Santalum of Indonesia have collaborated with Deus to create arguably the toughest shoes they have ever made. Featuring a Goodyear-welted double-layered leather sole combined with double-row stitchdown buffalo hide, all tailored into a 7-hole captoe boot.
Watch the artisans of Santalum hand-making Deus boots
The Stevenson Overall Co. presents its 2013 lineup of spring/summer styles with a new lookbook shot in Japan. With the aim of producing quality apparel that can be worn casually or optionally at work, the collection consists of a variety of check and plaid shirts along with a selection of hoodies and reversible cadet jackets. Rounding out the looks are a few cuts of denim that focus on more streamlined tapered cuts and a few skull caps for those who like to (or are allowed to) rock headgear to work.
Those hoping to get their hands on some of the items can do so through the brand’s website or through Self Edge where the first delivery has already dropped, with the second one to follow on June 1.
Merging technical fabrics with stylish and contemporary cuts, Berlin-based ACRONYM has quickly carved a space for itself in the world of fashion. Under the direction of founders Errolson Hugh and Michaela Sachenbacher, ACRONYM has been deftly treading the line between function and form while always taking care not to stray too far into one at the expense of the other. The military-inspired 2013 spring/summer collection sticks to a simple color palette of navy, black, olive, and tan but backs it up with serious technical materials including GORE-TEX and Schoeller fabrics. On offer are shorts, tapered pants, button down shirts and plenty of outerwear. Equally at home on the streets and out in the woods, ACRONYM’s latest collection has everything for the modern man.
Stepping up for this latest collaborative drop are Japanese menswear entities MR. GENTLEMAN and Regal. Meeting requirements for a more formal style, Bit Loafers that have been made available in several colorways are on the docket for a release this month. Offering pronounced gold hardware and matched dual branding in the footbed, the smart loafer option also includes a slightly pronounced heel with contrasting material used for the liner, completing the minimal and elegant look. THE CONTEMPORARY FIX is currently stocking this shoe in-store and online for a price of ￥34,650 JPY (approximately $350 USD).
Clean, functional and timeless, Armoire D’Homme‘s collections are steeped in Scandinavian design and classic wardrobe staples, the kind of wearable pieces that the Danish menswear scene has been churning out as of late. The Copenhagen-based label was established last summer and its designer, Kjetil Aas, boasts an impressive pedigree — his resume includes stints at both Won Hundred and as Design Manager at Norse Projects. For Fall/Winter 2013, Armoire D’Homme’s “Version One” is, according to Aas, “first attempt in the search for the ultimate men’s wardrobe,” a range created out of necessity, favorites and memories. Using a restrained color palette, this season features lightweight jackets, knits, shirting and suits in traditional menswear fabrics like oxford cloth and lambswool — a collection of familiar pieces reinterpreted for modern times. Or, as Aas puts it, “something you’ll want to keep.” For more information, be sure to visit Armoire D’Homme’s website here.
New York City’s Freeman Sporting Club (FSC) has opened a new five-story shop in Toyko’s Miniami-Aoyama shopping district – their first flagship store outside of the U.S.A. The 6,500 sq/ft shop, designed byFSC’s own Taavo Somer, showcases the New York City brand along side casual like-minded brands as well as an in-house barber shop, bar, cafe and outdoor patio.
The exterior of the Freemans Sporting Club Tokyo flagship carries a typical New York City brownstone facade to pay homage to their home city. A selection of in-house Tokyo only product collaborations are found inside including works with God od Denim, The Superior Labor, and others. Keep an eye out for two new suit options previewed here.
Hailing from the west coast, Uniform Standard by Lifetime Collective draws inspiration from a multitude of places. The outdoors, skateboarding and surf culture, and a DIY mindset all come together in their pieces, as exemplified by their latest lookbook for Fall/Winter 2013. The brand took to a snowy cabin retreat to shoot the collection, which is full of quality layering pieces for the upcoming season. Included in the range are dark flannels, thermal henleys, and thick woven denims, not to mention an impressive array of military and hunting-inspired jackets. Across T-shirts, the collection features works by artists such as Jay Howell, Alana Paterson and Dennis Chow.
In what may be the coolest marketing campaign ever, Tellason Denim reached out to some of their wearers to get a look inside their daily lives and show the versatility of their denim. The first Tellason Story is about Todd Blubaugh, a photographer and vintage bike builder. We want to sit down and drink one or ten Rainiers with him and the guys from Tellason after watching this video.
Raf Simons‘ name may perpetually be on the tip of fashion’s tongue, but the designer will humbly admit that he didn’t know much about the fashion world early on. Growing up in a small Belgian town, Christian Dior’s presiding creative director had little exposure to runways and presentations, finding his path organically as he went through school. These and more topics are candidly explored in a new interview with The Talks, which sat Simons down to talk about his beginnings, being disinterested in stardom, and the influence of the arts in his work. Choice excerpts can be found below, while the full interview can (and really should) be read on The Talks’ website.
Mr. Simons, would you consider yourself someone that lives and breathes fashion?
How can I put this without being too critical? I don’t have so many things in the fashion world that interest me. It’s probably because I am so deeply into it. Often when you go very deep into something, you also discover what it’s about and you understand it better. With the art world I still have a lot of curiosity. There are a lot of things that I feel attracted to and I don’t necessarily understand them and that’s what fascinates me. In the fashion world I know a lot of the brands and the designers and you start to be more critical and you start to have a very specific point of view.
But isn’t fashion such a significant part of your life?
The fashion thing is something I do, and yes it is definitely also becoming a part of myself and my personality. It also doesn’t really feel like a job either: it’s a dream or a passion or something. I think there are things that I relate to more than fashion though, personal, private things. Like my environment, my family, my friends, you know.
I’ve read that the first fashion show you ever went to was Maison Martin Margiela. You said it was so beautiful that half the audience cried and it had a huge influence on you. Why?
Because that was the day that I understood that fashion could also be conceptual and intellectual, that it could be linked to a certain kind of social, psychological thing. That Martin Margiela show was in a really trashy area in Paris and it wasn’t in a building, it was in a playground from a black neighborhood. The parents had agreed to do the show for the Margiela company only if their children could come and see it. Everybody was expecting the children to just stay on the side and sit with the audience, but they didn’t.
Known for making traditional varsity jackets, west coast label, Golden Bear, produced a small batch of what they’re best at for The Woodlands Spring Summer 2013 collection. Featuring a melton wool body, premium leather sleeves and a high, fold over shawl collar, these are fit for most days of the year. Great for those who really like that college look, or want to relive those days. Now available The Woodlands in a burgundy or loden.
