For the Spring 2010 Collection, Shipley & Halmos shot a series of films and hosted a screening during New York Fashion Week. The stop animation presentation invite was created at the S&H studio one Saturday afternoon. The letter types itself, puts itself in an envelope, stamps itself, then makes its way off the screen. A day later, invitees received a hard copy in the mail.

This linear invite was designed to reach the viewer not only from a visual standpoint, but also physical and mental. “Life must be a straight line of motion from goal to further goal” (Ayn Rand) was printed to reinforce the ideology that has become a Shipley & Halmos mantra.

A very practical use of reflection. Recipients of this invitation could first read the invitation’s backwards content by holding it next to the mirrored side. Then, they could use the card to check their makeup, fix their hair, or clean their teeth.

We had our first Fashion Week presentation for Fall 2008 on Super Bowl Sunday. Coincidentally, the Giants happened to be playing against the then-undefeated Patriots in a highly anticipated game. A few people still came to our show (we know who you are!). Perhaps that was because of this really clever invitation design? OK, fine, they probably heard we were serving free ice-cold Budweisers.

“To deal with friends in business is the only business we deal in”. We printed it on this card, engrave it on our denim shanks, and operate our business by this motto. Nuff said.