To celebrate the ten-year existence of his iconic sneaker, Erik Schedin teamed up with Comme des Garçons Shirt for an excellent Spring 2014 collaboration. The beautiful minimalistic sneaker was designed by the Swede ten years ago for his final degree at the Beckmans College of Design. At that time the clean and minimalist aesthetic really stood out; very few sneakers would not show any logos or labels and/or would have a monochrome style, like the all white leather with a perforated lining Schedin's sneaker was made of. For the collaboration with the Japanese fashion label three different editions of the white sneaker were created: each sporting a different black painted shape, reminding somewhat of the sneakers Helmut Lang used to produce. Next to the release of the special editions, Schedin also restocked his classic all white sneakers, which are now produced in Italy. [ Continue reading ]
The Suits is an Antwerp-based label founded by fashion-entrepreneur Roger Elsten, intending to be a representative of a new generation of tailoring. Mick Jagger wearing his iconic white tuxedo was the key inspiration for the foundation of the label in 2012 and clearly points at the aesthetic Elsten created at the beginning of the Suits. The first collections were strictly suits referring to the rock and roll stages of europe. However in a few seasons the label has developed to a broader field of products with rock and roll still as the binding factor. Elsten sees his suits a great fit for men who are keen to wear a suit, not because they have to, but because they can. These men wear suits during the day, but also in the evening. [ Continue reading ]
Last night at Fashion Week in Paris, heavyweight Raf Simons, succeeded thoroughly in surprising us and the rest of the world in a way reminding of his early days at the end of the last century. Both the overall aesthetic and the impact of the event, in which Simons collaborated on a label tag-base with American artist Sterling Ruby make the collection destined to be the most talked about of the season. The collection is part Raf Simons' signature immaculate tailored lines and part Sterling Ruby’s infatuation with aberrant psychologies. Presented in a form directly referring to the Punk/DIY patchwork Simons rose to fame with at the end of last century. Coats are collaged with pieces of fabric that seemed in an upward rush, about to fly off their foundation. Items are paint-spattered, bleach-splashed, a shark's ravening maw can be seen, as a grasping hand with shiningly painted nails; "icons of consumption" according to Ruby. From the tailoring to these graphics; the show makes one realize how far ahead he continues to be, and more importantly how much influence Simons has had, and very likely will have, on menswear. [ Continue reading ]
For many centuries tartan used to distinguish the different Scottish clans, especially in times of war. Nowadays it is a pattern that can be used in fashion in a very elegant way. Fred Perry used the classic cross-hatched pattern as the main theme for the last Laurel Wreath Blank Canvas Tartan collection. A collection including all the stylish layers one needs to conquer any other plaids on the street. The selection consists of familiar items: like the polo, a v-neck sweater, a classic donkey jacket with yoke shoulder details, and the always reliable fishtail parka. [ Continue reading ]
RAAFH, which refers to the word raven in Dutch, is an Amsterdam-based fashion label that started out as a family company founded by two brothers and a sister. Within two years the team has evolved into a small group of friends and family, working together towards the collections. Although it's a group with different backgrounds when it comes to studies or work-experience, they all share a love for beauty that lasts in one way or the other. From music to good food and drinks, to that favorite sweater or a sharply cut suit. RAAFH believes when a piece is made with specific care, it complement the person wearing it. [ Continue reading ]
Olaf Hussein is an Amsterdam-based denim label with one clear goal: to produce top quality denim that will remain true to its classic styles while simultaneously incorporating new and modern silhouettes. Subtle luxury and understated items set the tone for the brand. Clean and simple are key elements; design, quality and fit are closely connected. With this clear concept in mind, the aim is to present a collection with a classic aesthetic, but still with a modern attitude. [ Continue reading ]
Next week a new European fashion label called Bonhomie will have its official launch. Based in Helsinki, Finland, Bonhomie offers premium shirts and other basics of European manufacture, which are solely sold online direct to the costumers, allowing the price to be half of the usual retail price of products with a similar quality. The debut selection of essentials Bonhomie presents are: a pristine white point collar dress shirt, an indigo button down denim oxford shirt and a basic white undershirt. [ Continue reading ]
