Wednesday, 7 January 2015

Masato homeless campaign Beanie UPDATE




The meaning behind the homeless beanie campaign we started on December 2nd 2014 with a campaign buy a beanie we donate one. 

We reached a time when we wanted to have some stocking fillers for Christmas early November and decided to do beanies and gloves with the Masato branding by early December we had received a forwarded story from Gaynor Jackson of Artisan Designs of Michelle who runs Donate Soxs who often on her own goes around the streets of London, Camden Town to the West End with donations of clothes especially homeless who have dogs and not allowed in homeless shelters. We raised 63 beanies and distributed across London we are now helping with gloves buy one we donate one. 

As the homeless beanie campaign hit, the Masato team came across further information an organisation in Belfast called 100 Help the Homeless who wanted 50 beanies before December 19th 2014 with your help we achieved, many of these donations were from USA and Canada. We received assistance from Ulster TV and Belfast Telegraph.  

By mid December Karen Bidios had contacted us from Porchlight based across Kent a homeless charity since 1974 lead by it's Chief Executive Mike Barrett at the end of the campaign January 31st we have raised £320 for the charity from the sale of the beanies we know £320 is only small drop in the ocean for the charity we aim to be bigger with the new campaign starting in October and running in January 2016 we will need volunteers and single homeless projects across UK to contact us please email studio@masato.co.uk attention of Mike.  



The issues this charity faces is lack of council and government funding on the homeless issue from one of the few independent homeless charities who work in all fields, it is paramount that charities like Porchlight survive. To donate directly www.porchlight.org.uk 


Norwich LEAP 

Although our campaign was due to end on January 5th we extended until January 31st as homelessness is all year round. 

We helped with Norwich LEAP http://norwichleap.co.uk every beanie bought or gloves we donate to the Norwich street homeless proving that homelessness is not just for the major cities a quaint city like Norwich the homeless population is growing fast. 

The campaign as ended with an amazing result of 71 beanies for the Norwich homeless charity & 30 pairs of gloves this will be turned into cash for the charity of £420 going towards the work they do in the city at a time when local government is unable to do so. 

Interesting fact on the Norwich campaign 80% sales were from Norwich & Norfolk most businesses in the city, we achieved a high social media presence with 15 individuals driving the campaign. 



Why did we decide to help ? 

We believe in many ideals one of which is to help causes by splitting profits for charitable causes and raising awareness we hope that the beanie campaign as raised awareness across social media there as been a bit of criticism of what we have done. 

Finally we have realised during this journey how easy it is to be street homeless in the UK and very little help to be back on track many reasons loss of job, marital and relationship breakdown, family death etc 

Media coverage 

National Student magazine 

http://www.thenationalstudent.com/Fashion/2015-01-08/Help_tackle_homelessness_with_Masato_London_and_Porchlight.html 

Canterbury Times 

http://www.canterburytimes.co.uk/Fashion-brand-supports-Porchlight-beanie-hat/story-25888496-detail/story.html

Further reading 




Monday, 28 July 2014

Masato Sax Tshirt shoot with Saxophonist Kim Cypher.

Sax Tshirt photo shoot 

Stefanie's second photo shoot with our brand Masato London with the talented Kim Cypher a Saxophonist, Stef approached us after we leaked our next tshirt was a Saxophone drawn by Masato Jones & expressed that she would like to do a photo shoot with Kim Cypher.

Stefanie is a Cambridge degree trained photographer and has worked as a photographer in the industry since graduating. She is a master at capturing stunning imagery and the art of photography is what makes her tick. She has gained years of experience working as a professional photographer and always exceeds the brief. Her energy and dedication produces outstanding work. Stefanie is a talented, creative and inspired photographer who thinks on her feet to ensure you get truly fantastic shots. Only when you're happy will she call it a wrap.

 http://www.photographybystefanie.co.uk/ 



 Kim Cypher is one of the most versatile and experienced female saxophonists in the South West, having developed her own unique ‘funky’ style of playing, built upon influences by great players such as Gerald Albright, Maceo Parker, Pee Wee Ellis, Andy Sheppard, Dean Fraser, Courtney Pine and Grover Washington.  Her continued tuition and support from the amazing British Jazz saxophonist Andy Sheppard and American saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis (saxophonist with James Brown and Van Morrison), allows Kim to continue to develop and improve her playing style and technique.

Kim started playing saxophone at age 9 and achieved Grade 8 practical and theory of music with distinction by age 14.
She studied Expressive Arts at St Paul’s & St Mary’s College in Cheltenham where she was awarded a First Class Honours for her original musical composition for saxophone, clarinet, Peruvian pipes and percussion.
Prior to turning professional as a musician, Kim was Head of Music at a primary school in Gloucester for 17 years. She has also been a saxophone tutor at the Cheltenham Boys College and is currently a tutor at the Cheltenham Rock School.
Kim has appeared on national TV and Radio and is featured on various recordings as a session musician.

Kim formed Dancin’ Easy, one of the South West’s busiest and most popular party bands,  along with her husband and drummer, Mike, over 20 years ago.
In addition to Dancin’ Easy, Kim leads her own jazz quartet, ‘The Kim Cypher Quartet’, 6 piece jazz/funk band, ‘The Kim Cypher Band’ and sax and guitar duo, ‘Just The Two of Us’ as well as performing as a soloist.
More recently, Kim has been training as a jazz vocalist and now offers this in addition to her saxophone playing. 
Take a listen to Kim's soulful jazz music 



 Kim Cypher at the Strand, Cheltenham



Wednesday, 25 June 2014

Friday, 13 June 2014

Feather drawings for new t-shirt




                           



                                    

                                             





                                    



                                    



                                       



                                 


          masato.co.uk
        studio@masato.co.uk