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U R B A N / W O - M E N ’ S F A S H I O N / I N N O V A T I O N / L I F E S T Y L E
WHEREVER LIFE TAKES YOU ...
VISION & VALUES / PHILOSOPHY OF EXCELLENCE / G-LAB‘S HERITAGE / PORTRAIT: WORLDRECORDS / CLOSE-UP: TIEFSCHWARZ / FASHION ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY / G-LAB.COM : THE STORE / FRIENDS OF G-LAB / TOPSELLERS & EVERGREENS / WATERPROOF, WINDPROOF & BREATHABLE
PRIME EDITION
#
2
LIVE YOUR FREEDOM!
»Our standards are high because yours are. We want to create and craft jackets that become your absolute favourite.« Björn Gericke, G-LAB founder
Vision & Values
T rekking the foothills of the Himalaya’s,
searching for a Buddhist temple in Nepal,
riding wild horses through the Patagonian
grasslands? Sorry, not yet. But passing through
Stockholm, Tokyo, or Vancouver?
That‘s where you‘d rather find us.
Freedom and independence drive us and define our brand. To us, “adventure” doesn‘t mean expeditions to the North Pole or climbing the Kilimanjaro, but what you can experience everyday in the metropolis around the world. We are intrigued by people and their urban adventures. We are more often in Toronto, New York, Moscow than south of Cape Town, aren’t you?
We cherish our independence. In town in the morning and in the afternoon in the mountains or by the ocean, that’s quality of life for us. Creating something for people who live a non-linear, global-urban lifestyle, that’s exciting to us. Whether you are on your way to DJ in the latest Brazilian club, or on a shoot on location
in London or just hitting the road on your Triumph motorcycle after a long day at the office, our jackets and coats are made so they fit the needs of your active lifestyle.
We emphasize superior quality by using fabrics and materials that are made to last & perform. We don’t rely on the innovations of others, but we lock our- selves away and develop and design every detail in-house in collaboration with our longstanding partners and suppliers, seeking to translate innovations into solutions for everyday use. Fusion of functional, intelligent high-tech design with an urban, contem-
porary street style. That’s G-LAB. Steering away from fashion gimmicks and massive logos, the brand and design remain distinct. So you‘ll always locate your G-LAB jacket with its orange hanger loop anywhere, no matter how crowded or low-lit the place is.
As a child, I was greatly influenced and inspired by my father’s passion for strong design and the careful manufacturing of innovative and outstanding products. At G-LAB, we abide by this unique heritage through redefining, and if necessary rein-venting from scratch, achieving superior quality and genuine innovation that delivers the unexpected. Our enthusiasm for improving our jackets further drives us to search worldwide for new fabrics
and innovative techniques. Striving for perfection is not our only goal, for us the journey is as important as the destination. A journey where your G-LAB jacket is the one thing you cannot do without,... wherever life takes you.
Björn Gericke
3
LIVE YOUR FREEDOM!VISION
& VALUES
E even non-motorcycle riders have heard of Hein Gericke: He revolutionised the German motorcycle market in the 70s and 80s and
his stores were a great international success as well. It all started with the import of BSA and Triumph motorcycles in the early seventies. When they trans-formed from being a cheap means of transport to a popular leisure activity, Hein Gericke became the leading motorcycle dealership worldwide. In addi-tion to his passion for bikes, he also was devoted to developing and designing his own, revolutionary collections. His aim was to create not only functional bike gear, like the development of a Kevlar-Cotton collection
as an alternative to leather and the invention of the Pilot-System-Suit, but also to set trends. He brought colour to a market otherwise dominated by black: “Rather red than dead” was one of his provocative slogans. Best possible quality at unmatched prices were his main criteria. This was only possible due to longstanding, excellent supplier contacts, which G-LAB continues to use today. And even though G-LAB is a completely separate enterprise, the passion and dedication for innovation and quality are a magnificent heritage to have.
Hein Gericke in 1982 wearing a cream coloured HG bomber jacket on his EGLI-Honda 1000.
» We are intrigued by people and their urban
adventures. «
Whatever gets you going: G-LAB is along for the ride.
