Alpha Industries - History and Picks

Alpha Industries is an American clothing manufacturer founded in 1959 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Initially as a contractor to the United States military, the company grew into an international commercial seller of American military style and fashion apparel.

MA-1 bomber jacket (also known as the MA-1 flight jacket) was first developed in the mid-1950s. The MA-1 and its predecessor, the B-15 flight jacket, were needed at that time because the emergence of the jet age created new requirements for pilot performance, safety and comfort.The MA-1 was designed by the Air Force to serve as an intermediate weight flight jacket for use all year. This was accomplished by manufacturing the MA-1 from very high quality nylon fabrics and polyester interlinings. The light weight nylon design allowed the pilot in warm weather to wear the jacket open and be comfortable; upon entering the aircraft, the pilot could zip the MA-1 closed and be afforded ample protection against the cold conditions encountered in flight.

CWU-45 flight jacket is a version of the MA-1 bomber jacket that was originally designed for the U.S. military during the 1950s. The term MA-2 or CWU-45 was a trademark of the Cobles Clothing Company, adopted in the late 1980s when the CWU-45 military jacket started to gain popularity in street fashion. When contested in court, Cobles lost the exclusive right to the use of the term as they had attempted to widen it to other garments and footwear which was not acceptable because of a legal technicality. The term MA-2 has become so popular it is now used interchangeably with CWU-45 to represent this type of jacket.

M-1965 Field Jacket (also known as the M-65 Field Jacket), eponymously named after the year it was introduced, is a popular field jacket initially designed for the US military. The M-65 field jacket was widely used by United States Forces during the Vietnam War in which the jacket became useful for troops serving in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam, as well as keeping a soldier warm from the cool weather conditions that came after monsoonal rains. It was and is a standard issue to US troops in several other wars all around the globe as well.

Honda CL450 by Lossa Engineering

I’m quite partial to adventure tourers spruced up with gear from the likes of Touratech. If you’re in the middle of nowhere, a 40-year-old motorcycle is probably not the best choice of transportation. But Jay LaRossa of Lossa Engineering begs to differ, and he’s built the bike to prove it.

This is Jay’s personal ride, a 1970 Honda CL450 built to tackle the rough stuff—and look sharp doing it. It’s also a practical custom, with not only panniers to hold Jay’s gear but also solar panels to charge electronic equipment.

The CL450 has been totally rewired and fitted with a modern rectifier and dry cell battery. Custom headlight ears house a HID light with a built-in rock guard, and the gas tank is from a CL350. Every nut and bolt was accounted for, and all the chrome stripped off. After Jay was happy with the mock-up, he sent everything out for powder coating, yellow zinc plating, anodizing and paint.

At the back are 40 cal. ammo cans, custom mounted with 1970s Hondaline saddle bag mounts that Jay modified so they could be taken on and off easily. The custom Lossa Engineering exhaust exits under the left side can and the rear suspension is taller than stock, so Jay fitted custom gearing and revised the chain clearance. The engine has been treated to Mikuni VM34 carbs with K&N pod filters.

Deus x Santalum Boots

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

Raleigh Shows Off Its Made in America Denim

Founded in 2008, Raleigh Denim is brand that stands apart from the denim crowd. Priding itself on crafting denim with artisanal methods, vintage equipment, and some of the finest denim around courtesy of the renowned Cone Mills White Oak plant. In this video shot by Apartment Number 9, prospector & peddler John Webb takes us through the labor-intensive production process from start to finish. If you like what you see, you can find Raleigh Denim at finer denim stockists including Apartment Number 9.

Stevenson Overall Co. 2013 Spring/Summer Lookbook

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.

ACRONYM 2013 Spring/Summer

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.

MR. GENTLEMAN x Regal Bit Loafers

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).

Armoire D’Homme 2013 Fall/Winter Lookbook

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.

En Noir Spring 2013 Collection

En Noir launches into retail locations worldwide this week with the release of its Spring 2013 collection. The collection features a range of pieces that vary from leather crew neck sweatshirts to elaborate patterned basketball shorts. Highlighted here are selected pieces from the En Noir Spring 2013 collection including the waxed dradient button-up & 5 pocket pant, raging bull leather basketball short, leather crewneck and BMX 5 pocket pant. The collection is set to hit Barneys New York mid-May 2013.

1965 Shelby Cobra 289

This 1965 Shelby Cobra 289 is one of the cleaner, more minimalist examples of the more-famous-than-Elvis car that’s been a poster on every boy’s wall since 1962. The early Cobras resemble the AC Ace on which the car is based far more closely than the later year Shelbys, our American cousins can tend to get a little carried away when it comes to modifying cars to make them more powerful, much louder and less likely to impress Thatcher – which led to late-model Cobras becoming a little bit silly. Wonderful – but silly.

1965 was the final year that the MKII 289 cubic-inch Cobras were made, the 327 V8 was fitted to the new MKIII cars that began leaving Carroll Shelby’s world famous garage at the end of the year, so in some respects this car represents the last of the first Shelby Cobras.

That 289cu V8 was no slouch mind you, the fire-breathing American powered car weighed in at a smidge over 1,000 kilos, meaning it could handily embarrass many of the finest sports cars of the era. It’s thought that 528 Mark II Cobras were made in total before production shifted to the 327, it isn’t known how many of these cars have survived to the modern day.

Looking for what's going on in the world today? Head over to AutoBlog