The collaboration between outdoor wear brand Barbour and Savile Row tailors, Norton & Sons is one of the highest standards. For the first time these two institutions have come together to create a beautiful menswear collection for Autumn/Winter 2013. Both brands pride themselves on their British heritage and have continued in this vein by choosing high quality cloth sourced from the UK. The emphasis in this new collection is on longevity. Both Norton & Sons, with their focus on artisanal tailoring and Barbour, famous for its well-made durable clothing, are keen to stress that their new collection is built to last. The main goal with this new collection was to produce a range of items which would be as good as they are now, if not better, in fifty years' time. [ Continue reading ]
Last year in May iconic fashion label Stone Island released this interesting and aesthetically appealing overview of its own history called Stone Island Archivio '982-'012 in association with publisher Silvana Editoriale and art directed by Simon Foxton and Nick Griffiths. In the book the story of the Italian label, founded by Massimo Osti, that reinvented sportswear is told in more than 300 iconographic color images of garments from the Stone Island archives. Making it an interesting examination into the immense archive of the label that includes 20.000 garments and which contains most of the immense wealth of knowledge and experience on which the brand is founded. [ Continue reading ]
We love the beautiful outerwear by British brand Hancock that was founded in 2011. Hancock translates a wonderful authentic story into a brand of the highest standards, available for current generations. Inspired by the innovations of Brit Thomas Hancock, the brand offers a stunning aesthetic and quality. The marvelous garments are created out of the finest quality of natural rubber from the Siphonia Elastica tree, combined with impressive and luxurious detailing out of materials such as cashmere, mohair and silk. [ Continue reading ]
In November Harry Rosen will introduce a playful new collection of five special edition pocket squares designed by Canadian artist Gary Taxali. The 100% silk pocket squares, created exclusively for Canada’s premiere menswear retailer, celebrate the culturally-rich heritage of Canada and the featured cities: Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. Each of Taxali’s unique designs plays off of the character, culture and landmarks of the particular city. The results are a set of colourful, comical, and highly wearable, collector’s item. [ Continue reading ]
We really like the collection and campaign of our friends at Jack Spade for their autumn/winter 2013 season, created by Los Angeles-based artist Geoff McFetridge. Adopting a simple ‘work and play’ theme throughout the campaign and making great use of abstract art, geometric shapes and primary colors, this latest offering from the label is playful and uplifting. [ Continue reading ]
We like the story of cees n co, a little brand founded in June of this year by Sao Paulo-born Arien de Vries to create the perfect white shirt for men. De Vries has lived in Amsterdam since 1980 where she completed the Rietveld Academy in 1986, studying theater design. After graduating she has worked as a costume designer for various theater companies, operas and television. Inspired by working with all these different people and fashion-styles originated the idea to define the classic men's shirt in its ultimate form. Where women have their little black dress, in the eyes of de Vries men should have their perfect white shirt - and we totally agree on that! [ Continue reading ]
Wayside Flower is a recently opened webstore exclusively selling British handmade products, from clothing to accessories and jewelry. The original store, studio and workplace are family owned and based on the East Yorkshire coast in Bridlington's Old Town. The name 'Wayside Flower' comes from an old Bridlington fishing Trawler as many of the products produced by Wayside Flower take inspiration from Bridlington's seafaring heritage. The store in Bridlington also offers vintage clothing and goods, but the new online environment focusses solely on limited edition and made to order handmade products. [ Continue reading ]
We really like the 5th issue of Modern Matter which was created around the concept of stellar. This is a homonym for its cover star, Stella Tennant on the first place, but is also a word to describe her. 'The interior space of a magazine is defined, by and large, by its writers, its artists and its photographers, while the outer space is often defined by a cover model. Here, Stella Tennant, iconic, playful, a born performer, and above all, independent, embodies the interior and the ethos of Modern Matter magazine, in its first truly unisex issue.' [ Continue reading ]
