Thorns conjure up endless imagery. From floral to fairytale to punk, it’s impossible to ignore the dark correlations associated with this part of nature. Cui Fei, a fine artist from Jinan, China incorporates thorns into her art, using minimalism and nature to convey symbolic messaging. Be it calligraphic undertones in Read by Touch, or a disturbing, dada-like take on braille, this piece, like many of her others, forces the viewer to consider nature’s discarded elements. Commercializing the thorn, Barney’s Coop recently used unpruned rose stems to texturize their accessories spread, creating bold fresh contrasts. Whether these triangular pricks are being used to reel in summer or just transition us beyond the overplayed pyramid stud, it will be interesting to see how designers throw their own spin on this prickly ornament.

Over the weekend, I had the good fortune of escaping the cold wet city for Miami.  In between bouts of beach and people watching, I popped into the shops along Collins Ave to see if South Beach had more to offer than bedazzled Ed Hardy paraphernalia.  As predicted, Barney’s quenched my thirst for innovation.  I was astonished by the simple lighting solution that brightened the entire menswear floor.  “People will come from all over to visit the store, so we definitely wanted elements of memorability and surprise,” said Kent Wells, Director of Retail Planning and Design for RGLA .  Relying on new and creative ways to use utilitarian objects, Barney’s Miami CO-OP combined a mix of materials, fixturing systems and artisan objects to create an eclectic store environment, with an emphasis on wacky and fun.

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