Print love. As featured in:
Come see us at the POOL Tradeshow, we will be at BOOTH #601.
POOL takes place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Feb. 12-14 2008.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Detroit-based neckwear designer, The Cyberoptix TieLab, has been selected to appear at POOL in Las Vegas, February 12-14, 2008. The TieLab is confirmed to appear at the exclusive S(eco)nd area of the POOL show, highlighting environmentally responsible design and manufacturing.
POOL is where the visionaries of retail come to scout hot new items for the boutique market. From emerging brands, to the world’s best graphic artists POOL is where designers and thinkers come to shape the trends.
Cyberoptix has been making custom clothing for stage and film since 2001. The TieLab division was founded a few years later by principal designer, Bethany Shorb. With a market flooded with boring corporate neck nooses and novelty ties, the Lab aims to fill a void within the fashion conscious 18-35 year old market, offering a subtly subversive, well designed, handmade alternative to the men's uniform staple while strictly adhering to ethical manufacturing processes.
"Clichéd use of green tones coupled with faux chipboard to do not make a "green" product. We strongly believe that a designer's ethics need not inform nor limit the look of the object, rather they must fuel it's making. Neither bales of hay, nor burlap nor any other fashionable, eco-hippified trappings dress our design decisions. In the garment industry, we all know that screen printing is notoriously environmentally unfriendly. We are doing what we can within our means, re-thinking tired industry standards to make our trade better. We are a 100% solvent-free shop -- although far more time-consuming and far less cost-effective, we only use nontoxic, water-based ink rather than Plastisols," says 31 year-old entrepreneur Shorb.
POOL has an industry reputation as a launching pad for emerging brands that soon become the popular standard for specialty boutiques and leading retailers around the world. POOL features Women’s Contemporary & Young Contemporary, Women’s Accessories & Footwear, Men’s Contemporary & Streetwear and Men’s Accessories & Footwear.
s(eco)nd, the newest launch of POOL TRADESHOW, made its debut in August 2007, focusing on the new breed of environmentally and socially conscious organizations emerging worldwide. “It only takes a second to change the world,” says Mindy Weiner, creator of s(eco)nd and Director of Operations for POOL TRADESHOW. “We now have an opportunity to lead by example on THE issue of our time. The fashion industry has been working to raise awareness for the last few seasons, but the timing is right for s(eco)nd and our stand on environmental issues. s(eco)nd will allow us to take a second look at how we do business, from an ecological standpoint, and will encourage our audience to rethink their basic day to day habits. We are proud to take a stand and to help pave the way for greater change.” POOL TRADESHOW, held twice a year in Las Vegas, showcases the best emerging designers and new products ranging from fashion and accessories to a wide variety of lifestyle products.
Blogland love:
MetroPop Magazine (08/31/2007)
Omiru (08/29/2007)
Wurzeltod.ch (8/26/07)
Coudal (08/27/2007)
Mightygoods (07/31/2007)
Dirty Pretty Things (07/28/2007)
Evod Style (07/26/2007)
Jockohomo (07/25/2007)
man-fashion (07/01/2007)
American Madness (06/28/2007)
Thrillist (06/28/2007)
ThisNext Blog (06/24/2007)
The New York Times (06/24/2007)
HauteConcept (06/19/2007)
She Knows Best (06/19/2007)
Human is Human (06/19/2007)
Josh Spear (06/19/2007)
Blogue Fonetik (06/16/2007)
Modish (06/14/2007)
Styleteria (06/11/2007)
Trendhunter (06/11/2007)
Uncrate (06/10/2007)
Fresh Trend (06/06/2007)
MAKE magazine blog (06/06/2007)
The Indie Quarter (05/30/2007)
Amour Magazine UK (05/01/2007)
GenArt (4/30/2007)
Product Dose (04/19/2007)
We Love Les Lapins (04/15/2007)
Swankshow (03/08/2007)
Morbid Outlook (03/01/2007)
Murketing (02/02/2007)
The Consumerist (02/02/2007)
Charles & Marie (02/01/2007)
Design Sponge Gift Guide (12/06/2006)
Blooming Lilly (11/28/2006)
IndieShopping Gift Guide (11/27/2006)
GADMAG (11/21/2006)
Sencha (11/21/2006)
Designer's Block (11/19/2006)
Rivet Magazine Holiday Gift Guide (11/17/2006)
NOTCOT (11/16/2006)
Individual Fashion - Best Indie Fashion: Bombastic Fantastic (9/27/2006 )
Local Features:
11.22.06
Real
Detroit WeeklyThe Big Hunt
By Keith N. Dusenberry
Nov 22, 2006, 23:59
Here’s how Bethany Shorb, the multi-disciplinary artist who set up, styled and photographed this issue’s cover shoot and inside fashion spread, came to now find herself making a “ridiculous fur coat” for current WWE Intercontinental Champion wrestler Johnny Nitro.