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Authentic, genuine classics for real men
URBANMEN‘S STYLE
Urban Men’s Style
G -LAB always keeps you warm & in style:
a blend of understatement, functionality
and urban design create the timeless
G-LAB look. Your perfect partner for every
situation: G-LAB. 100% functional, reliable and
made to last. G-LAB raises the bar of performance
so you can do the same.
The key pieces of the G-LAB collection are new inter-pretations of urban jacket classics. Whether peacoat, field jacket or parka: Each style exudes ultimate drive and confidence due to the use of the latest high-tech materials and state of the art manufacturing techniques.
The ultimate, contemporary jacket meeting all require-ments: With weatherproofed 3-layer material, clever features and offering a clean and genuine look. Wear-ing cool denim, or all suited and booted? With it‘s slim silhouette, your G-LAB goes with anything. Day at the office, evening out, walk in the woods or planning that round-the-world trip? G-LAB is along for the ride. Authentic, genuine classics for real men - wherever life takes you.
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T he FIELD is a definite, timeless must- have for any occasion, surroundings, style and figure-the perfect blend of
technical design and a clean look! A longer-cut silhouette and “wool touch” surface make this year-round jacket your best friend in the office, while design layout of the pockets and seams also fulfill the style requirements for a night out, ensuring short queue times in front of your favourite club. Or throw on the Field for a walk with the dog; the 3 layer material offer ing maximum weather protection.
· Tough high performance 3-layer “wool-touch” fabric
· Zip-out climate control thermo liner jacket with
knitted cuffs
· Internal pocket
· Supersized G-LAB hanger-loop
From left to right
HELMSMAN
Color: navy-black/599
MOTO
Color: stone/730
COLONEL
Color: navy/550
VIEw OUr cUrrENt cOLLEctION At
g-LAb.cOm
Topse l ler
Always on the road, to Berlin, New York,
London or Stockholm. Feeling at home
in the metropolitan world. Defining your
own lifestyle, crossing boundaries. Living life to the
full, challenging the limits of conventional thinking
and seeing the world in a new, different light. Acti-
vely seeking adventures in the here and now: They
are the friends of G-LAB. A community of creative
independent spirits brought together by G-LAB.
Creatives, artists, CEO’s, photographers, extreme athletes, DJs, club owners and Super-Bowl winners, they have all caught on to and enjoy the supreme quality and timeless, modern look of G-LAB jackets. With this amazing array of people, we are lucky to call our ‘Friends of G-LAB’, it was an easy, yet deliberate, decision to make, to let their personalities take centre stage in our photo shoots. In our pictures nothing is staged and nothing is faked. The love is mutual: Each of our friends wears and trusts their G-LAB daily during their adventures in the urban wilderness.
People championing G-LAB jackets don’t need to define their image through big labels but have an easygoing and casual way of carrying themselves and let the understated G-LAB look accentuate their own, innate style. Super-Bowl 2013 winner Ray Lewis of the the Baltimore Ravens, Surf-& Kiteboard Pro Ralf Bach-schuster and Basti Schwarz of the DJ-duo ‘Tiefschwarz’ are just some of these amazing personalities and ‘Friends of G-LAB’.
Meet more friends on our “Wall of Fame” at www.g-lab.com/walloffame or, even better, become a friend yourself!
Beauty attracts the eye, personality captures the heart: Our G-LAB Personalities
PONY KAT
DJane/MÉNAGE À TROISmusique-couture.com/menage-a-trois
CHRIS GLASS
Membership Directorsohohouseberlin.com
Friends of G-LAB
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FRIENDS OF G-LAB» I´M AN ANGEL,
WHAT ARE YOU? «
SEE mOrE FrIENDS ON OUr “wALL OF FAmE“
A tribute to analog acoustic art,
a homage to the warmest, perhaps
most sensitive type of sound carrier:
the record. Our “Friend of G-LAB” Kai Schäfer
and his photo series “worldrecords”.
It all began in 1984, at the age of 15, with pic- tures of the moon. Since 1992, Kai Schäfer works as a freelanced photographer and his main body of work encompasses stills and portraits. How-ever, he is particularly drawn to records: with his photo series “worldrecords” he established himself also internationally, and not only among the vinyl enthusiasts.