We really like this video by Danny Cooke giving an inside look into the Long Eaton factory of Sunspel Clothing. It shows the detail involved in the making of their products, specifically the Sea Island Cotton t-shirt. Sunspel’s Sea Island cotton is the finest cotton in the world. It is handpicked in the Carribean, woven in Switzerland and then handcrafted in their Long Eaton factory. [ Continue reading ]
To celebrate their 40th anniversary, California-based outdoor clothing brand Patagonia have released The Legacy collection. A collection that solely takes inspiration from Patagonia’s iconic pieces located in their archives. Down jackets, fleece vests, multi-paneled rock-climbing pants, and element-repelling outerwear which made Patagonia the well-known brand it is today are being reproduced in their original styles. Photographed by Foster Huntington, the lookbook created for the collection shows Foster's friend Trevor, with whom the photographer took a trip in a 1991 Jeep Comanche, which Trevor bought, all the way from Fort Collins in Colorado back to California dressed in different pieces of the collection. [ Continue reading ]
Lausanne-based designers Philippe-Albert Lefebvre and Stéphane Halmaï-Voisard who work under the eponym Terrazzo Project have created an appealing interior design for fashion brand Études' pop-up store that closed it's doors in Paris on the 30th of June after being open a month. The low table, a large central table and clothing rack bases were all designed by Lefebvre and Halmaï-Voisard and made of their signature material terrazzo complemented with wood. The pop-up boutique carried both the Études Spring/Summer (No. 2) 2013 collection and their self-published books. [ Continue reading ]
With summers in the Netherlands being very unpredictable (although we can't complain now) it's wise to have good rainwear all year around and our favourite Norwegian Rain succeeds once more in delivering a very impressive collection. The look-book for the upcoming Spring/Summer 2014 collection, again, is a lovely one. Shot by regular Norwegian Rain collaborator Bent René Synnevåg and styled by Emely Catherina Skjelbred Murray it perfectly resonate the eye for detail, the amazing fabrics and beautiful colour palette. [ Continue reading ]
This week The House of Peroni will open its doors in London. For one month only it will showcase todays most exciting creative talent defining contemporary Italian culture. You will get a chance to attend at events and workshops including a talk with Giovanni Alessi Anghini about what inspired the creation of his iconic products, a tour with Andrea Morgante looking at the Italian influence on Londonʼ skyline and much more. [ Continue reading ]
Our friends from London recently brought the in 2011 founded menswear label Harry Stedman under our attention. Based in London, the brand champions key facets of classic American and European attire, actively blending old with new to achieve a modern style that resonates with today’s discerning gent. In the pursuit of truly timeless style they secure only the finest fabrics and have forged valuable relationships with leading domestic and international manufacturers. [ Continue reading ]
We really like Sleepy Jones, the latest endeavor of the ever-inspiring Andy Spade and long-time collaborators Anthony Sperduti and Chad Buri. After years of working together at kate spade, Jack Spade and Partners & Spade, the three set out to create a company that believes, in contrary to contemporary stimuli-fueled life, in the virtues of taking your time, wondering and pondering about whatever crosses the mind. The result is an impressive collection of sleepwear, underwear and not-quite-ready-to-wear for men and women inspired by the lifestyles of people like George Plimpton and Pablo Picasso. [ Continue reading ]
This beautiful H. Lorenzo retail space in Los Angeles was designed by Jared Frank. Frank, who up to this point had mostly worked as a production designer and residential decorator, made some pleasing aesthetic choices creating a fitting environment for the fashion sold at the store. When Lorenzo Hadar purchased the building next to his men's store in West Hollywood he wanted to turn the ground floor into an annex that could function as a stand alone shop. A place to try out new clothes, ideas, and designers before committing to carrying them at his other locations in Los Angeles. [ Continue reading ]
During our trip to New York City last month we visited this amazing Brooklyn-based store called Darr. The spot on combination and great curation of vintage and new objects, clothing and accessories amazed us profoundly. Co-owners Hicham Benmira, a Casablanca-born former Takashimaya personal shopper, and former video editor Brian Cousins excel in collecting products out of the broadest of spectrums. They cull objects industrial and romantic, rustic and sophisticated, ancient and modern, yet everything fits together perfectly. [ Continue reading ]