doing so we allow muscle memory to take over. Task such as peeling an orange, cutting vegetables and the buttering of toast seem rudimentary for us because we posses the necessary tools (our two-hands) to easily complete these tasks, but if you were to have a fracture or a permanent disability these task become overbearing.  It’s remarkable how when the need presents itself, human ingenuity is at its finest.

The One-Handed Kitchen Equipment is designed for individuals who can only use one-hand.  This pocket knife of a kitchen utensil allows for easier pre-dinning activities. The tool allows cutting, opening, fruits/vegetable cutting, peeling, a grater, a food box and stabilizing the food are all brought to the comfort of one-handed completion.

Designer: Gabriele Meldaikyte
Source:  Yanko Design

By: Raul