Fresh off the January 21 release of All Gone 2011, La MJC and Patta threw a special release party at Amsterdam’s 60/62. With drinks on hand and Michael Dupouy signing copies of the 250-page streetwear bible, the party served as a celebration of a successful year for streetwear and yet another job well done as we put 2011 behind us and move into yet another cultural progression in 2012.

Source: Michael La MJC

For over half a decade, Michael Dupouy (otherwise known as La MJC) has had a strong involvement in the development and expression of street culture in Europe. Based in Paris, the well-versed creative complemented his agency work with the conception of a yearly streetwear bible titled All Gone. Created in a beautifully bound book, Michael Dupouy and his team have the unenviable task of filtering through a year’s worth of product (broken up into 12 months) – a task that surely hasn’t gotten an easier with each passing year. We speak with Dupouy about his editorial process and his own thoughts on the current streetwear environment.

Can you introduce yourself and the direction behind your book, All Gone?
I’m Michael Dupouy, founder of La MJC communication agency. Born and raised in Paris, working hard since 1976. I have imagined the All Gone book six years ago, while everybody was announcing the end of paper press and internet was starting killing the video stars. My original idea was to create a rich and comprehensive book with main purpose to document and pay tribute to the best of street culture by showcasing its most appealing and innovative projects. The first ambition was to make the book become a bible for the street scene, paying homage to its elite. A book that you would collect every year, making sense year after year, altogether looking like an encyclopedia.

How would you define the progression of streetwear over the last 5 years?
The past 5-6 years, the game has changed a lot. I would say the street scene stepped up to maturity. Under the guidance of its leaders, the scene fused its codes with those of fashion, luxury and art. It’s not a passion for a restricted club anymore. It has a huge influence on contemporary world. Fortunately, the economic crisis did not stop those who wanted to push the scene forwards and ambition and creativity are still the keys.

What’s your usual process for creating the book? Do you keep a weekly/monthly tab of items to review?
Honestly? My radar is always on. I try to be connected with all the brands, all the creative people, to know their upcoming projects. It’s more easy to do now than at the beginning of All Gone, as now a lot of people want their products/projects featured in it. Almost everyday, I change my list of items, add some, delete others etc…I do it on a daily basis, and at the end of the month, I do a full review and try to get my favorites at our studio to make the photo shootings.

What do you take into consideration before including an item into a book?
It’s always a hard choice. I try to have the good balance between the category, the brands, the color matching from a page to another, and of course, the number of pages I have to make the book. 248 pages is a lot, but not that much at the end, when you think how many items are released per day. The first consideration is always about the success of the item, the people and the idea behind, and how it influenced the scene.

With so much to go through, what is the hardest part about creating the book? Has it gotten harder to filter with more and more content being created?
Making the choices is the hardest part. I have to take some risks, sometimes skip products imagined by people I’m friend with or brands I’m close to. For example, my company celebrated its 10th birthday in 2011 but you won’t find any of our products in the book. I don’t want people to think I’m using the book to promote our items. This year, with the recession, successes have been harder to achieve, so it has been much easier to do my selection as only the very best have stood up to the crisis.

What’s the process behind designing the covers… and how much longer will leopard stay “on-trend” before it enters its cyclical death?
If you know the All Gone book since day one, you have noticed that it’s the first time we offered a “printed” cover. The five first issues were using different fabrics, sober, and the last one was using a beautiful nubuck. I think it was the perfect moment for leopard this year. If the boom of the past few years drove street culture to a more understated and back-to-basics approach, it really seems that the more recent harder times are bringing back diversity, eccentricity and uniqueness. Leopard symbolizes that trend and was the year favorite print. That’s why I chose it. I think it will survive even if people are already bored because we have seen it too many times recently. But it’s like camouflage or polka dots, those are timeless and will never die, and will come back again.