“Worldrecords” highlights the greatest albums in music history, on record players that partly became legendary, too. In a way, it is also a private time machine for the spectator. Music as an impulse to remember bits and pieces of one’s personal history. The soundtrack of your life. “Worldrecords” was recently on show in London, NYC and LA. More about Kai Schäfer and his works at:www.worldrecords.me
ScorpionExoDesign & development of apparel collection
G-LAB Development & design process kick-off fashion collection
Harley Davidson Compilation of trend surveys & concept style
G-LAB Racing Winner of the IDM Supersport Championship
HeldDesign of apparel collection
G-LAB Launch of the men’s collection at PREMIUM Berlin
G-LAB Distribution USA & Canada
G-LAB Launch of the women’s collection
G-LAB Distribution Denmark
G-LAB Distribution Norway
G-LAB Distribution Switzerland
Bollag - GuggenheimFashion Group
2013
G-LAB Distribution Russia
BRANDBOX
H ardly any product of the textile industry is as challenging to make in terms of design and manufacturing as a motorcycle touring
jacket. Since we are always up for a challenge, this was our inspiration when developing the first G-LAB jacket. Given that our know-how and experiences are deeply rooted in apparel engineering and motorcycling, it seemed like a natural progression for us. We were interested in putting all our knowledge of manufacturing high-tech motorcycling gear to the test and find a way to transcend performance innovations into solutions for everyday use. It is our strong believe that by serving the demands of pros we create innovations that serve all. The use of high tech fabrics and the most
innovative manufacturing techniques will come to the fore being out and about in your G-LAB, come rain or shine. At G-LAB, we design and develop everything, from the first draft to the final product, in-house and in collaboration with our longstanding, trusted partners and suppliers. Nothing is left to chance, supreme attention is paid to every detail. Fully taped seams for utmost water resistance, state-of-the-art bonding technology, extra ventilation, detachable thermo liner for high quality adaptation to outside conditions: we are constantly on the hunt worldwide for the latest techniques, the most exciting ideas and innovations.
All of which serves just one purpose, to continuously develop and perfect our jackets. So the experience of putting on a G-LAB offers the greatest wearability and utmost comfort. Giving you the freedom to get on with your life. In and out of airports, riding your bike at subzero temperatures, a quick race with your dog in the rain, your G-LAB with its unique and intelligent membrane technology adjusts to all possible weather conditions and climates. And if temperatures are increasing, just unzip your thermo liner and the jacket remains your perfect partner in every situation. Motorcycling is our heritage and inspiration, but for our jackets the demands are more focused towards
ScorpionExoDesign & development of apparel collection
G-LAB Development & design process kick-off fashion collection
Harley Davidson Compilation of trend surveys & concept style
G-LAB Racing Winner of the IDM Supersport Championship
HeldDesign of apparel collection
G-LAB Launch of the men’s collection at PREMIUM Berlin
G-LAB Distribution USA & Canada
G-LAB Launch of the women’s collection
G-LAB Distribution Denmark
G-LAB Distribution Norway
G-LAB Distribution Switzerland
Bollag - GuggenheimFashion Group
2013
G-LAB Distribution Russia
BRANDBOX
Fashion Engineering
excellent wearability and freedom of movement fused with a timeless look rather than safety features. Achie-ving performance without sacrificing style. Our jackets feature a slim silhouette creating a modern, urban look. The trendy styles in our new urban woman collection and the constant development of new materials and colours also make sure that our product always stays fresh and exciting. Each jacket by G-LAB embodies the unique combination of heritage, fashion competence and high-tech engineering along with a sense of confi-dence and freedom.
9
From the first draft to the last feature: The G-LAB team designs and develops
the whole collection inhouse.
W aterproof, windproof and breathab-
le: The G-LAB team knows what
high-performance products have to
endure. Multilayer fabric of the highest quality,
technical and aesthetic expertise, supreme atten-
tion to detail and our passion for a multitude of
sports define the G-LAB product development.
Inventions wrapped in fashion. As a result, every
single jacket is a masterpiece of performance and
style.
Simply the best...
