World Cup 2010 in South Africa
June 11, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
We had a structured league for youth and so when we won certain games we could go and play against under 12s of such and such region, with different colours of skin.
‘At school we had that as well. We had a league playing against other schools, white people’s schools. It was scary. It was always difficult at that age, especially for a black person being next to a white person. We knew what white people usually intend to do. The colour of the skin was absolutely scaring us.
‘Maybe that is the only part that apartheid affected me or us. Some decisions would favour them but it wasn’t really major on the pitch. You could get some words coming out, some words towards us but it was never a big deal.
‘We used to look at rugby as the white person’s sport, but since Mandela came out of prison it changed. Then it was the Rugby World Cup and he gave a different perspective to sport and made rugby open to all the people.
‘We would view rugby as a white man’s sport but Mandela showed that sport unifies people.’
South African president Nelson Mandela used the Rugby World Cup in 1995 as a device to unite the country. Mandela encouraged the blacks to get behind the Spingboks, traditionally a symbol of the white Afrikaner ruling class, and the team’s victory helped bring the nation together.
Three years earlier, Mokoena’s township was the scene of a massacre. The South Africa captain was 11 at the time when 46 people were killed by migrant workers affiliated to the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).
Different worlds: Portsmouth midfielder Mokoena was raised in a township near Johannesburg, which was once the scene of a massacre
Different worlds: Portsmouth midfielder Mokoena was raised in a township near Johannesburg, which was once the scene of a massacre
Mandela’s African National Congress accused the Government of complicity and walked out of the talks to end apartheid. It is considered a catalyst for the end of the regime but it was an awful day for those who lived in Boipatong.
‘The IFP caused the whole thing,’ said Mokoena, who left South Africa at the age of 18.
‘The next day I had to go to school and people were coming back crying. The night before a lot of people had been murdered by men with guns and my mum had to try to protect me.
‘There were rumours the men would be coming back and killing youth – especially boys. I was at that age, so my mum had to dress me as a girl to protect me.
‘I understood what was happening but not as I do now. I knew there was apartheid and there were places where we could not go and things we were not supposed to do. You knew, if you saw a certain type of car, you had to run away.’
A friend of Mokoena’s was hurt in the massacre and has been confined to a wheelchair since. Last year, he bought her a new wheelchair and he wants to take her to see Bafana Bafana in the World Cup finals.
‘Those people need us more than anything,’ he said. ‘It would be nice for her to come and see one of the games.
Oko by Oko Eyewear
May 18, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Jeremy Thomas is now available to book for Oko by Oko Lunettes:
The story began after a crazy bet. At the beginning, these three friends, opticians, create OKO, which means eye in Slavonic language, as an eyewear distribution company for high quality Japanese collections. Then, as a challenge, they decide to design and market their own collection « OKO by OKO », entirely imagined, conceived and designed by « them », for a better reflect of current trends, while offering a good work and different colors.
Thus OKO by OKO was born in 1999.
Universe
OKO by OKO was conceived to be an innovating product without being too much, « just enough originality to not scare consumers », together with a stock located in Paris, which makes possible to satisfy customers by a fast delivery and products always available.
Moreover, a stable sales force for several years which helped to built customers loyalty to the brand. This image of original creations but «consumables » that characterizes the brand, accompanied by a corporate philosophy of genuine partnership is very popular in the market.
Style
Under the motto of OKO by OKO, elitism has no place in aesthetics, especially for eyewear, considered today as an independent accessory. Passionate by fashion and eyewear, they imagine frames that above all, resemble to them. Their shifted and colored universe creates sensation very quickly on a creator segment, that they want accessible to everybody. Typified frames or more discrete models, Oko by Oko aim and touches all publics, without exception. Young or less young people, it does not matter, which count is to share the same merry philosophy of life. A product labored and colored with taste that stands out from all the rest. Here, nor fashion, nor avant-garde, nor conservative, just INNOVATION accessible to everybody! Design signed by David BEDDOK.
Target
Consumers who recognizes themselves in the different and differentiating character of the product as well as the convivial and human dimension of the company.
Positioning
The human dimension of the company induces to a selective distribution which naturally preserves sales of the competition of geographically close opticians. Oko by Oko is distributed in France by their field sales force and all around by the best local distribution companies.
Andy Wolf Eyewear + Bettie Paige
April 16, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Homage to Bettie Page by Andy Wolf Eyewear from Hartberg in Austria
Homage to Bettie Paige by Andy Wolf Eyewear
Homage to Bettie Paige by Andy Wolf Eyewear
Homage to Bettie Paige by Andy Wolf Eyewear
Homage to Bettie Paige by Andy Wolf Eyewear
Andy Wolf Eyewear from Austria
Andy Wolf Eyewear from Austria
Bettie Page (April 22, 1923 – December 11, 2008)[2] was an American model who became famous in the 1950s for her fetish modeling and pin-up photos. She has often been called the “Queen of pinups”.[3] Her look, including her jet black hair and trademark bangs, has influenced many artists.
She was also one of the earliest Playmates of the Month for Playboy magazine. “I think that she was a remarkable lady, an iconic figure in pop culture who influenced sexuality, taste in fashion, someone who had a tremendous impact on our society,”[4] Playboy founder Hugh Hefner told the Associated Press.
Her later life was marked by depression, violent mood swings and several years in a state psychiatric hospital.[5][6] In 1959, she converted to Christianity, and later worked for Billy Graham.[7] After years of obscurity, she experienced a resurgence of popularity in the 1980s and has a significant cult following.
Monoqool: Helix + Twins
April 14, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Monoqool is the most talked about hinge to hit the UK, with an exciting and fresh concept more than worthy of its latest Red Dot Design Award !
Monoqool wins Red Dot Design Award
Jee Vice + Sex and The City
April 13, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Sex and the City 2/PR
As we approach the release of the Sex and the City 2 film on May 28th, we are focusing our efforts in maximizing our exposure in order to help you open more doors as well as increase sell through in existing doors. We know that the Red Hot Purple, Heated Orange and Brown Sexy will be in the film and therefore have ordered significant quantities which will be delivered in the coming weeks.
Specific initiatives include the following:
1. We will be participating with Mercedes Benz in a worldwide ad campaign involving Sex and the City 2 film release at the end of May. (please see image below)
2. We will be working with the producers of the film, Warner Brothers to promote Jee Vice and the film in the 60 top cities in North America. This will be via radio, print, and internet and will involve giveaways and private screenings.
3. For Canada, we are in initial discussions with Warner Brothers for a targeted ad campaign.
4. We are also working closely with major national magazines (People, US Weekly, In TOUCH, etc) to highlight Jee Vice in articles addressing what the stars are wearing in the film.
5. We will be in the July issue of In Style, which will feature the Caramel SPICY.