We're paying tribute to the recently departed Levon Helm in the studio today. After all it was his lady friend Libby Titus who coined the phrase that named this fine company "Floating Gold Iceberg". Her inspired string of words was a reaction to an unreal lifestyle, but in it we found inspiration for boundless creativity. Dreamy, Shiny, Canadian Design, a little something for everyone.
The Band was on high rotation during the production of the first FGI collection, Spring 2008. So it's not surprising that the name came from that storied source as well. Here's a link to the original article that I read with a glass of red wine one night on Saltspring Island.
Naming a company can be an arduous task and there had been much deliberation to find language that fit the vision. A high end, handmade clothing company that combines artistry, beauty and comfort. A brand that provides customers with a local Canadian made product they can identify with and make their own. What a relief then that someone in the world thought to say "Floating Gold Iceberg", and someone else thought to put it in print. We can create with it, you can interpret it, a vision indeed.
I've always liked The Band. They were all very good at what they did, individually and as a whole. They were working crafts people, some crazier than others, but they were a great, understated example of creative community.
So if you haven't seen 'The Last Waltz', you might ought to think about doing that. Both my parents think it's groovy (is that a sell for any of you?) and when I saw it in the theatre there wasn't a dry eye in the house after Neil Young sang 'Helpless'- even the men folk. It was a beautiful thing.
I'll end with my own personal story of Levon Helm, and some early FGI designs that were surely inspired while listening to The Band...
A couple summers ago I met my best friend in San Fransisco for a big-little music festival called Outside Lands. It's held in Golden Gate Park every year, sponsored by local wine, beer, food and art- totally dreamy. The first act we were going to see was The Levon Helm Band. We were running late, we'd got lost in the jungle of the park on our way to the concert, winding roads and botanical gardens... I accidentally fell asleep under a palm tree at one point (California has this effect on people). But we held hands, followed our ears and as we came closer it was Levon we could hear! What a thrill to be welcomed to the city, the park, the festival by his voice! I pulled out my phone, called my Mom and just held it up for her to hear as well. It's an old concert tradition in my extended family. I once answered the phone to the sound of Axel Rose's voice, another time it was Marianne Faithful (better!).
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So thanks Levon Helm, Libby Titus, and The Band. I'm a real grazer when it comes to inspiration, both food and design, but some sources shine brighter than others and this guy was one of those.