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T he G-LAB headquarters are located in a quiet corner of the energetic media harbor district in Düsseldorf. The bungalow with loft-character offers a great con-
trast to the über-modern sky risers by Ghery and the new Hyatt Hotel. Through the doors of the open plan design studio which is steeped in a long history of design & development of performance wear, past a Triumph racing motorcycle, you’ll discover the showroom. The large and airy industrial space is characterized by grey screed floor, concrete walls and steel beams. The only thing standing out is our G-LAB collection on display: pure & simple, no special effects needed. While G-LAB jackets are made to make each individual shine, in our hub we proudly put the spotlight on our high tech and high performance products. A vast table made of solid wood is the only other centre piece which offers a natural contrast to the puristic surroundings of concrete and steel. It is difficult to imagine now that less than a year ago the space housed a furniture and kitchen design workshop. “We like
the idea that our showroom is in a previous workshop space, where things were hand crafted. After all, while we don’t manufacture here, our focus is always on supreme craftsmanship.” After four years, G-LAB is now a firm presence at the international fashion fairs of Berlin, Moscow, Copenhagen, and Las Vegas. Our collections are distributed worldwide to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Italy, Norway, Russia, USA and Canada. More countries are to follow soon. “We are very proud of having achieved such a widespread international presence already. And all this was done from our hub in Düsseldorf.”
12
FROM HERE TO AROUND THE WORLD: THE HEART OF G-LABExperience the DNA of our brand and discover our latest collections
Booth at PREMIUM Berlin
Our World
13
Experience the DNA of our brand and discover our latest collections
LIKE US ...
The latest news and trends, special offers, interes-ting background information, an exclusive look behind the scenes: Discover the world of G-LAB-on www.facebook.com/GLAB
VISIT US
SHOWROOM DÜSSELDORF
Looking for a G-LAB dealer near you who stocks your favourite jacket? Then go to www.g-lab.com/haendler. Why not pay us a visit next time you are in Düsseldorf?
Being where it’s at, meeting new challenges
every day, loving life and fashion. Leading
an active life, full of exciting twists and
turns, you need a partner who is as committed as
you are: G-LAB. Functionality wrapped in fashion.
Your perfect partner for every situation. 100%
functional, feminine, modern and timeless. Pure
understatement for a sophisticated look.
G-LAB jackets offer an unique fit of contours accentu-ating the female form, alongside details like luxurious fur collars, adjustable waist or removable thermoliners. It’s what makes them indispensable whenever and wherever you are on the go. They keep you covered in style on your way to work, the airport or for a walk in the park. The 3-layer fabric ensures ultimate
weather protection and is designed to feel as good as it looks.
Nothing like you’ve ever seen. Nothing like you’ve ever worn. The G-LAB achieves the
impossible: A cool, sleek look that seems utterly effortless. Women wearing
G-LAB steer away from the obvious and big labels but add their own
personality to the mix and let the jacket accentuate their
style. G-LAB: Understate-ment and sophistication
wrapped in fashion.
14
From left to right
VIRTUE
Color: chilli/340
BREEZE
Color: navy/550
LEGEND
Color: navy/550
VIRTUE
Color: black/999
Sophisticated and urban: Contemporary classics for a new era
URBANWOMEN’S STYLE
VIEw OUr cUrrENt cOLLEctION
At g-LAb.cOm
Urban Women‘s Style
15
FIELD
P arkas rule! It's hard to find a jacket that expresses coolness and nonchalan-ce with so much style, and it's hard to
find one that's as comfortable and wearable. The MONTANA II is the garment of choice, be it for serious dog sled racing or a visit to the ice hotel, for roaming your favourite neighbour-hood or for a walk in the woods. It features a slim-cut silhouette, exciting trim lines and an adjustable waist. And it's waterproof, wind-proof and breathable. It also boasts a padded hood with a soft and luxurious racoon fur trim.