This year’s book is dedicated to DJ Mehdi – what does his loss mean to you and the music community?
It means a lot to me. He was a friend. I knew him for a very long time, he was DJing at all our parties since the early beginning of my company and saw our thing growing year after year. The least I could do is dedicate him the book this year. His legacy will always be with us and the music community will never forget him because of his huge talent and also because he was really appreciated by all.

All Gone World Tour
Feb 3 - Copenhagen at Norse Projects
Feb 8 - London at Foot Patrol
Feb 14 - Las Vegas at Undefeated
Feb 17 - Los Angeles at Undefeated
Feb 18 - San Francisco at Undefeated
Feb 23 - Mexico City
March 24 - Shangai
March 25 - Hong Kong at Juice

Photography: Carlos Alvarez Montero

In anticipation of its January 21 release, La MJC unveil a 62-page preview of the forthcoming All Gone 2011 book. Consistent with past releases, the annual publication highlights a broad-reaching review of the best and most notable keystone events of 2011 within the world of streetwear fashion and culture. Allowing each feature to speak for itself, the preview gives us a glimpse of a minimal and clean layout covering the likes of the Concepts for New Balance, the Supreme for Vans “Zebra” Collection, as well as an extensive encyclopedia of topics that the publication has become well respected for cataloging.

Flagship street culture book All Gone will unveil its sixth installment of the series which aims to spotlight nearly 200 product highlights from 2011. Featuring contributions from photographers from all walks of life, the book will be available in limited quantities and boast two different versions of cover art. All Gone 2011 will be available for purchase at colette on January 21.

colette
213 Rue Saint-Honoré
Paris 75001
France

Following a successful and well attended event in Berlin, the ALL GONE 2010 book made a trip to its hometown of Paris for a launch at colette. Several key figures were in attendance including Carri Munden of CASSETTE PLAYA, jeffstaple of Staple Design and Busy P of Ed Banger Records. Editor and founder behind the ALL GONE book movement, Michael Dupouy was also on hand to meet and sign copies of this year’s edition.

To further compliment Berlin’s recent ALL GONE: The Finest of Street Culture 2010 release in Berlin, hosts MADE has created the following video to capture the night’s events and sights. With the likes of Busy P and jeffstaple DJing, and an eclectic showing of various toys, sneakers and art pieces, the event was capped off with the book’s curator Michael Dupouy on hand to sign copies of the book.

ALL GONE continues into 2011 as the official book of streetwear saw a release earlier in the month. Hosting an event in Berlin, the entire showcase was a nice balance to the other festivities surrounding the Bread & Butter trade show. With the actual “streetwear” scene now dwindling, it will be interesting to see the book’s evolution in the coming years and how brands approach growing tendencies to become “contemporary.” Until then we take a glance into the year that was 2010.

Source: La MJC

All Gone has come to position itself as the definitive yearly recap of the hottest and most highly sought after products according to La MJC. With a Berlin launch party just around the corner, the book enjoys a comprehensive look throughout the pages. Two versions of the limited edition book will be available in black (700 copies) and brown (500 copies). A release is slated for Jan. 24, 2011 through various select retailers. The Berlin launch is set for Thursday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. at MADE.

MADE
Alexanderstr. 7 9th floor
Berlin Mitte
Germany

Source: High Snobiety

In a dual celebration of both ALL GONE‘s fifth anniversary and the publication’s Berlin release, a special event is set to take place at MADE. The event will encompass the unveiling of the book and a special exhibition while opening night will include special guest performances from the likes of Ed Banger’s Busy P and friends. The opening event will take place on Thursday, Jan. 20 starting at 7:00 p.m. while the exhibition will be open to the public starting Jan. 21 through Feb. 2.

MADE
Alexanderstr. 7 9th floor
Berlin Mitte
Germany

Michael Dupouy gives us a peek into the latest cover of All Gone as the book embarks on its 5th edition for 2010. Following up last year’s white and red covers, this latest edition will boast a nubuck finish, again offered in a couple of different choices, one more limited than the other. The streetwear encyclopedia will see a release in late January 2011 through select boutiques as well as the All Gone e-store. Stay tuned.