Shorb grew up in Connecticut, about an hour outside of New York City, got her undergraduate degree in sculpture (with a concentration in photography) from Boston University and then came to Cranbrook for grad school. She would — and still does — use her sculpture skills to make props for her photos. Eventually, she needed clothes for the photo shoots — so she started making them too.
Shorb has since done clothing and costume work for movies, music videos and her own clothing lines. Her Eastern Market studio is in perpetual motion. “I like it a lot,” Shorb says of working on so many projects at the same time. “I go crazy if I’m doing just one.” Though she initially became known for goth-y, techno-y rave wear, Shorb has diversified into doing vintage military graphic-adorned ties and deconstructed-reconstructed vintage military coats. Johnny Nitro found her Web site (cyberoptix.com) and bought a tie; the custom fur coat order soon followed.
With clothing, design, sculpture and music, Shorb’s always been a bit of a tinkerer. Besides Dethlab (her musical partnership with Mike Doyle), she also performs as Toybreaker. “I’ve always been a bit of a nerd about taking apart electronics and making my own keyboards,” Shorb admits. “So, I think when I was doing a lot of that in my music, that that project kind of leached into the fashion a little bit … the projects bleed into one another.” | RDW
Photography by Bethany Shorb
Men's pants and shirts provided by Peasant, Birmingham; 248.203.6470.
Men's ties and jackets by Bethany Shorb of Cyberoptix; cyberoptix.com.
Women's clothing by Sarah Vidosh of Spy, Detroit; 313.833.6623.
All hats and accessories, Cyberoptix.
Jewelry by: Suum Jewelry Equations, Ferndale; 734.649.7743
Models: Laurie Smolenski, Stephanie Skuzenski, Elena Callis, Robin Callis, Inky Nkhumise Noge, Michael Doyle, Jon Ozias, Jimmy Edgar.
Makeup Artists: Justin Ruppel, Eric Ford.
Hair Stylists: Amanda Gordon.
Antique Taxidermy provided by the Vidosh family and Oslo.
Additional props by Showcase Antiques; Detroit.
Locations: Northern Lights Lounge, Oslo, Centaur.
Thanks to Brendan M Gillen & Amber Lesicki for the cover location, and
Cyberoptix intern Kelly Pelletier.
blog blurbage, 2006:
9.27.06 - Individual Fashion - Best Indie Fashion: Bombastic Fantastic
For the last year, there has been a bombastic explosion of color in menswear. From coast to coast, men have been making grander entrances with pinks, oranges, and light blues, causing quite a stir. Such colors have shaken up the style scene, and are so very cool and refreshing…ahh…
If lookin’ cool is your thing (and it should be), check out Cyberoptix Tie Lab. They are shaken things up with a twist of art, and have successfully mastered unique designs of a menswear staple. Their ties are truly bombastic fantastic with prices starting at only $30.
9.26.06 - huge thanks to Indie Obsession for the great article on the royal bird tie and others! On a similar note, the TieLab will also be featured on one of my favorite shopping sites based on the west coast, Cut + Paste as well as an upcoming feature in Bust Magazine.
9.11.06 - Thanks to Fixed Gear Finds - an online guide to indie and DIY shopping finds for guys!
Braaaains! Cyberoptix offers a fun take on conservative menswear. Their elegant ties are nice enough to wear to the office and enough fun to almost make you not resent wearing a tie. Each necktie is hand-silkscreened onto a quality, 100% charmeuse silk or poly-blend base. Once you pick the design you like, you pick the tie color and material.
9.8.06 - Huge thanks to the folks over at Create Detroit for their story on the TieLab:
Want to stand out at your next “bored” meeting or presentation. Then take a look at these amazing ties from CYBEROPTIX. Each tie is handmade of the finest and most unusual materials, along with stunning graphics to make sure you stand out of the crowd. Who’s the brainchild of such a creation you may ask?….