• Soft&lightweighthighperformance2-layerfabric
• Waterproof,windproof,breathable,fullyseam
sealed
• Drysoil&spillrepellentTeflon® finish
• SolidYKKmetalfrontzip
• OversizedG-LABZipper-Pull
• Iconic3Dzipperpull
• Snugfleecelinedhandwarmerpockets
• 3Mreflectivestripe
• Adjustablewaistsystem
• Fullyadjustablepaddeddrophoodwithdetach-
able racoon fur trim
• Buttonedfrontlap
• Brushedchinguardlining
• Uncompromisingergonomicfit
• High-insulationpaddedliningwithknittedcuffs
• Internalpocket
• SupersizedG-LABhanger-loop
Topse l ler
He remembers the first big trip to a gig
in Hamburg well. The first journey out
of their local comfort zone in Stuttgart.
Heaving eight heavy record cases into the trunk of
an Audi A80, racing eight hours along the German
motorway to play a gig for two hours. They didn’t
get far that night on their way back home. Exhaust-
ed, slightly drunk and still buzzing, they crashed at
a motel.
This was way back in 1992 and it didn’t take long afterwards for Basti Schwarz and his brother Ali to arrive on the scene and getting a chance at playing at very different venues and locations.
Over the past twenty years, Tiefschwarz, one of Germany’s most successful producer and DJ duo, has travelled far and wide to bring their unique and constantly evolving blend of house and electro sound to all metropolitan cities and their relevant clubs. Their itinerary is amazing: Lima, Sidney, Cape Town is all in a week’s work for them. “I think, I was pretty much everywhere, apart from Mongolia. They probab-ly don’t have enough clubs.”, Basti says and laughs. We are chatting at his bright and airy loft space in
Berlin while a very healthy breakfast of mainly vegan and vegetarian foods is on offer. “The life we lead is very demanding on the body. So we try to be health conscious otherwise you don’t last long in this game”. He takes a hearty bite of a typical German meatloaf sandwich though, which was our not so healthy addi-tion to the breakfast menu, and adds, “But once in a while, you’ve got to treat yourself”.
Basti knows all about good food, as well as the hip-pest and best hotels and the most spectacular places around world. His brother Ali calls this “Inner Circle Tourism”. “We arrive somewhere, are picked up and taken to a restaurant only the locals know about, go to work and the following day the club owners show us their favourite parts of town. So in order to get the best travel tips, everyone should have an internationally touring DJ among their friends.“, says Basti. According to his view, the most exciting country currently is Peru. “It’s unbelievable what’s happening in Lima right now. Things are developing at an enormous rate there. Ab-solutely breathtaking!” If you fancy a great meal there, you should try “Astrid and Gaston”. He was also truly excited by the organic restaurant “Chez Panisse” in
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A tough job with hardly any sleep: Party island Ibiza is one of the obligatory stop overs for Tiefschwarz.
Tiefschwarz TIEFSCHWARZBASTI SCHWARZ (PRODUCER & DJ) INTERVIEW WITH FLORIAN DENGLER
Close-Up
Berkeley near San Francisco, where all used product is grown on their own fields and plantations. One of the best steaks in South America he recently enjoyed was at the ‘Figueira Rubaiyat’ in Sao Paulo. But you don’t always have to travel far for a great taste bud experi-ence, “The best pasta I’ve had in Italy was at a roadside restaurant right by the motorway.”
What sounds like an ongoing high life, is actually a really tough job. “I am constantly on the road. I find the long distance travel and lack of sleep really exhaust- ing. So nowadays I try to catch the last possible out-ward flight and get the earliest one back home to Berlin. I always feel really happy being back home and I don’t care what anyone says: Berlin is and always will be the most exciting city in the world.” Fu, one of his cats jumps on his lap and tries to steal some of his meatloaf sandwich. “I am an expert in minimalistic travelling. Just a bag and a small suitcase, my jacket and my CD case, of course. Some DJs only travel with their MP3 stick now, but that seems boring to me. It’s a personal ritual before a trip to choose the CD's, engage with the music, select the pieces. It’s all part of my job.” Nobody could blame him if he would be fed up with traveling in his own, spare time. But on the contrary, because everything is always organised for him, he enjoys discovering places by himself. “I would love to go to India but there is no point going there for a long weekend. It needs time and preparation. Back to the roots, just with a backpack, staying at simple beach huts or small hotels. That’s proper traveling to me.”He won’t have much time for that in the upcoming
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More than 20 years at the forefront of electronic music: Ali and Basti Schwarz
cLOSE-UP
TIEFSCHWARZBASTI SCHWARZ (PRODUCER & DJ) INTERVIEW WITH FLORIAN DENGLER
Basti's constant companion:his G-LAB TRACKER
months, however. “We are constantly on the road tour-ing. But we also have some remixes on the go and are working on our fourth Tiefschwarz album which will be released in early 2014.” Thanks to the latest tech-nology, he can produce anywhere now. “I always take my laptop, a small keyboard and a microphone, which means I am free to produce at the airport, the hotel and not just at the studio anymore. Whenever I hear an interesting sound on the road or anywhere else, I record it and can work with it straightaway.”
When asked about the digital revolution and whether it presents a problem to serious musicians, given the fact that with the right tools, anyone can produce tracks today, Basti loses his cool momentarily. Even Fu jumps off his lap. “This is a problem! Everything gets smaller, more minimal. Generally that’s great, but sometimes it’s just too digital for my taste. The focus is always on the hunt for next big thing and supersedes the search for a genuine idea. I love using ana-log facilities, it feels so much more alive and real than the digital sound which irons out all character. The feeling is missing! But ul-timately it’s all about the idea, that creative spark, which needs to fly and it doesn’t matter if it was ignited by analog or digital means.”
It is obvious that this subject really matters to him. “Music was never easier to produce. No musical crafts-manship is needed anymore. Even the most untalented person can produce a number one hit using beatport and pressing three buttons. But it’s only a matter of time until this will die down. Generally the trend is geared towards music with proper heart and soul,showing some true grit. It’s a brilliant time in electronic music right now.” Basti thinks long-term success is based on a good mix of using both analog and digital. “Technological progress is great, of course, but not everything needs to be faster, bigger, better all the time.”
It’s all in the mix! This is probably how the two Tief-schwarz brothers achieved so much more than they could have ever imagined, back in 1992 in Stuttgart. In addition to their worldwide gigs in front of a huge fan base and the production of their own tracks and remixes for renowned artists like Masters at Work, Cassius as well as Missy Elliot and Madonna, they founeded their own record label ‘Souvenir’ in 2006. It was a big stepping stone in their career and the label is an important player on the national and international music scene now.
There are still many more plans in the pipe line. However, it’s more about channelling energies for him now. That means maybe not DJing every single wee-kend anymore and putting more focus on live music. “You can play to a live audience ‘til you drop. DJing is a different story.” Film music composition is another project close to his heart.
To him nothing is as moving when sound and visuals meet. But a change of direction might also appeal to him, like buying a farm with friends or opening a restaurant. “I was deeply moved by a book I’ve read recently. It shows just what twists and turns a life can take. Awe-inspiring!” It’s the story of Helmut Oehring “Mit anderen Augen” (“A different view”). He was born to deaf-mute parents, a hearing child in a silent world. It was only when he was four years old that he was first introduced to the hearing world, a strange and hostile environment. Originally a motorway construc-
tion worker, he found and fought his way against all odds including drug abuse and homelessness, to become one of the most fascinating Ger-man composers today. “A must-read!”.
But whatever happens, music will always play a major part in Basti’s life. “ What I love most is when I am let lose like a kid in a candy store selecting and playing stuff from my vinyl collection or buying records in a proper music store. I also played at the “I love Vinyl-Festival” recent-ly. Spinning the vinyl, getting the crowd going, it was such a treat! A bit like 21 years ago at our first big gig in Hamburg. A real thrill, again and again...!” FD
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» The trend is again geared towards music with
proper heart and soul, showing true grit «
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RESTAURANTS:
Chez Panisse Café1517 Shattuck AvenueBerkeley, CA 94709USAchezpanisse.com
A Figueira RubaiyatR. Haddock Lobo, 1738, Jd. Paulista São Paulo, 01414-002Brasilienrubaiyat.com.br
Astrid y GastonCantuarias 175, Miraflores,Lima, 15074Peru astridygaston.com
MUST-READ:
Helmut OehringA different view (Mit anderen Augen)How child of deaf-mute parents became a composer Publisher: Btb, 2011
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