New York area native Bethany Shorb has been working out of her top floor Eastern Market studio for a little over three years now. Bethany holds an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art. She has dabbled and excelled in disciplines ranging from sculpture, to fashion and graphic design, to photography, to multimedia and music.
Nice work Bethany,.. Keep it up! Handcrafted is the new luxury. Check out the site here and go pick up a tie for your next meeting,.. or you’re fired!
9.7.06 - Big thanks to Rose Deniz for the wonderful writeup on the Cyberoptix TieLab.
Break hearts with Cyberoptix's Heart Attack tie, just one of several heart-racing screenprinted and handsewn ties featuring vintage illustrations from Bethany Shorb. If you are feeling particularly literary, the ExLibris tie also comes in a variety of tie colors (sky blue is my favorite color choice, followed by white) with your choice of ink color. And for a more luxurious version of the poly-blend tie, many are available in 100% silk. For those of you with a more daring nature, there is a Squid Brain!, Bats with Hearts, and pink Bombs Away tie.
All ties are handscreened in Bethany's Detroit studio, where she also has a custom costumes division that has been responsible for outfitting feature films, music tours and other major events with hand detailed clothing. Her work has also been featured in Make and Fiberarts, lending strength to the credence that ties are not just for men.... sexy and classic at the same, I love the idea of sporting an ExLibris tie or the following Fern Illustration tie with stylish frames in a well-cut suit.
Make sure to visit Rose's site for her exquisite line of handbags and accessories made by herself and a team of talented artisans both based in Turkey!
8.15.06 - The TieLab is currently listed on Coolhunting.com as a reader-submitted pick!
8.15.06 - Thanks also to ShinerClay, Re:Knit, The Radio Ectropic and .Marce (in Spanish!) for blog mentions. Rough translation from .Marce:
"Can you be a Professional if you don't wear a tie?
You suddenly find yourself dressed in the style of the "Boss Man", what seems to me to be simply an incredible piece of art. I would love to use this tie because with it's message it is not just an accessory!
You have to see it to believe it!"
8.15.06 - Thanks again to Murketing.com for conducting a most excellent and thoughtful interview about the Cyberoptix TieLab! Murketing.com is a project of R. Walker, weekly columnist for The New York Times Magazine.
7.19.06 - Thanks to Murketing.com for the great link and review on the ties:
Anyway, if I did have a reason to wear a tie these days, I’d consider one made by Detroit’s t0ybreaker, who I came upon by way of the Craft Magazine Flickr pool. I don’t know if I could really pull one of these off, but even if I just bought it and it stayed in the closet, I’d probably be happy.
There is some other really well written design-oriented, flickr and consumerist content on Murketing please do check it out.
6.21.06 - Our new silkscreened ties (and other recent projects) are on the front of the Make Magazine blog!
Who needs to wear boring old ties when you can refashion them? The ties in this Flickr set have all been silkscreened, cut apart, riveted, and stitched to distinctly new heights. Here at left are vintage World War II US Army officer's tie with early gas mask imagery. At the right, more vintage gas mask imagery silkscreened on the tie. Also not to be missed in this set, a woman's shirt that features intricate cut out and designs all over the front and back.
6.21.06 - Thank you, DIYhappy.com for the excellent coverage!
I absolutely love the ties in this flickr set. Most of them were born as normal, boring old ties but have been brought back to life with custom screens, rivets, and a little sewing action. Also in this flickr set is a weird shirt that kinda reminds me of Storm Shadow from G.I. Joe. Look around this user’s images for some other great fashionable items that didn’t make it into the set.
ARCHIVES:
KBCH Los Angeles: Xtreme Fashion I - Bethany Shorb
21 minutes - 10mb
Bethany Shorb of Cyberoptix brings us along on one of her late-nite capers in the dark, dank, to-be-demolished-24-hours-later, underbelly of Detroit. We'll find the most amazing "fabric," elude the authorities "borrowing" it, stand on scissors to cut it, break 23 industrial needles sewing it, and finally wear it down the runway at America's premiere computer graphics cyberfashion show.
Eye for I
The camera is a hall of mirrors for shape-shifter Bethany Shorb.
Joining a long tradition of modern and postmodern photographers, from Man Ray to Cindy Sherman, Shorb combines inner gazing with masquerade into scenes of ambiguously disturbing drama and gothic desire. There’s a degree of complicity between the eye behind the camera and the body in front of the lens that’s particularly intriguing...